CEOs Sacked, Cloudy Forecast. Consolidation Coming?

Here are the new kids on the block: Samsung, Motorola, HTC. Maybe LG.

Here are the guys who don't get it. Let's call them the "old guys": Asus, Acer, Lenovo, Dell, HP...though HP gets a pass because its Palm acquisition has yet to play out. RIM probably belongs here too given the limitations they've put on Playbook and the weird marketing.

Wild Cards: Amazon And Barnes and Noble. Sony And Nintendo Should be with the Old Guys but I'm gonna give them the benefit of the doubt.

So far, the new kids are doing well. Dazzling the market with new Windows Phone 7 and Android gears. And just completed 3 months of 2011, we'll see more Android 3, Honeycomb, tablets hit the market and continue what the iPad did last year: putting a hurt on the laptop market and possibly finishing off the netbooks.

The old guys spew a lot of double talk about how their experience in enterprise will ultimately demonstrate that they new guys's tablets, including the iPad, will not have a chance. They came out with fuzzy math to show how the tablet is more expensive.

And yet, so far, vaporware.

Because it's a Friday afternoon, let me put this out there. Dell is going to fail. The rest of the old guys probably will struggle bit time as well as the mobile market shifts in terms of needs and what the new type of computing the tablets represent.

And like HP having to go out and buy Palm for the Web OS, I wonder if others will need to do the same to stay viable over the next decade.

Dell has to make an acquisition or two. As an old guy, Dell is still making loads of cash. And the PC market isn't just going to disappear overnight. And of the new guys, Motorola Mobile (MMI) is the weakest and smallest.

Can Dell come in and scoop them up and instantly gain strong street cred with Xoom and Droid? It has done that in the past with the gaming laptop maker, Alienware. On top of that, there's talk that Motorola is making their own OS to distance themselves from Android and Windows Phone 7.

Dell will probably see what their lineup will do against others. It will gain no traction and the blogs and investors will demand action. They'll probably have to go out buy what they need. All that matters is when Michael Dell pulls the trigger. I'm predicting it'll be Motorola because RIM will be too expensive. Plus, RIM's got a couple of erratic co-CEOs that might clash with Dell.

For the other old guys, 2011 will be exciting not because of their new products which are largely based on old thinking but what they will do once they fail. Aside of HP's Touchpad, the rest of the Android tablets will be hard to differentiate. And though some might hope that a Windows tablet OS might save them, that is probably a 2012 thing, more likely 2013 given Micrsoft's track record to promise but under deliver.

The ebook sellers and the gaming guys, Wildcard guys, present a very interest dynamics going forward. And they have an opportunity to play big roles or completely disappear into nothingness. I'm looking foward to speculate what could come of them.

Right now, the situations for the old guys are more dire. HP has to succeed with the Touchpad and the next Web OS smartphones. Dell will fail miserably and look for an answer through a buyout.

The same is probably true for the rest of the old guys. Their only opening is in Asia where many of these old guys can still count as their stronghold. However, that window will close quickly once Apple has its iPad 2 supply issues figured out (Steve Jobs has $60+ billion in the bank to do just that) and more Apple stores start opening up.

Tablet Today: Where Is HP and Dell?

Everyone know that HP and Dell are the two biggest PC makers in the world. And while the PC market is not going anywhere (I happen to like laptops and think the future continues to be bright), there are additional facets to the mobile computing market. And laptop computing is being encroached upon.

Mobile devices like the iPhone and tablets are coming up fast. And in these two markets, HP has not made much of a splash and Dell barely dipped its toe in it. So, the question I posed is where do these two successful veterans of the PC market fit in the smartphone and tablet markets?

Is There Room For Web OS In 2011 - Maybe Not

Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 (WP7) did not sell one million units its first weekend but Microsoft cannot afford to cede the mobile market to Apple or Google. And it has the staying power and deep deep pocket to win marketshare if not necessarily the hearts and minds of users.

With WP7 already having an app store already rivaling HP's Web OS in terms of numbers of apps, is there room for Web OS in the market anymore?

Battery Saving Tips For Laptops

I found a 3-year old post on battery saving tips for laptop users. I came across it when I googled about the battery life saving potentials of adding extra RAM.

It's been a while since I've talked about battery life and tips. I was beginning to sound like a broken record. Having said that, battery life has increased in the last couple of years especially those offered by Apple (drawback is that they don't allow users to easily change out the battery). Typically, Macbooks ranges from 9-10 hours of use. I only see HP and Dell advertise use of 9-cell batteries which I think do well enough for most folks working under a normal load.

But more battery life the better I say. And frankly, this post ain't all that much more different anything that I have written up in the past year for laptops, iPhones, or other mobile devices. Dimming, defragging, conditioning. I'm sure you've heard all that before.

