Gateway Still Wavering On The PDA Front

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1093&e=4&u=/pcworld/20040128/tc_pcworld/114493' target='_blank'>http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm..._pcworld/114493</a><br /><br /></div>"After putting its plans to release a personal digital assistant on hold last August, Gateway still hasn't decided when, or if, it plans to release such a device as part of its push into consumer electronics, a spokesman said Wednesday."<br /><br />One of the reasons, offered by Todd Kort, is that Gateway is trying to target consumers more, and may believe that a WM2003 device is better suited for the corporate market. While I might debate that, it might not be such a terrible idea to play a wait-and-see game while the PDA market is still slow and dominated by a few very successful players. I can't imagine that Gateway would carve out a niche as large as Dell has at this point.

[ctmagnus]

I wonder how JVC's doing with their PDA plans. I remember that Crystal Eitle was extremely interested in their offering before they pulled it. IIRC, theirs was media-oriented as well.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

Unless Gateway would be able to innovate in some special way, I couldn't see them becoming a major player soon either. Dell, HP, and even Toshiba seem to be becoming increasingly agressive in their designs and featuresets of their PDAs.

[arnage2]

Their first attempt (prototype) was huge and ugly. JVC's io pda would have done very well, where as the gateway would have not done too well. (against the ipaq 19xx, dell x3, and viewsonic v3x)

[surur]

If some-one could produce a PPC specifically targeted to consumers, with simple customisations, it would be great. Imagine a pocketpc with a hard-drive (for media, not app storage) specifically targeted to multimedia playback, with keys dedicated to activating WMP, extra keys for media control (FFW, REW, play etc), Plus! Sync & Go for Pocket PC included etc, while still being otherwise standard wm2003, able to run all normal ppc aps. All this is very simple customisation, and I think will play well on the market.

If they are going to be producing a monstrously large PDA (did you see the pics) why not use that size in a worthwhile way for a large 2000mA battery and small 5gb hard drive (and of course a flip cover)

If they want to break so late into the market, they will need to differentiate themselves. This should be one easy way to do this. (what they are more likely to do however is play is safe and just re-badge some-one else's bog standard ppc)

Surur

[bdegroodt]

Hmmm...Shouldn't the name of this article be simply "Gateway Wavering!" Somebody shoot this poor cow already.

[David Prahl]

Notice how most of their TV ads are for "their" flatscreen TVs instead of their PCs?

I see Gateway trying to focus on multimedia only - iPod clones, LCDs, and Media Center PCs.

[cive1em]

> Unless Gateway would be able to innovate in some special way,
> I couldn't see them becoming a major player soon

How about a low-price ($200~$300) wince Handheld PC? That will definely make their devices different to other PPC. I think a HPC is better suited for the corporate market.

[David Prahl]

How about a low-price ($200~$300) wince Handheld PC? That will definely make their devices different to other PPC. I think a HPC is better suited for the corporate market.

Check out the Dell Axim X3!
http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/pda?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

Ranging from $199 (low end) to $314 (integrated wireless). Beat that, HP! 8)