Home Messages Index
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]
Author IndexDate IndexThread Index

Re: [News] Vista Can't Compete with Linux on MIDs, Prices Likely to Fall Further

____/ Mark Kent on Saturday 14 June 2008 09:49 : \____

> Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> espoused:
>> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>> Hash: SHA1
>> 
>> ____/ The Ghost In The Machine on Thursday 12 June 2008 19:02 : \____
>> 
>>> As for retinal projection...I'd have to research the issue.
>>> At best, it's an issue of comfort, and one has to be
>>> careful regarding using same during driving, without some
>>> careful programming (and a head position/accelerometer
>>> attachment to give one a HUD-like display -- and even then,
>>> lag enters into the picture).
>>> 
>>> At worst, it's an expensive gewgaw until mass production
>>> can drive down its price.
>> 
>> One option that you have is a tiny portable monitor that's worn close my
>> one's eye, maybe on some eyeglasses. I saw this type of technology on the
>> Discovery Channel when I was about 10. For input, a glove with sensors might
>> work also, so you can work on the go rather than sit down (for projected
>> keyboard). Asus is currently working on miniature and portable projectors.
>> They could be attached even to cellphones.
>> 
> 
> I agree that such technology is very interesting, but there are some
> wider changes going on at the moment which just cannot be ignored.
> For example, the number of mobile devices in use around the planet
> massively outweighs the number of "desktop PCs".  The only computing
> area which is seeing growth at the moment is the ultra-portable market,
> like Elonex, Asus eee and so on.  In fact, destkop sales had already
> been more or less caught up by portable machines anyway.
> 
> Look at the interest in LiMo, OpenMoko, iPhone and Android, in the Nokia
> 800, 810 and so on.
> 
> But in terms of the actual likely replacement for desktop for most people,
> then the household appliance is going to be the remaining spot, which will
> be served from something combining the functions of mythtv and Sony PS3
> (although Sony PS3 can run mythtv, of course), with storage being taken
> up by something like Bubba's Excito (get one, it's the consummate device,
> just plug it in and it works).
> 
> Whilst there will be some people who retain a desktop PC (probably
> including myself), we'll be the same people who still have a vinyl
> record player (like me), or an old leak valve amplifier, (like me),
> or analogue radios of various kinds (like me), and so on.
> 
> For 99.999% of the population, the internet starts and stops on the
> web, so anything with a browser will do the trick.  Once sms and im
> is properly integrated (look at where gizmo is going, for a very good
> example indeed), then you should ask yourself that for most people,
> what use will a desktop be?
> 
> We now have a situation where, eg., in the fair city of Manchester
> (the 3rd largest city in England, once a global industrial powerhouse
> and still a significant economic player), 28% of people do not have a
> land-line at all.  Consider - no land line implies no ADSL, and no ADSL
> implies no desktop PC.  They do have, instead, a mobile phone.
> 
> These numbers are from Ofcom this year, indeed, I used them in a
> presentation in Barcelona last week.  I'm afraid that the desktop is
> very much a 1980s technology which has gone through its full adoption
> cycle, and is on its way out, at least for most people.

Some decades ago you'd laugh at the idea of a computer on a desk, let alone on
every desk. But we don't have 'computer chambers' anymore, do we?

> There will always be exceptions, but that's what they are, exceptions.

Another example: Sony WalkMan versus iPod nano. Quite a difference in terms of
scale and function.

-- 
                ~~ Best of wishes

Proprietary, lockin-based tools lead to regrets. Doc(umen)tor, heal thyself.
http://Schestowitz.com  |  Open Prospects   |     PGP-Key: 0x74572E8E
Tasks: 164 total,   1 running, 163 sleeping,   0 stopped,   0 zombie
      http://iuron.com - knowledge engine, not a search engine

[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]
Author IndexDate IndexThread Index