The times, they are a-changin’. It seems now that the iPad is beginning to encroach on the PC market. But this is just the beginning.

According to IDC, the world saw an additional 2.7 per cent of PCs shipped in Q4, much less than the 5.5 per cent expected. But tablet sales soared.

Gartner told a similar story, saying growth had slowed to 3.1 per cent from the 4.8 per cent previously expected.

The FT quoted Mikako Kitagawa, an analyst at Gartner as saying: “Media tablets such as the iPad, as well as other consumer electronic devices such as game consoles, all competed against PCs.”

But the point is, the iPad story has only just begun. Other tablets using the Google Android system are set to follow.

Here is a question for you. Given that PCs double in speed every 18 months, why are they as slow and as unreliable as ever?

Every time Microsoft upgrades its version of windows, the PC it runs on seems to slow down.

We are all used to the Windows-type environment, but in contrast to tablets, the PC is looking mighty old-fashioned now.

And in any case, as people start getting used to the iPad operating system, or the Linux operating system, on mobiles and tablets, is it not inevitable that they will start demanding a similar system for their desktop.

Time was when we used our computer as a word processor and for spreadsheets, and all the other features were like an added extra.

Now we use our computer to view video, listen to music, socialise via Facebook or a similar tool, and maybe even to read books. Word processing and spreadsheets are like an added extra.

Microsoft has got its work cut out, all right.

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