And while battery life has improved through a variety of technical advances, the fact that we are still using the same battery-saving techniques say volumes about the state of battery development. It's 2010 and we still haven't see methane-powered fuel cells. Or even hydrogen powered cell phones.

So, while I have also shared my opinions and news about green tech and the enthusiastic push from some quarters of the government and entrenpreurs, I like to see a mini stimulus for trying to make a giant leap forward for mobile devices. Perhaps we might see that in the course of researchers trying to find a way to store renewable energy source, miniaturization will still be required to apply any new technology.

For now, I leave you with a 3-year old post on saving battery life that is very much still relevant today.

More at Fried Beef (I know, weird blog name).

Is Palm Even Bothering Anymore?

Yeah, it's been a while since we've heard anything concrete about Palm or its WebOS. Rather, HP's WebOS now.

And you'd think that if Palm does try to follow Apple's example, Palm should by at Palm 2 by now. And yes, all we got was the Pixi. Seriously, I've been worried for a long time but the raging war between Apple's iPhone and Google's Android army has really sucked the air out of the room for a lot of people. Yes, Palm, RIM and Microsoft feels your pain (though Microsoft had the unfortunate distinction of making the news by killing off its two month old Kin line).

So where is Palm going from here and will HP allow the creative energy that created WebOS and Pre to flourish within the HP empire?  Palm Infocenter managed to get this clip of HP's Phil McKinney, VP of HP's Personal Systems Group, talk about HP's mobile device plans and affirm its interests in the mobile market.

Is it too late?

Nintendo Tweets

Here are today's tweets on Nintendo and what I think about their mobile gaming plans:

Nintendo: Apple is the future battles will be with. (part 1)

Nintendo: Recently hit by slowing sales. XL version probably not helping much with sales except with senior citizens. (part 2)

Nintendo: 3DS is the future. I’m not sure that’s enough. Need to change rules of the game to compete. (part 3)

Nintendo: Don’t take eyes off Microsoft or Sony, guys. WM7 plus zune plus gaming. PSP2 with mobile computing and telephony (part 4)

Nintendo: App store needs to grow more. Debating about online gaming. Suggest Mario & Co try everything (part 5)

Nintendo: Bring online socials to DS. But needs to make it safe for kids (part 6)

Nintendo: I would play in a “Nintendo Park” or “Nintendo World” (part 7)

Nintendo: I would love to see a multi-touch Nintendo tablet. That would be so cool (part 8)

Nintendo: Maybe they should have bought Palm and WebOS. Too late. How about licensing with HP. (part 9)

Nintendo: Android OS with Nintendo gaming? That would stop iPhone and others in their tracks (part 10)

Nintendo: Interesting post on Nintendo’s views on Apple and what’s next for mobile gaming http://bit.ly/c8Sfmx (part 11)

Nintendo: I’ve got a lot of confidence in Maro and folks. Experienced death before like Apple. Future is still bright. (part 12)

Nintendo: They have the potential to even redefine mobile in ways that is Apple-esque. (part 13)

Questions About the HP-Palm Deal

Here are a few questions HP buying Palm that I have:

1. When will I see Pre 2?!
2. What is the future for WebOS?  
3. Will WebOS find itself on other mobile devices like smartbooks and tablets?  If so, how soon?
4. HP's slate has not been well received from the looks of things.  Can WebOS be the answer?
5. How will HP position itself and WebOS against the rest of the field that is different from what Palm has already done and succeed?

While we've got many questions about the deal, the fact that HP bought Palm does say a lot about the mobile market in general. 

• HP doesn't want to play second fiddles to WM7 or Android.  It certainly doesn't see Windows 7 as a viable platform for the tablet market given the iPad competition.
• WebOS promises to offer more in terms of mobility for the tablet and other mobile devices.
• HP doesn't want to be left out of the mobile war.  With Palm, it entered the market is a big way.  Catching up and, in some cases, surpassing players already in the arena.
• iPad is a threat.  More specifically, Apple's mobile strategy is a threat.  Palm was dismissed by its competitors as a threat.  HTC, Dell, Lenovo, and others saw nothing of value that Palm can offer them.  HP was not even in the mobile market as a serious contender.  But with HP/Palm, now we've got something people need to pay attention to.
• HTC seems happy with Microsoft's patent deals but really in bed with Android.  HTC doesn't see WM7 as a major game changer.  HP probably doesn't either.  
• Dell, Lenovo, and others did not pick up Palm. Same reason as HTC.  Android is the future.

