I Hate Convergence. No wait!... It's Really Nice!

Bob Russell · 06-20-2005, 06:07 PM

I've had a few weeks with my new Treo650 now, and I must say it has really changed my mind about convergence. I used to think that the compromises of a smartphone were so horrible that it would drive a power PDA user crazy, and that the dominance of the wireless carrier's demand for revenues would destroy the functionality.

Well, I was partly right... there are compromises (like small screen, less memory, high price) and the wireless carrier's influence (or at least Verizon, which I have for the moment) really does make the device less useful and expensive. I don't really try to do as much on my Treo as I'd like to.

But what I didn't expect was how much I really appreciate a converged device. The obvious thing is that I have a phone and a pda in one pocket. That would have been enough for me, but even the way it's combined in the Treo is very nice. It is integrated but separate. I'll try to describe that if I do a mini-review of it. And the pda is quite good, also to my surprise.

I'm delighted with it, and wouldn't consider anything else out on the market now that I've gotten used to it. Never thought I could feel that way, but this little smartphone has won me over!

Unfortunately, that may be mostly true because PalmOne did a fantastic job with the Treo650. (Not perfect, but very good!) But it is definitely enough to convince me that it's a great idea. If you've followed my comments, you know that's a big change of perspective for me. And if a smartphone can be great now, how much better when the technology catches up, and you don't have to make so many size, weight, memory and cost tradeoffs in the future?

But don't think I'm saying that smartphones are the answer for everyone. If I didn't feel compelled to carry around both a phone and pda, I'd hate it. Instead I'd have a LifeDrive or something like a Dell x50v, or even just a great phone if I didn't want a pda. But right now, I want both, and I'm very happy to be a Treo user!

So I'm curious -- Has anyone else recently surprised themselves by becoming a fan of smartphones!?

Antoine of MMM · 06-20-2005, 11:46 PM

Now BobR, you do understand that I was completly satisfied with my T5/SE T616 solution until this posting right. Tis not right to make one covet the Treo 650 (or next Treo).

Dianne Hackborn · 06-21-2005, 01:35 AM

I was pretty skeptical, too, about PDA+phone devices, until I got the phone I now have -- Samsung's i500 PalmOS phone. I absolutely adore the thing (though it's really way too expensive for what it is).

Some of the problems I was anticipating, such as it being difficult to make an appointment or take down contact info with someone on the phone, are definitely there, but they aren't nearly as much an issue as I was expecting. And getting to HotSync all your contact/calendar information right on to your phone more than makes up for the negatives.

One thing that is really interesting about all of this is that I don't think we are at all moving towards a homogeneous market -- instead, I think convergence means -more- diversity in devices. In addition to devices for one dedicated purpose (taking pictures, playing music talking on the phone, PDA stuff), I think we will see a whole mess of devices that do a mix of these things, focusing on some over others.

For example, my Samsung phone is first a foremost a phone; I have much less interest in a Treo, because the kind of device I want is one that is first of all a good phone, with the more PDAish functionality taking second place. At the same time, I also have an MP3 player, and that is a big enough deal that I can't see myself being happy with the compromise required to integrate the MP3 player with a phone.

I am also curious to see what kinds of ideas people come up with to combine various kinds of functionality in ways that reduce the amount of compromise required. That involves both hardware and software -- I think the usability issues in phones, especially as they gain so much more functionality, is a big area that will need a lot of attention to really make these products accessible to a larger market. That issue is, in fact, one of the motivations behind the Rome stuff we are doing at PalmSource.

gadjitfreek · 06-22-2005, 05:23 AM

I have been skeptical of converged devices...until the release of the Treo 650. For months I waited for Verizon to release it and I finally nabbed one. It broke after three weeks (the mute button) and it took a week to get a replacement. I adore this device. I can take it geocaching, and log my finds as I find them. I can instantly check on the local radar to see if a storm is coming. I can get my email. I can check my blog sites for updates and even use the device to do all the things my old Clie TH-55 could do. The smaller screen does kind of put the kibosh on things like watching movies, and the battery life, while decent, does not come up to the standard of the Clie TH55. Then again, batteries can be swapped...but the cradle that allows the spare battery to be charged whilst your Treo charges is alas, as yet unavailable.

I love my Treo and I am glad I waited for it.

Alsicole · 07-14-2005, 09:02 AM

Both my husband and I are currently looking at the iMate Jam as our next phone/Pocket PC option. I'm holding out at the moment for the QTek S110 which is the 128MB version. I've been downgrading the size of all my gadgets in recent months - whilst I'm still carrying several things it means I don't need quite so big a handbag!

