Now that Palm has moved into it's own apartment (and furnished it quite nicely), 3com is trying to create the next big thing, Audry.

It looks cool, has a good price, but it doesn't seem to know whether it's for the family that doesn't have a computer yet, or one that needs another terminal. It's definitely a network appliance, with email, datebook, and web functionality and little else. It wouldn't make a good kid's computer because you'd be doing a disservice to limit a kid to reading the web and sending email. My biggest complaint though is that it isn't wireless. It's nicely portable and would (scary as this thought is) make a good TV companion, in place of getting a webTV, but with a telephone cord sticking out the side? I just don't think so. 3com are wireless mavens though, so it shouldn't be long before they have a homeConnect card to plug into a 802.11 wireless LAN.

At $499 it's not bad for what it is, though some things will have to change. The largest UI element, the big knob below the screen, lets you 'change channels' between cobranded sponsor sites, but apparently not your own. If you're advanced enough to actually have other sites you like to frequent, they "let you designate up to 3 Favorite websites." Ooh... Three whole sites? How ever will I choose them?

It's a start, likle the Newton was a start, but it's not the breakaway product. that's another 18 months down the line. Less, if organic polymer displays come to market sooner, allowing for smaller, lighter 'compliances' with lower energy requirements (Mmm... Transmeta...)

I know I want for Christmas next year.