Last week Gartner released a report delineating 10 key predictions of events and developments that will affect IT and business (and, consequently, Higher Education) in 2008 and beyond. Introducing these predictions, Daryl Plummer—managing vice president and Gartner Fellow—writes, “the trends and topics [addressed] this year indicate a strong focus on individuals, the environment, and alternative ways of buying and selling IT services and technologies.”

These predictions, selected from more than 100 predictions that Gartner presents and reviews every year, focus on general technology areas rather than on specific industries or roles. Here are some of this year’s most interesting predictions (These are especially enjoyable if you read them with Conan O’Brian’s “In the Year 2000” skit in mind):

By 2011, Apple will double its U.S. and Western Europe unit market share in computers. Apple is challenging its competitors with software integration that provides ease of use and flexibility; continuous and more frequent innovation in hardware and software; and an ecosystem that focuses on interoperability across multiple devices.

By 2012, 50 per cent of traveling workers will leave their notebooks at home in favour of other devices. New classes of Internet-centric pocketable devices at the sub-$400 level and server and Web-based applications that can be accessed from anywhere will be ubiquitous.

By 2012, 80 per cent of all commercial software will include elements of open-source technology. Many open-source technologies are mature, stable and well supported and provide significant opportunities for vendors and users to lower their total cost of ownership and increase returns on investment.

By 2011, early technology adopters will forgo capital expenditures and instead purchase 40 per cent of their IT infrastructure as a service.

By 2011, suppliers to large global enterprises will need to prove their green credentials via an audited process to retain preferred supplier status.

By 2010, end-user preferences will decide as much as half of all software, hardware and services acquisitions made by IT.

Click here for an extensive report of Gartner’s predictions.