Among the trends (PC makers) are grappling with is the growing popularity of tablet computers, smartphones and other devices that let consumers work and surf the web on the move. An even more important trend sweeping the industry is the growth of cloud computing. This lets companies store and process vast amounts of data in huge warehouses of servers run by third parties. The data can then be accessed over the internet whenever and wherever needed. The emergence of the cloud is also partly responsible for a third trend, “verticalisation”. This is the increasing tendency of makers of IT hardware, operating systems and applications to move into each other’s area of business, This has created a free-for-all, with software firms swallowing up hardware firms and vice versa.
The PC is not dead, but its importance henceforth is going to be significantly diminished.
Read more at the Economist
