Another, maybe the last evidence that ppc is doomed - Page 2

r@dimus · 05-09-06, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by laserboy

I wholly agree. I simply do not want a PPC phone. I want essentially a pocket computer. The axim is close to that now.

My biggest gripes about this convergence thing is what it is doing to the PPC form factor. Having been a Blackberry user for some time I can see the value in a good thumb board, but when you try to integrate that into the PPC form factor you end up with all sorts of compromises. If you want to keep the device slim and of a normal length you end up with a square screen, which will probably cause compatibility or ease of use problems with some apps. If you keep the standard screen then you have to stash the keyboard inside a sliding enclosure of some kind which just means more bulk, another thing to get broken, and complications with cases. Try to find a nice case for a Cingular 8125 that lets you keep the case on and still slide the keyboard out to see what I mean.

And that is the crux of my gripe converged units. None of them equal the X51v, and there's not much indication that they will any time soon. Either the screens are smaller, or square, or QVGA. The most flash ROM I've seen in any of them is 128MB. You get a SD card slot at best, a microSD slot or none at worst. They nearly all have full keyboards, with all the problems detailed above. Spec-wise, the only PPC phone I know of that comes close to the X51v in capability is the HTC Universal but the price is roughly twice that of an X51v.

blkrde · 06-04-06, 03:05 PM

According to EE Times, Intel is looking to put several of its loss-ridden communications-chip businesses on the selling block, including the Xscale unit. According to the article Intel is completely moving out of the embedded chip market.

"Intel's Xscale processor business, including the StrongARM chip for PDAs, BlackBerrys, cell phones, handheld computers and portable media players, is up for sale, it said. That business made approximately $250 million in sales last year, according to the report."

Of course this leads to further speculation about the future of our favorite device, the Axim. Will it be converged or will Dell exit the market completely?

http://www.eetimes.com/news/semi/sho...leID=188701421

Marcello · 06-04-06, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by gillius

Of course, changing instruction sets would be a big step for PPC. While there exists an x86 version of PPC, all of the current software out there is for ARM.

On the flip side, there is a lot of x86 software.

Marcello

gillius · 06-04-06, 10:25 PM

Yes, but that software is designed for desktop Windows. Even though Win CE is more or less a subset of the full Windows, and it is possible for a program to be easily compatible with both, you still need a program that is designed for the form factor and goals of the PPC. By goals I mean that the interface needs to center around the tasks that are important to the handheld user as opposed to the desktop one.

Pocketbrain · 06-04-06, 11:57 PM

It is the death knell for PPC in much the same way as the switch from MIPS/SH3 to ARM was. The new owner of Xscale will will either produce Xscale or the next generation. Maybe UMPC form-factor will shrink further. Things change, new products are created every day. It's idiotic to sit around and predict that the computer in your pocket will evaporate anytime something changes, and will not be as it was in the past. If you can't handle change, sell your PPC and pick up a Newton.

(X)

mrossco · 06-11-06, 10:50 AM

Sadly, I think the death of the traditional PDA is coming. Convergent devices bring an "always on" access to the internet where most traditional PDA's still require the hunt for the Wi-Fi hotspot. Most of the applications I like my PDA for need network access. Without such access, my PDA is reduced to an electronic planner, which a convergent device can handle admirably.

I also see that Bill Gates is a huge believer in Tablet PCs. So, even though the Tablet has been shaky at best, new Centrino processors from Intel and a better OS in the form of Vista (will include Tablet features) may offer a more interesting platform that is easier to develop for. The possibilities are endless once you remove yourself from many of the PPC restrictions.

I don't think the death of the PDA is immediate by any means, and I am still hoping Dell will release a much needed firmware revision for WM5 and my X50v! But, I do think more and more people are re-evaluating what devices they want to use for what functions, leaving the PDA scrambling for a chair to sit in...