What HP needs to do:

• Assure the millions of loyal Palm fans (or is it mere hundreds of thousands now) that it intends to go forth with innovations and investments in WebOS.
• WebOS gets another chance to establish itself in the market.  This time, time and money isn't going to be an issue.
• Investors need to be patient and not have lofty expectations.  Palm has a lot of issues to resolve but the resources of HP should help immensely.
• Quickly bring to market products.  HP may need to go out and buy other mobile companies with products and services to complement WebOS.
• It needs to streamline.  WebOS and nothing else.  No Android or WM7.  The Slate will run Windows 7 but quickly release another one with Tegra 2 for the tablet and possibly Snapdragon for the smartphone.  
• Deal with everyone and anyone in the wireless services.  
• Possibly even license WebOS.

What do you think?

More at Engadget, Business Insider, Reuters, HP Press Release

HP Now Owns Palm

Just minutes ago, news broke that HP has bought Palm for $1.2 billion.

Why HP? Well, we'll have to let the dust settle a bit before analyzing this deal. We need to know who goes and who stays and what everyone's new roles are in the merger.

The question is going to be whether Jon Rubinstein is going to stay. And if so, what role he will play. I've always like Palm and rooted for them when WebOS came out but time was not on their side. They had once chance to succeed with Sprint and that failed. By the time Palm brought the Pre over to Verizon Wireless, Droid and the surging Android platform had already established itself.

With HP, Palm and WebOS should have a bigger role to play. Not to mentioned a deep pocket parent company.

Best of luck to the new company.

Netbook 2.0

The biggest news in the netbook realm is that Acer has gained quite a bit of ground with their Aspire netbooks and that netbook sales are eating up shares in the laptops world at the expensive of their bigger but more capable brethren. More than that, it's killing margins and revenue growth at HP and Dell.

It's beginning to look like a downward spiral at this point. But some are beginning to come out to the market with a different take on netbooks. We'll come to this point in a bit.

First, please read Onxo's previous post on what happened to the promises of netbook. SSD. Long battery life. Instant-on.

Now, let's come back. Netbooks are evolving as they should. Technology evolves. But they're evolving into bigger netbooks. More power requirements. Faster chips (though you wouldn't know it). It's become a laptop again but without the optical drive. But they carry a higher price. Still, it's a netbook wanting to do more.

Eventually, the margins and revenues on that will suffer as well. Netbook makers are fooling themselves. They need netbooks in their line but they all need products that differentiate themselves from the rest.

Sony has the Viao P and, well, Apple has nothing. But neither companies want to have anything to do with netbooks. For the pack of PC makers, someone needs to get started on netbook 2.0 so that they can break out of this shell they're in. It's killing them. I mean that literally.

No Degradation Battery From HP In 2009

That's right. Not Toshiba or Sony.  HP.

Check it out.  A battery that doesn't start to degrade well into the third year of use, or 1000 charge cycles.  Apparently, HP has found some magic dust, sprinkled them on these batteries, and mobile happiness ever after.

Dubbed "enviro" (we'll forgive HP for this uninspring name), I do believe this to be a very impressive jump in mobility.  Haven't you tried to baby and condition your battery at times to improve or at least artificially extend your battery's life ?  Well, no longer.  A 1000 charge cycle versus the 300 charge-cylce batteries now will change the workg habits of a lot of mobile warriors.

So, what can the Enviro do?

• 1,000 charges before the battery start to degrade. 
• 80% charge in 30 minutes.
• 3-year warranty or the life of the battery.
• Cost?  Double?   Triple?  Nope.  A mere $20-30 over current batteries.
• Technology from Boston -Power
• HP is merely the first to offer this battery.

Impact:  While this new technology doesn't extend the battery life, it does porlong a battery's life.  And with the cost a mere 15-20% over current battery offerings that will go through the life of a laptop, you're talking about millions saved on battery replacement costs for businesses. 

Furthermore, some mobile warriors would be more like to be untethered to an outlet and more inclined to truly go mobile.  What I want to see next is a breakthrough that will allow for a battery to go on working all day.  
Via Crunchgear

White Spaces - What It Means for Mobile Warriors

Yesterday, Onxo talked about FCC's decision to open up white spaces for wireless broadband access.  You're asking:  what does it matter?  It is just another wireless network like 3G and EDGE.  Also, like Wi-Fi.  Well, here is the fantastic news.

• Another option.  Will no longer beholden to wireless providers with ancient biz practices.
• Accessibility.  Convenience.  Innovation.  Whether you live in the cities or rural parts of the country, you will have an option for wireless connectivity.  It will also for wireless providers to compete in areas where they don't deem worthy of providing access to.  
• In the beginning, not even lower prices but over time with competition, we may be looking at White spaces services competing with 3G, LTE, and WiMax.  
• In due time, we will also see competition with the devices that support the different segments of the wireless market.  
• In due time, we will also see devices that let mobile warriors access one network to another without having to buy a brand new network card or mobile device.
  

