Rumor: Apple Zaurus Killer

[ThirtyOne]

For what it's worth.

http://www.powerpage.org/cgi-bin/WebObject...ry?newsID=14284

[nathanwms]

I would love to see Apple do a device like this.  I think they produce some of the most innovative hardware and software.  I imagine it would be based on the same Unix kernel Mac Os is running on.  Competition is good!

[BarryW]

Well being the mac geek that I am, I would snap one of these up as soon as it came out.  Seeing that I have a Newton 160 and 2100 on my shelf and an eMate at work.  Now saying that I also know that Uncle Steve hates pda's in general and I really doubt Apple will ever make one while he still draws breath.  Could be wrong though, which would be really cool!

[padishah_emperor]

The ol' beast still won't die eh?  Really, don't read anything into this, I've been reading things like this almost every month since the newton was axed.

Rumors are rife in the Mac world.

[tumnus]

Warning: Mac rumours can be hazardous to your health

[nathanwms]

Well being the mac geek that I am, I would snap one of these up as soon as it came out.  Seeing that I have a Newton 160 and 2100 on my shelf and an eMate at work.  Now saying that I also know that Uncle Steve hates pda's in general and I really doubt Apple will ever make one while he still draws breath.  Could be wrong though, which would be really cool!
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Steve like many others believe the traditional PDA is dead; however, he has never ruled out a video-centric handheld.  I believe he indicated, some time ago, that he did not believe the timing was right for such a device.  Well, the timing may be right and if you make such a device it should include all traditional pda functionality even though that is not its primary focus.

[padishah_emperor]

Steve like many others believe the traditional PDA is dead; however, he has never ruled out a video-centric handheld.  I believe he indicated, some time ago, that he did not believe the timing was right for such a device.  Well, the timing may be right and if you make such a device it should include all traditional pda functionality even though that is not its primary focus.
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I think you are absolutely right, I made that prediction recently on a thread about the PSP and the Z (I think), with Apple making the point that 2005 is the year of HDTV, seems logical that they will have a sucessor to the audio only iPod lined up, iTunes could become a movie portal too.  I reckon a device like the Archos and other AV handhelds will come this year sometime.  I'm thinking it will have a GUI similar looking to Mac OS and maybe retaining the iPod name.

[iamasmith]

I'm not sure about the sentiment that seems to be being expressed that the PDA in its current form is dead.

Firstly I think there are a lot of people (like me) who try to avoid convergent technologies (like phone based PDAs) because when you are driven to uprgade then you need to spend more on a unit that provides both facilities.

Secondly what happens when your phone, your video player, your MP3 player etc. all have PDA capabilities? You don't use them all and you probably find that their functionality is marginal compared with devices designed to specifically perform these functions. + It doesn't take very long for you to learn that you really don't want Calendar synchronisation going to more than one device otherwise when all the alarms go off you end up sounding like some parody of 'Time' by Pink Floyd (Dark Side of the Moon)

[padishah_emperor]

I think the PDA i.e. PIM device is going to die, phones seem better suited.  It'll stop questions about 'does it sync with Outlook?'    Handheld computers won't die, but people who currently buy one just to put phonenumbers and appointments into, will get their fix from a phone. Personally I wouldn't want one, don't like phones, hate mobile phones and refuse to allow them in my house. As I've said before I will never buy a machine which requires a SIM card or contract just to access a terminal or a game. I do see a future for devices which are more geared to music and video, I see Apple wanting to cash in on it too and bring their polished look and feel to it.