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Death of the PDA?

Posted by michael on from the not-likely dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The Economist has an article proclaiming the death of the PDA. Smart phone sales are predicted to overtake PDA sales this year."

17 of 435 comments (clear)

  1. Yeah, so? by Excen · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If the phone has all the properties of a PDA, isn't this a moot point?

    By the way. . .

    FIRST POST!!!!

    --
    "No beer until you finish your tequila!" -Leela's Dad
    1. Re:Yeah, so? by Negativeions101 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I agree that this is going to happen inevitably, but I'm not sure it's a great thing for everyone. I'd love to see a smartphone with an open platform, maybe even running linux, someday. Hackers are writing a lot of cool software for PDAs.

      I doubt that we're going to get the same thing on phones, though. Mobile phone makers seem intent on keeping everything proprietary, and wireless companies are making money from charging content providers for access to their networks. I think history is going to repeat itself, yet again. Hardware makers are going to try to lock users with proprietary software. It'll probably be years before I'll be able to run my own software on my own phone. Stupid, huh? That's the computer industry for you.

      --

      I'm not anti-microsoft. I'm anti-bullshit. Which means I'm anti-microsoft.
    2. Re:Yeah, so? by uptownguy · · Score: 5, Funny

      Gotta love Slashdot's incendiary headlines. "DEATH" of the PDA, indeed. But then again, headlines like these have been around as long as Slashdot has. Longer, even. Why, the following is a classic from Slashdot's vaults circa October 1993...

      Death of the Calculator?
      "The calculator market will never be a mass market," says Cindy Brady, an analyst at Echo Blue, a market research firm. Almost everyone who now wants a calculator, she says, now has one.

      In contrast, sales of "computers", high powered computing devices capable of doing things most calculators can do, are rising fast. While some industry leaders, such as Texas Instruments, believe they are positioned to eke out a niche market, others are proclaiming the death of the calculator...

      --


      I would have to say that explosives are the most abused technology in all of history.
    3. Re:Yeah, so? by gvr · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Phones are oldschool anyway and less geeky than a remote control. I use Xten's IP phone on my WiFi powered IPAQ 5455 to dial for free through open access points.

      I want a PDA that can transfer data using WiFi for high speed, BlueTooth for short range and GPRS (or similar) for great coverage. For voice, I will continue to use tiny phones that are carry-friendly. I will never buy a PDA/phone that requires me to a) bring it in a bag or b) hang it in my belt.

  2. I don't think so... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Palm Zire 21 - $99 USD

    Kyocera 7135 Smartphone - $499 USD.

    Until they can close this gap, PDAs aren't going to be dead. And a $400 difference is going to take more than 1 year.

    Propz to GNAA

    1. Re:I don't think so... by hawaiian717 · · Score: 3, Interesting
      Ok, I'll close the gap:

      Handspring Treo 270 $249.99 with rebate, $349.99 without

      T-Mobile Sidekick (Danger Hiptop) $249.99 with rebate, $299.99 without

      RIM Blackberry 6230 $199.99 with rebate, $299.99 without

      --
      End of Line.
  3. bleh by black+mariah · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Why the hell would you want to do PDA type stuff on a PHONE that is the size of a peanut with a screen the size of a stamp?

    --
    'Standards' in computing only impress those who are impressed by things like 'standards'.
  4. Death of the PDA? Not quite. by ajuda · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The article is really predicting the death of PDAs that aren't integrated with phones. This is quite different that the death of ALL PDAs.

    All the article is saying is that PDAs will include another feature. PDAs are evolving. Very few things stay the way their were originally intended. Did computers die when we switched from punch cards to keyboards? Not quite. They're still computers, they just aren't exactly what they used to be.

  5. especially... by pizza_milkshake · · Score: 5, Funny

    especially the PDAs running *BSD. they are *really* dead

  6. Doesn't the phone turn into a PDA? by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I don't see the point in a distinction. Is it a PDA with phone capabilities? Is it a phone with PDA capabilities? Either way, if this happens, I wouldn't consider it a "death" but an evolution in what technologies and packagings people decide fits their lifestyles the best.

    Just because a radio was integrated into a clock doesn't mean that radio died then, although maybe I wish it did.

  7. This is really missing the point by screwballicus · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The laptops of today do all the things a desktop is supposed to do, but occupy less space.

    All proclaim the death of the desktop computer!

    The PDAs of today do all the things a laptop is supposed to do, but occupy less space.

    All proclaim the death of the laptop computer and, indirectly, the desktop computer!

    The phones of today do all the things a PDA is supposed to do, but occupy less space.

    All proclaim the death of the PDA computer and, indirectly, the laptop computer and, indirectly, the desktop computer!

    We've been told that sub-notebooks are about to replace the notebook and "desktop replacements" are about to replace the desktop for years now. It hasn't happened yet.

    Will smartphones replace PDAs?