PC Mag did a nice article about white spaces and I suggest you head over and read about it.  Just so you know how fast this is moving, Dell has already indicated it will add wireless receivers to future laptops that will be able to access wireless Internet through white spaces services.  HP, Microsoft, Motorola, Dell, and Google are among the lead proponents of white spaces.

White spaces is everywhere.  And that is what so cool about it.

• We already know it does video.  We can see greater and faster video communication.
• Use it like you use your Wi-Fi now.  In fact, you already know this but the fact that it can go through walls will make it one of the better wireless network deployments.  
• If you are out in the middle of nowhere, you may be able to set up a wireless hub that uses white spaces.
• Though not initially as cheap as DSL, it's competitive to those of wireless broadband for 3G.  However, costs may go down if there is an ad supported business model.  You don't think Google is doing this out of the kind of its own heart do you?  It's a corporation, and by nature, it has no heart.  
• 50-mile radius per access point.  How far does your current Wi-Fi network go now?

So, when can we expect this new magic?  According the PC Magazine, demo on 2009 and finished products in 2010.  

Links:

• Wireless Innovation Alliance
• TG Daily
• PC Magazine
• Washington Post
• Onxo - FCC endorses white spaces
• Onxo - Model for expanded Wi-Fi coverage
• Onxo discusses mobility for political junkies
• AWS-3 Saga Continues

Mobile Profile: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully

You might not have noticed but there was a new X-Files movie that came out this week.  Mulder and Scully roared back into the silver screen and, well, I'm sad that "X-Files:  I Want To Believe".

A small bit of spoiler here.  With Mulder wanted by the FBI and Scully sort of hiding him, how does Spooky Mulder, giving up on the world, communicate with the outside, his network, and keep tabs on the Super Soldiers and other paranormal phenomenon's?

And I'm going take a bit of creative liberty and move six months into the future and assume that the FBI has "deputized" Mulder and Scully as consultants.  And now, they're back in the game.  G-man and G-woman once again with a 21st Century flavor.

I think Scully is a Blackberry Bold type.  No more Nokia candy bars for our redhead.  She will need something with a high resolution device.  Especially when she's at the hospital (pregnant with her second child).  If you follow X-Files mythology, you'll know that Scully and Mulder are never on the same page about their believes at the same time.  But she'll remain open minded now that they have a family.  After all, she will want a world where her children can grow up normally and not worry about a shadow government going after them.  Mulder will likely have an iPhone 3G .  No question about that.  He won't care very much for the virtual keyboard because he really isn't the texting type.  But he'll like the 16GB storage for his "movies".  Plus, time has passed him by a bit and the iPhone's ease of use is just right up his alley.  Plus, Scully will have an iPod Touch because she and Mulder will share the games and app they download from iTunes.

On the laptop front, Scully is definitely a Macbook girl.  I'm guess black.  She will not want anything else because Mulder would have an iMac at home.  He'll do most of his computing work in his iPhone.  Why not Vista or another Windows machine?  Well, if Mulder does travel on FBI business, he will bring along with him his FBI-issued HP EliteBook that offer 24 hours of battery life.  Plus, it'll come with ATT's 3G connection.  It's useful when they go on manhunts.  Since it is television, Mulder will be able to use it to video-conference with Scully on her Macbook.  But in reality, ATT would never allow anyone to use their mobile wireless connection this way, even if it the FBI.

At the same time, Scully will carry in her lab coat pocket Sony's ICDUX80 digital voice recorder to help her make notes.  It comes with a USB connection that allows her to plug it into her Macbook whenever she wants to download her observations of autopsies she'll do for Mulder.

Flashlights.  X-Files is famous for its dark scenes with flashlight beams moving frantically across your television screen. Mulder and Scully will have the American Red Cross FR150 that has a hand-crank, radio, and cell phone charger in their car and at home.  What about when they go out alien or bigfoot hunting? Mulder is like to carry Smith and Wesson's Galaxy flashlight.  What's so special about it?  It's LED and it has red beams as well.  I can think of a couple of situation in past episode where the agents could have used it.  Mulder's model will have 20 white, 4 red, and 4 green LEDs.  Scully with carry the 13 LED model.

Winter is coming.  I live in LA but I do see Mulder chasing wolf-man suspects through woods in Vancouver the mountains in Oregon.  He'll need something to keep him warm.  He'll won't be wearing a suit with overcoat anymore.  He's now more casual and he'll need REI Shuksan Jacket.  It'll keep him warm but light enough for him to be mobile.  Scully, being pregnant, will no join Mulder and his FBI handler on their cases but it's going to be one of the coldest winter in DC.  She'll need a very warm coat.  Double-breasted seems to be on these day.  Wool?

