You maybe right to expect pure PDAs to disappear though.
Sony has stopped to produce pdas, Nintendo apparently want to sells the DSÂ also as a pda, mobile phones can do more things every day.........
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You're right.
Here's my take on the situation, and I've had many a furious arguement with other ZUG member's in the past about it. The PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) was a limited concept, basically the next step from the digital organisers and databanks from the 80's. It's primary functions are phonebook/contacts, calendar/appointments/schedule, to-do lists/memos etc. what we call PIMs. These applications are becoming better on mobile phones and so it makes sense for people to use those devices and sync them with their desktops. But throughout the databank->organiser->PDA evolution, there has been another type of device for the more geek-o-centric: pocket computers. Machines like the HP 200LX I think were the best of that kind of machine. As PDAs became popular, the line between them has blurred. Resulting in some flaming battles I can remember with one or two on ZUG.
As things move on, we are seeing the emergence of dedicated music/video devices like the Archos (Apple will not bring out a "PDA" but you can bet an A/V device will be the next step from the iPod) and gaming platforms like the PSP, the console will fit in the pocket and family TVs will cry a sigh of relief as mother can watch Eastenders again without being hijacked by Doom3. It's obvious that PIM users will get their fix from their phones and will be happily syncing away. So I think we will see what *was* the PDA separating into phones, av devices, gaming mini-consoles and all-in-one devices. But even so, there will always be a small market for those who want true pocket computers, not having to convert a device over for use or having to have a SIM card and contract to use Bash. The way I use my Yopy for example, is not as a PIM device - I'd buy a palm for that. I use it's webserver, native compiler and X forwarding, I also use it recreationally for reading books, music-on-the-go and watching movies on long trips. Basically, what I once would have used a laptop for.
I see the death of the PDA as being close, but it's not a bad thing at all. It will mean better devices for the specific tasks people have and may even provide better mini/micro-laptop devices for those of us who want them. It means phones will just be the logical choice for PIM users and I dare say a new phrase will be churned out by the marketeers to tempt us into buying the machines we once called PDAs. I've always been buying pocket computers for almost 20 years and I'll continue, regardless of what they call it. I just won't be buying one with a contract. Thats my view at least :-)
The PSP is interesting though, I'm going to keep an eye on it, but personally I prefer the DS. Making hardware comparisons with the Z isn't worth it, they are designed for different things and also with the PSP you are paying for the name to a degree.
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