New 64-bit iPad 5 will pile more pressure on beleaguered PCs, analyst claims

(Source: Apple)

Apple's introduction of the iPad might not have been what single-handedly bought down the PC industry, but it certainly was the catalyst for a chain of events that heralded the era where "post-PC" devices dominated.

But one believes that things are only going to get worse for the PC industry when Apple unveils the iPad 5.

According to Chris Whitmore of Deutsche Bank Equity Research, the additional pressure on the PC market will come as a result of the iPad 5 making greater headway into the corporate environment.

See also: iPhone 5s 64-bit A7 chip is a 'marketing gimmick,' says Qualcomm exec

"We expect growing [desktop] virtualization and iPad deployments in the enterprise to pressure corporate PC sales through 2014-15," wrote Whitmore in a note. "We expect Apple's iPad refresh to include 64-bit architecture, which should enable a greater array of enterprise App development and facilitate greater enterprise penetration over time."

While nothing is officially known about the iPad 5, it is widely anticipated to feature a 64-bit processor similar to the one found in the new iPhone 5s.

As a result of this additional pressure, the estimates for PC shipments for 2013 and 2014 have been cut by 10 percent and 8 percent year-to-year respectively, from previous estimates of 8 percent and 6 percent.

Whitmore doesn't put much faith in Intel's new processors to help buoy sales either.

"In the near term, back to school PC demand appears relatively soft and recent new hardware releases (Haswell) had little impact spurring incremental demand. Furthermore, we believe the corporate upgrade cycle will peak in the [second-half] 2013 as corporates complete Windows 7 transitions ahead of Microsoft's ending support of Windows XP in early 2014."

Even cheap ultrabooks aren't expected to generate much holiday cheer.

"We expect [sub-$500 ultrabooks] to create additional PC average selling price and profitability headwinds."

Personally, I don't think that the transition to a 64-bit processor will make that much of a difference to the iPad in the short term. Apple's transition to 64-bit with the iPhone 5s is more about setting the groundwork for the future than it does with providing an immediate benefit for users.

The same will be true with the iPad, and while IT admins might have their interest piqued by a 64-bit processor, the real advantages it brings will only show up over time. 

And it's also not all plain sailing for the iPad. I foresee the tablet experiencing pressure from Amazon's new BYOD/enterprise-ready Kindle Fire HDX.

Microsoft responds to pressure over canceled TechNet subscriptions

Summary: The abrupt cancellation of Microsoft's TechNet subscription service sparked a sustained protest from IT pros, who had relied on easy, inexpensive access to Microsoft's enterprise software for well over a decade. In a string of announcements today, Microsoft extended an olive branch, but fell far short of reversing course.

Microsoft's decision earlier this year to shut down its TechNet subscription service was sudden and unpopular among some of its most loyal customers. An online petition to "Continue TechNet or create an affordable alternative to MSDN" now has nearly 11,000 signatures.

Today Microsoft addressed some of those concerns. No, the governor hasn't shown up with a last-minute reprieve for the program, which stopped accepting new orders on August 31. But Microsoft has made a few changes that address some of the complaints from those soon-to-be-ex-TechNet subscribers.

First, any existing subscriber with an account that is set to expire between September 1, 2013, and September 30, 2014, will get a free 90-day extension of their subscription benefits. The stated purpose: "to help ensure customers have more time to plan for the transition to our other offerings."

Second, Microsoft announced that some older software packages will be made available on the TechNet Evaluation Center.

One of the bigger pieces of feedback we heard was that some people subscribe to TechNet Subscriptions primarily do so to access older product, to prep for migration and do app compatibility testing.  TechNet Evaluation Center houses trial software for our most recent releases and preview/betas -- we're adding prior versions to help enable this migration and testing from products still in mainstream support.  Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, and others are available now and we'll be adding additional products in over time.

Meanwhile, in a separate but related announcement, a Microsoft spokesperson told me the company would be contacting members of its Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) program. For years, MCTs have been given a free TechNet subscription to help them prepare course materials and help with their training needs. That group was most affected by the sudden end of the longstanding program, and none of Microsoft's proposed alternatives made sense for them.

In response, Microsoft announced that it will be contacting MCTs directly in the next few weeks. Their existing TechNet subscriptions will be extended  for 90 days without charge and will be replaced shortly with "a new solution that will provide access to non-time bombed software for instructional/training purposes." Details aren't yet available.

I'll be contacting TechNet subscribers and getting their reactions shortly. I don't expect thesse modest changes to make much of a dent inthe grumbling. If you're a current TechNet subscriber, feel free to leave your comments in the Talkback section.

Topics: Software, Enterprise Software, Microsoft

Ed Bott is an award-winning technology writer with more than two decades' experience writing for mainstream media outlets and online publications.

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