Goodbye PC, Hello Cloud

I write this blog on the day Apple announced iCloud, a service that will allow consumers to keep photos, music, books, videos, documents, all in the same place and then synchronize the information so that it can be used across all platforms. That way, you'd have easy access to the information from your mobile phone, your iPad or any other device that has internet access.

The Washington Post with Bloomberg Business report says iCloud is a step toward the demise of the personal computer. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/icloud-cloud-computing-services-promise-to-change-the-way-we-use-computers/2011/06/06/AGBdTgKH_story.html)

The report quotes Paul Saffo, managing director of foresight at Discern Analytics.

"The whole idea of a standalone personal computer with a big processor is going the way of the VCR," said Saffo. "Steve Jobs, who delivered personal computing to the rest of us, is now doing more through the iCloud to get rid of personal computing than anyone.

Cloud computing is not new. Washington Post with Bloomberg reports new technologies are forcing companies like Microsoft and Dell to struggle to keep up.

"Saffo added that some of those companies haven’t quite figured it out. Founder Michael Dell was rehired at Dell largely to deal with the emergence of the cloud, Saffo said, and Microsoft is just 'stumbling.'

'It’s a rough transition for those used to selling keyboards,' he said."

The story reports many government agencies are "embracing cloud computing." Companies like Amazon and Kindle already use cloud technology.

So what does this mean for social media?

Chapter 5 in the Social Media Bible discusses the importance of web sites as a vehicle for connecting with your audience, selling a product, providing information. But I think the traditional website will have to change dramatically in order to be part of the trend toward smaller, faster, more mobile.

If the predictions are true, and small, portable devices replace personal computers, websites will have to be redesigned to live and breathe on the small screen. Information, transactions, conversations will have to take place in an environment that fits the smart phone and the iPad. Web designers will need to create sites for the small screen first, instead of creating a full website with a mobile version.

In a way, social media is already moving that direction. More and more, users are tweeting from a restaurant, checking in on Four Square and posting pictures from a phone. They are more trusting of web applications and more willing to trust the small device over the personal computer.

Websites have to play catchup. Smart businesses will need to think ahead to a time when a larger percentage of the population is equipped with mobile devices and more likely to own an iPad than a desktop or even a laptop.

I've resisted getting a smart phone. But I can see that's where we're headed so I probably will jump on board within a year or so. It's going to soon be a requirement and in order to stay ahead, I'll need to make the investment.