I answered it already. Because the average user has been replacing their desktop with a laptop for a while now.
But smartphones are growing at an even faster rate.
So, watch that video in the first post and then come tell me why someone would buy a laptop after buying that phone.
Sent from my HTC Evo using Tapatalk.
not sure why I really want to wade into this debate, but I disagree with the premise that the smart phone will replace the computer, at least not within the time frame Salty mentions (4 years?)
a couple of points - -
Salty cites the fact that smart phone sales are growing at a faster rate than computer sales. This reflects a few things that really have nothing to do with a possible demise in the use of computers:
1 - phone companies keep offering special deals for upgrading phones, giving consumers an incentive to do so every two years or less. That doesn't seem to be the case with computers.
2 - at this point, the technology on the phones is evolving more rapidly that the technology on computers, again providing folks with an incentive to replace their cell phone
3 - families are buying these phones for their children, it's not unusual for a family of 5 to have 5 different cell phones on their plan. It's more unusual for that family to have 5 separate computers in their household. Just because a family has 5 smart phones but only 2 computers in the household does not mean that they are replacing all the tasks done with the computer by using their smart phone.
Also, I agree with those who say that as folks age, or for young kids who lack the manual dexterity for a phone's keyboard, many people will prefer to use the computer (I'm not differentiating between a desktop and laptop here) because of its larger screen and keyboard. Perhaps as Salty says, that will be replaced by smart phone "add-ons" that will mimic a larger computer, but I'm not sure folks will be in a hurry to spend the money it will take to totally revamp what they already have. Perhaps somewhere down the line that will happen, but for the foreseeable future I don't see consumers spending the money to do so.
Nor do I think corporations are going to be willing to make the investment to revamp their product line to develop and promote those sorts of gadgets given the current economic climate.
As you may know, I don't have a "smart" phone so I can't really speak from personal experience. I do have an ipod touch which is pretty similar, it just can't make phone calls and needs wifi rather than being able to access the phone system. But it does alot and carries no service charges, a big plus in my book.
But my kids all do have smart phones, and I see them use their phones all the time. They also have laptops, and they're often using both simultaneously. Now perhaps there is a way to do that with one device, I don't know, but from what I observe, it seems it would be pretty difficult.
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