PC as status item

Today, the common PC is just that -- common. A typical office will have many PCs, all like. (Some offices will have variation. From my observations, the consistency of the PC set will be proportional to the size of the organization. The largest organizations have the most homogenous set of PCs.)

With the introduction of BYOD, we may see a resurgence in "the PC as status symbol".

What's that, you say? You've never seen a PC used as a status symbol?

Well, it has happened. Just after the release of the IBM PC, and when companies were experimenting with word processors and spreadsheets, PCs were *quite* the status symbol. A PC was a better typewriter, an expensive investment, and a thing to be admired. Some PCs had monochrome monitors and some had color monitors.

When the IBM PC AT was released, some people had the newer, faster PC and some had the older, slower PCs.

Even as late as 1995, PCs varied within organizations and were used as status symbols. After 1995, that changed. The price of PCs dropped to a level that made frequent replacements feasible. Large organizations (the ones with tech support groups) found it easier and cheaper to "refresh" PCs every few years. It meant they had the latest operating system, fewer hardware failures, and a consistent set of PCs with easier support.

When the PCs become consistent, the status from different PCs disappeared.

BYOD may introduce the status again. When individuals select and purchase their own equipment, the consistency of equipment will vanish. Some will purchase iPads, some Android devices, and some Microsoft Surface tablets. Some people will "refresh" their devices frequently, and some will hold on to them for years. (We may see a "reverse status" with reverence for an old-school device.)

The return of status may cause some friction and competition among team members. A good manager will look for the signs and focus the team on the objectives.