“Calling the iPhone just a cell phone would be a mistake. Over the past 11 months, it has morphed into a handheld computer. With its new 3G connections and the promise of an abundance of PC-like applications, the iPhone appears to be on track to become a personal portable computing platform in its own right,” Tim Bajarin writes for PC magazine.
“When the new iPhone was launched this week, most of the folks covering it focused on the 3G radio and the low price. To be fair, some of the media did talk about the software, but I can’t emphasize enough the fact that it is the software, coupled with a PC-class OS and Web browser, that will help make the iPhone the most portable computer on the market today—or even tomorrow,” Bajarin writes.
“Why is this important? Think about the original PC. It was a great box, but pretty much worthless without software. In fact, it took VisiCalc, the first spreadsheet, to show the world that the Apple II was not a toy,” Bajarin writes.
“If Apple successfully creates a portable computing platform that delivers a true PC experience in the form of something that fits into your pocket and sells at an affordable price, it could emerge as the number one player in this segment pretty quickly. The iPhone, with its PC-class OS and browser, combined with services like iTunes and the soon-to-be-launched iPhone app store, create an ecosystem of hardware, software, and services that will make it very difficult for competitors to respond in kind quickly,” Bajarin writes.
“I believe that this kind of thinking is what’s really behind Apple’s iPhone push. The company is on track to take a leadership position in this pocket PC market and, in the process, perhaps define what the next generation of truly portable computing is all about,” Bajarin writes.
Full article here.
INteresting. I have a ‘pocket computer’ that’s about 6 years old. It’s a Cassio Cassiopeia running, er, walking Windows CE. It ate batteries like there’s no tomorrow, and the CE interface, with Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, and Pocket PowerPoint was mind-numbingly clumsy. Instead of a mouse, there was a pointer that worked reasonably well on the touch screen.
Now Apple’s iPhone and iTouch show how it can be done elegantly. It’s so obviously the software/hardware combination that it’s amazing it hasn’t been done before. But then the other tries were based on Windoze CE or Mobile or whatever the current name for that shite is…
PC=Personal Computer however APPLE has spent a few hundred million dollars convincing everyone that PC= windows machine.
How do the Apple commercials start??? “I’m a Mac and I’m a PC!” then the fun begins… They do not start “I’m a Mac and I’m a Windows Machine!”.
Seems pretty clear to me. PC Class OS is an insult!
Now an Apple Class OS even pre OSX would be more interesting (and useful) to me than the latest PC crap from any one!
Perhaps when Gates and Ballmer enjoy their “endless lapdances”, the Big Ass Table can come in handy (see [http://valleywag.com/5016213/pity-the-microsoft-marketers-who-made-this-video]) 😀
In all this proper use of PC debate, I propose the following, which I have used for years:
Windows FeeCee.
1) It continually costs you, in money, time, and aggravation
2) It’s a piece of crap
Windows CE + Windows ME + Windows NT = CEMENT
I think that’s where they got the idea for Vista.
@TheConfuzed1
Very good!
Brought to you by MicroSoil !
Opening up the docking port to third party peripheral development may be EXACTLY what Apple intends to do — one of the current limitations of the iPhone is its small-sized screen — and one of the limitations of OSX is that it does not CURRENTLY support screen resolution independence — however, what IF one of Apple’s tricks-up-their-sleeve for 10.6 is screen resolution independence, AND, what IF they intend upon making the iPhone support screen resolution independence, AND, they decide to open up the docking port to third party developers — SHAZAM! — can you say LARGER TOUCH SCREENS that allow you to plug your iPhone into a docking port in the back or side? Or, projector units with same sort of docking port, that also support screen resolution independence? Or, barcode scanning docks that you plug your iPhone into?
Wow ! Suddenly, the possibilities are ENDLESS for the computer cum phone that you carry in your pocket . . .
Niffy
@Niff Stipples
Ever watch a keynote with the iPhone?
They already have the iPhone capable of connecting to a projector, and by extension an LCD screen, you can do this with the Apple Composite AV Cable. It would be nice if Apple made an iPod to HDMI or DVI Cable.
The video the Confused1 is referencing.
Very funny!
“Suddenly, the possibilities are ENDLESS for the computer cum phone that you carry in your pocket”
So THAT’S how the iPhone came about!!!
The thing is iPhone could break;
most, if not all, mobiles running some version of MS Shi* and symbian plus handheld gaming devices like PSP / Nintendo DS NoKia Gage et al.
and they worried about the iPod dominance…
All the wishing aside, ref “How about something like a hybrid between a mac book air and an iphone? Maybe 8.5 X 11″ in size, Nice LCD 10.75″ screen, possibly incorporating a bigger iphone keyboard ? Price it at $999 and It would meet the needs of 90% of computer users needs – Surf/ shop the web, email, photos, and small administrative stuff, like pay bills, fill out applications etc.”
Don’t you guys get it??? That stuff is already here.
I just bought a dvd player (9 in screen and an iPod touch plugs inside it.) OK, now add Apples little blue tooth keyboard and you have it. (PS, OK I know its needs smoothing.
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Blue tooth keyboard and mouse, 9 in screen and a ps that can power the iPhone and re-charge it while in use, All you need is that third party software to read one and print to the other. Add a bluetooth printer or an Apple express unit so the iPhone can send the item to be printed and you are all set.
Everything is technologically ready RIGHT NOW. It just needs to be put together. PS a nice case for all the parts would be nice. Plus, my dvd player also plays dvds so if you are at a friends house you can still use those dinosaurs. LOL
later, en
You folks arent serious!? Mobile computing has been around for quite awhile in the Blackberry, Nokia and Windows configuration. Now you asses come along and think the Iphone is the mobil computing, get fucking real. Man your 4-6 million iphone mean squat right now. Really, iphone is just a mp3 playing cell phone with some games. Hell my 3 year old PDA does that with more productivity for business than the iphone can come close to in its current config.
Grow up people, and stop with this nonsense.
“Really, iphone is just a mp3 playing cell phone with some games.”
Dumbest comment of the month award. Kudos.
Go learn something:
http://www.apple.com/iphone/enterprise/inaction/medium.html
http://www.apple.com/iphone/enterprise/
http://www.apple.com/iphone/enterprise/integration.html
http://www.kpcb.com/initiatives/ifund/index.html
http://www.macworld.com/article/132597/2008/03/enterprise.html
And grow up, indeed.
That’s right Crash you need to read more Apple marketing material from their web site. You’re starting to show dangerous signs of free though.
Or free thought, that’s bad too.
O.K. Try this instead:
http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_9599971