
Don’t write off the desktop PC yet
I was in the US on the day the iPad was launched last year, ogling at the lovely tablet’s first avatar. Here in India last weekend, I got to play with the iPad2, with its killer looks, and great feel and features.
Also last week, trendlines in the Silicon Valley showed that desktop PCs may be waning in favour of mobile devices. Intel, which makes microchips for PCs, reduced its forecast, and Microsoft’s Windows platform sales fell below expectations, while Apple Inc beat them all with sales of 9 million tablets.
By 2015, an estimated 300 million tablets are expected to ship, not far behind 479 million PCs expected to be made, according to industry researcher IHS iSuppli.
Also last week, HT ran a story on how laptop computer prices have tumbled to R15,000 levels for basic versions (netbooks), as tablet sales loom.
So, is the desktop era over? I would say not, because I have also been watching some lovely machines made by Lenovo, Dell and India’s own Zenith. Starting at just over Rs25,000, the new ones pack in the processing unit, Web camera, speakers and other features in a compact ‘all-in-one’ PC — most importantly with a large screen. Some models come with remotes.
One analyst said last week, “To me a tablet is just a netbook that has a solid-state drive and a touchscreen.” Those are words of wisdom.
Prices are falling all over. While Google’s Android platform is making mobile devices cheaper and competition tougher, my guess is that compact formats and larger screens at lower prices will keep desktops shining.
With online videos exploding and broadband taking off in the form of sleeker wi-fi and cheaper data plans, I envision Net-linked smart TVs and/or large-screen desktops shining.
The desktop PC and the smart TV are likely to converge in some way. You are likely to watch or play with broadband content with a wireless keyboard or a remote that is designed like one, as one-way broadcasts of set programmes give way to wider choices and interactivity.

‘No teeth’: SC wants stricter OTT rules
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New Delhi rejects report as ‘misleading, misplaced’
- The external affairs ministry, which too rejected Freedom House’s report, also took exception to the depiction of Jammu and Kashmir in the map used in the document.

OCIs need nod for Tablighi, journalistic work: Centre
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K’taka ministers move court against airing of ‘defamatory content’
- After the allegations on Jarkiholi, there were unverified reports of several similar videos and other sex scandals against other cabinet ministers.

India set to achieve Paris pact targets before deadline: PM Modi
- India is a signatory to the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

CM in 1st list; DMK-Cong hit stalemate
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EC orders removal of PM’s images from vaccine certificates: Officials
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PM to head committee, Sonia and Tendulkar among 259 members
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NIA probes Jamaat-e-Islami’s J&K chapter
- According to Indian agencies, the JeI has maintained that J&K is a disputed territory.

YSRC bags all 6 MLC seats unopposed; silent on abolition of legislative council
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Andhra CM Jagan Reddy urges SC to restart Amravati land scam probe
- When the matter came up before a bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and R Subhash Reddy on Friday, the bench adjourned it to April 7 as it had no time for a full fledged hearing.

6 new cases of UK’s Covid-19 strain found in Indore, warning issued
- Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also held a review meeting on Friday to discuss with the divisional commissioners the steps being taken to contain the spread of the infection.

Container Corporation of India to push production, end dependency on China
- There is a cost difference of about 25-30 per cent in containers made in India and abroad.

India pushes China for disengagement at remaining friction points on LAC
- After an agreement last month on pulling back frontline troops along with armoured vehicles and artillery from strategic heights around Pangong Lake, the two sides have been unable to make progress on disengagement at other friction points such as Depsang, Hot Springs and Gogra.