Now, the agents don't strike me as being green.  I never got that feeling watching them all these years.  Mulder wants a Hummer but it's not very practical.  I going to put Scully in the Ford Escape Hybrid.  Mulder will probably drive around in a Prius since all he's be doing is go from their home to the J. Edgar Hoover Building when he meets AD Walter Skinner, for lunches, who is being considered by the new President for the Director position (Skinner's role in the X-Files and with Mulder's checkered past will not come up since X-Files no longer exist).

Stakeouts.  Mulder will have to do some of that with his handler.  FBI will have their own equipments but Mulder see the world different so he'll take a long his trusty Canon Digital Rebel XSi with 12MP.  Plus, he'll need something that will be able to take fast face pictures.  And he if wants evidence of bigfoot and UFOs, this is what he'll need.  Now, to document videos of paranormal events, the agents will have to use the Sony HDR-SR12 with 10MP and 120GB hard drive storage.  Mulder will also use it for home videos.  Speaking of home videos, Scully won't be leave the house without her Flip Video Ultra.  She thinks someone is following her, probably some rogue government op.  Anyway, she figure this is very easy for her to take quick videos of her baby when its born.

So, there you have it.  X-Files has moved into the 21st Century and they'll need modern computers and digital equipments if they want to avoid Armageddon that is coming on 2012 (last episode, not my idea).

Also, read about last week's mobile warrior profile:

• Mobile Warrior Profile: Josh Gates of Destination Truth
  

Note:  I had wanted to do a profile on "24" but "I Want To Believe" is probably the last X-Files movie we'll ever see.  I suppose not enough people want to believe anymore.  In the not too distant future, we'll come back on the Lone Gumen.  They're alive!

Macbook Pros Will Have To Beat HP HDX18t

Unless you're set on OS X, the Macbook or Macbook Pro are the way to go.  But sometimes something will come along and screw all that up.

This time, it's HP's new HDX18t (HP's website is badly designed.  It takes you directly to their store and offers specs and data all mixed together).  I did a simple configuration on HP's store and this is what I came up with for less than $1950.

All I can say, is Macbook Pro and others have a lot of work cut out for them.  You'll have to decide for yourself if the ability to run OS X and Windows is worth the $800 premium for the 17" Macbook.  Apple is like to cut prices on the laptops so the premium may not be this extensive this time next month.

Still you have to wonder how anyone can resist this.  Let me highlight this:  Quad-Core, Blu-Ray, 4GB RAM, 512MB GeForce 9600M GT.

Just don't look at the Vista part.  I also took at look at the lower end Macbook and compare it with the Sony SR and HP's dv3500t.  A sort of preview as I decide on what upgrade best works for me.

Economic Woes Got Tech Companies Worried

How worried are tech companies?

Worried enough for Microsoft's general counsel to implore the United States House of Representatives to pass the $700 bail-out, Emergency Economic Stabilization Act.

Since Monday,  tech heavy Nasdaq took a nose dive as investors bailed on Intel, Google, and Micosoft (among others).

Without credit tight and banks hoarding cash, a lot of companies, not necessarily the ones I mentioned here (they're all cash rich), will cut back on expansion or upgrades.  In Google's situation, a companies may cut back on advertising.

Furthermore, Dell and HP had mentioned they were cutting back on research and development for 2009.  I am sure it's not a coincidence the announcements came as tech spending will be curtailed in the short-term.

No one know how long this will last.  Nor how innovations will be affected by all this.

I keep track of a set of stocks myself and it was ugly.  The Senate passed a similar legislation tonight that the House rejected on Monday.  It remains to be seen if the House will follow their counterparts in the Senate.

I hope and pray all my fellow mobile warriors will weather this.  Even if this bail-out, whether you support it or not, does get passed by Congress, it'll take a while for the credit system to go through the macroeconomic jungle to get to those of us on Main Street.

Note:  Steve Balmer seems unable to make up his mind on this issue.  Read here for more.

Apple's Plan For Economic Bumps

If you don't already know by how, Apple stock got hammered with a 17% drop with a couple of downgrades.  It has since received 3% but the market has not closed yet as of this writing.

But with banks failing, housing bubble bust, huge slowdown in consumer spending, companies should be reining in costs, circle the wagon, and, in some cases, cut their workforce.  But not Apple.

As of August this year, there are about 240 stores with about 70 more future stores to be opened.  It like I hear a new store open every week.

In the past, Apple had stated they were going to innovate their way through of economic troubles.  I guess they failed to mention the expansion part too.  At the time, it sounded like just talk.

