The surest sign the post-PC era is here is the announcement by the world’s top personal computer maker that it is taking steps to exit the business.

Intel has said computer makers Lenovo, Asustek and Acer will launch its new lightweight notebook PCs — known as Ultrabooks — at the end of May.

Microsoft is expected to post a 9% increase in fiscal fourth-quarter profit, but investors may be distracted by evidence of flickering PC sales.