A similar situation is happening with USB devices: everyone knows you can daisy chain over 100 devices, but where are the devices with thru ports?? It's all about squeezing the consumer, so expect to see internet appliances with modems than can be swapped out for ethernet cards (you'll most likely have to buy both anyway).
There is a simple way to get around these issues: start your own company.
Mobile processing is only as valuable as what you can squeeze on a chip. Given the outlook on nanotechnology and micro-microprocessors, a lot of the preconceived notions of the size of a box relative to the power it can produce will be shattered.
Unfortunately, I don't see a major revolution in the way mobile computing happens until superfast minichips become pervasive. Bandwidth is also a huge issue, since the functionality of a PC (mobile or otherwise) is exponentially increased through connectivity.
What would help is free access to a broadband-enabling open-source satellite (running Linux, of course).
I agree that lots of claims have been made to indicate the emminent demise of the PC, but the key factor here is that technology is on a steady course of advancement. All things must change. The fact is, PCs are amazingly adaptable (excluding the processor - which still has a development track).
Does anyone remember the amazing quotes the media gave the PSX version 1? That beast has a measly 4 MB of RAM (the new ones); it hit the streets initially with 2 MB!! Face it, consoles will always alternate between leading the pack and bringing up the rear. The lack of upgradability forces companies like Sony and Sega to shoot as high as possibile when introducing a platform. The last thing console games want is to have to upgrade their system. That is the beauty of the console, no?
But look where the first mighty hype machine is now. It's a dinosaur. (The key that Sony has known all along is that performance is important, but to console players, the games matter most, so new PSX ver1 games still rock.)
Computers will catch up to the PSX2, but in time. Let Sony have their heyday. They're shooting for the living room, not the teen's room (Apple) or the office (everyone else). They happen to have a great idea whose time has come.
Slashdot Mirror
A similar situation is happening with USB devices: everyone knows you can daisy chain over 100 devices, but where are the devices with thru ports?? It's all about squeezing the consumer, so expect to see internet appliances with modems than can be swapped out for ethernet cards (you'll most likely have to buy both anyway). There is a simple way to get around these issues: start your own company.
Mobile processing is only as valuable as what you can squeeze on a chip. Given the outlook on nanotechnology and micro-microprocessors, a lot of the preconceived notions of the size of a box relative to the power it can produce will be shattered.
Unfortunately, I don't see a major revolution in the way mobile computing happens until superfast minichips become pervasive. Bandwidth is also a huge issue, since the functionality of a PC (mobile or otherwise) is exponentially increased through connectivity.What would help is free access to a broadband-enabling open-source satellite (running Linux, of course).
I agree that lots of claims have been made to indicate the emminent demise of the PC, but the key factor here is that technology is on a steady course of advancement. All things must change. The fact is, PCs are amazingly adaptable (excluding the processor - which still has a development track).
Does anyone remember the amazing quotes the media gave the PSX version 1? That beast has a measly 4 MB of RAM (the new ones); it hit the streets initially with 2 MB!! Face it, consoles will always alternate between leading the pack and bringing up the rear. The lack of upgradability forces companies like Sony and Sega to shoot as high as possibile when introducing a platform. The last thing console games want is to have to upgrade their system. That is the beauty of the console, no?
But look where the first mighty hype machine is now. It's a dinosaur. (The key that Sony has known all along is that performance is important, but to console players, the games matter most, so new PSX ver1 games still rock.)
Computers will catch up to the PSX2, but in time. Let Sony have their heyday. They're shooting for the living room, not the teen's room (Apple) or the office (everyone else). They happen to have a great idea whose time has come.
I still want one -- bad!