On Jan 28, 12:16 pm, Roy Schestowitz <newsgro...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
> 10 billion ARM processors, and counting
> http://www.deviceguru.com/2008/01/26/10-billion-arm-processors-and-co...
Note that even though there were 10 billion ARM processors shipped,
not all of them were used for Linux systems. Looking at the poll on
http://www.linuxdevices.com/cgi-bin/survey/survey.cgi?view=archive&id=01302007173158
http://tinyurl.com/27et3s
It looks like about half were Linux based. Another 11% were UNIX
based (Unix or VxWorks).
It looks like the Linux share will be growing. It seems that they
like it alot.
Only 9% were based on any version of Windows.
Proprietary systems, usually based on FORTH, are starting to lose
favor.
> It's all about mobility.
> Opinion: Goodbye, notebook; hello 'Web tablet'
> | * Asus Eee -- A tiny clamshell design; runs Linux and can also run
> | Windows XP (if you must).
> | * One Laptop Per Child -- This largely philanthropic effort may also
> | yield business products over time; Intel's Classmate PC has similar
> | potential.
There is also the Everex Cloudbook (delayed for another month).
We will probably start to see several other of these type of devices.
We will probably also see more devices with smaller screens and
smaller keyboards. It seems that 7" to 9" is a popular display size
and good for a device that gives you the portability of a PDA with the
functionality and flexibility of a laptop.
As for the "Tablet" paradigm, I think we will still see the desire for
keyboards, especially among teenagers who have been texting each other
on cell phones for about 3-4 years now (because they can get unlimited
texting for $9-10/month), and are now looking to upgrade to a "phone"
with a "real keyboard" so that they can get more information back and
forth.
I wonder if we will be seeing any of these sporting a Dvorak
keyboard? Most do offer a Dvorak setting for the keyboard. I know
that the OLPC had a Dvorak option.
> http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBas...http://tinyurl.com/2rl5ee
> Microsoft cans key conference
> | SOFTWARE giant Microsoft has decided that it does not love its popular Mobile
> | and Embedded DevCon any more and has pulled the plug.
> http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/01/16/microsoft-cans...
I think the big issue here is that Microsoft has been losing market
share and hasn't been able to really get many innovators excited about
using any of Microsoft's embedded products. Even cell phones are
pretty much based on the same Windows CE type systems used in the
Compaq Ipaq several years ago. The functionality is very limited and
there are very few really exciting and interesting applications for
either the cell phone or the PDA. There isn't much that
distringuishes Windows handhelds from Palm PDAs. Linux PDAs such as
the Sharp Zaurus have a robust collection of extra applications. Opie
provides the full functionality of a Linux system and is only limited
by the size of your SDRAM or Compact Flash RAM.
The one thing that most PDA users like to get is a keyboard. Palm,
HP, and Targus all make keyboards that can either plug into the PDA or
can be interfaced to the Infared interface of the PDA.
One of my big frustrations with laptops is that they aren't convenient
to carry all the time. The most frustrating is when I want to compose
a document while I'm flying on an airplane, and I can't open the
laptop enough to see it because the guy in the seat in front of me
wants to recline and take a nap.
The other frustration is when I run out of battery in the middle of a
transcontinental or transoceanic flight, and can't do anything other
than sleep. I can get external batteries to extend the life as much
as 12 hours, but even then it's a lot of stuff to carry around.
Ideally, I'd like to see something like the ASUS EEE 4g with cell
phone capability. A good alternative would be the ability to plug my
USB cellular modem into the ASUS port so that I can use skype or
net2phone. This may be possible, I just haven't tried it yet.
Rex Ballard
http://www.open4success.org
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