Thinking back now and with questions about Apple's $20 billion in the bank (good banks I hope), they stand to do a lot of things some of their competitors, even big ones with smaller amount of cash on hand, cannot do.  last week, HP and Dell both announced intentions to cut notebook R&D for the coming fiscal year.  That's the typical response I would expect from corporate entities that are trying to get past economic turbulence and hope for brighter days.

Now both HP and Dell will weather any problem in the near term because they both have a lot of cash and lines of credit but they also have a lot of moving parts, a lot more than Apple.  There, Apple can poise to position itself to expand even during dark financial days for the rest of its competitors.

• Has the cool factor - still make gears and mobile devices like the iPod and iPhones that everyone wants.
• With cash and more every quarter, Apple can afford to expand and plan for long-term growth, if it may mean at the expensive of short-term margins.
• A good analogy is that Apple Stores are like embassies and Geniuses are good-well ambassadors who help you with Macbook or iPhone questions.
• Increased visibility.  With 2,000 ATT store locations, 240 Apple stores, and about 600 Best Buy locations, the iPhone can be in places where it naturally isn't like Verizon or Sprint retail locations.  The increase footprint gives Apple added exposure.
• Added retail locations offer Apple a better fighting chance against Samsung, Nokia, and Blackberries that are just about everywhere you go.
• If you want something done, do it yourself.  Apple presence in the past was stunted by sales people untrained in Apple-ware and have zero or little knowledge about its software and hardware.  By training its own people at Apple stores and Best Buy locations, it stands a better chance of provider potential customers the right information (propaganda?).
• Apple's pull.  Having an Apple store is a good thing.  It draws retail traffic.
• Location, location, location.  In southern California, you've got stores - South Coast, Pasadena, Manhattan Beach, Century City, Beverly Center, The Grove, and Newport just to name a few.  You can't get more retail shelter from economic woes on Main Street than these "bling bling" locations.  I'm sure it's like that everywhere else.  

I wonder if Apple knows something we don't about consumer spending and their growth prospects. While I don't claim to know anything about their plans, take a look at where they've got the stores and you'll find economic bullet-proof.  It stands to gain a lot when the economy turns around.

Still, I really am looking forward to these innovative new products Mac blogs keep advertising about.

Source:  Wiki Apple Store (there's like a wiki entry for everything) and info Apple Store

State of Mobile Computing

These days, we've been focused on smartphones and mobile devices like the iPhone and G1 with respect to mobile computing.  Regardless of which came you're in, these little devices pack a big punch.  Excel crunchers they're not but these phones and devices have the heart of lions.

But laptops and netbooks will not be denied as they are still the workhorses of most mobile warriors.  But given the economic instability and uncertain outlook, are the days of high-end laptops coming to an end?

After all, a netbook equipped with Vista, Windows, and Linux (and if you happen to hack your EEE PC to run OS X) are capable of doing 95% of all the tasks that one traditionally use a laptop for.  You can say 100% if you insists in running large Excel spreadsheets and going at a slow pace with large Photoshopping tasks.

Micrsoft Watch, a pro-Windows blog documented growth in the future will coming largely from netbooks as the units will go from over 5 million this year to about 50 million units in 2012.  Whatever the OS market-share is by 2012, this trend, which I largely agree with, may mean a couple of things:

• Power average price sales for laptops/netbooks - not sure if "analysts" will lump the laptop and netbook into one big pot.
• Price drop due to competition for revenue - not necessarily fighting over consumers
• Shrinking revenue and may even knock one or two PC makers out of the market as due to stagnant growth. (Mergers)
• Linux will gain shares at the expense of Vista.  XP may continue it's dominance.
• Netbook costs subsidized by wireless providers for annual/biannual commitments for 3G access.

Suffice to say, netbooks are cheap, powerful, and improves mobility when added with big batteries.  And they are here to stay.  The landscape of laptops will change as a result.  We won't know if the laptop will welcome this new brethren or will have to compete with it on the open market.

So far, just about everyone has a netbook or two (or seven as in the case for Asus) except Apple.  I'm guess Apple will join the fight with a netbook of their own but something entirely different.  I do see them outfit a device with the iPhone and iPod Touch's OS with a bigger touch screen (and with a premium). 

Here are just some of the players:

• MSI Wind 
• HP Mini Note - just wish it uses an Atom
• Dell Mini 9 
• Asus EEE PC 
• OLPC XO 

Source:  Microsoft Watch

Should Apple Offer Wireless Broadband Option?

If people want evidence that Apple may want to take advantage of the halo-effect generated by its mobile platform, Apple should offer at the minimum the Macbook Air with a wireless plan.

