Originally posted by sweetcell:Why anybody would use a Microsoft product that is no longer being updated for security patches is beyond me…
makes me question your "tech predictions", smacks, if you don't even know what browsers are being used :p
Things Smackie Thinks You Need to Know...
My company does browser testing for IE6 & IE7, Firefox, and Safari nowadays (and whatever versions are current for the Mac…I'm out of touch on that one). Of course, that didn't stop someone from griping that their site was broken in Netscape 4.06. Awesome.
Originally posted by pdx pollard:
I would never be caught dead using IE7 for anything other than testing, actually more people still use IE6 than IE7, it may be a rolleyes for you but in my field it is a big deal
Originally posted by vansmack:BetaBlue doesn't count, but it's a start:
#1 - 2008 will be the year that internet access at your seat will finally be available on airplanes, starting with longer flights and working its way to the commuter flights (which is backwards, but at least its coming).
BetaBlue: It's one small step for in-flight Wi-Fi
Originally posted by sweetcell:I would kindly demand that you update to ie7, while there may not be a lot of benefits you see there are actually a whole bunch of benefits behind the scenes. IE 6 is a piece of shit. I really hope that Microsoft gives corporate IT people and home users a real reason to upgrade to IE8 so we can leave IE6 behind finally. Make it a mandatory update, tell them IE6 is storing their credit card numbers, anything.
i wasn't rolling my eyes at IE6 or 7 at all, it was for the smug know-it-alls on this board. i was supposedly pwned by smakie who pointed out that i was using IE6, as if that was something abhorent. in fact, IE6 is still the most common browser.
makes me question your "tech predictions", smacks, if you don't even know what browsers are being used :p
Originally posted by vansmack:many are saying the pickins won't be so good, and be sure to go easy on the folks (temporarily) working there: pink slip
Is it just a coincidence that CompUSA and Tower Records shared building space in the mall next to my work?
I think not. I'm looking forward to the after Christmas free for all…
I was little nicer about it then Pollard, but the man speaks the truth.
OK, on to my last tech prediction for 2008, and before you jump on me for making such an obvious one (and popular, I might add), hear me out because it's a lot more than "the price of laptops have finally reached a point where they're as cheap as desktop" - that's short sighted.
Tech Prediction #5:
2008 will really be the year of the Death of the Desktop
I know, everybody's been saying this since the advent of the laptop, but I think we've finally gotten to a point where there will be virtually no need for desktop computer at home. Here's why:
(1) Home Servers will take off. The desktop at home, if you still have one, has really been relegated to a place of storage. Your photos, your music, maybe even a document or two. But as the documents and photos move online, that leaves the one main purpose of a desktop - media files. That's where the new servers come in to replace the desktop, and shore up the deficiencies of a laptop as the primary storage location (the problem being that the laptop is not always in the house). All that's been needed is storage solution that interfaces with other devices, and this is the year it makes dents into the market.
(2) Wireless streaming to entertainment devices. New media devices that stream content to your home theater system will both get cheaper and become more user friendly. When my dad finally started using the Tivo Desktop, I realized we've reached a place where anybody can do it. When the N routers make a big dent in the market and HD content can be streaming from a web site or a media server to an HD TV, the desktop is goner. I say by June on this one.
(3) And this last one is the most important - with the massive advance in the market of Mobile Internet Devices (or ultra mobile PCs) with WiFi capability, like the iPhone, the iTouch, Samsungs Q1, mini-tablets and the "smaller than laptops but much better battery life" devices coming between $400 and $700 - very few people are going to fork out the cash for a oversized desktop at that price when they can have something sleek and portable that does 95% of what most folks use their desktop for today.
OK, on to my last tech prediction for 2008, and before you jump on me for making such an obvious one (and popular, I might add), hear me out because it's a lot more than "the price of laptops have finally reached a point where they're as cheap as desktop" - that's short sighted.
Tech Prediction #5:
2008 will really be the year of the Death of the Desktop
I know, everybody's been saying this since the advent of the laptop, but I think we've finally gotten to a point where there will be virtually no need for desktop computer at home. Here's why:
(1) Home Servers will take off. The desktop at home, if you still have one, has really been relegated to a place of storage. Your photos, your music, maybe even a document or two. But as the documents and photos move online, that leaves the one main purpose of a desktop - media files. That's where the new servers come in to replace the desktop, and shore up the deficiencies of a laptop as the primary storage location (the problem being that the laptop is not always in the house). All that's been needed is storage solution that interfaces with other devices, and this is the year it makes dents into the market.
(2) Wireless streaming to entertainment devices. New media devices that stream content to your home theater system will both get cheaper and become more user friendly. When my dad finally started using the Tivo Desktop, I realized we've reached a place where anybody can do it. When the N routers make a big dent in the market and HD content can be streaming from a web site or a media server to an HD TV, the desktop is goner. I say by June on this one.
(3) And this last one is the most important - with the massive advance in the market of Mobile Internet Devices (or ultra mobile PCs) with WiFi capability, like the iPhone, the iTouch, Samsungs Q1, mini-tablets and the "smaller than laptops but much better battery life" devices coming between $400 and $700 - very few people are going to fork out the cash for a oversized desktop at that price when they can have something sleek and portable that does 95% of what most folks use their desktop for today.
how anyone can live without tabbed browsing be beyond me
Originally posted by vansmack:I like the idea of user replaceable parts and building my own machine. Laptops are way behind in this department.
