Palm, It's Time to Go With a Better Option Than Linux

[Hook]

Actually, it's funny. I had just been playing around with suggesting putting out a TX-like WM device running styletap to help fill the gap until 2009 and keep a presence on the shelves. Also, to not let HP get all the rings.

[robrecht]

It has simply taken way too long already. How many years ago did Palm announce that it's next OS would be based on a Linux kernal??? If it hasn't happened by now, giving it another year is just throwing good money after bad IMHUO. Maybe announcing the extensive delay was just a first step and Palm has already realized this--they do seem to be in humble mode at the moment.

[Hazniet]

If Palm does this the waters will be filled with people jumping ship. Porting everything to MS is not what people are looking for.

[maceyr]

I agree with Ed on this. Obviously creating a new OS has proven to be something Palm has difficulties with (recall Cobalt and now the Linux OS). I for one, wouldn't mind all that much if Palm focused more on Win Mobile devices and smartphones with the Treo experience but am still waiting for one that isn't just a slight RAM upgrade though.

They shouldn't totally abandon the Linux based OS but should try at least to get something in the marketplace that will sell. Not coming up with any device sure is a fast way to fade quickly. No sales. No profit. No money. Bye bye. At least if they do get themselves back in the game, they can then have the luxury and some breathing room to get Palm OS II back online again.

[reidme]

The "Palm Experience" they know and love, on Windows Mobile? Now there's an oxymoron!

[maceyr]

I said, Treo experience but Palm experience on a Win Mobile device would be interesting indeed.

[Bob]

Compromise: Do Ed's idea until Palm OS II is ready.

[rkevwill]

If palm defaults forever, to Winmobile, I will default to one of two things. Old palms, or my filofax

I really REALLY like reading your comments and reviews Ed, but I can't agree with you on this one. No reason they cant offer Winmobile until they come out with their new OS.

Palm with only Winmobile = future/Gateway. That my friend is a comment from the Financial industry viewpoint. (meaning my own). They become nothing but a commodity producer.

Give the new team a bit of time to change things. Who knows, they may hire or contract a bunch of new people to speed things up.

[mszv]

Well, you only do a new OS if you have to - if it's enough of a market differentiator that it gets you sales. You only do what you have to, to be a market differentiator - to make the wonderful thing - nothing more.

In the old days, everything I wanted was running on devices with the Palm OS. It was a wonderful world - so many apps for productivity and fun. Then I decided to get a smartphone. I picked the Motorola Q (attractive price, attractive device, other reasons). I looked around for what would run on it - and I can find Windows Mobile versions of most apps I want to put on the Q - not all, but most. This isn't even the fancier Pocket PC OS - whatever it's called now, the OS that supports a stylus. The Motorola Q is a Windows Mobile Smartphone - it runs the OS without a stylus interface. It's amazing, all those apps I like on a little device, running on a Windows OS. Who knew?

To me, that's a sign. Application developers are pragmatic. No one supports more than one operating system unless they have to - and all these apps (some from tiny little developers) have Windows versions now. If you were to ask me, my guess is that the developers will do the majority of their enhancements for Windows versions, and will keep sustaining versions of their apps on the current Palm OS. That's my guess.

In my opinion, Palm has to have devices that runs some flavor of Windows - they just have to, and don't they do that already? So they have to ask themselves - what will it get them if they continue with their flavor of Linux or the next version of a Palm OS?

[dmccunney]

If Palm does this the waters will be filled with people jumping ship. Porting everything to MS is not what people are looking for.

Jumping ship to what?
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Dennis