Slowly but surely, the word is getting out!

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2879155,00.html">http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2879155,00.html</a><br /><br />I'm just going to ruin it for you. This technology writer recommended a Pocket PC over a Palm. He actually took the devices out of the box and played with them! "Yes, Pocket PC devices today almost universally cost more than Palm OS devices--twice as much in many cases. And that means that some people just can't afford anything but a Palm, Clie, or Handspring. But it should be noted that my Pocket PC (an iPaq) offers at least twice as many tools that make me actually want to carry it around as my Palm." He then goes on to list everything you see in every Palm vs. Pocket PC flame war - music, Audible, turn-by-turn GPS voice navigation, etc. He even had kudos for the newly released Money 2003 for the Pocket PC.<br /><br />Two years ago you wouldn't have seen an article like this. Not that anything has really changed other than people are giving up their knee-jerk reaction by recommending the former media and Wall Street darling. Now they seem to be basing their recommendations more and more on the merits of the platform and hardware. Thanks to Foo Fighter for the link.

[PPCRules]

You're right: a surprising article in mainstream computer press.

So maybe people are coming around, but the next thing that bugs me is that we can't get past the "PocketPC = iPaq" idea. Maybe there was also a day for that, but it is past and, from my viewpoint at least, iPaq trails the pack big time right now. If this guy comes to this conclusion using an iPaq, the matchup with other current models are just that much more favorable.

Side musing: Just who is going to be making these new Xscale, OS5 Palm OS units? Handsping has kinda abandoned PDAs, Palm [hardware division, whatever it gets called] isn't too compelling as a manufacturer any more, and Sony seems to do great things with what they have to work with now. I don't know who else is jumping into the Palm camp, while PocketPC seems to be getting a lot of new suppliers. Seems the mismatch isn't going away when OS5 finally gets to the store shelves.

[jpmierau]

...yes, the iPAQ branding may hinder as much as it helps -- especially given public curiosity over its fate, post-Merger. I can't tell you how many people have told me they'd think about a Pocket PC, but they're not sure they'll be around much longer...Gah!

This article has quite a series of Flame-posts after it, which seems to me to be the other thing holding Pockete PC back: PO'd Palm users who can't stand the idea there may be something better.

Is it true happiness with Palm? is it buyer-ego, with people unable to swallow that there might be something better than what they chose? Or is it just that the price-point or 'M$' reputation that scares 'em?

Who the heck Knows?!

[Jorgen]

Very interesting, except I have heard it before many times and still don't believe it.

I have had a number of Palm's - latest the 505 - and have a Psion 5mx, hp548 and hp-568. I love them all for different reasons and have tried to manage with the 568 (and the 548 before that) at work because I use the hp's for PowerPoint presentations but still prefer the Palm for the admin.

Sorry, guys. If you know how to set up and use a Palm, the Palm is better in my view. Easier to move around and easier to enter data to.

The MARGI Palm PowerPoint solution solution is not good enough for me so I *need* a PPC for this; I really would like to change over so I did not have to bring both to work but alas ...

As if that was not enough: my MS Word notes for students cannot be transferred to the PPC's (or the Psion)! Ridiculous!

Jorgen

[Kopiert]

Ummm, if it was anyone but David Coursey I might take it a little more seriously. I used to read Anchor Desk regularly and and gave up. In my opinion he is a one-man Microsoft PR machine. It seems that in his eyes everything Microsoft does it brilliant, innovative and the only way forward, everyone else pretty much sucks - although he did have some good words to say about OSX

Just MHO

Nick

[jmulder]

Is it true happiness with Palm? is it buyer-ego, with people unable to swallow that there might be something better than what they chose? Or is it just that the price-point or 'M$' reputation that scares 'em?


I've been thinking about this as well, on just about every x vs. y argument I've seen. One says, "PPC does so much more" and the reply is almost always "but why does it need to".

-steps up on soapbox-

I'm going to make a blatant statement here:
"Being able to support Microsoft products has made my career what it is today (reasonably successful), and as a result, I like to use Microsoft products because I am more comfortable with them and beacuse what is good for Microsoft will probably end up being what is best for me. I will make no comparisons that claim any product is 'better' than another due to the existence or absence of one feature, nor will I compare apples to oranges in order to validate my point."

-steps off of soapbox-

Jim Mulder

[Taltoz]

Sorry, guys. If you know how to set up and use a Palm, the Palm is better in my view. Easier to move around and easier to enter data to.

I would disagree with you on this one. Having owned several palm devices (starting with the palm III) as well as PocketPC devices, not to mention supporting both types of these devices in a corperate environment, there is no comparison to entering information. On a palm you are stuck with their grafiti method that, while I myself have become fairly adept at it, confuses the heck out of new users. I have spend more time trying to teach new palm owners how to enter text than I care to think about. On the other hand with a pocketpc and transcriber even my five year old can enter text (she usually asks for my e740 and wants me to change the color of the ink so she can write in different colors). Aside from the data entry issues I personally would not be willing to give up all of the features that I have on my pocketpc that allow me to administer my networks (while the argument of ppc vs palm cost does relate I believe the cost of extra equipment to perform these tasks easily compensates for the price difference). While there will always be the conflict between palm and ppc users the simpler is better motto is going out the window (take a look at sony's devices) and with the prices becoming more comparable I think the market share will be more level in the future.

