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They say that in the early twentieth century, the era of "tin Lizzie" (the legendary creation of Henry Ford - passenger cars brand "T") existed such advertisements - "You can order a car of any color, provided that he is black." Like it or not, is not so important. Most importantly, history may repeat itself, but in a different area - the industry's mobile communicator ... Say that the fight against manufacturers of wireless access to global network resources intensifies - to say nothing. Battles promise to be so with serious that, that and look, fly chips (each the size of a decent piece of wood). And the ads in this confrontation - one of the most effective weapons. However, if we talk about computing in general, there is special promotional techniques and are not required since the work was carried out giant. Who is arguing about the advantages of Linux over Windows or the browser Opera (about Netscape already otshumeli) in front of Internet Explorer? Those who have to work with Windows and IE (except where such experience ?)... Moreover, for a huge number of PC users without Windows computer does not. Therefore, the judge Microsoft for monopolistic aspirations of pointless, or at least, hopelessly late. Near superkorporatsiey long ago no one. She was not even a monopolist. She - the legislator ... It is sad, but what attracts attention of specialists Microsoft, soon loses its identity. Look at what is happening on the personal computer market. The dominance of Microsoft operating systems has led to the fact that computer models from different manufacturers differ only in the form of buttons on the body and the brand label. Any technical not expressly approved by Bill Gates innovations impossible. For the end user is a big plus. Completely removes the problem of incompatibility, and the computers themselves are unified so that a repair is reduced to a trivial replacement of a faulty unit ... Who, after all, need this diversity? And why? If the computer is used to work as a support tool, it comes to the forefront just work. What a difference to us what is installed on our desktop? Would be Linux, it would be mastered and worked exactly as it is now working under Windows ... But there is in this and the considerable disadvantage. It is hidden outswing on various frets advertising idea, saying, "real computer - a computer with MS Windows and no other." Namely - every day, every hour spent at the keyboard of a personal computer, we are forced to make a lot of unnecessary, irrational actions. We are launching the program, looking at the "funny stuff" icons, finds mouse line submenus, select the deeply hidden options to stray on file wilds hard drive, read, save, delete ... This style is intended to Microsoft. We meekly accept it. We can not change, since those to whom it was by force, long run on "Big Bill". We are not even aware of - and whether it is possible to change anything in principle. We are quite convinced that the wheel must be round, and other operating systems other than Windows, do not exist ... Roughly the same could soon happen with the industry of smartphones and communicators. Today we still have a choice. We can get your device based on the EPOC operating system, or Palm OS. We can take advantage of proprietary features Motorola or any third party (the communicator on the mobile version of Linux - is it not curious?). What will happen tomorrow - here's a question ... History indeed repeats itself. Remember the eighties, when the personal computer market has competed a dozen platforms, all these "Amiga", "Yamaha", "Atari". And today there were two - Apple and Wintel ...
Private life of a single user
Do not believe that gloomy, almost apocalyptic preface. Life is amazing and beautiful.Personal computers are improved, and the means of cellular booming. And no Microsoft is not able to prevent it, because she participates in the race for the rights of a running horse ... I like the user does not care what system will be my device. The main thing is that it worked properly and fully carry out his duties. Even a PDA I chose on principle - "that all take it, I will." However, in the Palm and not believe what is now a little bit sorry. Around the same principle is ready to select and communicator ... My requirements are (again as an ordinary user, not as outstanding in all respects, the author of brilliant papers - do not think that God knows what) are modest, and even primitive. The first - the communicator must be small in size, lightweight, long-lived source of autonomous power supply. The second - at negligible amounts device screen should be just a huge (at-oh-so from), and if this is impossible, at least not too small. The third - the connection should be carried out without any kind of problems, and the cost of services - tend to zero. Fourth - I do not even have to worry about the installed device in the processor, memory and other nonsense ... Ask any intelligent car owner, who only knows how to drive, but does not delve into the car kishochkah, about some technical details of the device of his car. In addition to horsepower and speed, it is unlikely that he knows ... If it is, of course, Lada, but something more dignified ... So, I want my device was not a Lada! The fifth and sixth stand in a separate paragraph, since in fact it is the number "one" and "time-with-plus." Thus, the fifth - the price of the communicator must be so small that I could easily buy it, but not so low that I no longer respect themselves ... In Paris, for example, mobile phones, worth 400 euros give for 1 euro. Condition - The conclusion of the contract with provider. I want to because it was in Russia! But this is a separate issue ... Finally, the sixth - control communicator should be as simple as possible at all. I do not want to know anything about the software installed and some special methods of its use. There is a text editor, I have to write it as I write, first picking up a handheld Psion. There is a mail program, I should be able to use it the same way as the use thereof on the desktop. And so on. Do not get me wrong, if I am a regular user of the communicator, I and the chief buyer of your bullshit. If I am the main buyer, I will certainly make money (option "steal" emphatically swept aside). If I earn, I'm in the same breath and work. And to work, keep in mind the wisdom of the desktop version of Windows in parallel to comprehend the mysteries of control communicator - can do it just inveterate geeks. Which, in turn, is unlikely to earn good money so easily spend on a trendy mobile device ... Outlining a range of requirements, take a look at the proposals today. Who of the contenders for monopoly of the market has moved more often? Who among them will become tomorrow the same "family father", which for all of us is Mr. Gates?
