Thorsten Heins: Tablets will be dead in 5 years

During an interview at the Milken Institute, Blackberry CEO Thorsten Heins expressed his thoughts about how the mobile computing scene will be like in five-year’s time, and this is what he has to say, “In five years I don’t think there’ll be a reason to have a tablet anymore.”

playbook

Now some of you may think that Mr. Heins just got up on the wrong side of the bed during the day of this interview, but those who are keeping tabs on BlackBerry would know that tablet isn’t exactly a part of the company’s pressing agenda.

We really can’t blame him for thinking this way, especially considering the poor outing they got from their first (and likely the last) shot at the tablet market, the BlackBerry PlayBook. But it’s not like he hates tablets or anything; in fact, he’s not entirely closing his doors for future PlayBook successor. But he emphasized that the company will only release another tablet if it sees its potential to be profitable.

“Maybe a big screen in your workspace, but not a tablet as such. Tablets themselves are not a good business model.” –Thorsten Heins.

Five years is a long time, and judging from the pace that technology is in, we’re pretty sure that a new technology will make his vision of “one mobile computing device to rule them all” a reality. But this begs the question, do you agree with his “tablet obsolescence in five years” prediction? Hit the comments field and let us know.

source

Ronnie Bulaong

This article was written by Ronnie Bulaong, a special features contributor and correspondent for YugaTech. Follow him on Twitter @turonbulaong.

https://www.yugatech.com

32 Comments

Robert DC. Reyes says:

12 years ago

Well, what can you expect from the CEO of BlackBerry after the failed PlayBook? :D
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potato says:

12 years ago

Bb OS is shit, overpriced, not worth it
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ryan says:

12 years ago

In 5 years time. Blackberry will be dead too. :p
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Yusuf says:

12 years ago

Make that a year.
ferdinand marte says:

12 years ago

…and nobody will mourn it’s passing except mr. heins.
ferdinand marte says:

12 years ago

…and that’s assuming if he is still with BB in 1 year, let alone 5.

PI Outsource says:

12 years ago

I totally agree.

In 2018, Smart phones will be the “guts” of what used to be a computer in 2012. We will plug our smart phones into a video, speaker, keyboard, and external port “docking station” (hopefully standardized) when we are home. We will then be able to do what a 2Ghz 4MB 500GB computer does today.

This applies to the “home computing” consumer only. The business sector will always have a need for bigger and faster “machines” to do more intense computing.

I consider myself a “power-user”. I can predict that when my new Laptop runs its course in three years, I see myself purchasing the top of the line smart phone in 2016 to handle all of my computing.
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Hell No says:

12 years ago

Hell no, why? Your talking about the tech the smart phone may obtain in the future, but so does the tech of desktop computers, look they told that laptops will be more like a desktop computer in termz of power, in some cases it may be true but go find and assemble the most tech advance laptop and compare it to the desktop computer that you also bought and assembled with the top of the line spec and you will see that the laptop is waaaay behind the benchmarks, same as smartphones they can never be better than the big ones that can be customized and upgraded, oh wait you can also use a mouse and keyboard in a smartphone that has HDMI so yeah, its not that high,
Of Course says:

12 years ago

Though it is true that desktops will always be a step ahead in terms of prowess than a laptop and the smartphone. plus the fact that it is quite cheaper than it’s more mobile counterparts

We should also consider that most people are not doing extensive computing to require a very strong computer. thus if a smartphone can be connected to peripherals and make it work like a PC, with enough processing power and memory. then you really might not need a desktop after all.

Fleeb says:

12 years ago

He is talking about the workplace. If he means workstation, I do not think tablets will replace them anytime soon. The tablets will always be there for consumers though.
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Ayun says:

12 years ago

Kasisimula pa lang, pinatay na haha. They said PC is dying, tapos tablet naman, e anung kapalit?
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XTN says:

12 years ago

Dude! Tablets came here like 12 years ago. It wasnt really its time back then thats why It failed.
alcbu says:

12 years ago

capsule, perhaps.

OneMac says:

12 years ago

Mr. Heins’ prediction is as lame as his company’s products! A one mobile devise to rule them all is the key to the future.
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zarne says:

12 years ago

And who is to say that Mr. H. Thorsten’ statement is true or false? With evolving new technologies, nobody knows what is going to happen in 5 years. I thinks he shares your prediction about a “devise that will rule them all”, and that devise could be the Smartphone. I do not see the tablet replacing PC or smartphone. BTW, did you see those people who are taking pictures with their 10″ tablet, it’s hilarious!

Daryll says:

12 years ago

Nice try :)
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echo says:

12 years ago

Tell that to samsung and apple
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XTN says:

12 years ago

Actually I am expecting very nice updates from tablets 5 years from now.

Ever heard of Nvidia Tegra’s plans to overpower even the ps3 and xbox 360 in a very mobile form factor?
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