What should be a personal computer
In this article, I will not talk about the new generation processors, nor about the technologies of the future. I just want to touch on the design of computer devices.
Today, the trend is aimed at combining all the functions in one device. The market is filled with laptops, tablets, smart TVs. But I strongly disagree with this state of things and perceive the current situation as a transition period to another computer model - the MVC model.
If you are a programmer, then this concept should remind you of the architecture of the model-view-controller application. It is about such a model that the thoughts in this article will go.
Further, the words “model”, “interface”, and “controller” will often be mentioned, and their meanings should be understood as individual parts of the computer:
We consider each part separately and find out how all three parts should be connected so that it:
If you are the owner of several devices, then you probably experienced discomfort from the fact that the data is in different places and you need to somehow synchronize this data.
From here came the cloud hosting services. But if you do not want to trust your information to anyone, then an external drive will be a great solution (starting from a flash drive and ending with an external ssd / hdd drive).
Conclusion: for convenience, the data should be stored in one place.
Now let's think about what tasks a computer device should perform.
Of course, everything should be done on a personal computer. And to play games, and to work, and to climb the Internet, and to connect some specific device, in general, everything.
On television, naturally, television programs should be displayed. But it would be nice of course to go online. And if you could play games on it? In general, you can embed a computer into the TV! And thus the line between the personal computer and the TV is gradually erased (from the point of view of the tasks performed).
Laptops and tablets - in fact, perform the same tasks as personal computers. If before tablets were more used for entertainment, now there is a need to perform tasks related to work, including office work.
Conclusion: the difference between the tasks performed by different devices is gradually decreasing.
Buying a laptop instead of a personal computer, the buyer gets everything! Monitor, computer, keyboard, speakers and much more and all in one bottle. But most importantly - he gets mobility. With the release of tablets, users get even more mobility.
And when the line in the difference in the performance of tablets and laptops is erased, the only differences will remain mobility and interface.
And the following arguments confirm this: The
personal computer has a convenient interface. You can connect keyboards, mice, steering wheels, speakers, multiple monitors. But he is practically not mobile.
Smart TVs are also not mobile, but are sharpened by the output interface: high-quality large screen, sound output. Laptops are more mobile, but at the expense of the interface. Less comfortable keyboard and manipulator, smaller screen. Yes, you can connect additional input / output devices, but this is to the detriment of mobility. The tablets are super mobile, but the screen is very small and the input device is specific.
Conclusion: mobility and interface are the most significant differences between a personal computer, laptop, tablet and smart TV.
And now:
Meanwhile, as manufacturers try to combine all these parts into one device, I do not agree with this approach and explain why.
With the advent of flash drives, I try to store all the data in one place. It is very convenient. As the saying goes: "I carry all of myself with me." Both at home and at work and in the car: all the files are always with me. If possible, I install programs on an external drive.
But things are worse with the “Controller” part. In almost all devices, the controller is inseparable from the interface. And this, in my opinion, is terrible!
At home I need a controller with a TV interface. At work, I need the same controller with a personal computer interface. In transport, I want the same controller with the tablet interface.
I do not want to install different operating systems and different programs on three devices. I want to use the usual programs, games with different interfaces: at home on a large TV, at work on two monitors, in transport on a small touch screen.
Conclusion: the controller and model should be the only ones, and the interface should change depending on the situation.
And there are two obstacles in this way:
Technical - the performance of compact devices does not yet satisfy the needs of all users.
Ideological - it is still profitable for manufacturers to sell more devices: with three different interfaces, they can sell three of the same “controller”.
I will say right away that I do not advertise Intel products, but this is my first “like-minded person”. It was Intel who turned in the direction of developing this idea. Now he is actively promoting his NUC system - Next Unit of Computing. And this phrase exactly matches my idea.
A striking example of this position was the rejection of the sound card and analog video connectors, because this applies to part of the interface. Video and sound are now output only by digital (hdmi or usb). At home, you can connect to a large TV with a home theater, at work just to the monitor. True, there are no portable monitors so that you can use it while lying on the couch or in transport.
NUC does not contain anything superfluous, only a “controller” and the main possibilities of connecting other devices: USB, HDMI, Ethernet, WIFI + WIDI.
NUC computers are quite compact to carry. Now all programs can be installed on one computer and used at work and at home, without having to carry a monitor and keyboard with you.
But these are only the first steps of this approach, and there are a number of unrealized opportunities.
There are not enough portable monitors that would perform only the input-output function. There is not enough battery built into the computer. Then such a computer could be used in transport.
Also, WIDI technology is poorly supported.
I hope other manufacturers support Intel's endeavors. I would like manufacturers to not integrate as much as possible into their device, but focus on the essence of their product: monitor - image output, computer - task execution. I hope Asus and others stop making transformers from their devices, but agree between themselves and make two separate devices: a portable monitor and a separate computer. And they will be connected in some standard way, for example, via usb, hdmi and widi.
Let me explain what I mean.
Today, the trend is aimed at combining all the functions in one device. The market is filled with laptops, tablets, smart TVs. But I strongly disagree with this state of things and perceive the current situation as a transition period to another computer model - the MVC model.
