SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Technology Stocks : Rambus (RMBS) - Eagle or Penguin
RMBS 94.88+2.7%3:59 PM EST
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Skeeter Bug who wrote (78817)10/1/2001 2:01:17 PM
From: Andre Williamson  Read Replies (2) of 93625
 
Food for thought:

The US PC market was relatively steady for years with a ~40% penetration, and the market was driven largely by performance upgrades.

Then the sub-$1,000 computer came along with a slightly less user-unfriendly interface; combine this with the growing pull of e-mail and the web, and penetration was finally shoved over 50%.

Seems to me that we're largely saturated now (again) - in the US - given available PC uses vs. most user requirements and computer aptitude+interest.

So what will drive PC sales going forward? Shouldn't we be back to some extent in a performance market, one where the objective isn't so much to draw in new users so much as meet their need for much higher performance? And won't these new 'killer apps' require a substantial leap over today's mid-range machines?

What I'm thinking is this: what if we're in a trough of sorts, where the mid- to high-end desktop PCs today don't yet meet the requirements of tomorrow's killer apps (e.g., video processing, voice recognition), but also don't much improve the performance of today's necessary apps?

In other words, could it be that we need a few more rounds of improved processors to finally draw in new consumers in serious numbers?

And doesn't this imply that 'budget PCs' will be nothing but the equivalent of small bandaids on the gaping wounds of the semiconductor industry?

Andre
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News