<aside> đź’ˇ Can an all-in-one, general-purpose product solve all problems?
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This is a topic I’ve long wanted to explore, often lingering in my mind. I’ve also occasionally jotted down new ideas that pop up. As my notes grew, I realized this topic goes beyond the realm of products and ascends to a philosophical level.
Recently, as I began organizing my second job, this topic emerged as a core concept. Although much of it remains undeveloped, I decided to draft a rough version first. This concept may seem dry, but it holds significant meaning for me, so I’m determined to write it down.
Using a general-purpose device for multitasking is entirely different from using multiple specialized devices for separate tasks.
I first realized this about ten years ago when I got my first iPad. Before that, I hadn’t paid much attention to the difference between general-purpose and specialized devices. I even doubted tablets—since everything a table could do, a phone could do so on a phone—just with a smaller screen. So, why buy an extra device?
It wasn’t until I was chatting on my phone while playing Hearthstone on my iPad that I truly appreciated the benefits of having two devices or, more precisely, a device dedicated to entertainment. Some might argue that “gaming mode” on phones can achieve similar multitasking. However, the difference becomes apparent when you physically separate tasks across multiple devices. In comparison, software-based multitasking on a single device often feels like a compromise.
Despite this example, when I shared this concept with a friend, he still didn’t see the need for an iPad if he could do everything on his computer.
I had a second realization in 2017 when I read the article “Undersized Cellphone and Computer” from “Yitianshijie”.
There’s no need to talk about the “texture of paper books” or the convenience of quick page-flipping; size is the biggest limitation of mobile phones. As chips shrink, so do the devices, including screens. It’s possible to carry a thousand songs in your pocket, but carrying a thousand books in your pocket makes reading like this impossible:
This photo is a reproduction from Kawade Shobo Shinsha’s 1993 publication “New Literary Reader: Terayama Shuji.”