Why the handheld market isn't dead yet

Colin Dunstan · 09-17-2005, 08:45 AM

At least according to this BargainPDA editorial, despite shrinking sales numbers the handheld market isn't dying yet.

Any smartphone worth the name is far more a handheld computer than it is a cellular phone. To say that smartphones will replace handhelds is like saying that two-door sedans will replace cars. Even if, tomorrow morning, every device shipped with a cellular radio, the handheld computing market would still exist. It might look a little different. But then again, it might not.

And it would be so easy: to "rescue" handhelds all we'd have to do is to abolish all artificial categorizations differentiating between handhelds and smartphones.

TadW · 09-17-2005, 08:44 PM

Really, who cares? Let the consumer decide whether the handheld is dead or not. All this scientific talk around the demise of handhels makes me *yawn*.

Brian · 09-17-2005, 10:01 PM

Personally, I think there is a lot of evidence that would suggest that wireless handheld devices will become the primary computing device for a significant number of people. We'll have ubiquitous wireless connectivity and access (either online our locally) to our personal data and personalized content, as well as the ability to carry around our desktop computing environment. Once handheld devices have the processing power (just look at the OQO) or become thin clients on the web, they'll be able to transform into a full computer with the addition of a keyboard, mouse and full sized monitor.

09-17-2005, 08:45 AM	#1
Colin Dunstan Is papyrophobic! Posts: 1,926 Karma: 1009999 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: USA Device: Dell Axim	Why the handheld market isn't dead yet At least according to this BargainPDA editorial, despite shrinking sales numbers the handheld market isn't dying yet. Any smartphone worth the name is far more a handheld computer than it is a cellular phone. To say that smartphones will replace handhelds is like saying that two-door sedans will replace cars. Even if, tomorrow morning, every device shipped with a cellular radio, the handheld computing market would still exist. It might look a little different. But then again, it might not. And it would be so easy: to "rescue" handhelds all we'd have to do is to abolish all artificial categorizations differentiating between handhelds and smartphones.

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09-17-2005, 08:44 PM	#2
TadW Uebermensch Posts: 2,583 Karma: 1094606 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Italy Device: Kindle	Really, who cares? Let the consumer decide whether the handheld is dead or not. All this scientific talk around the demise of handhels makes me yawn.

09-17-2005, 10:01 PM	#3
Brian MobileRead Editor Posts: 447 Karma: 84 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Massachusetts Device: Treo 700p, Zodiac2	Personally, I think there is a lot of evidence that would suggest that wireless handheld devices will become the primary computing device for a significant number of people. We'll have ubiquitous wireless connectivity and access (either online our locally) to our personal data and personalized content, as well as the ability to carry around our desktop computing environment. Once handheld devices have the processing power (just look at the OQO) or become thin clients on the web, they'll be able to transform into a full computer with the addition of a keyboard, mouse and full sized monitor.

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