[JvanEkris]

IMHO, there are a lot of valid arguments i can think of why Palm would be doomed: no serious profits the last years, apperently a bad helpdesk, antique concept, even perhaps the "school-agenda" image.

But being doomed because of the outlook orientation of sync-software is stretching the limit a bit far IMHO. Activesync does no other thing. It has created a very living competion of third-party suppliers that do provide a solution to this problem. That's not being doomed, that's being economical and making sense of your core competences (and building sync-software is probably not one of them).

Jaap

[JvanEkris]

IMHO, there are a lot of valid arguments i can think of why Palm would be doomed: no serious profits the last years, apperently a bad helpdesk, antique concept, even perhaps the "school-agenda" image.

But being doomed because of the outlook orientation of sync-software is stretching the limit a bit far IMHO. Activesync does no other thing. It has created a very living competion of third-party suppliers that do provide a solution to this problem. That's not being doomed, that's being economical and making sense of your core competences (and building sync-software is probably not one of them).

Jaap

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by Scott R

Correct me if I'm wrong (I'm no expert on this since I, like most PDA users, sync with Microsoft Outlook), but aren't there several more options for the Palm OS than there are for the PPC OS when it comes to syncing with non-Microsoft PIM apps? I think Lotus Notes is one.

I just noticed on the home page here the new product which allows PPCs to sync to Lotus Notes, so there you go. But my point is still valid. If this guy is switching to an iPaq thinking he's getting an OS which syncs to more 3rd party PIM apps than the Palm OS does, he's in for a surprise.

Scott

[Jonathan1]

:soapbox:

Wow this ranks up there with that Competitive Analysis Report from Palm. Good bum wiping material. The guy is basically whining because Palm, out of the box, doesn’t support his e-mail client or more specifically that it supports MS but not anything else....oooo this is new the theinquirer bitching about MS through another company. :roll: Inventive.
Tell me how this is different then any previous Palm iterations? Palm out of the box has supported one and only one mail client. MS Outlook. And can you blame them? Lookout and Lookout Express, last I heard, was the most used mail client around. Why not support it? Palm has no obligations to support anything other then Palm desktop. Heck they are doing people a favor by providing this additional sync software and what that Chaz do? Throw it in their face.

Chaz needs to take his pissing and moaning somewhere else…wait theinquirer is a MS bashing site. Never mind it’s in the perfect place. :razzing:

Oh and the icing on the cake? He may have been doing it tongue and cheek but he comments that he’s getting an iPaq. *slaps forehead* WTH?!?! The iPaq doesn’t sync out of the box with Netscape 7 either!!!
:twak:
Now I have to wonder if any Linux PDA does either? Last I checked the Zaurus didn't. I guess Charles will have to go back to pen and paper…hmmm that doesn’t sync with Netscape 7 either. Yah…were doomed! :clap:

[Foo Fighter]

Frankly, I'm getting tired of these "Palm is doomed" editorials. :roll: Most, like this one, are based on rather trivial arguments. The only thing that could conceivably doom Palm is the economy, and poor business strategy. :|

[TawnerX]

... and palm units can't even play 'Doom' yet...

now THAT's doomed.
(okay not very funny, but i tried) :mrgreen:

[doogald]

Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry

While Palm may make the best hardware out there, without a radical change in software, my next purchase will be an iPaq."

I'm imagining that there will be a follow-up when he realizes that his newly-purchased iPAQ doesn't sync with Netscape Mail's address book either.

[scottmag]

Originally Posted by Jason Dunn

I'm sure the Outlook guys have no grudge against Palm, and the odds of them screwing Palm out of syncing with Outlook are slim to none IMO.

I actually find myself in complete agreement with Jason on something.

8O

Scott

[Saaby]

Apple (Macintosh) has been doomed since 1986 or so

[Will T Smith]

I think the author kinda misses the whole point.

I think it's great that he chooses Netscape when the rest of the world has virtually abandoned it. BUT, thats the point is that Palm is trying to appeal to a VERY wide audience.

Palm anchoring itself to Netscape would cause far more problems than it's worth. This guy can just as well invest in a different syncing product or move his contacts to something that is compatible with the Microsoft Contact Base (which ISN'T outlook).

If this guy was as big of a rebel as he makes out (by using Netscape), well, he'd be using a Mac and their STANDARD calendaring software.

Palm's biggest problems was really their "head in the sand" attitude to technology and it's business model. I think they've fixed those problems. Their alliance with Sony have produced the most advanced palmtops available (The high end Clies kick EVERYBODIES butt!!!!!)

Palm still owns the Lion's share of the handheld market. They have done MUCH BETTER than PocketPC in phone integration. They have a MUCH LARGER enterprise presence.

Microsoft still has an uphill battle to crush Palm the way they crushed Netscape. Though, with Sony on Palms side, I don't think it will be a much tougher battle than with Netscape. Sony has a retail presence all over the world that makes it the KING of consumer electronics.

Microsoft needs to enable PocketPC devices up to 640x480 sometime this year. Call them PocketPC-HD if you have to (though abandoning the low end market would be a mistake). All indications are that it WON'T happen in July. I believe the lack of High-Res screen will kill PocketPCs technology edge and swing momentum back to PalmSoft and Sony.

Handhelds are still an emerging market. Their are loads of new consumers out their who haven't yet discovered the utility of a palmtop computer (the truly PERSONAL computer). The one who can garner the MOST NEW USERS(not use uber-geeks) will likely gain the upper hand.

[roberto_torres]

Originally Posted by doogald

I'm imagining that there will be a follow-up when he realizes that his newly-purchased iPAQ doesn't sync with Netscape Mail's address book either.

Maybe then he will write an article saying PDAs are doomed altogether because they don't sync whith Netscape.