The Bottom Line
November 25, 2003
Thought Fragment

When you hear a thought fragment like this from Michael Dell, it could be either profound or worthless.


If you think about the power in the computer and power in the brain, you've got very low bandwidth in the interface between the two. But those are not problems that will be solved quickly. There's ample room for invention.

It might be profound, in that it is a way of cutting through the whole form-factor issue. Or it might be worthless in that it doesn't tell us anything new about what companies should be doing.

It just frustrates me to see so much of the effort going into trying to incrementally improve on PDA's. I think that is a huge black hole of misallocated investment.

Thanks to gizmodo for the link. If you read that blog, you will see what I mean about everybody trying to crowd into the handheld market.

Posted by Arnold at 5:22 PM | Email this entry | Category: future technology and growth
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“It just frustrates me to see so much of the effort going into trying to incrementally improve on PDA's. I think that is a huge black hole of misallocated investment”

Thankfully, we do not live in a socialist country where the “experts” decide these things. The market will ultimately ratify the choices of the consumers.

Posted by David Thomson on November 26, 2003 02:17 PM | Permalink to Comment

Like you, I'm also not a fan of PDAs. I also agree with you that PDAs we have now are going to be a niche market. However, I can't see why you're so negative. PDAs are just one example of a whole range of mobile communication devices,including two-way beepers, cellphones, PDAs, phone/PDA combo units, and ultraportable laptops. My feeling is that LOTS of niche markets will emerge because no two people agree on what is perfect pocket communication device. The investment in PDAs is really an investment in this bigger market.

h

Posted by Roy Yates on November 26, 2003 10:41 PM | Permalink to Comment

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