I was reading an article the other day about theDeath of the pc and how tablets and smartphones would lead the way forward with technology.Just wandered what people's thoughts on this was and what it would mean for the FS community?

I think that sounds like a heaping pile bovine fertilizer. Tablets and smartphones are just revolutionizing the way we consume information and entertainment, but I don't think it's going to have an overall effect on computing or desktop computers.

Yes thats what I first thought but then I thought about how much and fast technology changes. I can't see the idea as unrealistic.

Not sure if its the right place here in PMDG forum, but anyway... I look very well forward to this new technologies: the day would certainly come if we live all in the cloud! (or whatever it's name will be)Imagine every application is webbased, so you could use any computer you like...at home, internet cafe, work... everywhere you log on and have access to your personal software and settings. That demands no more strong hardware, no big towers, no running after frames, because all is webbased, even FlightSimulator. Next point is the community:imagine one is building windmills and is loading the 3D model up and you could place it then in the correct way in the FlightSim world as they are in Reality, too. Another guy is creating and placing his home in the correct way, etc. Look at Google Earth and the 3D Cities.And every placed object is instantly available on your flightsim ... the world is growing day by day. One step further comes my dream of the "world game".Again, imagine to merge all sim games together. FlightSim, Omnibus, Subway, Railway, the Sims, Ships...So you could wake up in the morning, driving to the airport with the bus, another guy will fly you to another city, and you start you atlantic crossing in a ship ;) The disadvantage of these cloud things is, that companies and users have to learn how to share and to protect their datas.Companies have to protect, users have to learn what to tell and what better not.But I looking positive in the future as every new technology needs some learning how to handle it ... Hope that was the intention of your question...

Yes it's along the lines. We would have thought some things we do every day today, unimaginable maybe even 5 years ago. By the way I like your idea, maybe you should patent that

maybe you should patent that

I'm quite sure there are several patents on it already since years ;)

I don't see that becoming a reality until unlimited broadband is available to the entire world. The fastest speed where I currently live is 5mbps (Southern Brazil), but there are still areas in the US where the fastest connections are barely 1mbps (some areas of PA and VA, from experience). I had 50mbps when I lived in Boston, and 100mbps in college, and even then it doesn't seem all that plausible...

well when a tablet can run FSX and PMDG737 at 40fps come and let me know =)

I have 6 tablets now and number 7 its on the way here in the mail from dell not out yet and i myself can tell you guys i see alot of impresing things coming out when it comes to tablets .

Where is your bug screen gonna be? You can't have a 24" smartphone PCs will never go out.

Smartphones and tablets are information consuming devices - they're not (nor do I think they really ever can be) information creating devices. The idea of programmers writing code on a tablet with a touch keyboard is silly. There's always going to be a place for more traditional PCs I think.