Microsoft's Ray Ozzie Sees "Post-PC" World

Microsoft's retiring Chief Technical Officer Ray Ozzie asked that the company move on from its PC-oriented roots and envision a world that mainly relies on the Internet and wireless devices. The comment arrives just after the public announcement of his retirement and in less than a month before the 25th anniversary of Windows 1.0's launch.

"It’s important that all of us do precisely what our competitors and customers will ultimately do: close our eyes and form a realistic picture of what a post-PC world might actually look like, if it were to ever truly occur," he said in a blog. "Those who can envision a plausible future that’s brighter than today will earn the opportunity to lead."

He goes on to recognize a "wholesale reconfiguration" in the way we perceive and apply technology, referring to how consumers embrace apps and tablets. He also said that early adopters are moving away from mentally associating computing with PCs, CD-installed programs, desktops, files and folders. Instead, they're shifting towards cloud-based continuous services and appliance-like connected devices enabling them to interact with those cloud-based services.

"Many years ago when the PC first emerged as an alternative to the mini and mainframe, the key facets of simplicity and broad approachability were key to its amazing success," he said. "If there’s to be a next wave of industry reconfiguration--toward a world of internet-connected continuous services and appliance-like connected devices--it would likely arise again from those very same facets. It may take quite a while to happen, but I believe that in some form or another, without doubt, it will."

He added that there's an opportunity for those who envision the "end-game" to recognize both the inevitability and value inherent in the big shift ahead. Its also their responsibility to do what it takes to lead customers into that new post-PC world.

"In the short term, this means imagining the ‘killer apps & services’ and ‘killer devices’ that match up to a broad range of customer needs as they’ll evolve in this new era," he said.

To read his entire blog, head here.

  • dogman_1234
    Well, it is a star of an idea...

    I guess we will all have to see.
    Reply
  • eklipz330
    way to go out lookin' like a jerk... aren't pc sales going up?
    Reply
  • victorintelr
    Interesting concept of the future, still we don't know what lies ahead, but someone has to start with an idea at least.
    Reply
  • Parsian
    i like my PC. how dare they thinking of taking it away from me :'(
    Reply
  • Pretty reasonable conclusion in a world of iPads and Internet connected TV's. Those who embrace technology will flourish and those who oppose it will fade away.
    Reply
  • chickenhoagie
    i totally understand what he means. hes emphasizing the use and connectivity of portable devices and picturing the whole world with blazing fast internet and easy accessibility everywhere you go..doesn't mean PC's will go away. its a goal that will take a very long time to achieve but im very sure it could happen. However my only concern is what happens when you CAN'T get away from technology. I really hope in the future there is still ways to get away from all this for at least a brief moment..gotta remember, i grew up in the 90s!
    Reply
  • rohitbaran
    Well, it is very distant vision, but a good one.
    Reply
  • dEAne
    He really see the future as if it happen now.
    Reply
  • eddieroolz
    A visionary as always.
    Reply
  • loomis86
    What ozzie sees is the day when mankind no longer controls the automaton.
    Reply