Boy this sounds like a simple question doesn’t it because we know an iPad is basically a big iPod Touch and there is no doubt an iPod touch isn’t a PC right? But now think how it is being used, over the last week two of the analysts sitting with me had left their PCs at home and were using their iPads instead and one was using both an iPad and a PC more in line with how I use my own Kindle.
Why this is important is because if it is a PC Apple could actually be chasing the number one spot in PC shipments by the end of the year for PCs and that wouldn’t make either HP or Dell very happy. So it is a big question and one we should likely explore.
What got me started was this column by Joe Wilcox where he asks the same question and shows the stats related to that question and then asks his readers for an answer. I figured it was worth exploring further.
What is a PC?
Wikipedia says it is: any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end user with no intervening computer operator. This is in contrast to the batch processing or time-sharing models which allowed large expensive mainframe systems to be used by many people, usually at the same time, or large data processing systems which required a full-time staff to operate efficiently.
So the question, if we accept this definition, likely hinges on the term “general-purpose” but note there is nothing in this definition on size so if it applies to an iPad maybe it applies to an iPod Touch.
According to Microsoft’s own dictionary General Purpose is: useful for a wide variety of purposes.
So maybe it hinges on the definition of “wide variety”, this is all seeming relatively unspecific. Not a lot of help here because that appears to be a combination of “of great extent, range, or inclusiveness” and “a number of different things thought of together; collection of varied things”. Once again both the iPad and the iPod Touch qualify. In fact we can likely toss in the entire class of Smartphones into this category as Personal Computers.
Wrapping Up
It appears an iPad is a PC.
The things i have seen in terms of personal computer memory is always that there are specific features such as SDRAM, DDR etc, that must fit the specifications of the mother board. If the computer’s motherboard is reasonably current while there are no os issues, changing the ram literally will take under an hour or so. It’s among the easiest computer upgrade procedures one can consider. Thanks for revealing your ideas.
This is important information to have when looking for a job in today’s market.
Sure. It’s your account, you can do what you want. But, you might have some kind of fee to pay Verizon if you take the Droid off the account. You really need to talk to them first.
Your thoughts and opinions help me see the light. Thanks.