Windows Mobile 5.0 Rebate for New iPAQ hx2000 Users

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://h30014.www3.hp.com/offers/us/detail.asp?id=1167&jumpid=ex_R602_go/ipaqupgrade' target='_blank'>http://h30014.www3.hp.com/offers/us..._go/ipaqupgrade</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050602-HP.gif" /><br /><br />HP has just posted details on a Windows Mobile 5.0 rebate offer for owners of the iPAQ hx2110, hx2410, hx2415, hx2750 and/or hx2755. New devices purchased between August 28, 2005 and December 31, 2005 are eligible for a free upgrade to Windows Mobile 5.0. Hmm, August 28? Cutting it short, don't you think?

[Clinton Fitch]

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050602-HP.gif

HP has just posted details on a Windows Mobile 5.0 rebate offer for owners of the iPAQ hx2110, hx2410, hx2415, hx2750 and/or hx2755. New devices purchased between August 28, 2005 and December 31, 2005 are eligible for a free upgrade to Windows Mobile 5.0. Hmm, August 28? Cutting it short, don't you think?

Not only are they cutting it short, but look at that end date - 12/31/2005. When is HP planning on releasing the upgrade?

Personally I think what Dell is doing is far more attractive - giving the upgrade away on x50's when they are purchased these days.

[kaitanium]

sigh hp, im sure the reasons i gave you guys up are now evern more apparent. =P you guys just dont have the consumer in mind anymore, rather the dollars

[whydidnt]

Not only are they cutting it short, but they don't mention anything about the HX470X line. Hopefully this doens't mean they are growing less confident in their ability to provide this upgrade.

[Clinton Fitch]

Not only are they cutting it short, but they don't mention anything about the HX470X line. Hopefully this doens't mean they are growing less confident in their ability to provide this upgrade.

This was covered in a previous post somewhere here on Thoughts. They have pushed back the 470x upgrade to Q1 2006

[whydidnt]

This was covered in a previous post somewhere here on Thoughts. They have pushed back the 470x upgrade to Q1 2006

I know that. But it strikes me that if they were sure that an upgrade was coming they would have included the 470X in the rebate offering. I fear this is just means they aren't sure they are going to actually offer one at all, since they would open themselves up to liability if they offer a "free upgrade" and then never actually release it.

[KTamas]

*Puts HP onto the "Do not buy PDAs branded:" list*

(List: Asus, HP so far...)

[Cornish]

This is not good. I bought my 2755 about 3 weeks ago. Does anyone know how much it will cost for the rest that bought there PPC before the dates given?

[IpaqMan2]

This is not good. I bought my 2755 about 3 weeks ago. Does anyone know how much it will cost for the rest that bought there PPC before the dates given?

Return your 2755. Than after you are refunded, buy it again now it's past the 28th.

[Peseta]

Not only are they cutting it short, but they don't mention anything about the HX470X line.

Well, I guess in line with this "generous offer" of HP all who'll buy his/her hx470x between march 28 and june 30, 2006 will be eligible for a rebate :evil:

[Gremmie]

*Puts HP onto the "Do not buy PDAs branded:" list*

(List: Asus, HP so far...)

That list is almost all the PDA makers anymore.

[Duncan]

*Puts HP onto the "Do not buy PDAs branded:" list*

(List: Asus, HP so far...)

That list is almost all the PDA makers anymore.

Hardly. What about Dell, Fujitsu-Siemens, Acer, HTC rebrands, Medion etc...?

[DaleReeck]

*Puts HP onto the "Do not buy PDAs branded:" list*

(List: Asus, HP so far...)

That list is almost all the PDA makers anymore.

Hardly. What about Dell, Fujitsu-Siemens, Acer, HTC rebrands, Medion etc...?

I was in the local CompUSA a few days ago. Thje exact number of brands that you could buy there in a store was one - HP. In fact, I don't think you can go into any store (in the USA at least) - CompUSA, Best Buy, Circuit City etc and get anything other than an HP PocketPC. The only other options were Palm devices and those GPS-integrated PocketPCs - all of which are underpowered IMO. You can also buy a few phone edition PPC's from Verizon, Sprint etc. But there is a severe lack of local PPC availability. Not too long ago, you had a few brands - Toshiba being the other "big" player. Now, local pickings are slim. A lot of people don't like buying online and like to hold something like a PDA before they buy. But that is becoming increasingly impossible.

