If you want some more evidence that the future may revolve more around devices than what we now consider full-blown computers, consider this report from Japan (AP, via Yahoo), which notes that “Overall PC shipments in Japan have fallen for five consecutive quarters, the first ever drawn-out decline in PC sales in a key market.” Indeed, Hitachi announced recently that it was getting out of the consumer PC business altogether.
It’s still early on and don’t consider that notebook PC on your lap a dinosaur just yet: the research firm IDC predicts that this year’s world-wide PC shipments will be up 11 percent. But five consecutive quarters is an inarguable trend. The leading edge is pointed toward devices. As savvy observer and Money:Tech conference chair Paul Kedrosky opines, “Personal computers are losing their luster everywhere — blame better smartphones, net-enabled TVs, etc. — but Japan is, as usual, out in front on the issue.”