Comment by maratc
1 year ago
Not talking about what's possible or impossible, just not seeing it gaining any significant market traction.
Modern pentathlon is a sport where athletes ("pentathletes") compete across five different events. Even the best of them would be mediocre at best at any specific event competing against athletes who have trained for that specific event.
> just not seeing it gaining any significant market traction
There can be a lot of reasons for that, like the duopoly forces preventing the competition (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21656355) or insufficient PR.
> Even the best of them would be mediocre at best at any specific event competing against athletes who have trained for that specific event.
In computing, if you have a general-purpose device, it usually can do most tasks sufficiently well.
> duopoly forces preventing the competition
Aka "malice".
> or insufficient PR
Aka "stupidity".
While I love Hanlon's razor as much as anyone, I love Occam's razor even more. And the simple explanation for that is that people don't like to use a mediocre combo when they could be using several purpose-built devices which excel at a specific job.
I like to go around with my Leatherman, but when I have a real job I get my toolbox out instead.
> it usually can do most tasks sufficiently well
An RV could do many "car tasks" sufficiently well, and it can do many "home tasks" sufficiently well, too. And while it has its place, it can't compete against the car + home combo, which is why most people have cars and homes but not RVs.
> > or insufficient PR > > Aka "stupidity". > > While I love Hanlon's razor as much as anyone
Stupidity isn't necessary here. A small company simply has no resources for a large PR campaign.
Also, nothing prevents a performant iPhone from allowing a full desktop mode except artificial software restrictions resulted from the greediness. Follow the money.
> I like to go around with my Leatherman
This is exactly what we're asking for. We don't want to get rid of our tablets and laptops. But we want leatherman-level functionality from our phones.
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