5 gadgets that will be dead in 5 years

I don't know what advancements will be made in the next five years but for now the smart phones I have seen cannot fully compete with a dedicated GPS device.

The geocaching app for iPhone is fun to use but it is not as accurate as my Garmin Colorado.

Driving across the country trying to follow directions on the iPhone just doesn't work for me. But, it's great for finding a restarant in a new town.

.. but I figure if you go through all the trouble to compose a text message using speech to text software, you may as well call them and use your speakerphone or headset to talk. People often forget the basic functionality of phones, that is to make/receive calls.

While I am very aware of the life cycle of most of my gadgets, I really hope that this prediction is wrong (at least for some of these devices). I have all five of these devices, and in most cases more than one of each.

2- eReaders
2- GPS
3- Wireless Routers
8- Computers with optical drives
1- Netbook

Looks like changes for me are in the wind.

I just reread the article and I have to state it is the opinion of the writer. Will the current crop of devices listed continue in their present form - yes and no.

Portable navigation systems
I most certainly expect the PND market to change. Will it roll over and become an "app?" Not for everyone. There are uses for both, and each has their limitations. Exactly how, and into what form the PND will evolve is still anyone's guess.

Computer DVD/CD-ROM
I don't see this market going away or even going the route of 8-tracks and cassettes within the time frame predicted. There are too many that want, or need physical media for other uses than application delivery. DVD/CD-ROM is still a very viable backup medium, even though terabyte disks are getting quite inexpensive. The CD/DVD will remain a stable offline resource for many more years when data has to be archived for long periods.

Wireless routers
This one makes me laugh. This assumes everyone receives their connection from a cable or telephone company provider that has brought broadband media into your home. While over 60% of Americans are connected to high-speed providers, what about the added cost of paying a rental fee to use the router? I'm certain Comcast or others won't let that go for free.

Netbooks
This one I can pretty much agree with. netbooks are/were a nice toy and they do fill a niche but this is one case where a tablet can do it better. The Moto ATRIX is an interesting idea, but I like to travel WITH my files. From what I've seen of the ATRIX is the only storage options are via USB port or cloud. But again, this is the firs of its type and it can do one of only two things - die or evolve. I think the tablet will be the survivor.

E-readers
E-readers are a product that will continue to evolve. Amazon offers the Kindle App for some tablets and smartphones, but the small screen size on a phone is an issue for me at least. The whole e-publishing market is in its infancy right now and until the marketplace shakes out and standardizes on formats and resolves issues over transferring of files, I don't think you will see a lot of changes in the devices. The major complaint I've experienced with our units is if two people want to read the same book, you have to buy it twice. Why can't one person, when finished transfer the file to another reader? It's the same concept as handing them a printed version.

To Box Car

E-readers
E-readers are a product that will continue to evolve. The major complaint I've experienced with our units is if two people want to read the same book, you have to buy it twice. Why can't one person, when finished transfer the file to another reader? It's the same concept as handing them a printed version.

You can put the same book on more than one reader if it is a Kindle. (only one's we have) The wife and I both have Kindle3's and have the same books on both. You can download from amazon.com or use a program call calibrate.

here is link to the kindle fourm that we belong to and they have the different inst to do it as well. they talk about all the different ereaders also.
If you have any other questions send me a private e-mail and I will try to help

kindlekorner@yahoogroups.com