A look at the trinity
Three major platforms can be arranged as follows - Palm OS and communicators on its base, a consortium of Symbian OS and EPOC, Microsoft and its Windows CE operating system for PCs Pocket PC 2002, as amended Phone Edition.
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True, there is another platform that is difficult to deduce from the category leaders, as the company to develop it - the manufacturer of the first row. It's operating system Wisdom from Motorola, which is installed on your device family Accompli. But there is one "but." Speaking about the full device, we mean a kind of "continuity program" with handheld computers.Indeed, any of the devices is the leading trio are able to perceive and properly run most software for Pocket PC "kin" family. Restrictions apply only to communicators based on EPOC, but not so significant. Programs for Psion computers easily ported to communicators running EPOC, need only a relatively small correction of the screen resolution, input methods and so on ... Communicators Motorola incompatible with anything except themselves. Moreover, the software basic models Accompli sewn into the permanent memory and modernization can not be (at least, in a conventional manner - in sync with the PC). The downside of such isolation Motorola - its communicators are sold at affordable prices, steady work and excellent performance of their functions. For Russian users a great advantage of these communicators is a quality Russification ... So choose a product from Motorola and forget about competing platforms reason is. Actually, many have come (to whom the device is needed today, not tomorrow, in a hypothetical), but to say that devices from Motorola (no phones!) Sold us tens or hundreds of thousands, probably not ... The simplicity and abundance of software do communicators based on Palm OS is very attractive. Only trouble is that the devices actually produced in the Russian market there. We look forward to a broad sell model Treo from Handspring, even though obviously overpriced ... However, on the background of other devices Treo does not look expensive. Palm `s been and remain the most affordable handheld computers. Perhaps this pattern continue in the field communicators.
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Imagine Palm as a communicator is as easy as it is easy to use it as a calculator. Large soft buttons calculator - the same screen phone A keypad. Communications programs, starting with the address book, easy to use and comfortable. Information input by Graffiti or button keypad (such as in one of the models of Treo) will not cause any problems. Well, the ability to download thousands of third-party programs can not be overestimated. In fact, we get the same Palm, equipped with a solid phone makeweight. But what about the support GPRS? Tomorrow, the new models of smartphones, it will certainly appear. But what about today? Or Palm OS is not designed principally for the exchange of large volumes of information? Why, then, such a device, if you receive regular e-mails will fly to the owner a pretty penny? The advantage of GPRS in the fact that wireless access to Internet resources are cheaper wire. The few users until Moscow GPRS services in the already convinced, the rest to come. Question - what technology in their hands? .. Communicators based on the EPOC operating system, many users have found hardly any perfect solution for today. They echo and analysts, noting the high stability of most EPOC and usability written for her programs. Like the Palm OS, EPOC (almost all of its release) do not need a "race megahertz, more encompassing producers Pocket PC. The code is optimized so that for fast work communicator enough processor with an operating frequency of 36 MHz and 8-16 MB of RAM (in fact even less). Issued today (and successfully sold worldwide, including in Russia) Communicators - Nokia 9210i and Ericsson R380e - the most real candidate on our pocket (in all senses) today. Despite the fact that R380e machine is obsolete, it is wonderful to meet its objectives, although does not support GPRS. This device will long be topical, and pay for it, those $ 250 that the request for him today, do not throw good money after bad ... But only if you can find it in stores of cellular communication.Ericsson R380 (and shaped as letters "e", and without it) is present in the price, almost all of the Moscow firms. But it is not for sale. This suggests that the unit is no longer available, and the shops are selling stocks. Sorry if this is so - the device is wonderful.
