Where is the PC industry heading?

[OilPatch197]

so I've noticed the popularity of these "mini" atx boards that are so small you can turn a old Toaster into a PC.

I'm just wondering as things get smaller and smaller, will the regular Desktop PC get mini PCI and Mini AGP slots?

or is the industry staying around the same size?

thanks..

http://img97.exs.cx/img97/3649/Iraqifreedom2.jpg

[photolady]

will the regular Desktop PC get mini PCI and Mini AGP slots? I doubt that will happen Oilpatch, as PCI and AGP cards would have to be remanufactured to fit those slots. Even now those mini boards come with standard sized slots. Most just have fewer of them.

[104456]

I would think in a few years time we would come to the point of a complete PC package in a very,very small box.I was going to say just big enough for the connections but they would all be wireless of some sort so no physical connection apart from power and maybe a very thin screen connection would probably be needed.
The unit cost would be so small it would be cost prohibative to be repairable and so we would become an even more disposable society.

Screens would be the ultra low wattage thin flexible plastic polymer in large canvas sizes equal or larger than present plasma screens and peripheral like head and hand sets would enable you to enter games on the virtual live action level giving 360 degree all round views with instant interactive live motion.

These units would be built by a giant self repairing computer so all technician roles would become redundant:rolleyes: :D

[Ridgerunr]

Harken back to the days. When articles began to appear saying the trusty vacuum tube would be replaced by something called a transistor? Ha-ha we all said:D Ain't gon'na happen in 'my' lifetime!!:p

Les'see now....how many 'transistors' are contained in a CPU? Hmm,,, Good gracious,,how old do 'I' feel??!! :o

I still have a 'portable'(5lb.)radio with vacuum tubes and takes the 67.5volt 'B' battery as primary and a 'D' cell that lasts 'maybe' 8 hours before it has to be replaced. The 'B' battery is still available in a few places,but the last one I bought cost usd$24.95!! :eek: you can buy a decent pocket portable for that nowadays...

[Nix]

They just released a new model PlayStation 2 that is 1/3 the width and hald the weight of the original.

[bistro]

Toshiba recently announced they had successfully made a 4 gig hard drive that's just slightly larger than a postage stamp. But they also said there are no intentions to use it in a desktop computer, rather they are going to start putting them into cell phones next year. Article here (http://www.brighthand.com/article/Toshiba_Mini_Hard_Drive_Named_World-s_Smallest).

What they failed to recognize is that cell phones will soon be the same size. :rolleyes:

[Nix]

Thing is with micro drives through that they don't take knocks to well.

I have a Creative MuVo2 http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=213&subcategory=215&product=4908 and dropped it off a table and the micro drive was stuffed.

How many people have dropped their mobiles from a higher distance than that ?

Also when the MuVo2 first came out people were buying them and taking the micro drive out and putting them in their cameras as it was cheaper to buy the MuVo2 than the micro drive standalone.

http://gear.ign.com/articles/498/498316p1.html?fromint=1

[OilPatch197]

oh wow, that's cool. save money big time.

so when will they make a PCMCIA card with Microdrives in them?

[jerryctx]

What's missing is a small alternative to the keyboard. There are lots of PDAs and small computers with memory, disks, etc but without a small input device they'll never functiion as a general purpose computer.

[Nix]

how about a phone keypad and you could do it all like SMS ???

Imagine that.