On 11/14/2001 09:05:59 AM Mike Dresser wrote: >> Saw this in fortunes: >> >> Imagine that Cray computer decides to make a personal computer. It has >> a 150 MHz processor, 200 megabytes of RAM, 1500 megabytes of disk >> storage, a screen resolution of 4096 x 4096 pixels, relies entirely on >> voice recognition for input, fits in your shirt pocket and costs $300. >> What's the first question that the computer community asks? >> >> "Is it PC compatible?" >> >> >> >> You know, that was written like.. how long ago? And letsee.. we have the >> processor, ten times as fast, we have the ram, by ... well, some people >> have five times as much in their machines. We have the disk storage, >> sometimes fifty times more. There's almost half decent voice recognition >> software >> out there. >> Won't fit in the pocket, and doesn't cost 300 bucks, but it's not THAT far >> off either. >> >> But. Where's our high resolution screens?
Assumes the quotation has useful meaning. If it "fits in the pocket" it can't really have a screen more than perhaps 6 cm wide or long. Think cellphone screen. As a sweeping generalization, most people have trouble seeing anything smaller than 0.1 mm. So, a screen with 0.1 mm resolution and 4096 pixels wide would have a physical width of about 41 centimeters, which is not really pocket sized anymore. Unless you have a fold up screen there is no sense in a 4096 pixel pocket sized display. An obnoxious reply to the quote would of course be that if Cray made that palmtop, it wouldn't be battery powered, it would have a plug on the back for 30 amps of three phase 440V and require a liquid cooling system. Another way of looking at it, is my three year old palm pilot with 10 meg memory expansion card comes within 1 to 10 percent of those various specs, and it meets all my needs, so what is to gain by upgrading? I'll never know the difference if it sorts my address book in 1 ns instead of 1 ms. That's why there's been approximately no technological progress in palmtops for a couple years, no demand.
