Thread: Future success of internet tablets, or lack thereof (speculation, prediction)
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2006-02-19 , 17:21
Posts: 2,853 | Thanked: 968 times | Joined on Nov 2005
#8
Originally Posted by Jerome
-do users want web access on the go with a small tablet? Not that much, I'm afraid: sites get more and more complex, people are used to animations, videos, all things which take computing power and network bandwidth. And site builders want to open thousands of advertisement windows on your desktop.
Most of the sites I peruse regularly either work fine on the 770 or have a "mobile" version that does. This is my #1 use for the device. What we need is a better browser that lets us "cut the crap" the way Firefox on the desktop does.

-do users want E-mail on the go? Yes. But many exchange word documents (heresy, I know, but this is what many people do). And network operators would rather have you use sms at horrid prices per byte. And you need a keyboard. And the device to check E-mail on its own. Think blackberry.
Think Gmail. Web app. Shows Office attachments. Problem solved...

-do users want to phone over the Internet? It's only cheaper and a lot less convenient than a cell phone.
Agreed !

-what else? Music? Cell phones do that. Videos? Get a PSP portable. Games? Cell phone or PSP again. PDA? Cell phones do that. So what else?
Games... never under-estimate the importance of games ! :-)

So yes, I am not very optimistic. The sharp Zaurus did all what the 770 did 4 years ago and is dead. And it had a keyboard...
I don't think this is a valid comparison. The Zaurus was never officially sold outside Japan (where it is NOT dead). It was never actively supported by Sharp as a Linux hacker's device. And (apart from the very confidential 6000) it does not have BT and/or Wifi connectivity builtin. I still love my 760, it's a good PDa and portable workhorse, but it's not a good Internet tablet. The 770 is.