In this article, I argue that handhelds are becoming an important platform. I look at how it has morphed from its origins as a PC companion.

Handhelds

In the IT industry, change is the only constant. New ideas are introduced regularly, products come and go. Do you remember VRML, OpenDoc, OS/2, network computer (this one is making a comeback), X.400, NeXT, MCA and many others?

As actors in this fast-paced drama we are constantly on the lookout for the next wave. As a consultant and writer, I am particularly keen to follow the evolution. Which of the concepts currently being promoted (e.g. XML, thin servers, Linux, open source and web-based applications) will become the Windows or Java of tomorrow? In other words, what will my customers need next year?

To make it even more confusing, old ideas make a comeback in a new guise. For example, the Open Source idea and Linux are descendants of the Free Software Foundation and the GNU project. These new old things are particularly difficult to spot because it takes a lot of time to realize there is novelty in the old.

I think this is exactly what is happening now to handhelds.

More Change

I have had a PalmPilot for several years but I recently looked at it in a new light. I now wonder if the small device will not ignite a revolution similar to the PC revolution, nothing less!

Before you decide that I have completely lost my mind, read on. As you will see, I am still asking myself many questions but I wanted to share these issues with you.

Windows and the Internet were major changes. They forced many organizations to revise their IT strategy: software developers had to port to Windows or build Internet features in their applications, hardware makers had to build all the Windows compatibility widgets in their machines and add modems, user organizations had to upgrade their systems to meet new demands coming from the field.

And yet these changes pale when compared to a change of platform. So far, we have witnessed few of these changes: from mainframes to minis and from minis to PCs. The changes are so major that, in each case, the dominant vendor lost its position. IBM was the dominant mainframe vendor. Digital was the master of mini-computers. Microsoft is king of PCs.

I recently got interested in the idea that we might have a new major platform coming up: the handheld computers, as typified by the PalmPilot. It took years for people to understand the impact of previous changes of platform. So I am not sure yet but I am intrigued enough that I wanted to share my views with you.

Am I Crazy or What?

I started thinking that the PalmPilot may be more than a nice toy for mainly two reasons. Firstly the PalmPilot truly is a different machine from the existing platforms. It is easy to mistake it for a smaller PC but it is not.

The Pilot is terrible for most PC tasks, for example it is terrible for word processing (I tried). Its value is in being smaller and simpler than existing platforms. The challenge will be to take advantage of the difference. The novelty is not in having a small PC in your pocket but in having a small device to access all kind of services like the web or an address book.

The second reason is that I realized the Pilot has gradually changed from its original concept. The original concept of the Pilot was a PC companion. You took some of your data on the road. However new applications being developed for the Pilot can work without a PC. They do however take full advantage of the versatility of the Pilot. For example, I gave my old Pilot to my mother with a modem and an email package installed. She has no PC, no experience with the PC either but she is happily firing emails to the family.

What I Found

All this got me curious so I set out to investigate the handheld machines. In the last part of this article, I will summarize some of my findings so far. Some of this may be old hat for you, some of this may be new. However expect more from me on this topic in the future.

Firstly the PalmPilot is clearly the dominant platform in this space. 3Com (the maker of the PalmPilot) has licensed the Pilot to IBM, HandSpring. 3Com has also signed an agreement with Symbian, an alliance of wireless phone makers.

So far Microsoft is struggling with the market. Microsoft's product, Windows CE, is generally perceived as too complex for this market where simplicity is key. This is typical when a new platform appears: vendors try to duplicate what worked on the previous platform. IBM designed the PC as a small mainframe. It takes a new company to see how it differs from the past.

Secondly simplicity is the differentiating factor. As discussed the Palm devices are not scaled down version of PCs.

Thirdly there are few books or publications for PalmPilot developers. The best book I am told is published by O'Reilly. I bought a copy but I haven't had a chance to read it so far. Expect more information in a future Pineapplesoft Link.

Lastly, I am not the only one who realized that handhelds may have a rosy future. A small but growing number of companies are looking at this market. So far, so good.

This is still early days, of course but I am watching and I will keep you in touch.

Self-promotion department

I am a contributing author to "Netscape DevEdge Web Developer's Library" which was published this month. "XML by Example" is making good progress and should hit the shelves next month.

I will speak at the XML Forum in Paris next week. The topics is EDIFACT to XML, you can find more information on the XML Forum at http://www.technoforum.fr.

Also if you want to learn about XML, the next XML training event organized by Edifrance in Paris and given by yours truly is scheduled for the 2nd December. Join us at http://www.edifrance.org

About Pineapplesoft Link

Pineapplesoft Link is a free email magazine. Each month, it discusses technologies, trends and facts of interest to web developers.

The information and design of this issue of Pineapplesoft Link are owned by Benoit Marchal and Pineapplesoft. Permission to copy or forward it is hereby granted provided it is prefaced with the words: "As appeared in Pineapplesoft Link - http://www.pineapplesoft.com."

Editor: Benoit Marchal
Publisher: Pineapplesoft www.psol.be

Acknowledgments: thanks to Sean McLoughlin MBA for helping me with this issue.

Back issues are available at http://www.psol.be/old/1/newsletter/.

Although the editor and the publisher have used reasonable endeavors to ensure accuracy of the contents, they assume no responsibility for any error or omission that may appear in the document.

Last update: November 1999.
© 1999, Benoît Marchal. All rights reserved.
Design, XSL coding & photo: PineappleSoft OnLine.