The Post-PC Era is Emerging

Perhaps no other invention revolutionized the world as profoundly as the personal computer. From the clunky, bug-ridden devices that were assembled from mail-order parts by a small number of geeks in garages in the 1970s — to the sleek machines of today, the PC has become a vital tool in the work and personal lives of nearly every American.

They have become so ubiquitous that, in January 2003, more than half a billion personal computers were in use around the globe. By the end of the year, another 134 million PCs were added, accor.....