What about the competition from Apple? PPC killer?

Apple? PPC killer? Probably not. At least, not in a business sense. It wouldn't surprise me one bit though if they dominate the yuppie larvae market.. But, as long as Microsoft has a dominance in the business market, I think the PPC will also stay as well.

Only time will tell though..

Current: Samsung i907/AT&T Epix
Retired: Palm Treo 750
Former Phones (all Windows Mobile): Cingular 8525, Cingular 8125, Audiovox SMT5600

You are correct in your first two observations. But your 3rd statement is in conflict with your first two (it can't be "dead" and still an integral part of the smartphone equation).

Because of current Smartphone design, the devices are becoming more telphony-centric than PocketPC-centric, which is a huge mistake in my opinion. Better to approach it as a PocketPC with telephony services, where the screen-size is bigger and functionality (beyond making phone calls) is maximized...

Elrendhel

Mobilitysite Administrator, Moderator, & Product Reviewer.

        

the thing that will kill the pocket pc is clear to me. Actually 2 things.
1. They aren't making any more. In maybe a year, you won't be able to get a factory fresh or mint condition PPC. We will get tired of units with scratches and nicks and such.
2. While you can't say that a oqo or a Vaio is pocketable, it isn't really any more or any less pocketable than my 4705. But it does give you more.
3. I know I said 2 but... There is no distinct function that a ppc can do that a oqo cant . Nothing distinguishes it. It does nothing that it's user base can go to a manufacturer and say we need this class of device because it does this function and noting else can do it. I will probably use my 4705 until it dies. But sooner or later I believe there is a vaio or a oqo in my future. I think they will have to duke it out for awhile to determine who will end up with the best features.

Yep, convergence is where it is going.

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The folks at HTC seem to be cranking out new designs even this month, so I would debate the point about "not making PocketPCs anymore".

Elrendhel

Mobilitysite Administrator, Moderator, & Product Reviewer.

        

Maybe that’s their strategy though, to get the mobile PPC market then build up their computer market on a newly obtained Apple mobile PC market dependant on their software. Either way, I’m a little disappointed in the iPhone, no 3G…

Chris-
BoxWave Accessories

hmmm i dont think the pda is dead, especially when the developers recognize that smartphones arent the best solution for everything. weak cpus, no graphics accelerator, small displays etc etc.. there has to be a competetor to the psp, and a pimped pda with better graphics and a vga display touchscreen windows etc etc would be a good choice imho. just look at the xbox which has a good position on the global market, just because its software and hardware is very desktop alike.

The problem is that it is hard to make and market a device that will cater to all groups simultaneously. The smartphone crowd doesn't want PDA functionality, so the screen is smaller and the cpu speeds are lower (as razean points out). The PDA market doesn't care so much about super-high CPU speeds or incredible graphics because there are fewer business applications which active take advantage of these features (I doubt they will scoff at actually having that extra power though). And the entertainment crowd (who normally carry ipods, psp's, etc) want larger storage than anything else, followed closely by larger screensize and faster CPU for their games and music. So, in order to cater to all audiences, the PDA will simply need to have have everything integrated into it, creating the uberPDA.

The entertainment crowd will be happy when the uberPDA is out because it will have higher CPU speeds for their games, higher storage capacity for their media (music, movies, etc), and a larger screen for watching that media and playing high-resolution games.

The smartphone crowd will have to change the way they do business a bit, because I envision this uberPDA as staying in the pocket or purse while making phone calls. This will likely be accomplished by a BlueTooth earbud that accepts voice-recognition commands to "call" whomever you want from your list of Contacts. Or "dial" a particular telephone number that you specify. This way, you can look at your PDA while talking with the earbud (no more taking the PDA away from your ear to see if you are still connected, or to check a date, or to xxx, or to yyy, etc). Minor learning curve, but they'll adapt.

And the basic PDA user will rejoice because the same PDA that satisfies the other two groups will provide them with a wide-screen (landscape mode) high resolution view of their Excel spreadsheet, and have a strong wireless connection to the telco provider for Data services (internet connection) so they can research stuff while on-the-go, and plenty of storage space for their PIM database and entire My Documents folder from their desktop...

Elrendhel

Mobilitysite Administrator, Moderator, & Product Reviewer.

        

Yeah, they are certainly on their way out it seems. I still prefer having a seperate phone from wifi device since I know all my free local wifi hotspots. And also I am hoping for a dual card slot pda/phone/gps in the future. Until then I will hold off on the converged device.

This past week I purchased a floor model Ipaq HX2755 for only $80 at Circuit City. I remember 2 years ago this device retailing for well over $500 buckers. Also I've noticed that most of the retail electronic shops no longer carry the accessories for these devices. I was lucky to pick up reduced ipaq accessories in a staples bargain bin, some even at half price. Even many web store fronts carry reduced price items. Funny thing though, on ebay a used dell axim x3, x30 and ipaq hx2415 are commanding prices of $100, $160 and $190 respectively. So the used market for good solid wifi pdas seems pretty strong.

Perhaps it's just me but the thought of holding a device the size of my hx2490 (and I wouldn't go any smaller because of the screen size) to my ear as a phone just seems daft. I know you can use them as handsfree but not everyone uses handsfree all the time.

While it is true, convergence generally rules. There is one other area that the small mobile computer (usually running CE, or Windows Mobile) is expanding rapidly. Look at your Fedex or UPS person, the person that stocks shelves at your local store, or the person that delivers the potato chips to the local 7-11. That is just the tip of an iceberg.

Those computers while not consumer devices, are fully featured with the additions of barcode scanners, RFID, GPS and other sensors. Often they they are either water resistant or even fully rugged and they command prices twice the cost of a laptop computer. Even the soldier is starting to carry windows mobile computers. That market is growing nicely because half of the potential market is either using very old first generation devices or believe it or not, is still on pen and paper.

well hmm i guess you people dont see change as most people do overseas. pocket pc's evolved into PPC Phones.

just look on pdadb.net

PPC's will never die

Arrived 04-01-06 S200 PDA Phone
-=QTEK S200=- 200MHz Dualcore · Bluetooth 2.0 · WiFi B/G · 2GB Adata 150x SD Card · Silicone Case · GlobalSat BT-308 · Motorola HS820 Bluetooth Headset · Quad band GSM Unlocked

Sorry, but I still consider these definitions as incorrect. I'll try to elaborate further upon my thoughts above:

PDA = Usually a Pocket PC (utilizing any flavor of PocketPC/WM5 or WM6). Can be expanded to include Palm devices. Has a touch-screen for input. Usually has a medium to large rectangular screen. Usually has a radio transciever (InfraRed/Bluetooth/WiFi).

PocketPC Phone = A PDA/PocketPC as listed above, but includes Phone functionality, which an obvious next step in the evolution of the PDA. Has a touch-screen for input. Usually has a medium sized rectangular screen. Usually has a radio transciever (InfraRed/Bluetooth/WiFi).

SmartPhone = A phone with some PocketPC functionality, but usually lacks a touch-screen for navigation. All navigation on a smartphone is usually accomplished by DPAD or button pushing. Usually has a smaller square screen, and lacks other options like InfraRed or WiFi. May include a Bluetooth radio transciever (but likely not InfraRed or WiFi).

Elrendhel

Mobilitysite Administrator, Moderator, & Product Reviewer.

        

Smartphones are way better in that they come with cameras,keyboards, and you can get a data plan so no need for searching for hotspots.

Smartphones too small? Not powerful enough? You guys probably have not seen the HTC advantage 624mhz, 5"inch screen, 8gb hardrive, 256mb rom