The Future of the PC; The Solid-State Century; Scientific American Presents; by Friedlander, Roetter; 6 Page(s)

Prediction is fraught with peril. The sudden arrival in our culture of tens of millions of personal computers, however, necessarily makes one ponder what the near future will bring. Although the personal computer lets users perform many different useful or entertaining tasks, such as writing letters, playing games, sending e-mail or surfing the World Wide Web, it may already be-in its current incarnation-in its last days.

Rather than interact solely with a personal computer, users will engage a "personal network," which is already evolving from today's personal computer and its related devices. The current PC's capabilities barely scratch the surface of what the future may have in store. The changeover could be well along within a decade.