Karl envisions the future of computing

There's been a lot of discussion in the last couple of years as to what the face of computing will look like in 10 years, as entrepreneurial companies like Google begin to release products that look to the future of computing, while companies like Microsoft try to re-invent themselves.

The most common predictions I keep hearing is that the desktop platform will become less of a factor while more people start to do their computing on their portable devices. Google seems poised to take advantage of that shift even before it becomes a reality. With Chrome - their new browser, Android - their smart phone (portable device) OS based on Linux, and the increasing number of web-based applications being churned out by Google, they are more than ready to guide users away from fat client computing (where all the data and programs are on your machine) to the new generation of thin client computing (where all the data and programs are online and you access them through your web browser). This is a paradigm that's been waiting to happen for a long time, but it took Google to realize it.

Why is this such a big deal? Because when your software isn't running on your device, but is running on a web server; and the data you create is stored elsewhere; your device doesn't need tremendous computing power and storage requirements. It just needs to connect and have a decent User Interface. Which means devices can be small and lightweight, batteries last longer and you can do your thing literally anywhere you have internet connectivity. In this paradigm, devices like the iPhone literally become your computer and that noisy box sitting at home becomes nothing more than a game console. Since standalone game consoles do a better job - why have a desktop at all? The only use I see them providing is as customized PVRs and network storage devices for movies and music.

Hasta la vista Microsoft................