The four levels of computing power

Monica Zlotogorski's latest blog post, "Device Overkill Fever… How Many, For How Long?" is a little whiny for me. I drafted a comment, but I can't edit it. So I decided to make some revisions and break this out for a broader audience.

She complains about technology overload. I say we're not done yet. I currently rely on three levels of computing power. All are mobile. (I dumped my tower desktop computer years ago.) Smallest is three cubic inches in my pocket -- a pocket pad. I currently use a Palm Prē smartphone. It defines what I expect from a mobile platform. Alternatives are iPhone, Android, etc. It must be a good enough phone, and it must play music. (I dumped my iPod for a Touch years ago. This year I dumped the Touch altogether.) Video is a compromise on my pocket pad. Medium is the smallest form factor I will tolerate for "real work." I demand a real keyboard (I prefer 92%, but even Asus will suffice) and at least 1024x768 pixels (or 768x1024, as we shall see). I use an HP 2133 netbook. It's smaller and lighter than my notebook, so I always prefer it when mobility is a factor. Largest is where I make no compromises on performance. It should include removable media (CD/DVD) and a luscious display for two side by side documents. My full-size notebook can never be as small and light as my netbook. Some may say that there's a fourth level of performance represented by something like an iMac; but if I want more pixels than I'm willing to carry around with me, I'll plug a monitor into my notebook. Apple users are a little snooty, so let them have their luxury. I might change my mind someday. I still use a tower desktop in my kitchen, but it's merely a secondary device -- not much more than a kiosk. I have a different opinion about what the fourth level is. Read on.

I won't try to predict the future beyond the next transition that I intend to make. I want my pocket pad to get better and better, never growing larger than three cubic inches. The netbook is a dead form factor. I'm waiting for the PalmPad. If I don't like it, I'll shop for some other multi-touch pad. I'll use it to read books, magazines, and real web pages. I need at least 768x1024. (Mobile web pages and apps will still be a compromise for the next generation of devices.) I love multi-touch, but like Monica, I require a real keyboard. (She prefers Blackberry. I prefer Prē.) Let's call this my Dynabook, in honor of Alan Kay. My Dynabook must support a real keyboard before I am willing to give up my netbook. Why not Bluetooth? As for full-size workstations, I see little innovation in the near-term. But last night I inaugurated the fourth level of computing. Non-mobile by design. It's not really about computing power at this level. I'm talking about network-enabled television. Don't get me started about HP's lame first-generation MediaSmart [MediaStupidBrainDeadUnderpowered] products. I bought one, giving HP the benefit of a doubt. Sentimental me. But PlayOn breathed new life into an otherwise inferior, underpowered, not-ready-for-market product. The living room computer is merely the largest display an individual can afford to buy. And it's how I want to watch streamed movies. I must add that my wife's persistence moved time forward for me faster than I expected. She got frustrated waiting for the Netflix for Wii software to arrive by snail mail. Last night she installed PlayOn. It rocks! (She rocks, too. A geek after my own heart. :)

 

698 views and 5 responses

  • Sep 20 2010, 8:41 AM
    Tim Chambers responded:
    I need to clarify. I am talking to a wide audience that only cares about personal computing power, so I didn't bother with the adjective. When you start talking about the cloud and other, older data center architectures, you're talking to a niche crowd. Rich and powerful (think Google employee), but niche. There are 500 million Facebook users. That audience doesn't care about data centers.
  • Feb 2 2011, 2:56 PM
    XeesHan AHmed BHatti (Facebook) responded:
    Thanks Max for sharing.
    I agree with you, just a little change what I might want is that I dont demand for the full keyboard. I definitely am not in the favor of Apple's Keyboad, but the Swype is a real innovation. Who knows, in the future, we have Laptop's or netbooks with a touch Swype keyboad, just like the Mouspad is now a compulsory part.
    Rest, Tout a fait d'accord!!!
  • Jan 3 2012, 11:04 PM
    Tim Chambers responded:
    The conversation continues. Kit Eaton says the laptop is dead. I say no. Read: http://bitly.com/Afcsps
  • Jun 22 2012, 9:04 AM
    Tim Chambers responded:
    I modernized my netbook. It makes a good coffee tray, unlike my little smartphone.
  • Feb 24 2013, 10:09 AM
    Tim Chambers responded:
    Now this has me excited! “Ubuntu unveils Linux tablet.” “Ubuntu ... allows a single device to power different products. ‘Our family of interfaces now scales across all screens, so your phone can provide tablet, [desktop] and TV experiences when you dock it,’” said Shuttleworth. “That's unique to Ubuntu and it's the future of personal computing.”

    Canonical CEO Jane Silber said, “We expect Ubuntu to be popular in the enterprise market, enabling customers to provision a single secure device for all PC, thin client and phone functions. Ubuntu is already the most widely used Linux enterprise desktop, with customers in a wide range of sectors focused on security, cost and manageability.” [Emphasis mine.]

    Do you see that? Ubuntu, not Android, has first mover advantage in the enterprise. The article also includes this quote from Shuttleworth: “Android is a very clever interface if you’re clever.” So true! The enterprise market is what pushed Microsoft ahead of Apple in the 80's!