Archives - Business: Page 29
Author: rhyco5 (Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:17 am)
Title: CPU War 1
The computer industry is seeing its first real decline since the emergence of computers. People simply do not find the need to buy faster computers and for much of America there are already functioning computer in every home. Online companies are finding it hard as well as Google stifles profits from Yahoo and everyone else, making a dollar for every 60 cents their leading competitor makes. Because of the struggling industry, companies have started forming alliances. For instance Yahoo cut a deal with microsoft to combat AOL's instant messanger and chip giant AMD has signed a deal with Dell to put chips into Dell's computers. While Dell holds the title of being the largest computer provider in the world, it is unlikely that the alliance will benefit either of the two companies because people simply are not buying computers. The question now is how is the computer industry going to bounce back? Simple, by creating new standards for technology. It seems like the next move in this journey into IT is the move to wireless. Wireless devices and accessories seem to be the only profitable division in the computer sector. You may have noticed that the price of all wireless devices ie(cell phones, bluetooth, labtops) have fallen in attempts to standardize the wireless industry in preparation for the wireless revolution. The only question is who will deliver the next great wireless innovation.
I am anxiously awaiting the time when a national wireless provider emerges. Right now, you must buy your own wireless routers and adaptors to enjoy the service for personal or small business use. If anyone has ever tried this, you know it is no easy task as many obstacles exist to bring a network into fully functioning wireless capability. For example, did you know that all computers on a network must have wireless capability to work on a wireless router with a DSL internet connection? If someone with one newer computer (assumed to have a wireless PCI card) wishes to use a wireless network in their home, but they also have an older desktop that would need a cat 5 connection, they are out of luck with a DSL connection. Cable, T-1, and T-3 are always options of course, but these things cost money that not everyone has. Not all of us can afford the new PCI cards, the cost to install them (for the less tech savvy), the costs to change ISP's and the possible hike in rates to do so. Oh yea, and dialup connections? Forget about it. With a national wireless provider we could enjoy cheaper and HOPEFULLY more efficient wireless access without all the fuss. Now that the real estate market is finally cooling, my personal bet is that the communication industry will be the next target for profit. Phone service providers might assume the wireless responsibilities in the coming revolution.
I agree that the wireless revolution rest in the hands of phone providers. The only issue with this is that it too will be a phase. For instance there was a time in the late 90s when the production of new computers were welcomed because the technology just kept getting better. However, it reach a point were people found no need for new computers and as a result computer producers sales dropped drastically. Now wireless device providers are faced with the same problem. Pocket PCs and bluetooth devices are becoming the new trend. Soon the trend will become the norm and those companies who don't evolve to the new technology will end up like Dell.
Such is the evolution of the technology industry. When you have sold to everyone in your target market, you must redesign and recreate your product. I believe these are only plateaus that current technology has to overcome. The new idea is out there, waiting. Who will be the next Bill Gates? Who will discover what we don't have, what we might not need, but what we will get nonetheless? I don't really know, but it will happen eventually. Where wireless is concerned, there is still much room for improvement on the technology that we have. With this in mind, it is safe to say that the wireless revolution is just beginning. By the time it is perfected, I am sure we will have some new technological innovation to work on. As I said, such is the evolution of the technology industry.
Perhaps the evolution might come from companies like Google and Yahoo who are installing free wi-fi for the entire miami area. This is huge because they are going to be able to advertise to every person with a pda. Not to mention that PDA's with wireless internet will soon become the norm because of this move.
I would be happy with my laptop's ability to go wireless anywhere in Miami as well. I might just have to look into PDA's though.
Labtops will soon become out dated as they keep getting smaller and smaller and the cell phone keeps getting closer to a cpu. At some point a device will be made that completely blurs the line setting a new standard for wireless devices
No matter what technology they invent next, a laptop will still hold a level of usability in our world. Who wants to type up work documents on a trip using a small plastic pen on their PDA? Not when you have a sleek, new laptop that has wireless access, a large, vacant harddrive, and a spacious keyboard to accomodate your working needs.