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As for Nokia 9210i, this is the only device that allows you to work with texts in a way. In this regard, it will handicap any PDA, even a keyboard or a class of machines Psion Handheld PC. The reason is not only a comfortable keyboard (small buttons, but the work is not worse than the keys of the same or Revo Psion 5mx), but also in communicative functions. Few type text or correct already recruited and loaded into memory machines, this text should also refer to the destination. Owner keyboard Pocket PC will be forced to either return home to rewrite the text in memory desktop machine and send it by e-mail, or carry a sync cable and a CD with the appropriate program for the "foreign" (eg, drafting) computer (who else would installed on its working machine wrong program). And with the Nokia's simple. Prepared the text and sent him an e-mail where necessary. No problem ... Less of this wonderful technology is only one - the high cost of equipment. The case of the R380 is not the rule. What Nokia 9210i, the new model (with color screens, with cameras, multimedia impossibly!) Cost a lot. This is a real "kommunikatorny» Hi-end, which may compete with only devices based on Windows CE ...
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And here comes the turn of communicators with OSes from Microsoft ... Curious, very curious. This is also our future, our tomorrow. Although the impression is somehow ambiguous. I will start from afar. Long ago I came upon an operating system from Microsoft for Tablet PCs with touch-screen input. She was a 16-bit and was based on the core Windows 3.1 ... But not so. She did not based on anything, it was Windows 3.1 with nehily package of additional tools (in the name of the system present the word «Pen» - whether «Windows for Pen», it is still a "degree", now can not remember) . The system was badly curve and did not like the very Gates. But not in this case ... Windows CE operating system version of Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition - Pocket PC is common to makeweight telephone utilities. All other differences (without a magnifying glass in hand) you hardly notice. Accordingly, the shortcomings of Pocket PC and go to the Phone Edition, and along with it - and communicators of this family. What kind of flaws? The ones that look like PDA or dignity, or proprietary feature. First of all, it's high demands on the operating system and programs written for it to computing resources of the communicator. Processor clock speed 206 MHz for today is weak, so all anxiously waiting for the 400 megahertz and a "rapid-fire" options. 64 megabytes of memory and seems to be sufficient, but almost all Pocket PC users collect money on flash cards, it is reasonable considering that memory is never enough. Taking into account the size of the program for Windows CE, so it is. Next - outstanding multimedia capabilities of handheld do little communicators, which in the first place high-speed connection. However, in the PPC device has a digital voice recorder, high-quality color screen (by the standards of considerable size portable devices), built-in speakers (speaker) and a lot more, but use it as a phone is inconvenient. Communicator - it's also a telephone.It is ridiculous to buy a kit to expensive budget phone device to a human call. Source of discomfort - the organization of the working environment Pocket PC. In addition to the on-screen keypad - the buttons, which you press to dial the phone number - on-screen device, like a pocket computer hangs at the top of the menu at the bottom - the taskbar. Miss it with his finger on the button - launch any application or vyzovesh absolutely worthless in this situation, the virtual keyboard letter. No pen can not do ... But for communicators, Palm and EPOC can do without a pen! In Palm `s screen, though small, but not overloaded. At Ericsson R380 phone keypad is located on a flip flip. And the Nokia 9210 screen, in general, do not touch. That is, practice your heart's content - not go wrong ... The most serious drawback PDA Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition is the price. It is prohibitive and exceeds $ 1000. Some models are twice as popular iPaq. Involuntarily think - but what ass accordion? Is it not better to stay on something more traditional? Say, on the phone and PDA alone. Or on the device of another family. Plus, just one, but very, very significant. It's all the same Pocket PC - the most perfect for today handheld computer.
Cheerful prospects
Whatever we say today about the competition, EPOC, and Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition (and the main battle is between them), but suprotiv Microsoft chances consortium Symbian little. Remember the same cynical truth - that money can not buy, you can buy a lot of money? Available: Microsoft focuses much capital. Cause and investment opportunities are practically limitless ... It is not excluded that after a while, a company belonging to the opposing consortium, will conclude a truce with MS or even go into the camp of the current competitor. So be it - you know perseverance BG. By the way, if Henry Ford's name was Bill Gates, the pipeline would necessarily proprietary technology. And the world is still produced cars would be a single brand - "Ford." Plus a few thousand stamps handmade small-batch assembly ... But until that happens, we will observe the peace process carnage. We have something with you from this fun. The farther into the forest, the cheaper the phone ... Just imagine, "Ford" instead of, God forgive me, "Lada ... And what Henry Ford did not name Bill Gates? The authors, translation:
Nikolai Yakovlev