10-01-2003, 07:00 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Why I miss my Palm III
Foo Fighter has written up a commentary in his site, PocketFactory, that talks about the physical construction of PDAs today. What do you think? Do you agree with him?
"Over the past few years I have shuffled through countless different mobile devices, ranging from Palm, Handspring, Sony, HP, Compaq, Dell...and even a proprietary Casio Pocket Viewer. This has given me a great opportunity to sample not only different software platforms, but also form factors. Lately I have begun to notice a rather unpleasant trend in PDA design. It seems that utility is being sacrificed for glitz. In particular, the materials used in PDA housings have become less friendly to rugged everyday use. For example, the earliest Palm handhelds were simple plastic shells molded in two pieces and in one solid color. Today, most PDAs are painted shells that are prone to chipping, scratching, fingerprints, and give less "grip" when held in the palm of the hand. In addition, I see many PDA vendors abandoning the tried and true flip cover, which offers critical protection to the screen..."
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10-01-2003, 07:07 PM
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Mystic
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,768
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In general, I agree with Foo. Palm was ahead of its time with form factor and yet ruggedness. I think that everyone is so cost conscious now that some of the design ideas are put aside to save a few pennies here and there.
__________________
Jonathan (JonnoB)
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." -Edmund Burke
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10-01-2003, 07:11 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 45
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I agree totally. At least my HP568 has a flip cover. It has saved my butt numerous times. I keep my pocketPC in my shirt pocket. Sometimes when I am in the shop, I bend over to check something and it falls out of my pocket. I have never damaged my screen and the shop floor is concrete. I had an AMIGO and it hit the corner of my chair from a fall of 18 inches. Totalled the screen. The point is I won't buy a pocket PC without a flip cover; it is too expensive replacing screens. If I am eventually forced to do so, I will want a flip top case that still fits into my shirt pocket. But until an upgrade becomes vital, or my pocket PC fails, I am not upgrading. 8)
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10-01-2003, 07:24 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 361
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Count me in on this rant too. The first thing I noticed about my iPAQ was just how slippery it is. To this day I'm afraid the thing's going to fly out of my hand whenever I pick it up. They could have made it just as attractive (which I think it is) by adding some kind of notches along the gripping areas.
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10-01-2003, 07:24 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,466
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You should have given me some warning you were posting this. When I reloaded PPCT's homepage I thought I was hallucinating. :lol:
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10-01-2003, 07:26 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Foo Fighter
You should have given me some warning you were posting this. When I reloaded PPCT's homepage I thought I was hallucinating. :lol:
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Hey, you're "media" now, so you'd better learn to live with it. :lol:
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10-01-2003, 07:29 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,466
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
Hey, you're "media" now, so you'd better learn to live with it. :lol:
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LOL! Actually I've had one or two of my articles published on ZDNET at one time. And I've been quoted on CNET in a few news stories.
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10-01-2003, 07:33 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 461
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Something I will miss from my Palm m515 (I know it will be replaced someday) is its metal body. The 2210 fits the hand, that's true, but feels "false" too.
I understand this tendence to flee from metal housings is in order to reduce weight, but for someone like me, who works in an environment harsh for electronics like construction, it is better to give up lightness for body hardness.
In the end, how many people are keeping the handheld in their shirt pockets so as to make weight so critical? I wear it in the belt, but even if you keep it in your hand and with a case, handheld's weight disappears as an issue.
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10-01-2003, 07:36 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,466
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Glad I'm not alone in my rants. I'm gettting sick of these same damn generic silver painted designs. What agravates me even more is that PDA vendors are designing handhelds in a "one upmanship" manor rather than trying to make something that really is rugged and practical for everyday use. The same thing is happening, in may cases, in the cell phone market. Products are being designed to look pretty on a store shelf without necessarily offering any utilitarian benefit. I see vendors spending too much time trying to compete for consumers eyeballs rather their hands.
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10-01-2003, 07:38 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,466
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Prevost
Something I will miss from my Palm m515 (I know it will be replaced someday) is its metal body.
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That's a great point. And you know, if a small startup with just 16 employees like Tapwave can offer handhelds with metal chassis for $299, why can't HP or Dell?
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