What I really like about people’s responses is that people explain why it won’t work, why it isn’t practical and why it will cost too much.
What I don’t see are people saying the idea itself is stupid. Is it?Maybe it is. But this is coming from a user who thinks of what he wants and why he wants it. They want to customize a device at the hardware (and probably software) level.
They didn’t do the research into the issue of bus speeds, integration issues, manufacturing costs. If they did they might have just said, “Well that’s impossible” and just stop. Or maybe they did and said. “It’s impossible TODAY. But is it impossible tomorrow?”
They though about the hardware as modules that can be used to customize just like they people add software to customize their phones. Maybe they need to think of them as “fungible”
Now, let’s, for the moment, accept that this IS a good idea and that millions of people will like this idea. Instead of telling me why it 'will never work or be too expensive. Could you answer the questions. What would you have to do to make it work? It’s an engineering challenge.
Let’s say you have the resources of Apple and the entire smartphone industry. What problems would you need to solve?
Backplane bus speeds
Varying clock speeds of different parts.
Connectivity issues.
OS issues
Integration issues
Cost issues
Manufacturing issues
If you are given the challenge it might require you to “think differently” on hardware. Maybe you use Graphene, the new super material. Could be both battery and memory? Imagine that! Maybe other hardware that does does double duty?
How about connectors that are also processors.
What if things just are impossible? “But Captain you would have to defy the laws of physics?” Well then its impossible, unless…
Maybe someone would have to look for breakthroughs in other areas to make this dream come true. maybe the phone could be composed of multiple purpose circuits that can be software reconfigured. You “grow” your speakers out of general /memory or battery circuits.Speakers that double as batteries.
Does this sound like science fiction? Maybe, but if you look at cutting edge materials and maybe it’s not so far fetched.
But the issue is, "Is this a process worth trying? What if the consumer demand is huge? What if someone says, "Hey if you put your money where your mouth is and give us 700 million up front and we will make it.?
We had to invent some stuff to go to the moon, right? Maybe this isn’t a moon shot worthy idea, but think of it as an engineering challenge.
