PDAs are Here to Stay - Innovation is King

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.infoworld.com/articles/op/xml/02/10/14/021014opsurvival.xml">http://www.infoworld.com/articles/op/xml/02/10/14/021014opsurvival.xml</a><br /><br />This article touches on a point we are all intimately familiar with. PDAs are making their way into the enterprise, but chances are, you probably brought your PDA in through the back door. IT departments are looking at how to utilize them in the company and there are companies rolling them out, but the lions share are purchased by end users, even if reimbursed by their manager. <!><br /><br />Those IT departments resisting this trend are reminiscent of those in the early 80's fighting the IBM PC doing things their vaunted big iron couldn't. Back then, PCs meant freedom. Today, PDAs mean freedom. All of your critical information in your pocket on devices with more RAM, processing power and storage space than the typical full blown PC had 10 years ago.<br /><br />The author, Bob Lewis, compares this backwards IT strategy to Palm and their "Yesterday's features tomorrow" strategy with OS5. These end users bringing these devices in are cutting edge. Four years ago, they were hotsyncing all over the place. Today, Palm is trying to get "upgrades" with the same OS and different hardware. That isn't innovation and the public is noticing. There is a new breed that is bringing in the Pocket PC. Some are new to PDAs and others are converts. It is all about innovation. In 1982, it was about doing spreadsheets and wordprocessing without requesting computer time. In 1996, it was about getting rid of a paper planner. Today, it is about mobile computing. Innovation. It isn't a new case or doubled pixel counts. As the author states, "If you can't lead and can't follow, at least get out of the way."<br /><br />Thanks to Foo Fighter for the link.

[Sslixtis]

Yeah, PDAs have finally made it. They are appearing in television and movies on a regular basis these days. Our litte friends have been in such greats as Art of War and The Sum of All Fears. And now they have made PrimeTime in a big way. They appear or are mentioned alot on Without a Trace, usually called a Palm Pilot even if what they show is a PPC. Our little friend the iPaq was just starred (ok, not starred; appeared) in an episode of CSI: Miami.

Ahh, it brings a tear of joy to my eye to see our diminutive friends finally coming into their own in the great, wide world. :lol:

So, now that Hollywood has accepted PDAs and are willing to give them a little "face time" and Dell/Viewsonic making the affordable to most people, I foresee a bright future ahead. I do believe that PDAs will be quite popular this Christmas :lol:

The reason I keep saying PDAs and not PPCs is simply that Palm and Sony will get alot of sales from namebrand recognition if nothing else. Most people still think of ANY PDA as a Palm Pilot. Well, they'll only call my baby a Palm Pilot once before my lecture scars them for life on the subject! :twisted:

[sweetpete]

The author, Bob Lewis, compares this backwards IT strategy to Palm and their "Yesterday's features tomorrow" strategy with OS5. These end users bringing these devices in are cutting edge.

I'd compare it more to the emergence of RIM Blackberry's more so than Palm's. Those things took IT dept's in many companies by storm.

[Ed Hansberry]

I'd compare it more to the emergence of RIM Blackberry's more so than Palm's. Those things took IT dept's in many companies by storm.

Yeah, but IT embraced the RIM, which is unusual for a new technology. They had to to get the stuff configured. He was making the comparison between Palm and the IT departments largely being rooted in the past and doing what they are comfortable with. Taking baby steps.

[Foo Fighter]

PDAs are definitely here to stay, and will continue to grow..but I honestly believe the Smartphone/Communicator will become the dominant tool of choice for mainstream consumers.