News From Zdnet

[bappy007]

Laptops obsolete? Nah. Here are three reasons why they'll stick around.
By John Morris & Josh Taylor, ZDNet Reviews
March 9, 2001

We recently got interviewed for a newspaper article about the impending extinction of notebook computers. It turns out some mobile phone company was predicting that wireless access via handhelds and phones would make notebooks obsolete within a few years. Get serious.

Sure, mobile devices such as handhelds, two-way pagers, and mobile phones are great complements to full-blown notebooks. We'd even go so far as to say there are certain times when it's fine to leave the laptop behind and carry only a Pocket PC or Handspring Visor with a wireless modem. But the fact is, aside from the obvious PIM functions, these devices are really limited to reading e-mail (and sending short responses), and checking for basic Web info such as sports scores and stock quotes -- and we haven't been spending too much time checking stock quotes these days.

While it's true that handhelds and phones are getting smarter, they are still missing many of the key features that make a notebook essential. For starters, we'll give your our big three.

1) Text entry. Sure, the RIM has a keyboard, and yes, you can enter Graffiti or Jot into your handheld, but how long can you do that before you lose your mind (or at least, the feeling in your hands?)

2) Screen size. Do you really want to give up your 15-plus inch display for one that's less than a third the size (if you're lucky!)

3) Wireless is great, but we're still years away from getting a truly national -- if not global -- access solution. While our friends in Europe benefit from being on a single wireless standard (GSM), the US market is truly Balkanized, making it incredibly difficult for manufactures to truly innovate here -- no matter what they release, they're going to be missing out on a significant part of the population. And the most promising wireless solution to come along in years, Richochet, which offers up to 128-Kbps access in many major cities, may go belly-up by summer. Which leaves access points as our potential savior, be they 802.11b or, dare we say it, Bluetooth.

Oh, and one other thing: just try watching a DVD movie -- the real reason we want our notebooks -- on a Visor, let alone a mobile phone.

The bottom line? Wireless phones and handhelds are getting more impressive by the month (check back on Monday for a report from our recent demo of Microsoft's upcoming Stinger phones), but we're not letting you take our notebooks away anytime soon.

[Abs]

Although technology is moving faster and faster..... the products seem to be gettin smaller and smaller.

I.E...... Most companies are startin to use ICA and have about 20 odd servers. This gives them the option of having staff to use a 14/15" TFT and a receiver box (size of a phone). As well as central Administration.

I really can't c Zdnet win this battle