Computers ain't computers any more

Stephen Withers
Thursday, 27 January 2011 19:09

IT Industry - Development

The headline isn't literally true, but a major professional services firm is predicting that 2011 will be the year when non-PC computing devices outnumber traditional PCs.

According to Damien Tampling, leader of Deloitte's technology, media and telecommunications practice in Australia, 2011 will be a watershed year for how people use computers and information.

More than 50% of computing devices sold during this year will be smartphones, tablets and 'non-PC netbooks' (distinguishing them from previous netbooks that were basically smaller less powerful versions of traditional notebooks).

A key point is that it marks a move away from what has been an overwhelmingly homogenous environment (Windows on Intel - or possibly AMD - x86/x64 chips) to one that is far more varied.

Significantly, Deloitte's is predicting that enterprises will take their tablets - more than 25% of 2011 sales and rising.

Other trends picked by Deloitte's include wider adoption of existing 'eGovernment' services (eg tax filings and permit applications); minor changes to the way web sites gather, share and exploit user information; and "big leaps" in battery technology in terms of energy density and lower prices.