06-20-2005, 06:07 PM	#1
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	I Hate Convergence. No wait!... It's Really Nice! I've had a few weeks with my new Treo650 now, and I must say it has really changed my mind about convergence. I used to think that the compromises of a smartphone were so horrible that it would drive a power PDA user crazy, and that the dominance of the wireless carrier's demand for revenues would destroy the functionality. Well, I was partly right... there are compromises (like small screen, less memory, high price) and the wireless carrier's influence (or at least Verizon, which I have for the moment) really does make the device less useful and expensive. I don't really try to do as much on my Treo as I'd like to. But what I didn't expect was how much I really appreciate a converged device. The obvious thing is that I have a phone and a pda in one pocket. That would have been enough for me, but even the way it's combined in the Treo is very nice. It is integrated but separate. I'll try to describe that if I do a mini-review of it. And the pda is quite good, also to my surprise. I'm delighted with it, and wouldn't consider anything else out on the market now that I've gotten used to it. Never thought I could feel that way, but this little smartphone has won me over! Unfortunately, that may be mostly true because PalmOne did a fantastic job with the Treo650. (Not perfect, but very good!) But it is definitely enough to convince me that it's a great idea. If you've followed my comments, you know that's a big change of perspective for me. And if a smartphone can be great now, how much better when the technology catches up, and you don't have to make so many size, weight, memory and cost tradeoffs in the future? But don't think I'm saying that smartphones are the answer for everyone. If I didn't feel compelled to carry around both a phone and pda, I'd hate it. Instead I'd have a LifeDrive or something like a Dell x50v, or even just a great phone if I didn't want a pda. But right now, I want both, and I'm very happy to be a Treo user! So I'm curious -- Has anyone else recently surprised themselves by becoming a fan of smartphones!?

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06-20-2005, 11:46 PM	#2
Antoine of MMM Mobile Ministry Magazine Posts: 119 Karma: 4507 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Charlotte, NC Device: Nokia N75/N800 Internet Tablet	Now BobR, you do understand that I was completly satisfied with my T5/SE T616 solution until this posting right. Tis not right to make one covet the Treo 650 (or next Treo).

06-21-2005, 01:35 AM	#3
Dianne Hackborn PalmSource, Inc. Posts: 9 Karma: 85 Join Date: Jan 2005 Device: Samsung I500	I was pretty skeptical, too, about PDA+phone devices, until I got the phone I now have -- Samsung's i500 PalmOS phone. I absolutely adore the thing (though it's really way too expensive for what it is). Some of the problems I was anticipating, such as it being difficult to make an appointment or take down contact info with someone on the phone, are definitely there, but they aren't nearly as much an issue as I was expecting. And getting to HotSync all your contact/calendar information right on to your phone more than makes up for the negatives. One thing that is really interesting about all of this is that I don't think we are at all moving towards a homogeneous market -- instead, I think convergence means -more- diversity in devices. In addition to devices for one dedicated purpose (taking pictures, playing music talking on the phone, PDA stuff), I think we will see a whole mess of devices that do a mix of these things, focusing on some over others. For example, my Samsung phone is first a foremost a phone; I have much less interest in a Treo, because the kind of device I want is one that is first of all a good phone, with the more PDAish functionality taking second place. At the same time, I also have an MP3 player, and that is a big enough deal that I can't see myself being happy with the compromise required to integrate the MP3 player with a phone. I am also curious to see what kinds of ideas people come up with to combine various kinds of functionality in ways that reduce the amount of compromise required. That involves both hardware and software -- I think the usability issues in phones, especially as they gain so much more functionality, is a big area that will need a lot of attention to really make these products accessible to a larger market. That issue is, in fact, one of the motivations behind the Rome stuff we are doing at PalmSource.

06-22-2005, 05:23 AM	#4
gadjitfreek Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2005 Device: Treo 650	I have been skeptical of converged devices...until the release of the Treo 650. For months I waited for Verizon to release it and I finally nabbed one. It broke after three weeks (the mute button) and it took a week to get a replacement. I adore this device. I can take it geocaching, and log my finds as I find them. I can instantly check on the local radar to see if a storm is coming. I can get my email. I can check my blog sites for updates and even use the device to do all the things my old Clie TH-55 could do. The smaller screen does kind of put the kibosh on things like watching movies, and the battery life, while decent, does not come up to the standard of the Clie TH55. Then again, batteries can be swapped...but the cradle that allows the spare battery to be charged whilst your Treo charges is alas, as yet unavailable. I love my Treo and I am glad I waited for it.

07-14-2005, 09:02 AM	#5
Alsicole Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 590326 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: UK Device: Kindle Voyage, iPhone 6, iPad Mini Retina,	Both my husband and I are currently looking at the iMate Jam as our next phone/Pocket PC option. I'm holding out at the moment for the QTek S110 which is the 128MB version. I've been downgrading the size of all my gadgets in recent months - whilst I'm still carrying several things it means I don't need quite so big a handbag!

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