Community poll forum: What do you predict will be the tech talk of the town in 2011?

I don't buy anything with "smart" in the title because when I can't fathom how to work it, I have inadequacy issues. 3D can cause bouts of nausea. Tablets make great readers, but give me my keyboard. Tablets caught on and netbooks didn't.

I think the biggest buzz will be about chips. Microsoft is showing a love interest in ARM. That's fine, but to me the most under-hyped item has been the new INTEL Sandy Bridge chip. Why? It incorporates graphics into the CPU chip and varies chip speed to match what you want it to do. This is especially important to laptops. (Think heat and battery life.)Most modern video cards require a fan of their own. Wouldn't it be nice for your chip to walk while you're reading an email and only overclock when you're killing mythical beasts?

These chips are still on the workbench and haven't been installed on any commercial machines yet, so this year's buzz might be about their performance... or lack of it. We'll see.

I predicted late last year that we were about to head into App World, where traditional be-all and do-everything software applications would quickly give way to bite-sized budget-priced specialized apps. Now, not even seven days into the new year and Apple has opened their "App Store" and the game change is on. This is the wave of the future. Computers and mobile devices now merely app/solution aggregators and controllers. Each of us must configure our own customized personal digital environments and application suites. Enjoy!

I think the next trend will be multi-media watches. That is a Bluetooth watch with a video screen and wireless headset. It will have a built in MP3 player, data storage, 4G cell and GPS capability. The 1x2 inch screen will be used for viewing pictures, movies (larger through bluetooth surround goggles), directions, the web, video-teleconference calls, address retrieval, video games, etc... It will also be app capable and suitable for exercise (water/shockproof) with a built in pedometer and calorie counter.

Text input occurs through voice recognition or a portable roll-up keyboard as an option.

And of course - it tells time...

Although I agree with you in general, I think the "watches" will actually just be a type of display and input device for a smart phone and not an actual cell phone itself. There is already one device like this for Android phones in the works from Sony.

The tablets are certainly hurting netbook sales, and why buy a high end netbook when one can get a 14" laptop for the same price with better performance and a dvd drive?

This is also the year of the combo chips as several have mentioned here.

3D is still expensive and a niche market.

Also, throw in Verizon's iPhone and the impact on ATT as being big news mid year.

Windows has previously failed miserably in the mobile market and has showed late for the current market. While the current version of Windows mobile has matured, it certainly does not have the maturity of iOS, Palm (not doing to well), BlackBerry, Symbian, or even Android.

I do agree with you on all points, just doubt Windows or Palm will succeed.

I hope 2011 will be the year of Pixel Qi screens for everything, especially in tablets.
I want a Tablet like Notion Ink's Adam with the Pixel Qi screen.