This [computer] would be a no-brainer, $500 or $600 information appliance designed to do a few common tasks really well through tremendous integration of hardware and embedded software and a terrific user interface customized for the job at hand. One such machine might, for instance, be great for word processing, sending and receiving electronic mail and faxes, and printing up newsletters, fliers and form letters. Another might be tuned for personal finance, home banking and spreadsheets. Those machines would trade the promise of unlimited flexibility for the reality of simplicity, reliability and robustness.
Predictor: Mossberg, Walter
Prediction, in context:In a 1995 article for the Wall Street Journal, technology columnist Walter Mossberg predicts there will be a simplified personal computer for e-mail and other specific tasks. Mossberg writes: ”This [computer] would be a no-brainer, $500 or $600 information appliance designed to do a few common tasks really well through tremendous integration of hardware and embedded software and a terrific user interface customized for the job at hand. One such machine might, for instance, be great for word processing, sending and receiving electronic mail and faxes, and printing up newsletters, fliers and form letters. Another might be tuned for personal finance, home banking and spreadsheets. Those machines would trade the promise of unlimited flexibility for the reality of simplicity, reliability and robustness.”
Date of prediction: October 19, 1995
Topic of prediction: Information Infrastructure
Subtopic: Internet Appliances
Name of publication: Washington Post
Title, headline, chapter name: Personal Technology: A Do-It-All Machine
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Page B1
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney