Devices with a 600 Mhz CPU, 256 MB RAM, 16 GB storage, dedicated graphics & an Operating system to boot – you will be excused for thinking that we are talking about computers. What we are actually talking of is mobiles! Is this what Computers have become?
Not long ago, terms like CPU, Dual CPU, RAM, Storage, Operating System were used to describe the specifications of a computer alone. Today, when you go hunting for a new smartphone, its not just the features such as Camera, MP3 Player, FM Radio & Bluetooth that are sought after. In addition to these typical mobile features, you find people asking what is the CPU speed of the mobile processor and how much MB of RAM does it come loaded with.
Let’s see a few questions being asked by a wannabe buyer of the latest mobile smartphone:
What is the CPU speed? Does it have a Single or Dual CPU?
Computers are not the only devices to have a CPU. Mobiles have a CPU as well… and powerful ones too !
The Samsung Omnia i900 comes with a 624MHz Marvell processor. The Sony Xperia X1 will be launched with a Qualcomm 528MHz processor. And If you think that only computer desktops come with a Dual Core Processor, then think again. The Nokia N95 and the Nokia N82 comes with a Dual CPU of 332 Mhz !!
What is the amount of RAM ?
More the amount of RAM on a computer, the faster it would run while multi-tasking. This statement is now also used in reference to mobiles. Higher the amount of RAM, faster would the mobile run while multi-tasking. The Sony Xperia X1 will come with a whopping 256 MB of RAM. There are already numerous mobiles in the market with 128 MB RAM. Do I hear you say “128 MB of RAM should be enough for any mobile?” Well, a certain Mr. Bill Gates had remarked way back in 1981 referring to a PC: “640K RAM ought to be enough for anybody”
What is the storage space?
The Nokia N96 is now available with 16GB of onboard memory storage plus expandable further by another 8GB. A whopping 24 GB of storage on a mobile!
Does it have dedicated Graphics and audio chips?
Its now sounding more & more like a computer. Not being content with integrated onboard graphics, there are mobiles such as Nokia N95 and Nokia N82 which come with dedicated 3D Graphics HW Accelerator. Nokia’s XpressMusic series are equipped with a dedicated audio chip.
What is the screen size? And the display resolution?
The iPhone comes with a 3.5 inch high resolution display of 320 X 480 pixels. 24 bit color depth is also standard in many phones.
Does it have a internal modem and a wireless adapter?
Of course. Its standard on today’s advanced smartphones.
Does it come with single or stereo speakers?
Newer multimedia phones come with 2 speakers providing stereo output. What’s next? A woofer maybe?
Which Operating System does it run? Windows or Linux?
Computers and servers are not the only platform where Windows and Linux fight for supremacy. Windows Mobile OS rules on HTC, Asus and other PDA manufacturers. Whereas the Motoming A1200, A1600 and the MotoRokr E6 from the Motorola stable comes with Linux. However, Nokia’s own Symbian OS continues to rule the roost in the smartphone OS market.
Does it come with preloaded applications such as Office, Web browser, Email Client, PDF Reader & Antivirus?
Smartphones now come complete with Microsoft Office (on Windows Mobile) or QuickOffice (on Symbian). Plus there is the ubiquitous Adobe Acrobat PDF reader. Similar to a computer, there are a variety of web browsers available including Internet Explorer (on Windows Mobile), Opera (on Symbian & Java) & Safari (on iPhone). A variety of email clients are available. And since virus writers have expanded their portfolio by diversifying into mobile viruses in addition to computers, there is antivirus also for the mobile.
And much more. The list goes on.
Cameras for video-conferencing, TV-Out mode to connect your mobile to a TV display, USB 2.0 connectivity, QWERTY keypads, Trackball. All PC features now available on your nearest mobile!
Just think of a standard PC configuration in the early 2000s. A PC came equipped with a 450 Mhz Single CPU, 128 MB RAM and a 20 GB Hard Disk. Today, a few years down the road, we are talking of mobile handhelds with specifications better than what a PC used to be only a few years back, nice and compact in our pockets. No wonder then, they are being referred to as multimedia computers! It is what computers have become!
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