Quote:
Originally Posted by j.p.s
I suspect that would have problems similar to those of dumb terminals and thin clients: less capable without really being any cheaper.
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Cheaper isn't necessarily the goal here (though it's always nice). You're essentially cutting out storage from those components, but memory is cheap now, so no big. It's mostly the consolidation of all your data in one compact package that's the goal.
Think of computer monitors: They weren't full televisions at first, and had to be connected to another device (a PC) to work; you could think of them as "slaved peripherals." But they had superior image quality to most home TVs, which is why monitor technology eventually made its way into home TV systems.
Now, I don't believe that full systems like laptops, dedicated readers, etc, will just disappear... there will probably still be a use for them. But someday they won't be as ubiquitous as modular systems built around the smartphone.