More Windows Mobile 2005 Details Emerge

[Ed Hardy]

A few more details have slipped out about the next version of Microsoft's operating system for Pocket PCs.

Read more at http://www.brighthand.com/article/Mo...merge?site=PPC

[Hendrixus]

I don't hope they gonna pull off the same as they did with WM2003 and WM2003SE that you have to get a new PDA if you wanted to benefit from the new OS!
Otherwise buying now a X50v or ASUS 730w would be a waste of money!

Hendrixus

[foxfire4321]

I hate to admit it, but I am almost positive they will pull another switch where everyone has to get a new PDA. This has been the going practice with WM devices, ever since they started making flash ROM a requirement (PPC2002) the flash ability has been almost useless as each new OS has been only supported on new hardware.

Here is my bid right now that if this OS debuts in 2005 then the rx3000, rx4700, and hx2000 series models of the iPaq better be supported. Of course, one would have thought that the 4150 series would have got an upgrade to WM2003SE also, but you see what happened there.

Of course, Palm hasn't even released a piece of hardware carrying their latest OS yet.

[Hendrixus]

Originally posted by foxfire4321
I hate to admit it, but I am almost positive they will pull another switch where everyone has to get a new PDA. This has been the going practice with WM devices, ever since they started making flash ROM a requirement (PPC2002) the flash ability has been almost useless as each new OS has been only supported on new hardware.

Right, totally no use except for rather simple patches.

Compaq started with this flashrom. You can even flash a old Compaq Aero to PPC 200x. Try to flash a Casio 125, won't work.

The manufacturer who gives me a flash to wm2003se and up will have me as a costumer for ever with whatever!

Hendrixus

[foxfire4321]

Compaq started the flash ROM thing a long time ago, which has lead to some interesting linux on IPaq projects, but Microsoft made it a requirement for PPC2002.

I would guess that MS assumed the hardware vendors would continue to support their hardware with upgrade flashes (in turn generating revenue for MS in the form of fees). The hardware manufacturers instead decided to short change the consumers by only installing the newest OS on their handheld premiere for that year. Only Toshiba has any history of upgrading their units, and sadly they are out of the picture. I have actually skipped a few generations of the OS rather than suffer through the upgrade cycle that the vendors seem to be pushing (I went from PPC 2000 to WM2003SE). It is sad, but with only Dell and HP as major players left in the market we will have to assume that it will be another lame excuse fest of how the six-month to one year old hardware isn't capable of handling the new OS (HPs excuse for not supporting the HP Jornada 560 series up to WM2003).

Here is a chance for one of these vendors to show real support for their customers... or dare I say a new/small vendor (Asus, are you listening) to take up some market share by saying that they will support their handhelds for a minimum two-year cycle (barring severe hardware requirement changes).

[Hendrixus]

Originally posted by foxfire4321
Compaq started the flash ROM thing a long time ago, which has lead to some interesting linux on IPaq projects, but Microsoft made it a requirement for PPC2002.

I would guess that MS assumed the hardware vendors would continue to support their hardware with upgrade flashes (in turn generating revenue for MS in the form of fees). The hardware manufacturers instead decided to short change the consumers by only installing the newest OS on their handheld premiere for that year. Only Toshiba has any history of upgrading their units, and sadly they are out of the picture. I have actually skipped a few generations of the OS rather than suffer through the upgrade cycle that the vendors seem to be pushing (I went from PPC 2000 to WM2003SE). It is sad, but with only Dell and HP as major players left in the market we will have to assume that it will be another lame excuse fest of how the six-month to one year old hardware isn't capable of handling the new OS (HPs excuse for not supporting the HP Jornada 560 series up to WM2003).

Here is a chance for one of these vendors to show real support for their customers... or dare I say a new/small vendor (Asus, are you listening) to take up some market share by saying that they will support their handhelds for a minimum two-year cycle (barring severe hardware requirement changes).

I totally agree and support the above

Hendrixus

[wshwe]

I wouldn't shell out $500+ on a WM 03 SE VGA PPC. Dell and HP likely will not offer flash upgrades to WM 05. Toshiba offered a non-optimized SE upgrade to Tosh e800 owners.

[Heda]

any word if theres going to be changes to the way MS implements VGA?

[dan828]

Originally posted by wshwe
I wouldn't shell out $500+ on a WM 03 SE VGA PPC. Dell and HP likely will not offer flash upgrades to WM 05. Toshiba offered a non-optimized SE upgrade to Tosh e800 owners.

Exactly. HP especially has a history of not updating their PPCs. First my Jornada 568 didn't get an update, and them my 2215 didn't. Such is life, but there is no chance at all that a 3rd HP PPC of mine won't get updated because I'm never going to own one. In actuallity I probably won't be looking at PDAs again until after WM 2005 comes out and we get to see which companies don't update.

[neuron]

I must be the minority here. I buy a new PPC everytime a new OS is out, so it is not a big issue for me as long as the manufacture promise to fix the bugs.