Would some of you executive mobile warriors like that?  I’m not an executive and I would.  But I’m not so sure this would make economic sense for Apple.  And Apple is out to make money.

Unless, Apple can take that iPhone revenue-sharing model and apply it to their Macbook lines, specifically the Air.  Or, as Onxo has advocated previously, have the wireless providers shell out money upfront to subsidize part of the cost of the laptop and recoup the expense through multi-year contracts.

Right now, the costs of laptop with wireless broadband are passed along to the consumer and that is just plain stupid if you think about it.  Wireless broadband should not be a privilege for only those who truly need it.  Instead, wireless providers should be advocates and entice more businesses, educational institutions, or high net worth individuals to adopt mobile broadband as a new way to work and play. And over time, that may drive costs down.

Vodafone will soon start selling Dell’s new netbook.  At this time, pricing is not available.  For full size laptops, HP offers a pretty comprehensive package from Verizon, ATT, and Sprint.  Not bad.  But consider the premium and the need for a voice plan, this is not exactly what I’m talking about here.  This is not what's needed to drive demand.

But I do sense a move for laptop brands to work with wireless providers to eventually offer services to regular consumers.  After all, there already are broadband providers that include desktops with multi-year contracts.  So, why not wireless access and laptops?

Related Articles:

• 3G Adoption in US Higher Than Europe.
• Would laptops with wireless subscriptions work?
• Model for Expanded WiFi Access.

Dell Earnings Show Innovation Is Not Simply Changing Looks

Dell's earnings was down quite a bit last week.  As a result there was a lot of questions for Dell's future and the industry at large.  Could what happened to Dell's earnings report this week be what is coming for the rest of the tech industry?  More importantly, could this have been avoided?  It all depends on what they said happened and what the reality is.


The economic state the world is in now definitely has an impact on tech spending and there is no argument from anyone about it.  I think we're in for a longer period of slugginess than I think anyone care to admit.  It was good that US Treasury finally acknowledged that we've got issues.  Now, does this bad quarter for Dell also extend to IBM, HP, or Apple?


Obviously, we won't know until these companies report their earnings.  But does this point to a deeper problem being suffered by tech companies these days?  Technology has improved incrementally but stagnation from the labs of these tech companies is also evident.  The biggest technological improvement, if you can call it that, is the proliferation of these so-call netbooks.  Seriously, that's the best these companies have been able to come up with in the last couple of years.  


As far as mobility is concerned (or computing or electronics in general), there really has not been true innovation since Intel and Microsoft tried to convince us that UMPCs are the next step in mobile computing.  True mobility means being able to take your mobile device anywhere you want and being able to power it. It was cool watching the promotional videos for this new class of devices but the truth is of the matter is we're not there yet.  Battery life is one component.  Guess what the other is?


Wireless connectivity also plays a big part.  In truth, whether it'll be 3G, WiMax, or whatever gen 4 mobile 


Once we have these two components in place, there will also be the matter of creating mobile devices that can truly take mobile work, computing, and entertainment to another level.  Building wireless capability like Intel is doing with WiMax is a good first step but mobile devices like tablets or some new class of mobile devices, which we believe Apple and Google are trying to create and dominate, 


So in summary, and we'll make it sound like all this is a piece of cake, is as follows:

• New battery technology - fuel cell, or a combination of super efficient components and battery packaging.
• Wireless broadband - we're talking about unmetered, unfettered access.   About a week ago, Onxo discussed what the Federal Communications Commission chairman wanted for the US.  
• True revolutionary UI and packaging for the form.  

HP has announced their intention to release touch-screened computers next year.  We already have a variety of such devices on the market, albeit incomplete solutions what seems like lackluster implementation, and totally lack of user experience.  

We'll just have to wait until that happens.  Who's going to offer us the total convergence that offer the best complete mobile solution?

Sunday Laptop Deals Run-Down For August 17, 2008

It's that time of the week ago.  What's a good laptop this week from the megastores for your mobile life.  To start off there is a Office Max deal, a bundle really, for $700.  What do you get?

HP Pavilion Notebook Bundle (Pavilion dv6911, C4480, SwissGear Backpack)

• 3GB RAM
• T5550, 1.83Ghz
• Webcam
• 200GB HD
• Vista
• Printer C4480, 30ppm black, 23 ppm color
• media card reader

Is this a good deal?  The chip is Core 2 Duo and slightly slower than its 2.0Ghz brethren.  Compared to the Dell Studio 1535, it has a smaller hard drive but makes it up with a printer and a backpack as part of the bundle.  

