PCWorld, as you might expect, focuses on the PC, so their article called Your PC in 2008 and Beyond focuses on hardware almost completely. But unless you specialize in video production, complex architectural drawings, or some other niche field like movie special effects or geothermal analysis, PC power isn't your problem: crummy software, poor collaboration tools, and data management are your problems.
Operating systems will make noise next year, starting with the new Mac OS coming soon (just like the 2008 cars shipped in mid-2007). First Mac, then the Support Pack for Vista from Microsoft, and another round of Linux updates. Yet none of those will integrate GPS readings from a salesperson's car at a company on credit hold, triggering a note to the sales manager. Or even make sure everyone on the mailing list for a meeting receives the e-mail and attends.
I do appreciate the inclusion of "overdue tech" in the list, and I would add Artificial Intelligence to the list. AI promised to cut through the data mountain and find what we really need to make decisions, but so far the big AI advances seem to be in smarter Roomba robots sweeping our carpets. 20 years ago AI fans ran tests showing intelligent software sifted through patient symptoms and came up with about four times as many potential causes as doctors did relying on their memory. So far, my doctor still uses a clipboard. My dentist, however, uses a computer but just to fill out forms and show a calendar for my next cleaning. Where's the AI in that?
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