I understand what you are saying and it makes sense, but I still see major application uses for laptops and hand held units of many applications. While there might not yet be a market in the home PC user market, IHMO the commercial applications are very high. I see use in the digital cameras, but only as a small market share of the total application possiblities.
Could not the flashcard be used as a portable memory? It seems to me that a laptop with a small memory and a removal flashcard would be very marketable for those working away from office, allowing them to insert the card into mainframe for transfer of data? Current floppies are too small, zip and other drives too cumbersome.
I see endless applications where small data memory units not subject to vibrations, dirt, and other disturbances would be needed. Seismograph units, truckers, hand held inventory control units, any place where a small, durable unit is collecting data for transfer to a central computer.
Costs are already coming down and as market demand intensifies, the higher production will further reduce the price. Five years ago one could have made the same argument you've made about any other hardware. My first computer cost me $2,000 20 years ago. A 25Mz Compaq with 512 memory, monochrome monitor, 5.25 floppy, and a dot matrix printer. I have less in my current IBM 686, 40Mb, 150Hz, SVGA, 1.2G hardrive, bubblejet, and scanner.
I really believe that Scandisk will become the standard and that the hardware applications are just beginning. This seems to be a very well run company with some excellent management people making the right decisions. I expect exceptional growth.
Ron Bower
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