If you are a programmer, then this concept should remind you of the architecture of the model-view-controller application. It is about such a model that the thoughts in this article will go.
Further, the words “model”, “interface”, and “controller” will often be mentioned, and their meanings should be understood as individual parts of the computer:
- Model - is responsible for data storage. This is a hard drive, flash drive, cloud data storage.
- Controller - is responsible for the tasks performed and connects all parts of the system into a single whole. This includes a set of programs and the hardware necessary for this: processor, video card, etc.
- Interface - or view, is responsible for the input / output interface. For example, a monitor, keyboard.
We consider each part separately and find out how all three parts should be connected so that it:
- First of all it was convenient.
- Secondly saved from unnecessary costs.
Model
If you are the owner of several devices, then you probably experienced discomfort from the fact that the data is in different places and you need to somehow synchronize this data.
From here came the cloud hosting services. But if you do not want to trust your information to anyone, then an external drive will be a great solution (starting from a flash drive and ending with an external ssd / hdd drive).
Conclusion: for convenience, the data should be stored in one place.
Controller
Now let's think about what tasks a computer device should perform.
Of course, everything should be done on a personal computer. And to play games, and to work, and to climb the Internet, and to connect some specific device, in general, everything.
On television, naturally, television programs should be displayed. But it would be nice of course to go online. And if you could play games on it? In general, you can embed a computer into the TV! And thus the line between the personal computer and the TV is gradually erased (from the point of view of the tasks performed).
Laptops and tablets - in fact, perform the same tasks as personal computers. If before tablets were more used for entertainment, now there is a need to perform tasks related to work, including office work.
Conclusion: the difference between the tasks performed by different devices is gradually decreasing.
Interface
Buying a laptop instead of a personal computer, the buyer gets everything! Monitor, computer, keyboard, speakers and much more and all in one bottle. But most importantly - he gets mobility. With the release of tablets, users get even more mobility.
And when the line in the difference in the performance of tablets and laptops is erased, the only differences will remain mobility and interface.
And the following arguments confirm this: The
personal computer has a convenient interface. You can connect keyboards, mice, steering wheels, speakers, multiple monitors. But he is practically not mobile.
Smart TVs are also not mobile, but are sharpened by the output interface: high-quality large screen, sound output. Laptops are more mobile, but at the expense of the interface. Less comfortable keyboard and manipulator, smaller screen. Yes, you can connect additional input / output devices, but this is to the detriment of mobility. The tablets are super mobile, but the screen is very small and the input device is specific.
Conclusion: mobility and interface are the most significant differences between a personal computer, laptop, tablet and smart TV.
And now:
The essence of the problem
Meanwhile, as manufacturers try to combine all these parts into one device, I do not agree with this approach and explain why.
With the advent of flash drives, I try to store all the data in one place. It is very convenient. As the saying goes: "I carry all of myself with me." Both at home and at work and in the car: all the files are always with me. If possible, I install programs on an external drive.
But things are worse with the “Controller” part. In almost all devices, the controller is inseparable from the interface. And this, in my opinion, is terrible!
At home I need a controller with a TV interface. At work, I need the same controller with a personal computer interface. In transport, I want the same controller with the tablet interface.
I do not want to install different operating systems and different programs on three devices. I want to use the usual programs, games with different interfaces: at home on a large TV, at work on two monitors, in transport on a small touch screen.
Conclusion: the controller and model should be the only ones, and the interface should change depending on the situation.
And there are two obstacles in this way:
Technical - the performance of compact devices does not yet satisfy the needs of all users.
Ideological - it is still profitable for manufacturers to sell more devices: with three different interfaces, they can sell three of the same “controller”.
Solution to the problem today
I will say right away that I do not advertise Intel products, but this is my first “like-minded person”. It was Intel who turned in the direction of developing this idea. Now he is actively promoting his NUC system - Next Unit of Computing. And this phrase exactly matches my idea.
A striking example of this position was the rejection of the sound card and analog video connectors, because this applies to part of the interface. Video and sound are now output only by digital (hdmi or usb). At home, you can connect to a large TV with a home theater, at work just to the monitor. True, there are no portable monitors so that you can use it while lying on the couch or in transport.
NUC does not contain anything superfluous, only a “controller” and the main possibilities of connecting other devices: USB, HDMI, Ethernet, WIFI + WIDI.
NUC computers are quite compact to carry. Now all programs can be installed on one computer and used at work and at home, without having to carry a monitor and keyboard with you.
But these are only the first steps of this approach, and there are a number of unrealized opportunities.
There are not enough portable monitors that would perform only the input-output function. There is not enough battery built into the computer. Then such a computer could be used in transport.
Also, WIDI technology is poorly supported.
My wishes
I hope other manufacturers support Intel's endeavors. I would like manufacturers to not integrate as much as possible into their device, but focus on the essence of their product: monitor - image output, computer - task execution. I hope Asus and others stop making transformers from their devices, but agree between themselves and make two separate devices: a portable monitor and a separate computer. And they will be connected in some standard way, for example, via usb, hdmi and widi.