Is Toshiba Exiting the Handheld Market?

Steve · 05-03-2004, 06:15 AM

Despite denials from Toshiba, rumors persist that it has quietly pulled out of the U.S. market.

Read my editorial on this topic at http://www.brighthand.com/article/to...exiting_market

Timothy Rapson · 05-03-2004, 07:53 AM

I see no special evidence of Toshiba leaving. In fact, they recently promised there would be an OS upgrade to WM 2003 SE for current users. Why would they do that if they were not staying around?

So far as I can tell, they don't even need a hardware update to sell WM 2003 SE models, just flash the new OS onto the 400s and 800s. Their current models are competitive with Dell and HP.

Now, as to the possibility that they would enter the Palm market, that would be terrific. I don't really like the flatness of the E400, but if they offered exactly that E400 with the Palm OS instead of the WM for $200 (comparing to the HP 1935, Dell X3, and Palm TE) I would probably buy one. The virtual Grafitti, recorder, and 64 MB RAM would make it a very good buy in the Palm arena while it is a mediocre value as a WM model.

But, why would Toshiba do this? If overall handheld sales are falling, Palm OS sales are even worse. Palm Source can't pay Toshiba to use the OS as Microsoft is doing with MW. (Maybe MS is not paying its OEMs, but it certainly is spending more to create, market, and support the OS than it gets back in fees.)

Anyway, I might suppose a 50/50 chance that Toshiba is on its way out, but going over to PalmOS? I highly doubt it.

robrecht · 05-03-2004, 07:59 AM

"rumors of new devices from HP and Dell (expected in June) have begun to surface"

Any substantive rumors of a small HP VGA model? Otherwise, I'm switching from Palm to Asus.

JeanChretien · 05-03-2004, 08:22 AM

As far as I know, the e800 has been very successful and profitable for Toshiba.

ClickHere2Surf · 05-03-2004, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Timothy Rapson
I don't really like the flatness of the E400, but if they offered exactly that E400 with the Palm OS instead of the WM for $200 (comparing to the HP 1935, Dell X3, and Palm TE) I would probably buy one.

How in the world can changing the OS to a more limtied one that does less, is more complicated to use (especialy transfering data and syncing), and that is quite unstable (compared to WM2003) make it better!?!

rob · 05-03-2004, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JeanChretien
As far as I know, the e800 has been very successful and profitable for Toshiba.

The e800 may or may not have been succesful, however Toshiba shot themselves in the foot long ago with their lack of customer support. The 740 was plagued with problems, also the lack of OS upgrades for the 740 and 310 series. It's hard to get a good customer base, when you can't count on your current customers coming back.

whydidnt · 05-03-2004, 10:08 AM

Obviously as mentioned in the story this is just in the rumor stage.... but don't all rumors have some basis in at least a sliver of the truth?

There are recent developments that could point to them leaving the US market: The E800 series has disappeared from all major retail outlets, and can't be reordered.

NO official announcement of a replacement device, either an upgraded E800 series, or some other new model that uses WMSE. There doesn't seem to be enough of the 800 series in current sales channels to worry about ruining sales with an announcement.

Toshiba websites in Europe seem to have more information related to the handhelds than the US site.

I guess time will tell, but I wouldn't just dismiss this out of hand.

ucfgrad93 · 05-03-2004, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rob
The e800 may or may not have been succesful, however Toshiba shot themselves in the foot long ago with their lack of customer support. The 740 was plagued with problems, also the lack of OS upgrades for the 740 and 310 series. It's hard to get a good customer base, when you can't count on your current customers coming back.

I think you have hit the nail on the head with this one Rob. I can't tell you the number of complaints about Toshiba's lack of support that I have seen on the web. It certainly kept me from considering their devices.

ktdan1 · 05-03-2004, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rob
It's hard to get a good customer base, when you can't count on your current customers coming back.

How true this is!!!!!!!!!

alexp · 05-03-2004, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ClickHere2Surf
How in the world can changing the OS to a more limtied one that does less, is more complicated to use (especialy transfering data and syncing), and that is quite unstable (compared to WM2003) make it better!?!

Spoken like a true PPC evangelist...

The suggestion is that Toshiba would offer devices with PalmOS Cobalt, OS6, which will allow for more features and functions.

Still more complicated to use? Unstable? I've used a number of PPCs in the past, and I would say it's pretty far-fetched to make statements like that. Ease-of-use and stability are hallmarks of PalmOS devices, in spite of their historical deficiency in functionality. Not sure if you're spouting PPC ideology (why would anyone waste their time spouting PDA ideology) or if you just had a bad experience that you've assumed is universal. Either way, the statement's pretty out-in-left-field.