Microsoft reportedly working on AIO PC to rival iMac

Strange things are happening in the PC market these days. As the industry faces declining shipments, PCs are becoming increasingly specialized. Meanwhile, the middle of the market is getting hollowed up. Established PC makers want to move upstream as they are shipping fewer computers. Entrants to the hardware market are concentrating on the high end to compete with the likes of Apple. That has been Microsoft's approach with its Surface line of products. Now, rumors are saying the company is preparing to announce an all-in-one Surface PC this year to compete with the iMac. As reports go, this one is not too crazy. Microsoft has filed a patent for a modular all-in-one PC design and the company already makes giant all-in-one PCs in the form of its Surface Hubs.

Of course, Apple has made itself the company to beat in consumer electronics. Other PC makers are also trying to draw comparisons to Apple products. HP released its Spectre 13.3, which is now the thinnest laptop available, beating out the MacBook. Huawei has also unveiled its MateBook tablet, which doubles as a laptop when coupled with its keyboard case. The sleek design, however, invites more comparisons to the iPad than Microsoft's Surface. The MateBook will also be Huawei's first foray into the highly competitive Japan PC market.

One company from France is going in a different direction with PCs by using the adaptability of Windows 10 to its advantage. Kineti announced a PC coffee table, which is just what it sounds like. The table has a large touchscreen on the top surface and is running Windows. It can be useful for things such as streaming content to the TV while controlling the device from the table. Whether consumers want to pay $5,600 for that function is another issue.

Experimentation in the PC market is clearly alive and well, in spite of the general decline lately. But the PC market is not shrinking everywhere. In fact, recent numbers from IDC show the Philippine market’s PC shipments increased 7 percent year-over-year in the first quarter to 518,645 units. The market was buoyed by strong laptop sales, which grew 56 percent.

Portability is now a strong driver in the PC market. Whether it includes two-in-one products or ultra-thin laptops, it is a feature that cannot be ignored.