I really liked the 4700. It had a big, gorgeous 4 inch VGA screen and, while a long device, was amazing thin for such a loaded device. And it had a killer battery. I also actually liked the touch pad and the 4700 just has a good look - it's dark color, metalic feel and lines were sharp. But I paid almost $800 for it, a cradle and a TAP warranty from CompUSA. That price, plus the growing (and legitimate IMO) questionability of a WM5 upgrade forced me to return it. I bought a Dell Axim x50v to go with my Samsung I730 PPC phone on Verizon. A coworker had the Dell and it looked pretty good. The Dell, a spare cradle/power adapter and a travel kit cost me $550. A $250 turnaround was too much to ignore.

They say that Pocket PC's are gaining huge market shares. But I have to wonder. I can't believe that devices that are almost exclusively mail order these days can be so dominant. Either that, or HP is cleaning up with local store sales.

[Duncan]

*Puts HP onto the "Do not buy PDAs branded:" list*

(List: Asus, HP so far...)

That list is almost all the PDA makers anymore.

Hardly. What about Dell, Fujitsu-Siemens, Acer, HTC rebrands, Medion etc...?

I was in the local CompUSA a few days ago. Thje exact number of brands that you could buy there in a store was one - HP...

...They say that Pocket PC's are gaining huge market shares. But I have to wonder. I can't believe that devices that are almost exclusively mail order these days can be so dominant. Either that, or HP is cleaning up with local store sales.

The situation is pretty much the same here in the UK - our equivalent of CompUSA is Dixons/PC World and you can buy HP or occasionally a GPS enabled Pocket PC. Medion and Yakumo PPCs (usually in GPS bundles) can be bought from places like Toys'r'Us or pile'em'high cheap supermarket chains like Aldi. We have five major mobile phone networks - four of them sell multiple HTC originated Pocket PCs (O2, for example, have four currently available - if you include the XDA Exec/HTC Universal).

The thing is - whether you believe it or not the direct sale Pocket PC is clearly healthy - the Dell Axim appears to be selling well and I know Fujitsu-Siemens are doing well with the Loox. Frankly I think it is just that HP *are* dominant with the stores. From the perspective of Dixons Group (and I'm guessing CompUSA too) they can offer a range of cheap, medium and high powered Pocket PCs by keeping things simple and dealing with HP (who also supply a major selection of 'off the shelf' PCs). That and the Phone Edition PPC is very attractive to a lot of people - and they too can be seen easily on the shelves.

[DaleReeck]

I just wish that vendors would start putting their Pocket PC's into the reatail stores. Obviously, those direct market guys like Dell aren't going to do it, but others, like Fujitsu-Siemens could do it but they don't seem to want any part of the North American market. I'd love to see Loox's at CompUSA. But direct mail seems to be the cheaper option and we all know that money always wins out over logic ;)

[Marcel_Proust]

the 4700 is still a wonderful 4" machine, but HP is just not being responsive to customers. I would definitely advise to avoid if you can find a comparable product sold by another company.

[Duncan]

I just wish that vendors would start putting their Pocket PC's into the reatail stores. Obviously, those direct market guys like Dell aren't going to do it, but others, like Fujitsu-Siemens could do it but they don't seem to want any part of the North American market. I'd love to see Loox's at CompUSA. But direct mail seems to be the cheaper option and we all know that money always wins out over logic ;)

Oh they want part of the North American market - but they have agreements with Fujitsu that make that very hard. If Fujitsu wanted to brand the Loox and sell it in America they could - but they decided not to.

[Gremmie]

Hardly. What about Dell, Fujitsu-Siemens, Acer, HTC rebrands, Medion etc...?

Dell is prominent, Toshiba is starting to decline in presence, but the others are obscure in most markets.

Oh they want part of the North American market - but they have agreements with Fujitsu that make that very hard. If Fujitsu wanted to brand the Loox and sell it in America they could - but they decided not to.

Saying they could is a a bold claim. If they could (meaning they would sell it and make a profit), then they likely would.

