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Other single-function devices, such as digital cameras, electronic books and digital voice recorders, are struggling to find their way. All promise to do an even better job than their film, paper or tape counterparts someday, but only digital cameras are approaching that goal by finally matching the print quality of film cameras in sub-$1,000 models.
The most intriguing new portable device is Diamond Multimedia's Rio, a $200 handheld digital music player that stores up to 60 min. of CD-quality sound downloaded from the Internet. The Rio still has a long way to go--it's more bother than joy to spend 10 min. per song downloading what little mainstream music you can find online in the special format the Rio requires. Yet the idea of hand-picking songs from a vast online database, then bringing your favorites on a jog, the morning commute or to a lengthy session with the dentist is irresistible.
The Rio is years away from becoming a mainstream product, but its cool factor is, well, really cool. In the end, that's the essential ingredient in any mobile gadget's success. Why else would we put up with cell phones that drop calls and notebook screens that become unreadable in the sunlight? Because when they work right, we love them so much we'd take them anywhere--even to Bali.