According to recent headlines, PC sales are sluggish.
But, if you include tablets and smartphones along with desktops and laptops, computer sales are exploding!
In this month's edition of The Digital Future, Strategic News Service publisher Mark Anderson tells KPLU's Dave Meyer that computing is evolving into two main areas: production and consumption. And you need to count both sides of the equation when looking at computer sales.
On the production side, we have the traditional desktop PC and laptops/notebooks. These are the devices that we use in the workplace. They're used to run businesses, design buildings, conduct scientific research, make web posts like the one you're reading right now, and so on.
Sales of computers used for production appear to have leveled off.
On the consumption side, we have tablets and smartphones. While they can also be used for work, these devices are used primarily to consume movies, music, ebooks, games, etc.
Sales of these items are going through the roof!
Apple is the big winner in this category, selling 5 million new iPhone 5s in its first 3 days of availability. The iPad sold 17 million unitsin the 2nd quarter and sales continue to rise.
Mark says, when you count all devices and not just traditional PCs, computers are experiencing their biggest growth rate in history.
Microsoft's new Windows 8 operating system appears to cater to both production and consumption. Its Metro interface will be used on desktops, tablets and phones.
Does this mean Windows 8 will be a winner?
Mark says Microsoft is making a big, gutsy bet with Windows 8.
But do people really want the same interface on their desktops that they have on their phones?
Mark may predict the future for a living, but says the answer to that question is up for grabs.
