Dell Latitude ON - The Next Big Thing In Quick Computing

Implications: Instant application access will be in high demand to meet the ever-increasing needs of a very busy and more mobile workforce.  This technology will become a required feature once it hits the mainstream business market. Companies like Apple, HP, and IBM are all currently exploring this technology and have an advantage over chip and BIOS manufacturers trying to go it alone.  Apple and Microsoft, like Dell and to a lesser degree HP are likely to dominate this arena.  IBM, if history is any guide, will be slow to respond to the market demand.  

Analysis: The Dell Solution is provided using flash memory with a Linux like operation system that is similar to the SUSE Linux running on an Advanced RISC Machine (ARM) processor.  This solution is essentially a low power, “system on a chip” that provides browser-based access to email, the Internet and applications.  

This approach, which is similar to DeviceDM’s Splashtop application, will be in high demand to meet the ever-increasing needs of a very busy and more mobile workforce.  By eliminating the need to waste time waiting for the Operating System to boot, executives, sales, and others become more productive and cost effective.  

Companies like Apple, HP, and IBM are all currently exploring this technology and have an advantage over chip and BIOS manufacturers trying to go it alone.  It is likely that these companies, and others like Microsoft, will partner with Chip and BIOS manufacturers to create their own versions.  

Apple, Microsoft and possibly SUN, like Dell and to a lesser degree HP are likely to dominate this arena.  IBM, if history is any guide, will be slow to respond to the market demand.