Overall, a lot of manufacturers are not broadly available and some (like HP) have been providing poorer service. It's possible PDAs may have slim margins or don't appeal to companies. Possibly because of the lack of Microsoft's enthusiasm for PDAs? Possibly because MP3 players are more popular at the moment?

[Duncan]

Hardly. What about Dell, Fujitsu-Siemens, Acer, HTC rebrands, Medion etc...?

Dell is prominent, Toshiba is starting to decline in presence, but the others are obscure in most markets.

No. Sorry but they may be obsure where you are but they all sell healthily and are hardly obscure where they are marketed. Sure you don't find them in shops - but they compete well online and in company sales.

You that suggested that HP and Asus are 'almost all the PDA makers' - Asus, as a PDA maker, are pretty obscure where I am and to forget Dell...(!) in short your comment really doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

Oh they want part of the North American market - but they have agreements with Fujitsu that make that very hard. If Fujitsu wanted to brand the Loox and sell it in America they could - but they decided not to.

Saying they could is a a bold claim. If they could (meaning they would sell it and make a profit), then they likely would.

Overall, a lot of manufacturers are not broadly available and some (like HP) have been providing poorer service. It's possible PDAs may have slim margins or don't appeal to companies. Possibly because of the lack of Microsoft's enthusiasm for PDAs? Possibly because MP3 players are more popular at the moment?

Again - FSC do want the Loox to be sold in the USA (I'm not speculating - I know this for a fact). Nothing bold about it. Unfortunately they can't becuase of agreements with Fujitsu. Fujitsu could easily sell the Loox - but they don't want to enter the US PDA market - no other reason.

[Gremmie]

Hardly. What about Dell, Fujitsu-Siemens, Acer, HTC rebrands, Medion etc...?

Dell is prominent, Toshiba is starting to decline in presence, but the others are obscure in most markets.

No. Sorry but they may be obsure where you are but they all sell healthily and are hardly obscure where they are marketed. Sure you don't find them in shops - but they compete well online and in company sales.

You that suggested that HP and Asus are 'almost all the PDA makers' - Asus, as a PDA maker, are pretty obscure where I am and to forget Dell...(!) in short your comment really doesn't stand up to scrutiny.


First off, you should realize the difference between something posited as sound and something posited as a general statement. Obviously there are more than two brands. But as many people have said, go into a store and there are often one or two brands. Before, there were 3 or 4+ in a store. We know about the multiple PDAs available, but a traditional consumer may not.

Again, where have they all gone? Why have the relegated to the internet in so many cases? Why won't a manufacturer set in the USA? Looking at it this way, it seems there is something being said about the PDA market.

[Duncan]

Again, where have they all gone? Why have the relegated to the internet in so many cases? Why won't a manufacturer set in the USA? Looking at it this way, it seems there is something being said about the PDA market.

'Again' would imply you made the point before (just saying...! ;)). Fair question though. What does it say about the market? It says three things:

1) HP offer the widest range of Pocket PCs and so it is simpler for stores to sell and display only theirs;

2) Companies such as Asus, Fujitsu-Siemens and Dell have been geared up to selling their wares direct o online for a while (for the former two they still have a consumer presence but sell items aimed at professionals and businesses - such as PDAs - direct, for Dell they sell even their consumer stuff online);

3) Consumers want converged devices - in any number of phone stores in the UK I can find PDA phones (the whole HTC range, the Treo 650, the SE P910i etc.).

As to why someone like Fujitsu won't sell PDAs in the US - I had a chat with someone at Fujitsu a while back and they basically said that Dell, Palm and HP had the market so solidly sewn up they didn't see any profit in it (see also: Toshiba, Sony - and even Asus) - while in the EMEA and Asia regions the market is more open.

[Gremmie]

I'm interested in your latter comment about profits being sewen up by a handful of companies. In the US, our cellular protocols are too narrow for a lot of converged devices (unlike Europe).

But to bring this into the wider topic, have the profits been eaten away enough where companies like HP forgo some support to save the profits they could make? Even more worrysome is, if customers are turned away and net profit goes down, would HP pull out of the market? Dell still has decent support, so I'm not sure if we're quite there yet.

But, I think HP is becoming disinterested in PDAs insofar as they are starting to give up on timely updates.