| Frankly, I just heard the term "third-category | | | | PDA, portable multimedia players or any other |
| device" when I saw Steve Job's presentation on | | | | things which combine similar functions. |
| his new product: the iPad. | | | | These devices are small, fits the palm of your |
| I will guide you through a short description about | | | | hand, some are even smaller than your finger. |
| computer types before we reach the iPad | | | | These mini devices are commonly called |
| subject. Along the line you will be able to draw | | | | "gadgets". |
| your own understanding of what a "third-category | | | | Fads and Hypes Sells |
| device" really is. | | | | The way today's vendors market their product is |
| Having your own opinion matters. Unless, you are | | | | somewhat disturbing: creation of needs. |
| a zombie;-) | | | | They will use mass media (TV, radio, etc) to plant |
| Desktop | | | | the seeds on prospective consumers. When the |
| A long time ago, computer was not available to | | | | needs are established, then the products are |
| the public. Time passes, a computer era was born. | | | | launched. |
| After some time computers shrunk in size, | | | | In reality that I witness, such method made |
| exploded in numbers and purchasable to the | | | | people lost control over their buying decisions. Any |
| masses. | | | | products threw in to the market, they buy. And |
| This type is the one we mostly seen in | | | | then they justify their buying decisions. |
| workplaces, campuses, internet cafes and homes. | | | | Slaves to an extent; I surely hoped that you are |
| It is not mobile, requires at least one square | | | | not one of them. |
| meter of space and it sits on the top of a desk. | | | | Main Course: iPad |
| Yes, it's a desktop computer. | | | | Let"s simplify the question: Do you need an iPad? |
| Let"s just call that kind of computer a "desktop" | | | | Read on. |
| from now on. | | | | WiFi, 3G and Ethernet |
| Desktops are everywhere: in business | | | | Internet connectivity is nothing new in technology |
| establishments, educational institutions, public | | | | gadgets. WiFi, 3G, Ethernet, etc have been |
| libraries and homes. | | | | integrated in mobile/cellular phones, e-book |
| We may not be aware of it but desktops have | | | | readers, portable gaming device and so on. An |
| been the backbone of our day to day computing | | | | iPad has all that too. |
| activities, our primary means of productivity. | | | | Solid-State Drive (SSD)iPad uses Solid-State Drive |
| Laptop | | | | (SSD) instead of Hard Disk Drive (HDD) for |
| While desktop provides ample computing power it | | | | storage. An SSD is quieter than HDD since it |
| has its own limitations. A need to have computing | | | | doesn"t have any mechanical moving parts. |
| power while people are on the move emerged. | | | | You might think of SSD as a new technology. It is |
| The industry answers it. | | | | not. |
| This one is a lot smaller, easy to transport, a lot | | | | SSD has been available to the masses since year |
| lighter, runs on battery and sits on the lap. A | | | | 2000. |
| laptop was born. | | | | The most common and overlooked example of |
| It is not as powerful as a desktop but enough for | | | | SSD technology is USB Flash Drive (UFD) aka |
| a limited productivity until the user can have | | | | "thumb drive". UFD has been integrated to lots of |
| access to a desktop, at workplace or at home. | | | | gadgets, i.e. portable media player, USB modem, |
| Given its auxiliary role, we can say that laptop is | | | | even as "Pen Drive" (UFD-integrated pen). |
| our secondary-line of computing device. | | | | We have been using SSD for a decade, we are |
| The evolution is ongoing. | | | | just not aware of it. |
| Netbook | | | | Touchscreen Display |
| Desktop and laptop have been our friends for a | | | | Touchscreen Display is an ancient technology of |
| long time, back from the school days. We have | | | | the 80's. Three decades and counting, it"s a relic |
| grown accustomed to them. | | | | technology. Today"s touchscreens are arguably |
| In our leisure time we use them for fun: music | | | | better in terms of quality, largely contributed from |
| listening, video viewing, Internet browsing, chatting | | | | better manufacturing. |
| and up to the thing called online social networking. | | | | Eye-strain wise, try to compare an iPad and an |
| Apparently, computer industry identifies a new | | | | e-book reader and let your eyes decide. Its |
| user segment: leisure activities usage. And the | | | | touchscreen can also serve as keyboard. When |
| users in this segment do care about being stylish. | | | | needed, the screen will adjust the windows to fit |
| A product developed for this segment, with the | | | | the keyboard, so you can type. |
| choice of colour which has never been seen on a | | | | The Design |
| laptop before. Here comes the netbook. | | | | An iPad weigh less than a kilogram, can play back |
| Netbook is smaller than laptop, lighter and the | | | | videos up to four hours and stand-by for a |
| battery runs longer; added more to its mobility. It | | | | month. It can do what many other devices can |
| is less powerfulthan laptop but enough for nothing | | | | plus one-month stand-by duration. One month. |
| serious computing task. | | | | Who will use a device in stand-by mode for one |
| While you are on vacation, you can still send, | | | | month, however, remains a mystery to me. |
| receive and store data. You can also do your | | | | Are there really a second-line, third-line, |
| word processing job, further than that you will | | | | third-category, etc? |
| need a laptop or even better, a desktop. | | | | I guess the truest selling point of the iPad is the |
| Netbook can deliver its job as tool for fun-related | | | | visual design. Apple is known for their products |
| activities but still has the look and feel of a laptop. | | | | visual design. It looks "stylish", with "balanced" price |
| Given the role, suffice to say that netbook is our | | | | tag. It lifts up your "social status". |
| third-line computing device. | | | | Snap out of it. You are under their marketing spell. |
| E-book Reader | | | | Look carefully, iPad looks a lot to an e-book |
| What is an e-book? Simply said, an electronic | | | | reader. |
| version of book. This version of book is meant to | | | | Conclusion |
| be read through computers. E-book are distributed | | | | Information technology is industry, it is business. |
| in various data format, i.e. PDF, HTM, etc. | | | | From a lifeless economy standpoint, it is all about |
| To no surprise, a significant amount of people in | | | | profit. The more people buy, the more the profits. |
| this world loves to read. E-book gives them an | | | | People may be mentally transformed into |
| advantage of having been able to transport their | | | | zombies. But as long as they keep buying, they |
| collection of books easily. Try carrying ten books | | | | are good customers. |
| from home to work every day for one week | | | | So, what happens to all those devices you have |
| and you will see what portability means E-book | | | | dumped? Do you know that technology trash is |
| also saves space; no more large bookracks. | | | | piling up to an environmentally-threatening level? |
| For those reasons e-book gains a lot of popularity | | | | Do you care about the forest destruction the |
| and this also attracts the industry to deliver new | | | | industry made to extract the resources for your |
| product: E-book Reader. | | | | high-tech products? |
| E-book reader has Internet connectivity but its | | | | And what is so wrong with saving your money |
| primary role is as an e-book reader and storage. | | | | and managing it? You will need that in times of |
| E-book readers are now popular both in US and | | | | crisis! |
| Europe. | | | | Despite the marketing gimmicks, each of those |
| Gadgets | | | | computing devices I have mentioned above has |
| Many other computing devices being developed | | | | its own pluses and minuses. |
| scaled down in size and specific functions. These | | | | But, rather than buying simply because you are |
| allow the delivery of hand-held devices with a | | | | capable to, I advise that you become a socially |
| fraction of performance of a stand-alone | | | | responsible buyer; solely reassess your needs and |
| computer system. These include "smart" phones, | | | | take control your buying decisions. |