01-08-2004, 04:00 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Handhelds Never Truly Become Popular?
http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/4454.html
"Jupiter Research predicts handheld penetration will only reach a meagre 7% of the overall U.S. population by 2008 - yet opportunities are present for PIM devices. As part of the report, Jupiter Research conducted an independent survey to assess U.S. consumer demand for PDA features and form factors, and another survey to determine their willingness to carry multiple devices. "Basic PDAs with excellent PIM functionality will continue to make up the majority of sales while higher end devices will remain in niche markets only," Gartenberg said. "But as phones with integrated and functional PDA capability come into the market, they can spur growth opportunities for vendors while eschewing other less desirable features such as game play or media integration," added Gartenberg.
I don't know about the 7% figure, but overall, I tend to agree that penetration will be low. At some point people are going to get what they want on a cell phone, which is simply the ability to look up their appointments and to-do list and possibly do a bit of email triage. I could never see my mom caring one whit about a Pocket PC or similar high end mobile device, but having her important items from Outlook with her in a cell phone would be appealing.
Now, as far as PDAs that focus on PIM continuing to grow? I see the exact opposite, for the reasons I just stated. Everyone I know has a cell phone but relatively few have a PDA, and those that want these basic PIM features can just get a new smart phone.
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01-08-2004, 06:30 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 164
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A saleskid at a local Best Buy store said they're no longer carrying any PDAs at all. I asked him why their PDA shelves were completely gone and hardly any PDAs were on display.
That doesn't sound too good to me. 
*Phil
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01-08-2004, 06:41 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 dangerwit
A saleskid at a local Best Buy store said they're no longer carrying any PDAs at all.
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Huh? BB is going to drop PDAs? That's impossible. 8O
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01-08-2004, 06:55 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,051
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PDA's will continue to be a niche market with very little penetration. As Ed indicates, most of what can be done on the low-end PDA's can now be done with a cell phone. People needing PIM will not be looking to PDA's, they'll be looking for cell phones.
Obviously, users who are looking for medium-to-high end PDA's are expecting a different level of functionality. The problem is that no PDA's will allow you to achieve this type of functionality right out of the box. For example, raise you hand if you own a $300+ PDA and do NOT have a storage card. Keyboards, software to provide a better PIM user experience, software so you can actually sync with MS Word, etc, can take the cost of a PPC to upwards of $700. In most households, $700 is a lot of money for a "toy" that will be used by one person. For $700 you can purchase a laptop for family use. All of this for an item that is considered a discretionary or luxury purchase for the overwhelming majority of the population makes this a tough sell. Then factor in the myriad first-time users who get so frustrated with the MS issues (Reader DRM, alarm issues, etc) that they simply give up and don't come back and you limit the pool even further.
Don't get me wrong, I love my PPC. But I'm into my 4155 for close to $800 right now. Unfortunately I simply don't know many folks who have that kind of money to spend on a PDA.
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01-08-2004, 07:03 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by dangerwit
A saleskid at a local Best Buy store said they're no longer carrying any PDAs at all. I asked him why their PDA shelves were completely gone and hardly any PDAs were on display.
That doesn't sound too good to me.
*Phil |
You are the 2nd person that I've heard that BB will be dropping PDAs from. :?
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01-08-2004, 07:18 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 266
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And now you have a third...my Best Buy rep also told me that they are doing away with handheld as well. Question is, what will take their place? I am NOT interested in a so-called 'smart' phone with a 1 hour battery life!
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01-08-2004, 07:46 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,466
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If this is true, it could deliver a huge blow to the overall handheld industry. If Best Buy, one of the largest Consumer electronics retailers in the industry, is pulling handhelds out of their stores...you have wonder if other major retailers are contemplating similar moves. Perhaps Circuit City and Staples may be next? This is bad. This is VERY bad. :cry:
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01-08-2004, 08:08 PM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 497
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I just bought my iPAQ earlier this year with a 2 year protection/replacement plan. If they do drop PDA's, are they going to offer refunds?
__________________
HTC Thunderbolt
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01-08-2004, 09:01 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,202
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I have a friend of a friend is a bigwig at Best Buy and he has confirmed that they aren't going to carry PDA's anymore because the profits made weren't worth the hassle. Apparently they have a relatively low profit margin and high return rate.
You may also see fewer and fewer computer peripherals because they also aren't big movers & also suffer from high returns, even though they have a higher profit margin. Best Buy is moving more and more towards consumer - non techie - electronics as they see that as a more profitable area. It's unusual for someone to buy a color TV and return it because they can't figure out how to make it work.
On the handheld pentration, I agree that they are too complex for a lot of people to want to try and figure out. I disagree about a phone PIM, in there present state filling the need though. It has to allow an easy way to update the information to be usuable. Today's phone PIM solutions make it far to difficult to add an appointment or change a time to be an effective soloution.
whydidnt
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01-08-2004, 09:07 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 266
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:?: I read on another site a posting that stated something I hadn't thought of: If Best Buy, one of the largest consumer electronics stores, stops selling handhelds, what will happen to the industry?
Will Circuit City, who made NO profit this Christmas, be next? And what if the article that says there is only 7% market for PDA's in the U.S.? Will be forced to buy online until all PDA's disappear?
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