Given the bundle, it should work seamless as both the laptop and printer are both made by HP.  C4480 All-In-One Printer (print, copies, scans, no fax) being sold for $60 on amazon while HP and Apple has it for $100.  I

It's a decent deal but nothing I would rush out to get.  Compared to Dell, I would just get this over it.  Without the bundle, the Pavilion costs about $600-650.  In total, buyers may be looking at a savings of $40-$70 dollars.  

Now this week's laptops from the stores:

The notable this week comes from Office Depot with the Toshiba laptop.  It offers a USB charger that continues to charge your iPods even when the machine is still off.  In addition, you can pick up MS Office for $100 more.  There is also an FM Tuner if you want to listen to the radio while you hack out a report for your client or fine-tune your lab report for your o-chem class (I was a biochemistry major).

I also like the DV5-1002NR from Best Buy.  If you do get this one, make sure you bring your ad.  The online price is $20 more.  There is also the DV5-1004NR that did not meet Onxo's cut.  The 1004 version cost $850, that's $200 more than the 2002 version.  What's the different?  A faster chip.  You can decide for yourself if a 100mhz different is worth the premium.

As always, there are Macbooks.  Rumblings from the Internet this week is that the Macbook Air is due for an upgrade in CPU, memory, and the systems within it.  This is like to happen any day now, as it is being reported.  I don't buy it.  Apple is in the midst of their back to school deal (free iPod Touch with purpose of Macbook for faculties and college students only) and they are concentrating on their iPhone launches in the next few weeks.  Apple has a lot on its plate.  We will not be seeing any new Macbooks until late September.

Also note the amount of memory that comes with the laptop.  3 or 4GB.  As a rule of thumb, more memory the better.  So, we'll start looking at laptops with 4GB unless we see a 3GB laptop with a killer price.  I've noticed a lot of older models with 2 or 3GB with great prices but don't be deceived.  These laptops also typically sport older chipsets and subsystems.  If you're not sure, do a bit of research.

MORE MEMORY:  Now, we're going to tell you something you're not going to like.  4GB is great but let's be honest, I'm beginning to see systems that offer up to 8GB.  You may want to keep an eye on that.  Windows 7 is coming out in 2010.  OS X Snow Leopard will under a slime-down and some tuning to streamline application footprint but I'm betting we're still headed in the direction where 8GB would be ideal.

It really depends on how long you'll be keeping your laptop.  For most of mobile warriors out there, there is nothing for us to worry at this time.  But don't be surprised over the next year when system requirements, not just minimum memory requirements, are greatly increased.

Laptop Buying Decision: X4500 versus X3100

Buying a laptop is not easy and never have been at least when it comes to choose the right specs.  Like others, we look for longevity in our mobile platforms and want to be able to get as much mileage out of it as we can.  Of course, that has to be weighed against the premium we must pay for it.

It's like buy a car.  A friend of mine was contemplating buy a new model Prius versus an older model and weighed the MPG increase against the wait (there's a waiting list), now much gas money she'll actually save, and the premium for getting a newer model.  I know nothing about cars but I find it ironic that it's the same thing I go through when I pick out a new laptop.

Here is a benchmark with Intel's Centrino 2 and X4500 IGP versus the previous generation chips and the older X3100 (SOURCE:  Macrumors).  Here is another benchmark from Phoronix (this is a desktop version - information may be used to extrapolate how a mobile version might fare).  While the first set of benchmarks were sourced from Macrumors, this is not indicative of anything specific for the Macbook.  As a matter of fact, Onxo's Sunday laptop deal run-through indicated HP's laptops were the first we've see with Centrino 2 from the consumer electronics stores. 

I just thought we'd share these benchmarks with you and that might help you with your decision.  We did not see a significant improvement with the chips themselves and these are only two benchmarks.  But what are they telling us?

The X4500 is about as good an improvement over the X3100 as you're going to get from Intel right now.  We see a 35% increase and up over the X3100.  Some X4500 number doubling that of the X3100.  This may improve as drivers are updated and optimized.  This is wonderful news for users when it comes to graphic intensive OS's liks Vista for Windows laptops and OS X on the Macbooks.

Still, it trails Nvidia's own offers.  And that also mean you can forget about playing any kind of games on there unless settings are set way low. 

But for daily working? Depends on your needs.  If having a new laptop "now", then the offerings on the market are quite adequate.  And the deals about abundant.  Check out our laptop run-through from Sunday.  They are only local circulations but it'll give you a starting point to work with.  And definitely a lot of deals on the web. 

Note:  What am I doing?  Personally, I can wait and I'll see what the laptop makers has to offer when more Centrino 2 laptops are available.  While the Macbook Air has been calling out to me, the non-user replacable battery bothers me.  And I have not gotten the Macbooks yet (not because of the older chipset in side) because I want an LED screen instead of the older LCD.  But my Powerbook is old and I need to upgrade soon.