If you have a PDA or a mid to high-end mobile phone, then chances are that you also have a web browser capability in it. However, you probably rarely use it, since the screeen size is inadequate for any useful browsing, or because the interface is cumbersome (no keyboard). The industry is acknowledging the fact that slightly bigger mobile devices are required to have a reasonable browsing experience. Hence the class of devices for mobile web access is born, called by different names such as web-pad, web-tablet, mobile internet device etc.
Mobile web devices are different from ultra compact PCs, primarily by the fact that MWDs are meant for a minimal set of functions, such as web browsing and playing media. They may not be meant for tasks such as word processing or other office/business purposes. Also they may not contain a full OS such as Windows Vista (although this is possible), but may be instead be based on a thin mobile OS such as a trimmed down Linux distribution. MWDs would also try to be low on power consumption and may possibly target for 4 hours or more of continuous operation between re-charges.
Most MWDs available now are trying to provide many features including media player, photo browsing and basic editing, instant messaging among others. They also provide a reasonable to large amout of storage space, aimed at media storage. However, I believe that in addition to such all-in-one devices there is a huge market for a pure browser device which is wifi enabled. Such a device would directly launch the browser on startup and provide most of the browser features (such as flash, media codecs) to enable browsing any website, and for playing streaming audio/video. At a price point of less than $100, such a device would be attractive to many.
You may read further about this new revolution of devices at the following links:
1. Intel’s site on Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) & Ultra Mobile PCs (UMPCs)
2. Linux-based tablets and webpads at LinuxDevices
4. Pepper pad
5. Apple iPhone and iPod touch