PC giant Dell
Clearly, a lighter, smaller PDA is meant to appeal to those who have everything -- especially too much of everything -- in their pockets, bags, and briefcases. However, there's market saturation to contend with. Many people already have their PDAs of choice for now. It's often human nature to wait for a real must-have new feature before replacing what already works well enough.
Granted, while the interest in wireless connectivity is increasing, the high-end products that carry the feature may not be in such great demand as long as consumers and corporations are on shoestring budgets. These high-end models often retail at more than $300 a pop.
All of which underlines what the Reuters article states -- that IDC research shows handheld shipments will remain sluggish this year, falling 8.4% to 11.35 million units, and next year's growth will not be robust.
Dell's foray into consumer electronics, including handheld products, could show weakness in its core PC business. However, it's entering a crowded market in this case. Competitors include market leader Palm
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