iPad – The Beginning of the End for the PC?

Apple’s iPad is a hit. It’s official. 2 million devices sold already since it was released on 3^rd April in the U.S and it’s not even available in many countries yet. It is due to be released in 9 more countries come July and who would bet against them breaking the 10-million-units-sold barrier come Christmas. The device as you probably know being a cross between an iPhone and a laptop may have at first seemed like a Frankenstein’s monster, doomed to be shunned by Apple’s loyal fans who covet the perfection its fruity idol produces. But the heavens once again threw down the blessing and followers once again rejoiced.

Apple’s Holy Father, Pope Steve Jobs I, spoke at the D8 conference in California, and gave us a glimpse of his vision for the future. In his infinite wisdom, Jobs speaks coyly about having stepped ahead of Microsoft in market capital value, calling it ‘surreal’, and waxes lyrical about the decision not to support Flash. But it was most interesting to hear him divulging his vision of a PC-less future. He imagines a world where PCs have faded into the background for everyday use as we adopt more and more user-friendly ways of connecting with the net, such as smart phones and tablets. (I’m personally looking forward to the first Apple neural net brain implant computer – iHead or iBrain or iThink.) But in all seriousness, he makes sense when he compares the PCs to trucks and how at one time they were essential as most people were farmers, but now people only use them if they need them.  While there will always be a place for PCs, tablets are a more intimate way to connect to the internet and other media, having stripped away increasingly unnecessary components and complications which come with a more general device like a PC.

For example, this guy couldn’t do this with a PC:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATpSPNIuj3M&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Apple are obviously on the right track in many respects but the future may not be completely sewn up in the OS department. While OSX is extremely popular, they will have a battle on thier hands, with Android being a direct mobile operating system competitor especially having Google’s immense power behind it.

Here are some highlights of Steve Jobs interview at the D8. Ironically in flash.

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