Smartphone & Tablet Should Be One Device

The smartphone and the tablet are not two separate products despite the fact that they are currently being manufactured and marketed as two separate products.  They should be one product.  


There has been some movement toward the one product approach with innovations like the Motorola Atrix and Asus Padfone.  Also recently the Clambook has been announced.  This is a product that uses a smartphone for the CPU and programs.  The Clambook provides a monitor and keyboard. These are moves in the right direction, but aren't getting us to where I think we should be.


So if I'm saying that this needs to be one product, then there need to be reasons for only having one product. Let's list some :


1.  Never ending complaints about the screen being too small or too large.  With only one product everyone gets the screen size that they want.


2.  Paying for two of everything when one is all that's needed.  Do I really need a camera on two devices when one will get the job done just fine.


3.  Do I really need to pay for two data plans?  I won't if I only have one device.


4.  We keep being told that bandwidth is limited, and I'm wasting it to keep app updates current on two devices.  I won't if I only have one device.


So I am proposing that we only have one product – the Personal Device (PD).  The Personal Device is defined as a small, multi-function personal computer that is on your person or close to your person 24/7.


When you purchase a Personal Device, you will buy two components – the Personal Device module and the Screen.  The Personal Device module will be an encased product that has all the components of the current smartphone except those included in the Screen.  The Personal Device module will slide into the Screen to complete the Personal Device.  The Screen will include the screen, battery and, optionally, the keyboard.


Now it's time to talk about choice.  The Screen comes in all sizes.  For a person with small hands and/or limited carrying options, a 3 inch Screen might be the right component.  For an older person with diminishing eyesight, a 5, 6, or 7 inch Screen would be better, with the final choice being determined by the ability to carry it with you.  For someone who has mastered doing everything on their smartphone with one hand, maybe a 4 inch screen would be the best choice.  The point is that you have choice – you pick the size that fits your lifestyle.


Also think about special needs Screens.  Let's say you own a small tree removal company.  You are out in the bright sunshine everyday directing your crew and handling the generation of new business.  You need a Personal Device that allows you to handle all your business needs in bright sunshine.  Your Screen needs to allow you to see it perfectly in bright sunshine.


The Screens are just the screen and battery, in most cases, and therefore should be reasonably priced.  You need a Screen that is the right size for that comfortable chair that you sit in while you watch TV and catch up on your social networking.  You need a Screen that allows for one-handed use while you curl up in bed reading.  You need a Screen that works outside while you work on your suntan.  They will probably all be different sizes.  Again, you have choice.


Changing Screens has to be easier than changing a battery on a smartphone.  Turn off the Personal Device.  Slide out the Personal Device module.  Slide the Personal Device module into the new Screen.  Turn on the Personal Device.


Think into the future ten to fifteen years or about eight or ten iterations of the chips in these devices.  These devices will be vastly more powerful than the smartphones we have today.  Today there are supposedly three billion cell phones in use worldwide.  Cell phone usage is quickly converting to smartphone usage.  In ten to fifteen years there are going to be significantly more than three billion devices.  These devices are going to be the primary computers for the majority of the world.  Let's simplify the manufacture of the Personal Device modules and say that each company makes three models - "bare-bones", "middle-of-the-road" and "all-the-bells-and-whistles".  The majority of the world will be using the "bare-bones", a device way more powerful than we have today.


So is it going to happen.  I don't think so.  I don't have unique ideas;  this has been thought of and rejected for some reason(s).