Tech Prediction #5:
2008 will really be the year of the Death of the Desktop
home servers won't become widespread IMO, as few people are able or want to become IT admins at home.
i suspect that Mobile Internet Devices won't have the impact you predict, since few want to browse all night and do their online shopping on something that small and ergonomically awkward.
while getting cheaper, you still don't get the same performance for your dollar. a $700 laptop will perform as well as a $500 desktop (for this reason alone, businesses - and many a household - will continue to buy desktops by the boatload).
the recent market trend of laptop sales growing at the expense of desktops will continue, but declaring the tower's death in the next 12 months is unfounded, IMO.
i suspect that Mobile Internet Devices won't have the impact you predict, since few want to browse all night and do their online shopping on something that small and ergonomically awkward.
while getting cheaper, you still don't get the same performance for your dollar. a $700 laptop will perform as well as a $500 desktop (for this reason alone, businesses - and many a household - will continue to buy desktops by the boatload).
Originally posted by vansmack:define what you mean by "by june", and you might have a bet on your hands. "available to early adopters"? "a possibility"? sure. measurable market impact? i'd be willing to bet no.
When the N routers make a big dent in the market and HD content can be streaming from a web site or a media server to an HD TV, the desktop is goner. I say by June on this one.
the recent market trend of laptop sales growing at the expense of desktops will continue, but declaring the tower's death in the next 12 months is unfounded, IMO.
Originally posted by sweetcell:Who's going to pay $600 for a desktop next year when this awaits you at the same price?
home servers won't become widespread IMO, as few people are able or want to become IT admins at home.
It's not going to get much easier than that. And I have a few idea on how I'm going to use mine with this board - but that I'll hold off until 2008.
Originally posted by vansmack:one thing i'm unclear about your proposed scenario: people buy one of these, plus a laptop? if yes, sounds pricey.
Who's going to pay $600 for a desktop next year when this awaits you at the same price?
Originally posted by vansmack:Jackass 2.5 to made available online for free starting december 19, and will skip movie theatres entirely.
With that, I will reveal my Tech Prediction #3:
This is the year that a broadcast network will run a TV program on the internet at the same time as an Over-the-Air broadcast - and just maybe one genius network will run an episode on-line before it airs over-the-air. And a really smart network would run an HD episode (sponsored by some HD TV maker) because most people can see HD quality on their computer monitors - just not on their TVs.
So yes Hoya, IP TV is the future - but how far in the future is up to the IP industry, and they've throttled every attempt to expand for the past 10 years.
Originally posted by vansmack:good sir – have you SEEN world in conflict??
but I think we've finally gotten to a point where there will be virtually no need for desktop computer at home.
Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:is this game too demanding to run on a laptop?
Originally posted by vansmack:good sir – have you SEEN world in conflict??
but I think we've finally gotten to a point where there will be virtually no need for desktop computer at home.
gamers, musicians, video editors, etc. will be on desktops for the foreseable future.
yay!
Jackass 2.5 to made available online for free starting december 19, and will skip movie theatres entirely.
Originally posted by sweetcell:What is that .1% of the the world's computer users? And how many of those are home users - maybe just the gamers?
gamers, musicians, video editors, etc. will be on desktops for the foreseable future.
And of the best selling PC video games, how many on that list require desktop power any longer?
Originally posted by vansmack:in terms of individuals, it is indeed low. but in terms of dollars spent and brand recognition that manufacturers get from catering to power-users, their influence is disproportional. dunno about video editors, but the "musicians" category probably has more people in the home than in an the office or professional studio.
What is that .1% of the the world's computer users? And how many of those are home users - maybe just the gamers?
Originally posted by vansmack:few "require" horse-power, if you're happy with the game running at 15 fps. but a $500 laptop will not have a dedicated video cards (will use shared memory), hard drive will still be only 5400 rpm and small buffers, CD-R at 24x, no firewire, LCD will be slow, blah blah - specs that are standard on a desktop that costs less. a gaming laptop costs about twice as much as the equivalent desktop. but yes, these facts are meaningless for the majority of home computer users.
And of the best selling PC video games, how many on that list require desktop power any longer?
laptops will continue their current trend of increasing market share at the expense of desktops. i think i read somewhere that in april this year laptop sales overtook desktop. but i stand by my assertion that proclaiming the "death" of the desktop in 2008 is an over-statement.
dont musicians and video editors use macs anyway
Laptop sales pale in comparison as a PC gamer killer compared to an Xbox 360 or PS3 or a wii. It's not even worth a discussion. The gamer desktop will live for a long while, but it will never have the prevelance it used to have. And if that's the main reason why people continue people to buy a desktop, then the desktop is surely dead.
since we were talking about browsers
http://people.opera.com/howcome/2007/msft/
Today we have taken a stand. Opera has filed a formal complaint with the European Commission to force Microsoft to support open Web standards in its Web browser, Internet Explorer. We believe that Microsoft has harmed Web standards by refusing to support them; Microsoft often participates in creating Web standards, promoting them, and even promising to implement them. Despite their talent, however, they refuse to support Web standards correctly.