What comes next for the desktop PC? The next key element in driving the evolution of the desktop PC is connectivity. As broadband becomes more widely used, it will dramatically increase home desktop PC usage by opening up the true potential of the internet. Also, home networking will become increasingly important as more households acquire a second PC.
Will we ever be a truly broadband Britain? It's unlikely. Significant penetration of broadband will depend on the development of the charging structure. There seems to be a large part of the population with a huge resistance to that kind of subscription service.
Is convergence still the 'grail'? It is inevitable. Today's PCs display all the capabilities one expects from convergence - sound, recording and interactivity. The areas that need to be developed are location, interaction and choice of "quality". The PC hasn't fully made the transition into the living room. Interface is still predominantly via the keyboard and mouse and we don't expect to pay for a set of features in the same way we would for a TV or stereo.
Will the personal digital assistant ever replace the desktop? I strongly believe the PDA will become a more common addition to the desktop. However, I don't see it as a stand-alone device but as one of the drivers in the development and future of the PC.
Are PC-buyers demanding more aesthetically pleasing machines? Absolutely. You can see that by the machines in stores. However, this is balanced by the common perception of a PC as an angular white box. You can't move too far from the common perception, or you end up with a lovely looking product that doesn't sell!
Brief history of your computer use? I started with an 80286 (http://lowendpc.com/tech/286.shtml), 10 MHz zero wait state machine with 5.25in floppy disk. It was extremely small and slow by today's standards. My usage has mirrored the development of the market, and I am currently using a state-of-the-art Easy One Silver laptop (www.packardbell.co.uk/products/node696.asp).
How is Packard Bell approaching 3G/wireless? It is initially embracing wireless communications via GPRS (www.webopedia.com/TERM/G/GPRS.html) options on the PDA products. When the time is right, this will migrate to 3G technology and will be integrated in PDAs and notebooks.
Is there a saturation point for PCs similar to the one reached in the mobile phone market? In theory, there's a saturation point in every market but the PC market is a long way from that point. A key factor is that the PC is far more multi-functional, and we are a long way from tapping its full potential.
Favourite sites? Most are work related. I like www.amazon.co.uk, www.chateauonline.com and www.bridgetheworld.com.
Visit: www.packardbell.co.uk
