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Bob Russell · 08-10-2006, 09:49 PM

We've heard a lot of negative press about Palm recently. There are many concerns about what is to come. But a recent editorial by Sammy McLoughlin over at Palm Addicts reminded me of why I am optimistic about Palm's future.

Most of the concern stems from the uncertainty. It's not clear how we are going to see ongoing compatibility of applications with the current PalmOS, nor what the dominant future OS will even be. As a result, people wonder how Palm can succeed in the market.

But change and uncertainty is about the only constant in the handheld market. And one cannot dismiss the demonstrated ability of Palm, Inc. to successfully navigate a difficult market. How many times have we heard that PalmOS and Palm, Inc were dead? How many times did we hear it said that the Treo line would not succeed against the "big boys?" When Cobalt was declared dead, many felt that it was the end of PalmOS, and Palm. Then we see success, or hear that there is a contingency plan. For example, recently we discover Treos running Windows Mobile, which even offer a stronger hope to enter the business market.

We also hear rumors that there is a Linux OS that Palm is developing, and which they hope to be able to make compatible with current PalmOS software. (Separate from the PalmSource Access Linux Platform efforts.) And while talk has died down about word from Jeff Hawkins about a revolutionary third line of business alongside traditional pdas and smartphones, that doesn't mean we won't see something exciting appear on the market.

Palm Inc., especially with Ed Colligan at the helm, has proven itself a survivor. There are many challenges, but as we have seen Apple do, they always seem to land on their feet and have a last ditch plan for success. They won't go down easily. It's not hard to be a doubter, but greatness comes from those who are willing to take risks, and who get the job done in the face of adversity.

In 1910 at a speech at the Sorbonne in Paris, Teddy Roosevelt said "It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

I look forward to counting Palm among the survivors. Whatever mobile device company you prefer, and whatever operating system you like, you have to admit that Palm's ongoing presence will help push the entire mobile computing market forward for all of us.

So in the midst of all the critics and uncertainty, I'm quite happy to know that Palm, Inc. is fighting the fight!

08-10-2006, 09:49 PM	#1
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	A positive view of Palm's future We've heard a lot of negative press about Palm recently. There are many concerns about what is to come. But a recent editorial by Sammy McLoughlin over at Palm Addicts reminded me of why I am optimistic about Palm's future. Most of the concern stems from the uncertainty. It's not clear how we are going to see ongoing compatibility of applications with the current PalmOS, nor what the dominant future OS will even be. As a result, people wonder how Palm can succeed in the market. But change and uncertainty is about the only constant in the handheld market. And one cannot dismiss the demonstrated ability of Palm, Inc. to successfully navigate a difficult market. How many times have we heard that PalmOS and Palm, Inc were dead? How many times did we hear it said that the Treo line would not succeed against the "big boys?" When Cobalt was declared dead, many felt that it was the end of PalmOS, and Palm. Then we see success, or hear that there is a contingency plan. For example, recently we discover Treos running Windows Mobile, which even offer a stronger hope to enter the business market. We also hear rumors that there is a Linux OS that Palm is developing, and which they hope to be able to make compatible with current PalmOS software. (Separate from the PalmSource Access Linux Platform efforts.) And while talk has died down about word from Jeff Hawkins about a revolutionary third line of business alongside traditional pdas and smartphones, that doesn't mean we won't see something exciting appear on the market. Palm Inc., especially with Ed Colligan at the helm, has proven itself a survivor. There are many challenges, but as we have seen Apple do, they always seem to land on their feet and have a last ditch plan for success. They won't go down easily. It's not hard to be a doubter, but greatness comes from those who are willing to take risks, and who get the job done in the face of adversity. In 1910 at a speech at the Sorbonne in Paris, Teddy Roosevelt said "It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." I look forward to counting Palm among the survivors. Whatever mobile device company you prefer, and whatever operating system you like, you have to admit that Palm's ongoing presence will help push the entire mobile computing market forward for all of us. So in the midst of all the critics and uncertainty, I'm quite happy to know that Palm, Inc. is fighting the fight!