07-27-2002, 11:00 AM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Dell to sell Windows CE device?
http://news.com.com/2100-1040-946651.html?tag=fd_top
Rumors have been flying about Dell possibly selling a Pocket PC device in the coming months. It appears they may have changed course, slightly. "Dell is looking for a manufacturer to supply about 1.5 million devices, First Albany analyst Walter Winnitzki said in a note to clients. Winnitzki cited sources as saying that Dell will turn to Taiwan's Compal for the device, which will likely go on sale in the fall and use a variant of Microsoft's Windows CE operating system."
This doesn't mean it won't be a Pocket PC. In fact, the Pocket PC could be considered a variant of the Windows CE OS. But it could also mean they will grow their own, similar to what Casio did with the BE-300. For a company looking to get into the PDA business with a sub $300 device, going the CE route versus the Pocket PC route could make sense. As I understand the Pocket PC license, Microsoft has some minimum hardware requirements such as a microphone for voice recording, a speaker for rich audio, a 240 X 320 screen, a stereo headphone jack, 32MB flash ROM, etc. While it makes for a standard platform, it drives the price up.
So, maybe it is a Pocket PC, and maybe it isn't. What do you think? Source: Peter West
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07-27-2002, 11:36 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,177
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Dell didn't build fame and fortune on building their own non-compatible PC. I interpret their success as a smart high volume implementation of using an established hardware and software standard. I don't believe Dell would have become the Dell it is today had they invented their own PC.
So, judging from history, Dell will bring a Pocket PC to market. At least that is what I am hoping. I mean how not exciting is the third party market for the BE-300...
Dell! Please, build a Pocket PC!
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07-27-2002, 03:00 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 360
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Dell Handheld
If they're smart it will be a PPC If they aren't it won't.
It is all a moot point anyway.
My whole thought... Wjo cares? It's Dell.
I am less than enthusiastic about this.
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07-27-2002, 03:27 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 68
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You're gonna get a Dell, Dude ???
If I have to watch that moron pitch a Dell PocketPC, it may first make me vomit, then get me to get rid of mine!
Seriously...my guess its a stripped-down PocketPC, and will end up costing a little more than the price point target they had hoped for, but still much lower than the mainstream $500-$600 range.
This will also (most likely) cause a price war on PocketPCs (or so I predict), just like PCs have been going through for 18 months.
Since Dell tends to have smaller drives, slower chips, and other components in their desktops, I would NOT expect a screamer in their PocketPC,...maybe they'll come with 206Mhz chips only, to keep the cost down, especially since the prices on those has been dropping.
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07-27-2002, 03:50 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 360
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Dell PDA
"Dude you're gonna get a Dell...Pocket"
I would love there to be a PPC Price War. This will not result in one though. I agree with Pradike. This will be a 206 MHz machine. There are already so many of those now, one can barely keep track. The PP on these is already hitting the 300 mark so this will not matter.
Now when different companies start making the same components like Processors then we will see Price Drops.
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07-27-2002, 05:43 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 725
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Andy Sjostrom
Dell didn't build fame and fortune on building their own non-compatible PC. I interpret their success as a smart high volume implementation of using an established hardware and software standard. I don't believe Dell would have become the Dell it is today had they invented their own PC.
So, judging from history, Dell will bring a Pocket PC to market. At least that is what I am hoping. I mean how not exciting is the third party market for the BE-300...
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I think you hit it on the head here. I mean, Dell has no experience making a PDA whatsoever and their going to design their own Operating System? Doubtful. Dell barely has any software development experience if you think about it (just enough to make their restore CDs) and as much as they might want to own this market I doubt they're going to hire a whole new staff to make it happen.
Bottom line: Dell is a copy cat manufacturer, that IS their business model and I doubt they'll change their religion for the PDA market.
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07-27-2002, 05:58 PM
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Editorial Contributor
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 5,411
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Marginally on topic
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
Microsoft has some minimum hardware requirements such as......a speaker for rich audio
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By whose standard is a 1/4 inch speaker ever going to deliver rich audio? :roll: They should at least require two of them....for stereo 
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07-27-2002, 06:00 PM
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Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,878
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Does anyone know just how well the BE-300 is selling?
If Dell is getting into the PDA market, it is because they smell a good profit. I think they are looking at Pocket PC sales volume vs. a BE-300 type device sales volume. Because of this I would tend to think it will be a Pocket PC.
Just my .02
Steve
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07-27-2002, 06:11 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Re: Marginally on topic
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Sven
By whose standard is a 1/4 inch speaker ever going to deliver rich audio? :roll: They should at least require two of them....for stereo |
Well, it is rich compared to what many other PDAs have to offer. "beep" "beep" "ding" :lol:
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07-27-2002, 06:38 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,466
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I shall call him...mini Dude.
I would bet money that Dell's handheld will indeed be based on PocketPC.
Dell centers its products on industry standard platforms and technologies. A generic CE derivative is not a standard. Just look at the "success" of Casio's BE-300. That should be enough to scare off any vendor. My only real concern is how good Dell's first attempt will be? They have fallen flat on their face in some markets, like the Internet Appliance space. Anyone remember WebPC? That was total bomb.
Dell may learn a very hard lesson: PDAs have more in common with the cell phone market than the PC market. In handheld space, design, style, ease of use, and price are all decisive factors in who lives..and who dies. Batten down the hatches Mike...you're in for a bumpy ride!
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