I find it strange that people don't count devices with touch screens as personal computers, even if they are personal. I always understood the 'personal' so that I'm in control of that device. So any general purpose computer where developers can distribute directly to consumers is a PC.
If a device allows accessible app sideloading, you can install software on it at will and use your device in any way you want. And that's my definition of a personal computer.
Devices running desktop windows or OS X are PCs to me. As are most Android based tablets and smartphones.
Am I right that most of you define the term differently? Because by my definition, the PC is doing very well. It's certainly under attack (windows phone 7, metro, iOS etc). But it's doing very well.
The truth of the statement in the OP depends on the vague definition of a 'personal computer' used. There is only an artificial difference: what kind of input/output is used. But what if you connect a monitor and a bluetooth keyboard to your (rooted?) Android phone? Instant Linux box.
There is a very large grey area in between which is generally left out. What about laptops? netbooks? laptops with touch screens? Pads with detachable keyboards? Are those "personal computers"?
"General purpose personal computation devices" will live.
The definition of a personal computer is probably a topic that could be endlessly debated. I would personally classify it as a general purpose computer that the user can program, so why not a phone running (non crippled) Linux?
Once you can run your own native code on the thing the differences are down to factors like software ecosystem, hardware performance and input mechanism, but the potential is there.
Exactly. Hardware (CPU/GPU) performance of current phones is on par with "desktop PCs" of only a few years back, so I would even count that one out. It's fast enough, and they're catching up.
You're definitely right about the ambiguity of the term "personal computer." The OS X adverts of Macs vs. PCs have always seemed a bit silly to me -- after all, a Mac is a personal computer, right?
Unfortunately, manufacturers are trying to take the control of devices away from their users. The vast majority of users don't notice and/or don't care. I think it's a problem, but maybe (hopefully?) I'm wrong.
If a device allows accessible app sideloading, you can install software on it at will and use your device in any way you want. And that's my definition of a personal computer.
Devices running desktop windows or OS X are PCs to me. As are most Android based tablets and smartphones.
Am I right that most of you define the term differently? Because by my definition, the PC is doing very well. It's certainly under attack (windows phone 7, metro, iOS etc). But it's doing very well.