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outsourced · 11:57 AM

What the heck!? Palm, Microsoft, and Verizon to provide new Treo device based on Windows Mobile 5.0?

http://www.palm.com/us/company/pr/ne...l?reqid=760974

This is surely the death blow to the classic PalmOS as we know it. Why didn't they introduce a device using Linux instead? After all, they've acquired the technology. Then again, this P-M-V announcement must have been in the works for a while.

So much for PalmOS.

At least one huge benefit is multi-tasking which is lacking in the current revision of PalmOS.

Talk about being blindsided -- I was expecting a Linux-based second-gen 'Lifebrick'. Or whatever they call it.

iomatic · Sep 26, 2005, 11:50 AM

I know. It's SO wrong.

I don't know what kind of multi-tasking you need on a handheld OS besides playing music in the background and email--both of which the Palm OS already does.

Missing Sync will work, I'm sure, but it always felt so tacked-on.

WinMobile is so horrid, ugly, and unusable but I'm assured that it'll get better. Meh.

Alas.

livemotion · Sep 26, 2005, 12:05 PM

Looking through available apps for Windows Mobile I can't believe I've stuck it out with PalmOS for so long. Even though i won't be getting the new Treo 700 since its only available from verizon it looks like its the end of PalmOS...where the heck is Apple, they should ditch Motorola and get into the PDA market once again..

outsourced · Sep 26, 2005, 12:21 PM

Right. I can imagine how much "support" we Mac users would get.

As for Apple making another PDA: It won't happen while SJ is at the helm. Although, I would love to see a Newton-like device again.

livemotion · Sep 26, 2005, 12:43 PM

Apple really messed up with the KOTR retardo phone which is probebly why Microsoft got their hands on palm. Apple really needs to roll out a new product, redesigning iPods will not carry them over for that long.

El Gato · Sep 26, 2005, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by livemotion

Apple really messed up with the KOTR retardo phone which is probebly why Microsoft got their hands on palm.

I think it's the other way around. The PalmOS hasn't really had a clear direction as of late ("We're doin' Cobalt, no wait, PalmLinux..... aw hell, we'll just get acquired by a Japanese company"). Think of yourself as a Palm developer, it must be a PITA to not know if programs you write today are still going to be supported with the next OS revision.

Nope, Palm definitely needs WinMobile right now more than Microsoft needs Palm devices.

outsourced · Sep 26, 2005, 02:59 PM

You're right. Being a Palm developer must be a pain. Now you'd have to decide which platform to support: PalmOS or WinMobile? I can see it now: PalmOS emulator running on WinMobile.

Disgruntled Head of C-3PO · Sep 26, 2005, 04:22 PM

Palm lovers... tell me this. Where the **** is the palm os6?

Then ask yourself why they are switching to Windows.

livemotion · Sep 26, 2005, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by Disgruntled Head of C-3PO

Palm lovers... tell me this. Where the **** is the palm os6?

Then ask yourself why they are switching to Windows.

Sitting in a storage container along side Longhorn :cough: err Vista

El Gato · Sep 26, 2005, 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by outsourced

I can see it now: PalmOS emulator running on WinMobile.

<cough>StyleTap</cough>

Originally Posted by Disgruntled Head of C-3PO

Palm lovers... tell me this. Where the **** is the palm os6?

Then ask yourself why they are switching to Windows.

Exactly, even the new Tungsten and Zire that are slated to come out in October are still going to be running a version of Garnet. PalmSource just could not get their **** together and I don't blame Palm one bit for offering a WinMob Treo.

If you're in the market for a new smartphone, and you have the choice of Treo hardware with either PalmOS or WinMob, which would you choose?

PalmOS: Stagnant, and Palm has not been particularly good about backwards compatibility. So where's the guarantee that when a new PalmOS does see the light of day, that your third-party apps are going to work with it.
WinMob: Recently updated, feature-full. I only have limited experience using WinMob devices, but my impression is that this is one area that Microsoft actually got something right.

I don't necessarily see this as the death of the PalmOS, there are still a lot of users on the low-end that don't want to pay $400-$700 for a WinMob device. However, I think the Treo 700 is going to sell extremely well and might signal the end of PalmOS in the enterprise-level devices.

livemotion · Sep 27, 2005, 12:19 AM

ok ok, go ahead and sync your emails with Exchange, download all the viruses your heart desires and watch your revolutionary Treo 700w burn to the ground lol ...I'll stick it out with palm OS until a new OS revolutionizes the market whether it be apple or Linux.

P.S. Treo 650 takes 1st place in CNET's top 100 pda's for the year....interesting I don't see any PocketPC PDAS in teh top 10

Oops I stand corrected pocketPC enabled phones take #3 #5 #8,#9 and #10 spots...

btw did anyone else notice Gates giggle when one of the reporters asked Palm's CEO about Palm's plans for future Treos being able to run Linux....ehh just another company Gates got by the balllzzz.

TimmyDee51 · Sep 27, 2005, 01:35 AM

I know WM gets a lot of flaming around here, but I have to chime in with my frustrations. For sake of disclosure, I own a Treo 600. Sometimes it's a real PITA, but it's a lot better than the Symbian phone I used to have. In my lab, we have a number of WM powered handhelds. Not a day goes by that I have to use them that they don't get me worked up. Windows Mobile simply does not work reliably. My Treo 600 may be running a 5 year old OS with numerous patches, but it is certainly more stable than the new, "clean" WM that runs on our handhelds.

Palm OS may be dead for now. The Treo may go entirely WM. My prediction is that something will rise in its place. I love my Treo first for it's combination of form-factor and OS. Someone else may offer this equivalent in the future, at which point I'll be on board.

livemotion · Sep 27, 2005, 09:24 AM

Here's another case scenario...we all know Windows is plauged with viruses....would you trust PocketPC on your Smartphone? imagine waking up in the morning, turning on your PocketPC enabled smartphone, going into your Call Log and seeing you've been calling China for the past 48 hours lol <- its not that far fetched.

PocketPC and Smarthphones is just a bad and dangerous combo.

outsourced · Sep 27, 2005, 11:43 AM

To El Gato: Thanks for the link to StyleTap. (Told ya someone would do this!)

btw did anyone else notice Gates giggle when one of the reporters asked Palm's CEO about Palm's plans for future Treos being able to run Linux

Hmmm...doesn't sound good. Looks like no Linux devices from Palm. Then why did they buy that Chinese company? Maybe a roundabout way for M$ to absorb and destroy them? Just speculating.

Which leads me to my next thought: Why did Linux PDAs fail in the U.S.? Sharp had the coolest (IMHO) Linux PDA around with the SL-5600 (in the U.S.). Then, IBM takes over and kills the device in the consumer space. What gives? Where are the Linux PDAs anyway?

Or, do technology companies still profess that integration is best, and that the lone PDA is not a valid product market? Personally, I'd rather have separate devices -- at least for now. There's just too much feature compromise when devices are merged.

livemotion · Sep 27, 2005, 01:37 PM

Funny thing is that ev-do will be extremely expensive around $80/month...i excpect the 700w to be close to around a $1000 ...obviously they are targetting the corporate world...but I doubt that many companies will be interested in a phone which only major feature is beeing able to view your contacts by photo....sync their emails with exchange and most likely not be able to use yahoo, gmailor other services....blah Palm just pooped all over themselves...gates will aquire Palm, scrap it, and buy himself another painting.