Running topview on your PCJR: A lighthearted look at PC projections

Abstract

Predictions can be fun to make, and the temptation must be overwhelming if you're an “expert” in a field as dynamic as personal computing. For that matter, market analysts are paid to make projections. Thus, the PC field doesn't lack for insights into the future. If you base your plans on those predictions and projections rather than your understanding and a touch of caution, you can be led seriously astray. As with most other projections for the marketplace, PC predictions range from superb to awful. Worse yet, some supposedly objective analysts become advocates—coloring their projections with their hopes. To wrap up this year‐long look back at a decade of personal computing, the author notes a few of the failed predictions and assertions that litter the computer press. Hindsight is always easier than foresight, and some of these predictions should have been correct. Meanwhile, it's worth noting a few general areas where projections have gone wrong.

Citation

Crawford, W. (1994), "Running topview on your PCJR: A lighthearted look at PC projections", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 12 No. 2, pp. 33-96. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb047917