Is the dedicated handheld market really dying or simply returning to normal?

[Nuvendil]

Jranation said:

zorg1000 said:

When taking 7th Gen out of the equation, we are looking at 3DS/Vita doing similar numbers as handhelds in the 4th/5th/6th generations, do u see this continuing or are smartphones/tablets really killing dedicated handhelds?

I think it will! Since theres soooo much new technology coming out these days, it will be very hard to compete. And not only the next gen handhelds will evolve, but also the smartphones. Who knows what Apple could do in their next 2-3 phones that will blew everyones minds. 

But you see I would say it isn't the technology but the ecosystem that creates the disparity between handheld and mobile markets.  The handheld market is built on the premium model, the mobile on the freemium model.  Those who desire and expect one will not be comfortable with the other.  So I think handhelds will stick around for a while yet for that reason in particular: the premium model.  It's a smaller market than the freemium by nature, but still plenty lucrative for now.