I’m not sure whether it’s just that I’m getting more cranky as I get older and hang around in the IT industry for longer, or whether industry commentary is becoming more hyperbolic, partial and simplistic. Perhaps it’s the impact of consumer-style IT product promotion initiatives; perhaps it’s the race for online eyeballs and the lure of churnalism.

Whatever the reason is, I’m finding myself wanting to “call BS” on things I see discussed more and more often. Rather than just restricting these outbursts to occasional office rants I’ve decided to channel my frustration into a set of blog posts, each one focused on a position that’s aroused my ire.

I might be controversial at times: please weigh in with your comments! It would be great to start some debate here.

Without further ado, herewith find: Calling BS on… “The PC is dead”.

With the 30th anniversary of the IBM Personal Computer upon us, a rash of articles has appeared over the past couple of weeks using phrases like “the post-PC era” and “the PC is dead”. Smartphones are everywhere! Tablets are the answer! Who wants to use a PC anymore?

My take? The PC is dead in the same way as the mainframe is dead. (Hint).

Yes, the PC form factor as first popularised by IBM 30 years ago is unlikely to remain the de facto form factor for personal computing in the home that it has been for the past two decades. With smarter TVs, tablets, smartphones and Internet-connected gaming consoles becoming very common, we’re experiencing a Cambrian explosion of consumer computing and communications devices.

But it’s that “consumer” idea that’s the key here, I think. These things are principally media and entertainment *consumption* devices. Are software programmers going to create iPad games on the iPad, or code CRM systems or build interactive websites on Samsung Galaxy Tabs? Not any time soon. Are investment banking quants going to be inventing financial instruments on their smartphones? Nuh-uh.

The PC isn’t going anywhere. It will become less ubiquitous, particularly in home environments. But I think it will settle in its rightful place: as a serious information and technology production tool.

As some people are probably sick of me saying by now: nothing ever really dies in the IT industry.

Have a different point of view? Let me know! Comments are very welcome indeed.