[Eciton]

Well said, Taltoz.

[Will T Smith]

This type of analysis,

Get xxxx device or

xxxx is better

is foolish and misguided.


One must consider the user first. This guy doesn't include any caveats. Users who just want PIM functionality (and thats all) are probably better off with Palm devices, especially considering the price points involved.

I've always hated the "me too" popularity "media analysts" who do little more than stick their finger in the wind to see which way things are blowing. This guy is doing no different. He just sees that PocketPC is picking up steam and saying, ME TOO.

PocketPC and Palm both have their strong and weak points. An intelligent analyst would break down user types and try to make a recommendation. Just as you would for potential desktop users (i.e. Artsy types use Macs, business types use PCs, nerds use linux).

Had he expressed a personal preference for Palm but still analyzed different market segements, I would have been much more pleased with the article.

[Jorgen]

>On a palm you are stuck with their grafiti method

No, there is an easy-to-find keyboard.

>I have spend more time trying to teach new palm owners how to enter text than I care to think about

Come, come, 1) it is very easy to enter text on either and 2) the reason the Palm has been the winner for years is not because it is difficult to use.

Jorgen

[fundmgr90210]

Ummm, if it was anyone but David Coursey I might take it a little more seriously. I used to read Anchor Desk regularly and and gave up. In my opinion he is a one-man Microsoft PR machine. It seems that in his eyes everything Microsoft does it brilliant, innovative and the only way forward, everyone else pretty much sucks - although he did have some good words to say about OSX

Just MHO

Nick

MS PR 'ho aside, Coursey is indeed one of the worst out there. If you've ever listened to his cNet show you'll notice that he'll make statements based on outrageous assumptions (regardless of how uninformed or loaded that assumption is). It's as if he assumes we must all think it's fact because he said it. At the same time though also comes across as a disc jockey that couldn't get a show anywhere else and got into tech so he'd have a radio gig (maybe he does have a deep tech background?, but he reminds me of cNet's version of Dr. Laura).

[PlayAgain?]

In my opinion he is a one-man Microsoft PR machine. It seems that in his eyes everything Microsoft does it brilliant, innovative and the only way forward, everyone else pretty much sucks

Sorry mate but around these parts, that's not criticism, that's praise! 8)

:roll: When such reviews are against PocketPC, there's a riot - when they're equally unfair but favour the PocketPC, hey that's fair.

[Foo Fighter]

but he reminds me of cNet's version of Dr. Laura).

No, that title goes to Alex Bennet (who is no longer with the show, thank God).

[AhuhX]

>

Come, come, 1) it is very easy to enter text on either and 2) the reason the Palm has been the winner for years is not because it is difficult to use.

Jorgen

No, sorry, I'll second what he said. I can definatley say everytime I've picked up a Palm OS device up, I've found learning Palm's version of the alphabet to be a pain in the ***. Just as well they come with a soft-keyboard, otherwise they would be completey un-usable to me.

[Len Egan]

Hurray for pocket pc! Palm had become the IBM of handheld computing and felt that they were "it". As WE all know, the pocket pc passed palm by just as Compaq, HP, et al surpassed IBM. 8)

[Rob Alexander]

PocketPC and Palm both have their strong and weak points. An intelligent analyst would break down user types and try to make a recommendation. Just as you would for potential desktop users (i.e. Artsy types use Macs, business types use PCs, nerds use linux).


Nicely said, Will. I always find these types of discussions irritating as no one should presume to be the best judge of the needs of another. David Coursey is no better. Sure a little part of me is mildly pleased when I read that someone holds the same opinion as I, but the way he does it offers little credibility to his position. For all that I am firmly in the PPC camp for myself, I look at his article as little more than flame-bait. No analysis, just a 'whatever I chose is best' mentality. That's of no value to anyone except those who actually like to participate in PDA flamefests. On the other hand, after a couple of years of equally non-analytical pro-Palm nonsense by similar authors, it's a bit refreshing to have someone come down on this side.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

Come, come, 1) it is very easy to enter text on either and 2) the reason the Palm has been the winner for years is not because it is difficult to use.

Apples and Oranges. What made Palm appealing to many is it's simplicity. Had nothing to do with input methods if you're going to compare it with a PPC.

The PPC has far more input options that are, IMO, easier and more effective to use than Palm's (both can sport any type of external keyboard).

However, on the whole, entering PIM info into a Palm can be easier because of how the interface was developed (less clicks and less wait time though the gap is decreasing).

Ekkie

[Timothy Rapson]

Personally, I would pay $1,000 for a color Psion Revo Plus with a slot.


The absolutely most frustrating thing in computing is that none of the OSs, do what they should when the should it every time. If my phone, TV or radio worked like these things they would still be rare as PDAs. As it is, everyone has a cell phone because it works. PDAs and home computers don't. Sure, they're fun, but they are just not ready for prime time until they have bullet-proof OSs.

My Mako did. I had it for three months and didn't find out where the reset holes were until it died. Of course, the software base was not really there. I don't care. The features were not up to the current standards. I don't care. I didn't have to learn Graffitti, Train Transcriber, or even FITALY. It just worked. Why didn't they go with the final Quartz model?

BTW, David did not just get it. He says in the pieces linked that he has been a long-time CE user. Nothing new.