Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!ncis.llnl.gov!ncis!helios.ee.lbl.gov!pasteur!ucbvax!pinocchio.encore.com!bzs
From: bzs@pinocchio.encore.com (Barry Shein)
Newsgroups: comp.society.futures
Subject: Walkman computers
Message-ID: <8901191651.AA10945@pinocchio.UUCP>
Date: 19 Jan 89 16:51:12 GMT
References: <8932@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU>
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 37


Personally I've never seen the attraction of portable computers, I
don't often get the urge to write a program on a bus or plane, I'd
just as soon read a magazine (although I could read the magazine on
the computer at least the magazine costs <$5 if I drop it, lose it
etc, one less thing to worry about.)

In a way it *is* a lot like a portable phone, which would I rather do,
drag a phone around or assume there's one available wherever I go (how
hard *is* it to pull over on the road and find a pay phone?  I realize
some folks are in too much of a rush or spend their time in the
boonies but that always costs.)

I think a more useful development would be the ubiquity of computer
stations and, perhaps, national file systems. I go over to the nice
machine in my hotel room, run a credit-card thru the slot and bang,
I'm logged in just as if I was at my usual computer. I can see it now:

	     WATERBEDS! ADULT MOVIES! UNIX! $39.95/NIGHT!

			      VACANCIES


More like the ubiquity of telephones (a lot like...and that's no
accident.)

I realize the security problems inherent. One obvious solution is that
I have files I can see "at home" and others which I make available
when on the road thus limiting outside access (and I can encrypt even
those files.) At any rate, I don't think that conversation is all that
useful ("He who steals my purse steals trash!"), solutions for most
people are possible.

Are people really serious that they want a computer they can use while
jogging? Sounds silly to me.

	-Barry Shein, ||Encore||