NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: KEITH SHAW ON WIRELESS COMPUTING DEVICES 10/14/04 Today's focus: Create your ultimate wireless device
Dear [EMAIL PROTECTED], In this issue: * What would you have on your dream all-in-one device? * Links related to Wireless Computing Devices * Featured reader resource _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by Veritas Meta Group Whitepaper Database Infrastructure Performance Challenges: Approaches to Better Manage Application Database and Storage Subsystem Performance Corporate relational databases now manage the majority of business-critical data within the enterprise. IT organizations face continuing challenges in managing increasingly complex, data-driven application environments. Read this white paper to discover several factors which will converge to challenge the IT organization's ability to manage its database software infrastructure. http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=84733 _______________________________________________________________ SECURITY CONCERNS STOPPING YOUR WLAN PLANS? Is it possible to deploy a secure wireless LAN with technology available today? That question preys on the minds of IT executives who are tempted to deploy enterprise WLANs, but are hesitant because of security concerns. Find out what we uncovered when we assembled 23 wireless products trying to get to the answer. Click here: http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=84767 _______________________________________________________________ Today's focus: Create your ultimate wireless device By Keith Shaw We recently received the results of this year's AvantGo Mobile Lifestyle survey, which this year asked respondents to come up with a list of the "must-have" features of an "all-in-one" dream device. The survey of 3,260 AvantGo members was taken in September and conducted entirely via PDAs and smart phones. The top 12 features were as follows: 1 Calendar/contact list. 2 Easy synchronization with a PC. 3 Great battery life. 4 E-mail/messaging. 5 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth. 6 Compact size. 7 MP3 player. 8 Phone. 9 Large screen. 10 GPS locator. 11 20G-bytes or more for storage. 12 Camera. There you have it. If there are any manufacturers out there reading this, just start making this device and you'll watch the bucks start to roll in! Of course, the survey failed to mention that No. 13 was, "Oh, and make the device for under $200." Forgetting the technical limitations of some of these features - for example, having great battery life (No. 3) and a large screen (No. 9) and 20G-bytes or more for storage (No. 11) would prevent you from achieving a compact size (No. 6) - the survey does bring up some interesting trends. First, most device users are still concerned about having a calendar/contact list, and easy PC synchronization, much more than having a phone or a camera. These are a little skewed because the survey was taken by PDA and smart phone users, but the point remains that the "bells and whistles" found on cell phones may not always be the feature that users are looking for. Easy synchronization is a software feature, and much harder to accomplish successfully than by just slapping a lens onto a piece of hardware, for example. It's also interesting to see that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth were lumped in together. I'd much prefer to have Wi-Fi and a strong WAN connection (such as an EDGE or EV-DO radio) on my device than Bluetooth. But at least some kind of wireless connectivity is high up on the list, which doesn't bode well for any handheld maker who is considering a device that doesn't have some kind of wireless network connection. Because I believe that the readers of this newsletter are the smartest bunch around, I'd like to hear from you regarding the "ultimate" device. Give me a list of the top 10 features you'd like to see on your dream device, and how much you'd be willing to pay for such a device. Be serious, be funny, be realistic or be fantastical (I'd love a device that could stop time so I could get my work done). Just send an e-mail at <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> and we'll print up the best features ideas (and list the favorites) in an upcoming newsletter. Other statistics from the AvantGo ( <http://www.avantgo.com/> ) survey that you might find interesting: * 85% of Pocket PC owners, and 82% of Palm owners, said they will stick with the same operating system on their next purchase. * About 66% said they were planning to buy a regular PDA rather than one with phone features. * About one-third said they would purchase a phone/PDA device, but only 3% would switch to a Symbian smart phone, and 4.5% would move to a RIM BlackBerry device. _______________________________________________________________ To contact: Keith Shaw Keith Shaw is Senior Reviews Editor at Network World. In addition, he writes the " Cool Tools <http://www.nwfusion.com/columnists/cooltools.html> " column, which looks at gizmos, gadgets and other mobile computing devices. You can reach Keith at <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by SBC Dialing for Dollars CRATE & BARREL'S VOIP MOVE NETS SAVINGS AND FLEXIBILITY An apples-to-apples comparison showed that a centralized, software-based, IP-based platform could provide significant cost savings and productivity benefits over a comparable, traditional PBX system. Download whitepaper now, click here http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=84645 _______________________________________________________________ ARCHIVE LINKS Archive of the Wireless Computing Devices (formerly Mobile Computing) newsletter: http://www.nwfusion.com/newsletters/mobile/index.html _______________________________________________________________ FEATURED READER RESOURCE CHECK OUT NW FUSION'S WHITE PAPER LIBRARY Visit Today: NW Fusion's White Paper Library with new features and improved capabilities! Sort NW Fusion's library of white papers by Date and Vendor, view white papers by TECHNCIAL CATEGORY, mouse over white paper descriptions and take advantage of our IMPROVED white paper search engine. CLICK HERE: <http://www.nwfusion.com/vendorview/whitepapers.html> _______________________________________________________________ May We Send You a Free Print Subscription? You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered at your fingertips each day. Now, extend your knowledge by receiving 51 FREE issues to our print publication. 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