With the present trend towards the decentralisation of computing power within the organisation, the emphasis today is not on the high-power, high-speed functionalities of a single PC, nor even on the sophisticated capabilities of a state-of-the-art network - but rather on having the right level of computing power in the right hands at the right time.
Mark Lu, CEO of Rectron Holdings, a JSE-listed company and major distributor of leading international IT products, says the design parameters of computer hardware technology are evolving to focus squarely on portability and mobility - together with all-embracing functionality - to keep pace with the growing worldwide corps of executives on the move.
"First the laptop PC and now the handheld computer - or personal digital assistant [PDA] - and even cellphones all incorporate Internet browsing and e-mail functions to meet the needs of mobile executives."
Lu says the changing role of traditional computer hardware technology, particularly that of the PC, has motivated software vendors to develop solutions that are more device-independent.
"It`s hard to guess what hardware people will use for Internet access and e-mail functionality in the future, but it is certain that the traditional PC will have a less dominant role," he stresses.
"The interface that is most critical is that between user and hardware - and PDA manufacturers seem to have the answers to address this.
"Whether they are positioned as small computers or straight-forward PDAs, the new generation of these devices is possibly the start of a synthesis of communication and IT abilities which threatens the territory of both the desktop PC and laptop - and probably the cellphone as well."
Lu points to new, landmark PDA designs from companies such as Handspring which, he says, go further than any manufacturer - including the pioneering Palm with which Handspring shares its operating system - in terms of offering modular add-ons to transform the device to meet any specific need, including that of a cellphone.
"A key advantage of Handspring`s groundbreaking modular system is that each element is `plug-and-play`. All the driver software is in the module, and no memory capacity is used on the PDA after it has been uncoupled," he says.
In addition to the cellphone, the company has developed modules for functions such as GPSs, intelligent maps and route planners, MP3 players, digital cameras, reference books, Bluetooth communications units and the familiar games packages. Lu believes this PDA platform has achieved the "Holy Grail" of combining the advantages of performance, mobility, flexibility and ease of use - a multi-faceted role that could never be played by a desktop or laptop system.
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