10-07-2004, 02:30 PM
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Swami
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,303
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Terminal Marketing Madness and PDAs: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, the Ridiculous, etc, etc.
"I was a little disappointed when Sony announced it was pulling out of the worldwide PDA market just after I'd bought my second CLI�, but I can't say I was surprised. The symptoms of Terminal Marketing Madness (TMM) had been there for months in the shape of dozens of whacky new models with funny hinges and seemingly random price tags....... The areas most prone to TMM - such as the PDA and laptop markets - would appear to be those where the products are in some sense discretionary or luxury purchases, catering to gadget freaks with large disposable incomes. Quite possibly there's an underlying strategy, but it's high-risk gambling rather than investment: throw millions of bucks at a dozen bizarre but innovative designs, and hope that just one will be the big winner."
Dick Pountain of PC Pro Magazine usually has interesting things to say and his column in the November edition of PC Pro is no exception. From the look of it, HP is in full Terminal Marketing Madness mode at the moment, with many models making their merry way into shops. So, enter the rz1715, hx2110, hx2410, hx2750, rx3115, rx3415, rx3715, hx4705 and h6315. Many of you guys have said that you are not inspired by any of them. Sure, individually many have nice parts and components, but is there one 'killer' device among them that you would like to own? Are there too many compromises in each one? So what do you guys think? Is it good to have a huge range of models from a manufacture, or is it better to have fewer models, but spend the time to get the feature set right on each one?
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10-07-2004, 02:53 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 327
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I would much prefer a more complete feature set and better hardware. I love the 3730 features, but wish they had the magnesium case. I also wish Microsoft would fix the core components, such as the lame explorer, and word, and excel, or just let me have the option to remove them.
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10-07-2004, 02:58 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,060
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Variety IS the spice of life, and most people like to have multiple choices when making purchase decisions. I'm also worried, though, that HP's attempt to cover the entire market with many different devices has resulted in a cadre of ho-hum devices. It's risky to focus on building a narrower range of products with distinct features, but I don't think it's any more risky than flooding the market with undifferentiated models.
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10-07-2004, 03:14 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 11
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What I want to say - there IS the killer device. And it's hx4705.
For it's price (600-650$ here in Moscow), and it's surely the best choice, at least for now - many are still waiting for Dell and Loox.
Other HP devices. Well, they are too overpriced, I think...
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10-07-2004, 03:20 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 469
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I think the more the better. One problem with the current situation though, what the #$@*! is up with the price range. I feel like I am in the twilight zone of pocket pcs. Their lowest model is a set at such a rediculous price that they are possibly losing out on major retail sails. Also, referring to yesterdays article on names, I used to be able to tell all the models apart, but now I don't have a clue what each model is and what features it has.
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10-07-2004, 03:25 PM
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Contributing Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,389
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Now if HP would just make one that has all the 3700 and 4700 option all in one.. Dual slot, vga, touch pad, dual wireless, 128 lots of RAM and ROM, and all those cool media features (actually only nevo is needed, the server stuff and the camera would be really nice though.) oh and some usb host would be nice too... 
Both devices are sooo close to what I want but neither is exactly right... I think this may hurt them a bit. a whole lot of almost there devices that everyone is gonna hold off on until someone combinds the features they want.
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10-07-2004, 03:49 PM
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Swami
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,303
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jason Lee
Both devices are sooo close to what I want but neither is exactly right... I think this may hurt them a bit. a whole lot of almost there devices that everyone is gonna hold off on until someone combinds the features they want.
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Bingo. The 4700 is close, but lacks USB host, a vertical flip sreen & sufficient RAM, only has Fast IR and is perhaps a touch too large. (Though personally I really like the idea of a 4 inch screen. Shrink the bezel a bit more perhaps?) Oh, and of course the price. :?
Close, but not quite.
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10-07-2004, 04:06 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 316
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"Close but not quite" seems to describe all of the new HPs, with the exception of the "wtf" rz1715. They're just... blah. Even the flagship 4700 just isn't there on RAM or USB hosting, and really is too large. A small number of well-differentiated models seems to be the way to go, like Dell is doing (not to beat a dead horse or anything :wink .
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10-07-2004, 04:17 PM
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Swami
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,303
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by gibson042
A small number of well-differentiated models seems to be the way to go, like Dell is doing (not to beat a dead horse or anything :wink . |
The sweet sound of consensus perhaps? :wink: Twice in two days even. :lol:
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10-07-2004, 04:18 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 329
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Sorry But HP never had the magic, they have bought the iPAQ line, and IMHO kill what magic their was in it. I for one would like to see a new "iPAQ" have a life longer than 6 months.
The biggest problem with HP iPAQs is they don't really work right when first released, and now they are end of life before they are fixed.
Hp sees the iPAQ as a throwaway device, if your current version doesn't work, pitch it and replace it with a newer version. :devilboy: That can work for a one or two time deal, but long run that hurts everything. Hp hasn't figured that out yet, or doesn't care.
Hp has come across as customers don't matter, we are so big and we are the only game in town. They have set themselves up to fail, it is just a question of time.
I have seen lots of ideas as to how much it would cost to upgrade Windows Mobile 2003 to WM 2003SE. The cost of that must be less than coming out with an all new machine. I would rather buy a machine that will be supported through two or four years, than one supported for 6 to 9 months. One that I know the alarms will work, period. No question, not 95 % of the time, not even 99%, but 100%. Having one machine that is in production for several years, means the development cost for it will be less than one in production for 6 months.
I am tired of the hype. The doublespeak.
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Linear Mode
