The most urgent convergence need: power supplies

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: STEVE TAYLOR AND LARRY HETTICK ON
CONVERGENCE
06/20/05
Today's focus: The most urgent convergence need: power supplies

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Standardization needed in power supplies
* Links related to Convergence
* Featured reader resource
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Today's focus: The most urgent convergence need: power supplies

By Steve Taylor and Larry Hettick

Forget about converging voice and data infrastructure. If you
really want to increase productivity, let's talk about power
supplies for your various communications devices.

Years ago, we reached a point that we had at least a bit of
standardization on the power coming out of the wall. There's a
good chance that depending on the area of the world you're
traveling in, your voltage is going to be either 110 volts or
220 volts AC. All you need to make you devices work
appropriately is an adapter. In fact, many power supplies for
electronic equipment adapt to the common voltages and
frequencies, so that all you need is a physical connector that's
appropriate for the country in which you're traveling.

That said, there seems to be a great conspiracy to make the
physical connector on the other end of the cord - where it
attaches to the cell phone or notebook computer - unique for
every device. Over the years, for instance, Steve has gone
through at least six to eight generations of laptop/notebook
computers. Of these, to date only one - a Toshiba from almost 10
years ago - had a "normal" power supply built into the computer
so that all you needed to plug it into the wall was a generic
power cord. And every last one of them had a different
size/shape/voltage connection to the PC.

Instead, everything comes with a custom "brick" power supply.
The same holds for cell phones and PDAs. Why?

At least in the case of notebooks, we believe that weight is a
primary factor for many people in choosing a notebook. And
there's a reason the power supply is called a brick. It can add
considerably to the weight of the notebook. Making it a separate
component is an easy way to make the notebook "lighter."

The level of incompatibility was especially driven home for
Steve a few weeks ago when he was on a quick trip to MPLScon. In
the usual rush to get out the door, horror of horrors, he left
the power supply for his notebook behind. Ever try to find a
generic power supply for a HP Pavilion ZT3000 on an overnight
trip to lower Manhattan? Not exactly a trivial problem - even in
a conference room filled with notebook computers.

The same goes for cell phones. New cell phone? New power supply
- both for the wall and for the car.

Finally, we're just starting to see some specialty devices from
companies like APC, Belkin, and Targus that will adapt to
multiple computers. But you still have to check very carefully
to ensure that the device you choose supports your particular
notebook, cell phone and/or PDA. The good news, though, is that
we're starting to see some of these devices that will charge a
cell phone, a PDA, and a notebook simultaneously. But finding
one that supports your exact combination will still require
considerable research.

RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS

U.S. Census makes big VoIP splash
Network World, 06/20/05
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/062005-voip.html?rl
_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Steve Taylor and Larry Hettick

Steve Taylor is president of Distributed Networking Associates
and publisher/editor-in-chief of Webtorials. For more detailed
information on most of the topics discussed in this newsletter,
connect to Webtorials <http://www.webtorials.com/>, the premier
site for Web-based educational presentations, white papers, and
market research. Taylor can be reached at
<mailto:taylor@webtorials.com>

Larry Hettick an industry veteran with over 20 years of
experience in voice and data. He is currently Vice President
for Wireline Solutions at Current Analysis, the leading
competitive response solutions company. He can be reached at
<mailto:larry@larryhettick.com>
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by DuPont
Reduce Fire Safety Risk in Your Network!

Concerns are rising about the growing number of combustible
cables present in buildings required to service the
ever-increasing demands of IT networks. More workstations are
taxing the infrastructure. These concerns are the thrust behind
new "limited combustible" cables that reduce fire safety risk.
Click here for news, a free demo CD and more. Visit DuPont's
Cabling center today!
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=107000
_______________________________________________________________
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