Unless you are willing to live with a subset of functionality, you're going to want and need a PC, even as that standard changes over time.

So, why so much hype about the post-PC world? Because historically, as PCs have become increasingly sophisticated, they've also become increasingly complex. Users become empowered by new features while simultaneously being forced to contend with complex systems that can obscure the task currently at hand.

This is one reason why devices like the iPad have become popular. No, they can't do everything a PC can do today--but that's not a bad thing. The iPad performs some tasks quite well, all while keeping those tasks simple--and that means an iPad can replace that second or third PC someone was thinking of buying.

As we transition into a post-PC world, the ability of devices to balance new technology and features against complexity for a given set of functions will help drive purchases. The key will be for users to figure out just what device best matches the appropriate skill set or need. Need to decode the human genome? There's no app for that just yet. On the other hand, many tasks once suitable only for the PC are now very doable on other post-PC devices.

Have you tried to replace a personal computer in your daily life with a post PC device? If you have, successfully or not, drop me a line on Twitter or leave a note in the comments and tell me about the experience.