An interesting article by an AP reporter talks about the drop in PC sales in Japan. It comes just a few days after a discussion with some friends found us pondering the same topic. My idea that the lifespan of the PC was limited and that the computer as we know it was about to die, went down in flames. I was especially on a winless streak as I couldn’t think of anything sensible as an alternative!

Hiroko Tabuchi’s report states that PC shipments to Japan have fallen for five consecutive quarters and Japan is considered a key market in this industry. The trend is noticeable across the board for desktops and laptops. Sales are also slowing in the United States. The only growth is still being experienced in the developing world.

The question begging for an answer is what is replacing the PC? That is not so easy to answer. Possibly, one should ask, what was the computer used for that is now being served by other technological devices?

The first item that comes to mind is the music device. What the younger generation downloaded to their PCs is now being downloaded to their phones or to the new iPod Touch, for example, which is a combination music organizer and Internet browsing device.

Digital cameras can now connect directly to printers without going through the computer. And I’m sure some cameras come with photo image manipulation software so one can quickly crop and edit where needed. Some video recorders have full editing functionality installed. The iPhone and presumably other cell phones allow you to upload photos directly to your Flickr account.

What about other forms of entertainment like videos, movies, and games? For that, there are TVs that are getting bigger and better with amazing picture quality and game consoles that connect to the same flat screen TVs that, in turn, connect to any kind of sound system.

And the internet? Apparently, more than 50 percent of Japanese people send emails and browse the Internet from their mobile devices. So what is left for the computer then. So far, it looks like you’re back to office applications and possibly someone who’s into video editing and serious photo image manipulation that requires a lot of computing power.

Even Apple, whose hilarious PC-bashing TV ads promote a Mac over PCs because of all the fun personal apps that let you play with photos, videos, text, and so on. is seeing a decline in its computer sales in the developed world.

So what are computer manufacturers doing about it? It seems that they have now decided, possibly because they have been selling beige boxes, that innovation in computer packaging could stop the decline in sales.

Some of Sony’s desktop computers have been folded into clocks, and one of its latest versions even hangs on the wall. Laptops have original artwork and some manufacturers are finally listening to consumers and working on making the fan quieter.

Of course, there are all kinds of marketers out there trying to put a spin on declining sales numbers. One technology analyst argues that although Japanese workers are workaholics, they rarely take work home with them. Surely that personal preference hasn’t changed in recent years?

And some NEC official argues that the consumer should remember that the PC is superior in terms of computing power. Well, Mr. NEC official, the consumer probably knows this, but the computing power probably isn’t anymore.

Perhaps in our fast-paced society, having it at your fingertips is. Standing on a crowded passenger train for the hour-long ride home, you won’t be able to get your laptop out of your backpack. But you can browse on your mobile phone. Japan’s fastest social networking site, Mobagay Town is designed exclusively for mobile phones. Doesn’t that say something about what device the consumer is using?

On a recent trip from London, I shared an iPhone to watch a video. The quality was exceptional and the easy to connect headphones we shared also made for a private viewing. When we got to Brighton, they put the phone in the jacket of the coat. No awkward computer to pack. So I ask you, is this the end of the line for PC yet?