> > The current devices only have about 12MB of DRAM
> 
> You sound like you are describing PalmOS devices.  Calling a 
> Palm a PDA is like calling DOS an operating system: the 
> former is only a half-step up from an organizer, and the 
> latter is just a program loader.  

Yes, I know...the PalmOS is quite quirky.  I don't know what makes you
think I was describing PalmOS though.  I meant the current MP3 players
with built-in HDD have 12 MB of *DRAM*...I was just suggesting that with
something on the order of 128MB of DRAM and perhaps a better micro
processor (don't know what they use), these devices could be more
general in their purpose.

> On the other hand, the iPAQ 
> started with 32MB RAM and has a 64MB unit.  HP just announced 
> a 64MB device.  Intel announced that units within a few years 
> will have massive amounts of RAM.  Toshiba has a PDA with a 
> built-in microdrive.

64MB is just not enough though.  The Toshiba sounds interesting.

> With respect to your MP3 example, drive-based MP3 players 
> hold so much because they are significantly larger and 
> heavier than a PDA, with enough room for a 2.5" notebook 
> drive.  Most have relatively little RAM, but it is sufficient 
> to buffer the stream coming off the HD, which helps extend 
> battery life.

Yes, but these devices are much smaller than early PDAs now, and they'll
get smaller and lighter.

> All things considered, I'd just as soon have a wireless 
> connection from my PDA to network storage.

I'm sure some people will be ok with that, but I would like to have all
of my information and applications stored locally on the device.  I
can't really say why (maybe it's speed, or reliability of the
connection...there are plenty of places on this planet where a wireless
connection wouldn't reach), but that's just what I think I would prefer.


- Stephen