Intel's Personal Server: A Handheld Killer?
from the everything-goes-wireless dept
Mark Baard writes "Intel is developing wireless, pocket-sized personal server that may replace laptops and PDAs altogether. The "personal server," which is being developed at Intel Research by ubiquitous computing wizard Roy Want, is the size of a deck of cards, half the weight of an iPaq, and has no i/o, no screen, and no peripherals. The device never leaves its user's pocket or handbag." Sounds similar to the personal wireless hub we've spoken about before. Again, not surprising that Intel would be working on such a thing - as they like to experiment with just about any potential system that might increase demand for chips.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Where's the benefit?
Not sure I see how this is a PDA or laptop killer. Best case that I see from a quick review of the info is that you have access to your own files and applications from any (wifi? bluetooth? enabled) computer. Slightly more convenient that having a USB or firewire hard drive in your bag.
If you want to make use of this thing on the train or bus, while waiting to go in to a meeting, while sitting in the park, etc., you still need to have a PDA or laptop, because you have no input or output devices (and presumably no OS, either?).
Kind of cool, yes, but as presented it seems more like an accessory to a computing device than a computing device itself...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Where's the benefit?
So, yes, it is an accessory, but it could be a pretty useful one.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Where's the benefit?
You have the option of whatever interface suits you best. I'm imagining a whole range of wireless touch sensitive screens w mic and loudspeaker, ranging from a 1" watch version to a 19" monstrosity. I think I'd probably settle for something a little smaller than a mobile phone.
If it gets stolen, damaged, pint of beer spills over it, you replace the interface, not the essence.
Also, you could ask to borrow someone else's interface, do a quick bluetooth rescan (sync it to your server) to look something up etc, much like you borrow a pen from someone now.
I think this will be cool.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
War Walking?
[ link to this | view in thread ]