Does the world really need an all-in-one device?

[Ceroc Addict]

I've been thinking about this a fair bit over the past few months and the conclusion I've reached is that I could care less about an all-in-one device.

Basically, I would like to comfortably carry 4 devices with me:

1. Mobile phone/organiser, with a built in thumb keyboard

2. MP3 player

3. Digital camera

4. Personal video player

Today, there are already phones (e.g. Nokia 6822) and MP3 players (e.g. iPod shuffle/mini) that are the perfect size and weight for carrying around.

Truly pocketable digital cameras, which take decent quality pictures (esp. distance and low light shots), aren't that far off at all.

Personal video players are still fairly brick-like, but they'll probably be acceptable within 2 - 4 years.

Arguments against an all-in-one device:

• 4 devices will always give you better battery life than one all-in-one device
• You can use up the battery on your MP3 player completely and still have phone capability
• You can have one device break (or stolen, etc) and still have the other devices
• You can split the weight of devices between pockets

Anyone else have an opinion about this?

Kap

[Zammy-Sam]

I don't fully agree although your arguments are justified. I think it is much more important to have 4 devices in one than a longer battery-life. My mobility will end after approximately 16h in my bed and I don't expect my device to be longer mobil unless I have no opportunities to plug it for recharging. I think it is better to have only one screen showing your phone status, calender, song playback, video and pictures than having 4 screens. And I also think it will be a lot more expensive to have all these 4 devices bought seperately (not considering that they definitely will have a better quality) than one device.
So, I would rather like to have an all-in-one solution if I would need all 4 components. If I only use the phone as such and rarely listen to mp3s not to mention watching videos or taking lousy pics than it's a very clear decission.
But your discussion is assuming that one needs all 4 of them..

[cfleck]

my argument against an all-in-one goes like this. i'd rather have a cheap phone that works as a phone than an all in one that costs an arm and a leg for crappy quality on fronts i rarely use.

[CreativeEye]

cfleck - i doubt choice would disappear as a result of an all-in-one device being bought to market.

i have a samsung d500 - its got an mp3 player, 1.3m pixel cam (surpisingly good quality), video (albeit not great quality), basic organiser functionality and it makes and receives phone calls!

sure, the 'extras' on the device arent up to the standards of some of the stand alone cameras and mp3 players - but its a step in the right direction and a step closer to a great all-in-one.

you'll always be able to buy a device which is 'just a phone'.

[cfleck]

actually parb, i question that. i've mentioned it before on these forums, but i hate phones with all the crap on them. its getting harder to find a phone that lacks a camera but has a decent feature set.

[Pengu]

Ok. i see the point. but.
i think mp3 player and "personal video player" are effectively doing the same thing. you can't use both at once.
as for the camera. unless you're amish and walk everywhere, put a decent quality small digi cam in your bag/backpack/car/office/whatever. as for the phone.
i will be buying the SE0910i soon, so don't talk to me about "i like cheap phones".

everything today is convergance. it's a good thing. less crap to carry/find/lose/remember how to use.

[fryke]

Well, then let's go imaginary for a moment. If Apple were to release the "iDoitall", which'd have the form factor of a Nokia Communicator 9300 (maybe slightly wider even), a good keyboard, media playing, messaging-multitalent (3G, GSM, EGPRS/GPRS, WiFi, Bluetooth, everything) with a decent 3-5 MegaPixel camera today, I guess they'd do so because they got it right. Alas, I just don't _think_ Apple will do that. And as long as the device is something that somehow caters to a Nokia's or a SonyEricsson's needs, I guess Mac compatibility and iTunes/iMedia integration will be an afterthought. Plus: It'll be slow. Or at least JUST so imperfect that you're going to want the next version, too. :P

It's a sad thing, but none of the mobile phone makers actually want to create the 'finished' mobile phone. Unless we're talking Vertu. But they _do_ charge.

[Cat]

What about the Siemens "Buisness class" SK65? Cost ~€500,- plays music and videos, gets you e-mail, etc. etc. Sure, it doesn't come cheap, but I don't even want to know what a Vertu costs ... (which btw. I guess is ten times that ...) Cheaper than the newest Communicator, but with a smaller screen. Sounds good.