If the World Stops Making PC’s, I will Quit WebDesign

Many of you heard about Hewlett-Packard (HP)’s thoughts back in August regarding selling or re-routing their PC production. They claimed that their software and servers were a safer revenue bet then the continuing of their personal computer line. This came as a huge shock to those like me, who rely on personal computers in the work-world. Now, to be honest, just like with the world, it’s been a while since I have bought a desktop, but that’s because the world turned to tablets, smart phones, and is increasingly turning to macs – the dummy version of computers. For me, I turned to computer shows, where a PC can be built from scratch, and not be bogged down by production-standards and cost-influenced features.

Before you all think I am trashing on Macs, tablets, or smart phones, let me pronounce a few things:

A) I love macs, they are perfect for their users. When “dummy-version” is said, it refers to the fact that they are more prominently used by people who are not “smart” in the technology world, but are very, very smart in other fields. As there are always exceptions, some of the smartest people in the world use and develop off of Macs; but for years, technology experts, scientists, and businesses have been bigger fans of the PC.

B) Tablets are awesome as well. While not a huge fan of the iPad, I enjoy the capabilites I can imagine with the hardware of the iPad, Motorola Xoom, and other popular tablets. While their current bundles are limited, I am sure they can be stripped of their OS and turned into interesting and useful machines.

C) Smart phones are a necessity. Since writing this article, I have heard my Blackberry alert go off a number of times. Without it, I would be lost in Neverland and without a good side-kick for doing business on the fly, checking e-mails, and tracking website statistics. As good as it feels to turn it off for a day or two and relax, we all know how important the smart phone is in today’s world.

For me, though making the above points, I still need my PC. Yes, there are many web developers, graphic designers, and business owners that have turned to the Mac, and will stay with it; but for me, I need the customization. Yes, yes, I’ve tried the pimped-out macs with right-click and all the same features as a PC, but they still aren’t customizable enough for someone who grew up getting to know their best technology friend – the personal computer. I used to think it would be safe to bet that more graphic designers use Macs then PC’s, but the more web-geniuses (who also graphic design) I meet, the more I doubt that.

When buying a computer, you may turn to big companies like Dell and HP. After all, this is what helped make HP the most profitable technology company in the world, taking in the most revenue year after year. But why abandon that, HP? Maybe, it’s because they turned to others for their inspiration, instead of themselves. They look to others for their ideas, and have trouble coming up with their own. They, like Yahoo, have also had some CEO trouble recently. In fact, Leo Apotheker, who was CEO at the time the “abandon PC” decision was put on the table, was shortly thereafter fired. HP’s current CEO, Meg Whitman, states that this had nothing to do with Leo’s decision regarding their PC line, and she left the question on the table for review.

Since then, HP has decided against moving from PC’s, and has announced the continuance of their production line. Phew! That was a close one, but still the question remains..“Why?” If PC’s have come to the point where the most profitable technology company recently thought about abandoning them, what will come next? Will Sony abandon my favorite laptop of all time, the Vaio? Will Asus stop making products for the geek in all of us? If so, all I know is, you’ll find me in a bunker producing my own “Scratj” laptops.

What it comes down to, is the fact that people now like technology to run them. “Run them” sounds a bit harsh, but that’s basically what it is. They want technology to do all the work, and essentially, run their lives. The average PC owner knows the ins and outs of their PC, by answering all the questions themselves. The average Mac owner has more answers for questions because of a support number with a big bank account behind it. People just don’t want to do the work, when they have a busy enough life anyway. The problem therein lies, with the people who need that extreme length of self-learning, which brings a higher sense of customization, and are losing it to the world of robots and phones that have conversations with you. Whatever people choose as their main tech source for getting work done, the world is still in dire need for it’s PC. Let’s just hope that people’s laziness doesn’t make Earths tech powerhouse fall off the map. Gear up Watson, the Earth’s womb is contracting for your birth.