Mohan,
I am intrigued by the future of the TV/PC/Info appliance, but I'm not sure if there's anyone who shares my views. In particular I'm bothered by sitting back in my office at home away from everyone else, while most of what I do is read. (Lurkers unite! What a quiet thread that would be.)
My vision is to be able to surf the web (actually, read this thread) from my easy chair, while holding a terminal the size of a magazine in my hand. I want color, high resolution, a mouse/touchpad, an earphone jack, and not too much heat or weight. And I wouldn't mind a cable to the computer in the corner; it doesn't have to be wireless.
This would make web access about on the level of reading a book, without all the bother of putting it on the TV. Who wants to read from the TV? NO ONE. I wouldn't mind watching TV on my little hand-held terminal, though.
The reason this is not OT is that many people seem to think that the growth of the info appliance spells the end of the PC. I don't think so. But, as the PC penetrates farther and farther into the consumer market, it will need to be simpler and more reliable and cheaper. Today's PCs are more reliable and cheaper than they were 5 years ago, and I believe that to the user they are in many ways simpler as well. I also believe that whatever they are, Dell will wind up selling them, and Compaq will be known as a service organization.
Regards,
Stewart |
