PC Market Changes May be Accelerating

There seems to be an uptick of articles referencing the changing slice of the micro computer pie held by the traditional computer vendors along with info about declining sales. Obviously millions of iPads hitting the market has some affect on this. But I thought I would relay a more local consumer trend that I am observing. In our higher education community where I tend  to be the technology sounding board, I will get lots of feedback from the early device adopters. So I have witnessed many iPad adopters convey their positive experiences. This was validated for me yesterday by the questions I received after giving a talk about consumer technology trends to the local Rotary Club.

What I am starting to hear from these iPad adopters is that they now want to replace their Personal Computer partly due to life cycle timing but mostly because they want a new computer. They are showing new found technology confidence that they have gained from their iPad experience. And they are primarily talking about switching to Apple for the first time. They get it. They believe that there can be a simpler solution and of course they equate that to their positive experience with the Apple iPad.

I throw this observation out because it may help to signal significant change that is about to hit the personal computer industry. Household computing needs have been satisfied for many years by the consumer PC micro computer lines. These PCs were positive experiences for months or maybe years, but they also inflicted a lot of pain upon those users. And the reality was that there was no need for that type of computing platform to satisfy the simple desires for Internet access or home management. But that was the only solution available. So now, what if this new pad device does receive a public blessing. What platform do you think is going to lose market share?