No Windows Mobile SE Upgrades for Older iPAQs or Axims

[Ed Hardy]

In a pair of announcements that will surely disappoint many, both HP and Dell have made it clear that they will not release Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC Second Edition upgrades for any of their current or older handhelds.

Read more at http://www.brighthand.com/article/No..._Dell?site=PPC

[NewtonDKC]

Okay, I can't express enough how much this sucks. I really thought HP was going to release updates for at least the 5550, 4150 and 2215 series to please corporate customers. I wonder if all the posts where people slammed the dull and uninspiring design of the new iPAQs and stated they would simply upgrade their current attractively designed device to have the best of both worlds, led to HP deciding not to release it? Sure, I may be stretching the conclusion there, but this truly truly sucks. Compaq was excellent about providing upgrade paths, HP has always been a little lacking in that area (going all the way back to the debacle with the Jornada which HP claimed would be upgradeable - then pulled this same crap then. Errrr!!!

Also, aren't there already some users who have the new OS running on older iPAQs? Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the upgrade flashed onto iPAQs at some trade show or something a few months ago? I am almost positive I've read posts from users on this board who claim to have the update installed. If this is indeed true, then it's obviously no technical problem.

This is seriously making me re-consider buying HP products. And yes, I know Dell is doing the same thing, but it's a lot easier to justify buying a new device when it was as inexpensive as the Dell models are to begin with. I always thought part of the premium we paid for HP iPAQs was the *understood* support for future OS releases.

I am not pleased at this at all! If somebody wants to contact me to discuss in detail their WM SE upgrade for their 4150 series, please email me caldwelld@rcbhsc.wvu.edu. I have some questions!!! :-)

[JK27]

Well, that sucks, indeed! I'm very disappointed in HP. When Toshiba/Audiovox did the same thing to their customers (no upgrade from PPC2002 to WM2003), there was a HUGE backlash (hmmm ... now Toshiba is leaving the PPC market???) I personally will not purchase another PPC from Toshiba/Audiovox because of that. I am not alone.

Will HP be the next brand that I choose not to purchase because of something similar? Time will tell. HP should not underestimate the amount of goodwill and customer loyalty that HP could build by upgrading these recent models. And, I would not be adverse to HP charging some nominal fee for those of us that want to upgrade to WM 2003 SE.

[Scott R]

Over the last several years we keep hearing how the Palm OS PDAs were more like consumer electronics devices and the Pocket PC PDAs were more like computers. OK, well part of that means OS upgrades. I'm very disappointed in this. Granted, the landscape mode isn't as exciting on a 320x240 resolution device, thanks to the menubar and toolbar taking up precious screenspace, but it would still have been nice to have and I, too, was fully expecting HP to do the right thing and release an upgrade for at least their more corporate-focused devices (though I personally think that any device that's physically capable of being upgraded, should be).

If anyone has news about that h4155 upgrade, feel free to email me about the details behind it as well.

Scott

[imported_redline135]

I am both sad, and frustrated. I think this is just a way for both HP and Dell, to get people to buy there new product. I'm a 2210 owner and I got it when it first came out, I loved it and still do to some extent ( Ive seen some really nice ones lately ). When I heard about the update I waited as patiently as I could, and for HP not to give out this update is like a slap in the face. Its almost like HP was teasing there costumers, by saying " Oh ya we are testing the new update and we will let you know.. " then they come back and say " Just kidding.. but you can buy one of are new handhelds.? I mean I know my 2210 is outdated but man its not that old.
Needless to say, I think I'm going to go the way of another smartphone.

RedLiNe----------

[mkemper]

Neither Dell nor HP seem to intend to support their products professionally. They see Pocket PC as consumer products that they sell and then forget. This will have an impact on the handheld market as a whole, because neither consumers nor business users will buy new machines only to get new features and bug fixes. If this is the business model HP and Dell are relying on, they will follow Toshiba leaving the market soon as well.

A reasonably priced upgrade policy that users can trust in and that protects investments will gain customers. Cutting customers off upgrades some weeks after they purchased a device will chase them away.

Michael

[mkemper]

... and what concerns me even more is the fact that both announcements from HP and Dell come at the same time. This looks like they have talked to each other and agreed to p... off their customers equally so noone will have an advantage of the upgrade policy. Bad times ahead for Pocket PC handhelds.

Wasn't the Tungsten T4 to be released in the near future?

Michael

[sojourner753]

I'm an hp2215 owner and was actually planning on buying a new PDA. Probably from HP. However, if it turns out that this report is true, then I will be exploring some of the other lesser known vendors.

I pretty much expected to not have the update until after the new models were released ... to deny us all together?

It seems that I would be running the risk of spending a $600 on a new model only to have to buy a new one when WM2005 comes out.

I'm getting a bad taste in my mouth from this whole think. Sort of like my experience with the Motorola v600.

Companies seem to think that they can throw products onto the market then not support them. "The customer will just buy the next model"

Similar to the whole Windows ME fiasco.

HP runs the risk of getting taken out of consideration for my next device.

Perhaps ASUS? or others...

[DanielTS]

Originally posted by jk27
Well, that sucks, indeed! I'm very disappointed in HP. When Toshiba/Audiovox did the same thing to their customers, there was a HUGE backlash (hmmm ... now Toshiba is leaving the PPC market???) I personally will not purchase another PPC from Toshiba/Audiovox because of that. I am not alone.

Toshiba e800 and WM2003 SE update:

URL=http://www.toshiba-tro.de/unitdetails/TEDD.asp?serial=&model=PD800E-00001-FR&useraclID=10&language=English

[JK27]

Originally posted by DanielTS
Toshiba e800 and WM2003 SE update:

URL=http://www.toshiba-tro.de/unitdetails/TEDD.asp?serial=&model=PD800E-00001-FR&useraclID=10&language=English

I was talking about how Toshiba and Audiovox failed to provide WM2003 upgrades to owners of Pocket PC 2002 machines. In case you missed all the hubbub ...

http://www.theinquirer.net/Default.aspx?article=10390
http://palmtops.about.com/b/a/003730.htm
http://www.petitiononline.com/e550G03/petition.html
http://www.earthv.com/articles.asp?ArticleID=1572

Affected units were the Toshiba e740, e330, e550g, e570, Audiovox Maestro, etc.