Is the future mobile?
by Berserk · in General Discussion · 01/12/2011 (3:17 am) · 29 replies
.
#23
Well, the mobile phones are getting to the point where they're going to be as fast as netbooks, so if you have a docking station in that form-factor, and if that combination becomes less costly than having a cell phone/netbook combo, then it may just catch on. I can see it catching on with parents who want their kids to have phones, which is getting common now, and if the kid can use it to double as a laptop/netbook, then it has a viable place. Also, sales people are another market space that this can appeal to (one of the complaints from sales people is that information is translated to their phones, and it's not always 100% of the info they have on the PCs in their office).
01/16/2011 (4:49 pm)
Quote:Why would you plug the umpc to a monitor and keyboard (unless you're visually impaired)?
Well, the mobile phones are getting to the point where they're going to be as fast as netbooks, so if you have a docking station in that form-factor, and if that combination becomes less costly than having a cell phone/netbook combo, then it may just catch on. I can see it catching on with parents who want their kids to have phones, which is getting common now, and if the kid can use it to double as a laptop/netbook, then it has a viable place. Also, sales people are another market space that this can appeal to (one of the complaints from sales people is that information is translated to their phones, and it's not always 100% of the info they have on the PCs in their office).
#24
That's a reality for quite a few sales people ;)
01/16/2011 (4:49 pm)
Quote:The first thing that came into my head was a Vonnegut-like future dystopia of suited businessmen whose workdays consist of constant commuting while typing away at tiny mobile phone screens...
That's a reality for quite a few sales people ;)
#25
And we best not even go into how real social interaction is dying more and more the more features we add to mobile devices, working at home destroys teamwork and as a result harms productivity a whole for many teams
01/16/2011 (5:30 pm)
What 'high end PC' features do you use on the go? seriously? i'm gonna sit and do some T3D level editing while walking to work, or perhaps some photo editing or 3d design. Sure some of this can be done of the 7-12 inch or so tablets that are also getting better and better, but i honestly see these as another tool in the toolbox designed to enhance and expand the PC experienceAnd we best not even go into how real social interaction is dying more and more the more features we add to mobile devices, working at home destroys teamwork and as a result harms productivity a whole for many teams
#26
I don't know about "high end", but I do some scripting on my Evo while on the train sometimes (from Queens, it can take 45-60 minutes to get places in Manhattan, so having the ability to script out things or look up reference materials is good). 3D editing is not something that is that good to do on a phone due to screen size, but other tasks can be done on the phone if the time is available.
For the first part- take a ride on the A-train here in New York, and you'll understand why missing out on social interaction is sometimes the sane and safe route to go ;)
As to the last part, you have a very good point: Having an office is very important to team cohesion. But this being a community of indies who are in many cases composed of internet-based teams, the more ability those teams have to communicate, the better. Not that it's better than being in-person, but it's better than not having access to people in your physical area of the world. Where it becomes an issue is where teams that have the ability for face-to-face communication opt to go the virtual route, and suffer for it.
01/16/2011 (6:11 pm)
Quote:What 'high end PC' features do you use on the go?
I don't know about "high end", but I do some scripting on my Evo while on the train sometimes (from Queens, it can take 45-60 minutes to get places in Manhattan, so having the ability to script out things or look up reference materials is good). 3D editing is not something that is that good to do on a phone due to screen size, but other tasks can be done on the phone if the time is available.
Quote:And we best not even go into how real social interaction is dying more and more the more features we add to mobile devices, working at home destroys teamwork and as a result harms productivity a whole for many teams
For the first part- take a ride on the A-train here in New York, and you'll understand why missing out on social interaction is sometimes the sane and safe route to go ;)
As to the last part, you have a very good point: Having an office is very important to team cohesion. But this being a community of indies who are in many cases composed of internet-based teams, the more ability those teams have to communicate, the better. Not that it's better than being in-person, but it's better than not having access to people in your physical area of the world. Where it becomes an issue is where teams that have the ability for face-to-face communication opt to go the virtual route, and suffer for it.
#28
We have to remember that before the internet gained popularity, most people did not have a need for computers in their homes. In the near future, the internet will be available from our TVs. At that point, I find it unlikely that most people (outside of tech professionals) will want to fork over the cash for an extra desktop.
Before I start a flame war, let me reiterate: I don't believe desktop/workstation are going to disappear, but I do believe that the number of desktops in home use will eventually diminish.
So if you feel the need to shoot the messenger, go ahead! :-)
01/16/2011 (6:43 pm)
The mobile revolution is not about replacing the desktop. It's about re-imagining the way we interact with technology. For most people (not game devs), the high-end desktop/workstation is a complete waste of money. Let me give you an example, my parents (both in their 60's) bought their first computer about 3 years ago (a desktop). 100% of their computer time revolves around the internet: surfing the web for information or sending e-mail. If you were to ask most non-tech people what they use their computers for, I suspect you would get a similar response. For these people SmartTV will replace the need for a desktop, especially since they will be able to control these TVs with their other mobile devices. i.e. your bluetooth touch devices (smart-phone/tablet) will act as remote control/keyboard/pointing device, and yes, these new TVs will have built in webcams for skype...We have to remember that before the internet gained popularity, most people did not have a need for computers in their homes. In the near future, the internet will be available from our TVs. At that point, I find it unlikely that most people (outside of tech professionals) will want to fork over the cash for an extra desktop.
Before I start a flame war, let me reiterate: I don't believe desktop/workstation are going to disappear, but I do believe that the number of desktops in home use will eventually diminish.
So if you feel the need to shoot the messenger, go ahead! :-)
Torque Owner Daniel Buckmaster
T3D Steering Committee
(The first thing that came into my head was a Vonnegut-like future dystopia of suited businessmen whose workdays consist of constant commuting while typing away at tiny mobile phone screens...)