Intel CEO Paul Otellini says the obvious: we will always have a PC. But what form will it take?
In a recent interview with BusinessWeek, Intel CEO Paul Otellini stated the obvious: we will always have a personal computer.
“The PC is not going to go away anytime soon, if ever. It’s going to continue to evolve. Right now, it’s the most powerful tool you can have, but it doesn’t mean that there won’t be tablets or phones or even connected cars,” said the chief.
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He went on to talk about changes in the PC: how it’s gone from “brick” to “ultrathin,” and that smaller electronic drives, like phones, have gotten smarter thanks to the evolution of the microprocessor. (Now if only Intel could lay claim to responsibility for the smartphone revolution, right Paul?)
The interview covers a lot of ground, but I want to discuss the PC side of things. Every month, I make a point to pick up a copy of CPU Magazine, one of the last of the print holdouts these days. It makes for great casual reading on the latest toys I want to but shouldn’t buy.
One of the trends that’s become more and more obvious in recent years is that PC evolution has more or less stopped. Oh sure, the latest motherboards with the latest Intel and AMD chipsets are out there, but really, how much change is taking place in the PC market?
By way of contrast, I look at an ancient Akai amplifier my father purchased back in the 1960s while stationed in Okinawa. The thing still works beautifully for vinyl and CD (which is somewhat frustrating, because my amps die about every 8-10 years and this thing is over 40 years old), but it’s enormously limited, too. By contrast, my shiny new Pioneer Elite amp has a Dolby Digital 7.1 decoder, DTS –EX 6.1, HDMI in and out, optical in and out, satellite radio support, an iPod adapter and connectors for 14 speakers. None of these can be found on the Akai.
In many ways, the modern PC is like the Akai. It hasn’t added anything new. Sure, it’s added Ethernet. That was a necessity. Most have added onboard AC97 audio, but I can tell you that is no equal to even a basic SoundBlaster card. Onboard audio is sufficient for Windows audio triggers and that’s it. If you want good digital music you need a sound card, period.
The basic PC case could use some alterations, too. Why should I have to pay for a separate Ethernet router/Wi-Fi base station? This could easily be built into a case rather than having a separate device taking up space and a power outlet.
Also, there should be some kind of smartphone integration via Bluetooth, but many PCs don’t even come with native Bluetooth at all. When I get in my car, a 2012 Camry, it syncs with the iPhone immediately. Similarly, when a call comes in, the radio goes off and I hear a ringing chime. The incoming call number or contact name appears on the in-dash screen. Hit a button on the steering wheel and it’s a totally hands-free conversation thanks to a microphone in the car and the stereo speakers. When the call ends, the music resumes.
Why can’t my PC do this? Well, for starters my motherboard doesn’t have Bluetooth, even though it’s fairly new. It’s a Z68 chipset for the Sandy Bridge era. I’ve got the speakers and a microphone via my Web cam, yet my phone and PC remain strangers despite sitting right next to each other.
I’m sure creative users will come up with a few ideas in the response boxes below. My point is that for too long now, evolution in the PC space has meant doing the same thing as before, only faster.
It’s time the PC became the boss of the house and did many more things, not just a few things faster than last year. It needs to do the things an Ultrabook can’t do because it doesn’t have the room and a smartphone or tablet will never do because they don’t have the power.
