a16z Podcast a16z Podcast: When Your PC Expires, What's Next?
Apr 30, 2014
In this engaging discussion, Steven Sinofsky, a former Microsoft executive, shares his insights on the evolution of computing devices. He delves into the decline of iPad sales and the surge in smartphone usage, raising questions about future device choices. Sinofsky and Benedict Evans explore how laptops and tablets are competing for the same customers, the challenges of adapting mobile operating systems, and the changing perceptions of tablets in the workplace. The conversation highlights the blurring lines between phone, tablet, and PC categories as technology and user behavior evolve.
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Smartphones Are Replacing Tablets For Many Users
- People are leapfrogging tablets and going straight to smartphones for many tasks once thought to require a PC.
- Smartphones have become the default universal device, reshaping expectations for larger screens.
Inferior Form Factors Win By Offering New Value
- Disruptive devices often start inferior but win by offering new valued attributes like portability.
- Over time the new platforms pick up needed features and outcompete older architectures.
Mobile OS Principles Shift Larger Screens
- Mobile OS ideas like power management and app isolation are moving into larger-screen devices.
- That creates overlap and competition between laptops, tablets, and phones for similar use cases.