Should Palm Scrap Nova And Use Android As Its Next OS?

[Pony99CA]

Originally Posted by whydidnt

I'm sure Palm could do that. I question how viable the business model is when you are relying on your chief competition to actual build the device you intend to market. There isn't a viable way for Palm to deliver enough value, while still paying HTC to build the devices, while all the while HTC is building similar devices they can sell for less, if they chose.

I think Palm would have to shrink quite a bit (cutting their OS development team would be a good start), but I don't see why they couldn't do it. The value Palm would add would be making Windows Mobile (or Android) more user friendly.

Yes, HTC also is making WM more user friendly, but they don't have all of the ideas out there.

Steve

[Pony99CA]

Originally Posted by whydidnt

I'm sure Palm could do that. I question how viable the business model is when you are relying on your chief competition to actual build the device you intend to market. There isn't a viable way for Palm to deliver enough value, while still paying HTC to build the devices, while all the while HTC is building similar devices they can sell for less, if they chose.

I think Palm would have to shrink quite a bit (cutting their OS development team would be a good start), but I don't see why they couldn't do it. The value Palm would add would be making Windows Mobile (or Android) more user friendly.

Yes, HTC also is making WM more user friendly, but they don't have all of the ideas out there.

Steve

[Pony99CA]

Originally Posted by TOCA

PALM was good back then, they made the brand "Palm Pilot" the name of the game, but failed to keep up with the pace, and today it's only us oldtimers who remembers what a PALM was, let it rest PALM is dead, no new OS will ever bring it back, not even Android.

I disagree. The Palm name still seems to carry a certain cachet. As I mentioned previously, I've read that they've sold a lot of Centros, the 800w has gotten good reviews and the Treo Pro has a lot of buzz.

I think the Palm brand also still means more to Joe Newbie than HTC does.

Steve

[TOCA]

Originally Posted by Pony99CA

I disagree. The Palm name still seems to carry a certain cachet. As I mentioned previously, I've read that they've sold a lot of Centros, the 800w has gotten good reviews and the Treo Pro has a lot of buzz.

I think the Palm brand also still means more to Joe Newbie than HTC does.

Steve

That is true, in the US, but on this side of the pond, Palm is a name of the past, even the Treos are hard to find in stores.

The brand names, at least here in Northern Europe, are Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Iphone and HTC, in Asia, Sharp and Sony still holds some big shares, but they are almost non existing here (unfortunately), and Blackberry's are only found amongst business people, even if they are becomming more rare, due to WinMob (HTC) taking over that segment.

But if Palm can come up with a new OS that makes Iphone and Android look like a thing of the past, and get their "second to none" hand writing recognition engine implemented, they might stand a chance, and I would love to see some one making hand writing usable again. When it works, as it did on Palms, it sure beats the crap out of any microscopic keyboard, slide out or on screen.