Hi Jonathan,
In a message responding to somebody who was speaking about possibly buying a PK
to go with his existing PDI product, you noted that the BN/VN family has an
exciting future ahead, and if ultra portability isn't a
really big deal, one shouldn't need to pay the bucks for the pk.
With that in mind, and recognizing that you guys are still working on 6.1, I
wondered if you'd be able to comment on whether you see the bn/vn ever being
able to allow a user to do two tasks at once: e.g. listen to an
mp3 or other audio file while performing a task like reading email or surfing
the web, or composing a document. I know the stereo audio isn't going to happen
with the present hardware. that, the slow processor and
somewhat out-of-date port configuration (serial ports and pcm-cia cards are not
common on present day pda's) inspire me to hope that the next iteration of
upgrades will include one that will bring the non-pk hardware
up to something more approaching current state of the art for a pda. As one who
has yet to make a purchase of one of these devices (my one and only notetaker
was an Artic TransType) I'm very much on the fence
with regard to the value/utility of the bn/vn and its competition.
I understand that you guys are trying to wring all the mileage you can out of
the present hardware configuration, precisely because upgrades are expensive,
and they may be beyond the reach of a significant per
centage of your present customer base. On the other hand, a significant
face-lift for the hardware seems inevitible; its a matter of when. And as a
perspective customer, I would be seriously interested in a look ahead.
Buying a product of this magnitude is not something one can afford to do every
year or two. Getting in on the wrong side of a soon-to-be-released costly
hardware upgrade would be kind of a bad way to start a
relationship with the company. So, I hope you guys will be as forthcoming as
possible about the post-6.1 future.
Mary
