Cameras Next?

WestEndBoy

Read the following article about Sony:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/02/06/272471583/sony-will-shed-5-000-jobs-and-pc-business

PB_PM

Unlikely, since the imaging division actually made money last year, vs the PC business.

manhattanboy

Read the following article about Sony:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/02/06/272471583/sony-will-shed-5-000-jobs-and-pc-business

Most of the consumer Sony PC business was via laptops... but those have been slaughtered to pieces by tablets and Sony really does not have a viable tablet business. I think it is a smart move for Sony, however, they should move some of those people from the computer business into the phone division and see if they produce better phones and phablets because that division is no where near a market leader. They have creative people, as Sony was one of the first companies to produce UMPCs and we all appreciate their innovation in imaging technology (like the D800 sensor or the FF mirrorless A7r).

Ironheart

One point of fact, Nikon designed the D800 sensor, Sony just stamped it out in their Fab. I doubt the Sony engineers had anything to do with it, in fact they are probably prohibited from looking at any of the designs.

I will miss the VAIO systems, they were always very well engineered. But as you point out, PCs are going the way of the dodo. Very interesting quote from the article, and a fact I was not aware of:

Moody's credit rating agency downgraded Sony's credit to junk status in January.

That's the whole bloody company mind you, not just a division. This means they will have a very hard time borrowing money, even with today's 0.0% interest rates.

shawnino

Moody's downgraded Sony? Bah. If I was the chairman of Sony, I'd go on TV and announce I was downgrading Moody's.

"Moody's: We brought you the financial crisis by rating horribly toxic mortgage-backed securities as Triple-A. But wait, there's more!"

birdman

Laptops are going away. After tablets, it will be holographic checkbook-sized devices that lets you enjoy all of your many Facebook "friends" and never have to physically interact with them. Wait...we're almost there.
;-0 Just a little Tuesday morning humor

Beso

Laptops are going away. After tablets, it will be holographic checkbook-sized devices that lets you enjoy all of your many Facebook "friends" and never have to physically interact with them. Wait...we're almost there.
;-0 Just a little Tuesday morning humor

More truth here than many would care to admit.

Killerbob

In the short run, it is the end of laptops as we know them. The tablets also have a relatively short-lived future. The following "big hype" will be wearable technology.

I work int he technology field, and that is all we talk about in the HW space. More importantly, the "internet of things" is gaining traction, and everything, read EVERYTHING, will be hooked up, with lots and lots of cloud based solutions.

So for cameras; I think we need to accept smaller, connected, instant, and with built-in functionality which means we can circumvent the laptop/tablet all together.

PB_PM

The wearable stuff is just a pain. I haven't worn a watch in years because I hate having it on, and I only put glasses on when I need them. I cannot see smart watches or smart glasses being all that popular, compared to tablets.