    When smartphones, like the latest batch of Ipaqs or Toshibas, support bluetooth, wifi, multiple I/O capable expansion options (CFII+SDIO) and an extensive list of peripherals, sure.

    Maybe "laptop" and "desktop" and "PDA" describe nothing but a form factor. But that's probably the best argument there is for their mutual survival. There's no reason the PDA form factor with PDA size screen will just magically disappear leaving a gap between laptop and phone.

  8. Smart phones have bigger screens by Namarrgon · · Score: 4, Insightful
    The screensize on my SE P800 is most of the size of the phone (the phone keypad flips down for full access), and the resolution is better than most Palm devices. It's certainly good enough for most PDA things, and anything I do. Any larger, and it wouldn't fit in a pocket.

    If I want to do something that requires a bigger screen (like watch a movie and actually enjoy it), I use a 15" laptop. I'm sure there's room for devices inbetween - bag-size rather than pocket-size, but a decent resolution display can be very usable even on a pocket-sized device.

    --
    Why would anyone engrave "Elbereth"?
  9. In other news... by Gldm · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Cellphones will become extinct as PDAs with cellphone capabiltiy become common!

    --

    Introducing the new Occam Fusion! Now with sqrt(-1) fewer blades!

  10. Right! by uradu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think convergence will eventually happen, but I wish it would look somewhat different and take advantage of some useful technologies. You still want a large screen to view lots of info, so convergence towards phone-size displays is bad. You also want a SEPARATE handset so you can read the screen and talk at the same time. How about moving the communications guts of the phone into the PDA and connecting a separate handset to it via Bluetooth? Perhaps make an oversized pen than also doubles as a handet. That would still make taking notes during a call pretty difficult, so maybe just use a regular old Bluetooth headset instead.

  11. "The PDA is dead" says... by iamhassi · · Score: 5, Insightful
    ""The PDA is dead," says David Levin, the boss of Symbian, the leading maker of smartphone software."

    LOL. Is this like Bill Gates declaring Linux dead? Actually no, it's the opposite since smartphone is the underdog. This is more like Linus Torvalds or Steve Jobs declaring Microsoft dead. Why is this newsworthy?

    --
    my karma will be here long after I'm gone
  12. Missing the point by SuchaGoombah · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I think the whole PDA vs. phone argument is missing the point. Just like there was the old 'battle for the desktop', there will now be a new 'battle for the pocket' or purse or whatever. The point is that the human-wearable technologies are converging to a new standard configuration. This includes telephony, traditional PDA functions (calendar, task lists, address books, etc.), music and gaming in a portable, wearable, wireless package.

  13. death? what about convergence? or metamorphosis? by *weasel · · Score: 3, Interesting


    the product isn't going to -die-. this is how convergence devices are -born-.

    PDA market growth is just going to come in the form of convergence devices more and more. some consumers will see it as new phone tech on their next PDA, most will see it as new PDA tech on their next phone. but neither product will 'die'. dedicated PDAs will simply be relegated to markets where having phone capability isn't worth the cost.

    in the same reactionary vein one could argue that mp3 players are going to 'die' because of the proliferation of that core functionality showing up in PDAs and cellphones. (without near killer-app sized storage though).

    i think the obvious explanation is consumers are demanding a single 'thing' that is their interface to mobile digital information. be it 3G phone, PIM, mp3, email, or mobile data storage. then there's society: having a cellphone is not 'geeky', nor is having a cellphone with PIM functionality.

    but having a cellphone + mp3 player + PDA certainly still is.

    and practicality: having to manage the batteries on 3+ digital devices is a headache. particularly when you are generally using only one or the other.

    my ideal convergence device:
    embedded Linux-based OS (for custom programming)
    full bandwidth 3G phone (w/ 1m CCD, 24fps video capability)
    CF type2 slot
    built-in WiFi (802.11b is fine)
    short range FM transmitter (for car usage without a dongle)
    built in HD ~6gB (preferrably magneto-SRAM)
    usb2.0/firewire
    OSS PIM
    mp3 audio software
    mp4/divx video software
    tabletPC-style graffiti interface, with automatic translation for text-boxes would be good too.
    no more hunt and stab with the stylus for url input.

    no SD, no MemoryStick -- no DRM at all thank-you-very-much.
    battery: li-ion, rechargable via usb/firewire/dc adapter. ~10 hrs running time.
    size: about 4"x2.5".

    attachable secondary battery, camelback style, for long trips/flights would be great too.

    right now one pays:
    ~$275 for the mp3 player and storage
    ~$150 for basic PDA
    ~$175 for a capable 3G phone

    would i pay $600 for all of this rolled into one? most certainly. hell i already spent $200 on the pda and $140 on a nex2e and 512mb CF card. if i get a decent cameraphone i'm out another $150 at least. then there was another $50 for the wifi adapter for the pda.

    to be able to have all that functionality in one widget is worth at least $150 by itself. particularly if it has respectable battery life.

    --
    // "Can't clowns and pirates just -try- to get along?"