Even if PDAs survive, Sony's withdrawal from the U.S. and European markets may signal a rude awakening from the "digital dream" the company envisioned and marketed a decade ago.
The idea back then was to eventually link Sony's many products with a gumstick-size storage invention called a Memory Stick, which could be used to transfer digital data among Sony's computers, handheld devices, camcorders and other products. But the company's decision to curtail production of its Clie handhelds yanked a much-touted link out of that chain and raised questions about Sony's commitment to that vision.
Remember that, for all its successes, this is also the company that gave us Betamax, the electronic equivalent of the Edsel. And just recently, when it introduced yet another competing digital music format, Sony showed that it clings to the notion of locking up markets with proprietary technologies. That kind of exclusionary thinking could prove dangerous, as the discussion on this page indicates, because so many devices (cameras, phones, handheld devices and so on) now offer functions that aren't tied to specific products. As it fights a growing list of rivals on multiple fronts, Sony may find that it needs more friends than enemies--or risk seeing its digital dream turn into a nightmare.
--June 4, 2004
Will it be the same fate for PDAs? Hmmm... Who wants a PDA if you can have a smartphone?
Unless we redefine PDAs as something that can deliver (almost) everything an individual needs from a single electronic device.
Smartphones are a good start though they are still mostly celfones. I still look forward to seeing:
- Hybrid Personal Devices (HPDs) that are PDAs and multimedia devices in one;
- wireless connectivity is purely via web. Public WiFi perhaps?
- the phone feature is purely software and uses VoIP (though standard celfone connectivity may still get into the picture but that will take us back to smartphones);
- IR, Bluetooth, computer sync, digital cameras, games, etc.
- plus everything nice...
And what can be more interesting is to let the same unit support the reception of radio, TV and/or satellite "cable channel" signals (talk about streaming content).
Oh, well... let's wait and see...
Take for example the last Clie TH55. For the first time, I am able to leave behind my VAIO TR1A notebook by replacing most of my mobile requirements with the TH55. Check emails on the go, write one or two documents and heck, even enjoy music without looking like a technogeek B-Boy holding the TR1A as my digital boombox.
The PDA have finally come of age - with enough power in the CPU to watch smooth movies, bright screen to read ebooks and even play a game or two. I can even look respectable at the meeting taking voice notes.
Sony is going through a funk, and they are in a disarray. Yea, the PSP is coming soon but really, it does less than the Clies. Do I really want another Mariah Carey UMD after plopping down for her CD? And I don't think my CEO will be too excited with me bringing the PSP into meetings - just because it may also double-up as my cellphone.
Speaking of which - the PDA/phone hybrid. Sure, cellphones have become more powerful and having a Clie solely as an organizer does not make sense as most functions are found in one of those super-duper smartphones. But, have you seen the size of one? Even if they squeeze it down tiny, do I really want a small screen to read or view movies?
Sony is in a funk. They have the mini VAIOs (U50) and Pocket VAIOs ("iPod killers"). They are pinning their hopes on the PSP (actually, Ken Kutaragi - the Prince of Sony is steamrolling it) but it is untested and yet another proprietary UMD format. They think SonyEricsson and its P-series of smartphones can take over the Clie's needs.
But until each and every of this funky moves Sony is making, it isn't a slam dunk. To me, the Clie line was already nearly all of the above that they were trying to achieve. It is an MP3 player, it is a movie player, it is a mini-PC, hell, it could even be remade into a gaming machine (they did release a game controller before). All they needed was to pop-in one of those micro Cornice/Hitachi drives.
Why not buy a digital camera and store some of those pictures on your pda so you can access them quickly and easily wherever you go?
Why not take your favorite songs and put them on your PDA so you can listen to them while you wait in line at the grocery store?
There's even an attachment for my handheld that makes it a cellphone capable device, although its not available in the US right now I know it would be made available if the makers of this particular were made aware of a demand and a market for it.
God knows I see enough people around town with cellphones, making calls while driving, walking, etcetera.
If I can have a cellphone, camera, mp3 player, and voice recorder, all in one compact device, why not?
I agree with the prior postings that the PDA is coming of age with the convergence of multiple devices (cell phone, addressbook, mp3 player, Gameboy, digital camera, voice recorder, web browser) as well as the fact that technology is finally catching up with the wish list. However, the one equipment that I believe the PDA will need to replace will be the laptop. Let's face it, laptops are not all that convenient to tote around, and I for one eagerly await the day when PDA's come with a USB port and a VGA-out.
What about Sony? I can't say that it is a bad decision for Sony. In the short term, perhaps the market will not be so lucrative. I'm sure they can jump back in whenever they want... perhaps even into the PocketPC camp. It is however a very bad day for Palm. A few years ago I had even hoped Sony would buy out the struggling Palm franchise. Although I favor PalmOne products over other branded Palm systems, Sony has definately set the standard for Palm devices for much of the last few years.
- Great Stuff. Over Priced
- by kamchoor June 2, 2004 8:03 PM PDT
- I luv them. But they're simply too over priced for they deliever.
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