I very much agree. The mobility, availability and always-on features of
the Sun Ray have benefits that are indisputably valuable to all users --
consumers and businesses alike. Nevertheless, I think it is a safe bet
that you did not rip your CDs using *only* a Sun Ray terminal.
In a pure play, Internet-based service, there would be no machine in the
house that could be used for ripping CDs. As a service provider, my
options would be:
1) Provide an easy way for users to rip CDs... perhaps they could
mail their disk to me and I rip it for them. Could be workable, but it
drives the service price up.
2) Disallow CD ripping... users can always download new music from
online, legitimate sources. Could be workable, but customers may be
dissatisfied if they have to purchase music which they already own. I
would also have to provide a way to transfer these files to MP3 players,
iPods, etc.
3) License a large music collection and provide it as part of the
service. Probably not workable.
4) Disallow music through the system... perhaps I could become an
affiliate with Amazon, opening up a new revenue stream when customers
buy external boom boxes. Could be workable, but it is definitely
swimming upstream against the digital convergence flow.
If you take this same example and play it out in all the other digital
convergence areas -- videos, photos, web cams, TV, etc. -- then I am
left with the feeling that a pure play, Internet-based Sun Ray service
for the general consumer is not the best fit. On the other hand, that
same service fits like a glove for the SMB market... the SMB customers I
have on the system love it and will likely never go back to a
traditional PC.
-jerry
Bob Doolittle wrote:
Jerry Callison wrote:
I am not trying to paint a bad picture of the Sun Rays -- I do love
mine! But fundamentally I believe the PC market is splitting into a
digital-media-converged market (for consumers) and a
reliability-and-availability focused market (for business users).
The six versions of Windows Vista [sic] is further proof that this
transformation is taking place. For consumers, an Internet-based Sun
Ray service makes sense only for those who use their PCs like a
business user... i.e., they run productivity apps, they do not
install new software very often, and they favor reliability over
novelties.
This depends on how you define "novelty".
For my family, it's quite novel to be able to walk to any Sun Ray,
always on and instantly available, and pick up your work where
you left off. :-)
So I think the mobility and availability benefit can't be
understated for home use.
It changes the way you use computers. I never use a phone
book now that I have yp.yahoo.com always available. I've
ripped all my CDs, and can listen to them anywhere
there's a Sun Ray (with decent external speakers, of course).
I work too many hours too, because there's never an impediment
to doing something (e.g. "I don't want to wait for my PC to boot
up to check my mail"). My employer likes this very much, my
family less so :-)
-Bob
On the other hand, I do think there is a market for Sun Rays at home
where the server is also at home. The technical hurdles for that
solution, however, are entirely different.
-jerry
_______________________________________________
SunRay-Users mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.filibeto.org/mailman/listinfo/sunray-users
_______________________________________________
SunRay-Users mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.filibeto.org/mailman/listinfo/sunray-users
