MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - palmOne: No more high-end PDAs in future

Bob Russell · 11-14-2004, 10:05 AM

I haven't read all this yet, so my comments are based mostly on previous info, but I get the feeling (from hearing him on an earnings conference call) that there will be a Tungsten line going forward. Unless the OS6 problems caused them to rethink.

The idea is that they can make money off low-end PDAs and off smart phones, just like you've indicated.

But where I think there's hope is that until smart phones have high-end capabilities and features, they'll keep the high-end PDAs around as another means to bring users into the Treo product line. The idea is that they buy a Tungsten E or T and they love it. They get used to PalmOS. And then, in the thinking of PalmOne, they "come to their senses" and realize they would really rather have a Treo with a smaller screen and less memory and an expensive monthly contract and a shorter battery life and more bulk and, oh yeah, a cell phone that you don't ever want to lend to anyone because it has your life on it!

No matter how much the market gurus think smart phones will replace almost every PDA except the cheap ones, they can't really make that happen unless the consumer base likes the things executives think they like. It's one thing to think you know what a customer wants better than they do. It's another thing to be right and make it work.

So, we'll see. My bet is that until smart phones are about the same form factor and specs as traditional PDAs for about the same price, we'll see the good ole traditional PDA on the market. 'Course if PalmOne thinks they know better, I suppose they could leave the whole market to Dell, HP et al.

Every bit of new coming out these days tends to make me all the more happy I switched to PPC. I really don't like what I see from Palm these days. I hope they get it together because they've got a great OS. It deserves better products, and a brighter future!

11-14-2004, 10:05 AM	#2
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	I haven't read all this yet, so my comments are based mostly on previous info, but I get the feeling (from hearing him on an earnings conference call) that there will be a Tungsten line going forward. Unless the OS6 problems caused them to rethink. The idea is that they can make money off low-end PDAs and off smart phones, just like you've indicated. But where I think there's hope is that until smart phones have high-end capabilities and features, they'll keep the high-end PDAs around as another means to bring users into the Treo product line. The idea is that they buy a Tungsten E or T and they love it. They get used to PalmOS. And then, in the thinking of PalmOne, they "come to their senses" and realize they would really rather have a Treo with a smaller screen and less memory and an expensive monthly contract and a shorter battery life and more bulk and, oh yeah, a cell phone that you don't ever want to lend to anyone because it has your life on it! No matter how much the market gurus think smart phones will replace almost every PDA except the cheap ones, they can't really make that happen unless the consumer base likes the things executives think they like. It's one thing to think you know what a customer wants better than they do. It's another thing to be right and make it work. So, we'll see. My bet is that until smart phones are about the same form factor and specs as traditional PDAs for about the same price, we'll see the good ole traditional PDA on the market. 'Course if PalmOne thinks they know better, I suppose they could leave the whole market to Dell, HP et al. Every bit of new coming out these days tends to make me all the more happy I switched to PPC. I really don't like what I see from Palm these days. I hope they get it together because they've got a great OS. It deserves better products, and a brighter future!