Comment: PC buyers see lure of the fast life

For the first time in four years I have a good feeling about the prospects for an industry sector: the PC business. No, I'm not suggesting that you start planning to invest in IBM and Dell and Toshiba and HP shares.

But I might suggest that the companies behind the shares might survive the next 12 months - if, that is, they can get through the next six months.

It's far, far too soon to be looking at the 64bit PC market, but that's what I'm doing. I've seen a working AMD Hammer - a 64bit processor that starts up looking just like a 32bit Athlon chip, and can execute standard Windows code.

What impressed me about it was the speed of pretty standard Windows applications. And at that speed, what was remarkable was how cool the chip itself ran. You can, honestly, rest your hand on the cooling fins. No, not just tap it quickly and suck your fingers; actually leave your hand lying on the chip.

For the last three years, maybe more, people have been saying: "I don't need a faster PC. I can manage on a P2 266." And largely, they've been right. But those times are coming to an end.

Home users want to view complex animated Flash. Corporate users are suffering from antiquated machines with horrible maintenance bills. And applications are appearing that tax even a 3GHz chip. Like it or not, replacement PCs will be needed; and if there genuinely is a go-faster machine, then anybody with a budget will want one.

As to the budgets, ask the experts. I can't predict how many people will be able to afford to keep their staff, never mind equip them with PCs, but I know that many firms will need to do both. And postponing the decision is not going to be an option for much longer.

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