Linked by Eugenia Loli-Queru on Sat 21st Feb 2004 11:13 UTC
I already have a PalmV PDA with PalmOS 3.5. I never use it. I practically have absolutely no need for an organizer. Yet, I wanna buy a new one. That geek gene in me (that my mother unsuccessfully tried to kill over the years) what really wants is a "truly mobile PC" that just isn't a laptop. So, for the last few days I was shopping around the Internet for a new PDA (preferably a PocketPC this time) that would fit the kind of thing I am looking for. I was... horrified to find out that what I need isn't... invented yet.
Permalink for comment
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Recent Original Stories
Recent Comments
Headlines
Random Comments
Random Stories
Random OS Link
What you want is nowhere near reality, but that's not to say it will not eventually exist. I do not believe that it will appear for 3 to 5 years though, and I hope that it shakes out along a slightly different line...
I currently use a Treo 300 - a capable hybrid of mobile phone and PDA, but not at all what you are asking for. At heart, it's a relatively affordable pocket CPU with wireless modem and proprietary VoIP application (My definition of a SmartPhone - it describes Sprint's CDMA devices pretty well)
The Treo 600 comes closer to the goal, with it's SDIO card support and built-in camera, but still falls short. I expect the next Treo to add bluetooth, wifi, and an improved camera. If it does, I will definitely upgrade (although I am close to breaking down and getting a 600 anyway...)
Looking out beyond the immediate next generation, what I would ideally look for is a SmartPhone that tries to be your "mobile hub" (ala Apple's digital hub strategy for the Mac) I want to be able to use my iPod as a disk drive. The SmartPhone would read and store data from it including being able to modify the iPod's playlists. It should connect via Firewire or USB2 because bluetooth is far too slow. Not just music, but general applications, documents, databases and games could be stored on the iPod (or similiar pocket-sized, self-powered drive) The key is to make the interconnections via general existing standards - not to create yet another specialized connector.
By establishing this "system" of interconnected portable devices, you are more likely to be all things to all people. You simply expand by buying the appropriate device. It's conceivable that you would store your "always" data on the SmartPhone, your "sometimes" data on the iPod, and your "rarely" data at home on a larger system that you synchronize with (or access from the mobile via remote access protocols like SSH, VNC, and Web Services)
If it is designed to access data in all three ways (local, connected and remote) it can evolve over time and become capable of 3D games (but it will take awhile...)