05-06-2004, 08:00 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Crazy Rumour Department: A palmOne PDA Running Windows Mobile?
"Microsoft's Windows Mobile software running on a palmOne handheld device or smartphone? It might sound far-fetched, given the longtime Pocket PC/Palm rivalry, but Pieter Knook isn't ruling it out. Asked about the possibility yesterday during a discussion with Seattle-area reporters, the senior vice president in charge of Microsoft's Mobile and Embedded Devices Division called such a scenario "perfectly feasible."
The development that made it feasible was last year's decision by Palm Inc. shareholders to separate it into two independent companies, one for hardware and another for the Palm operating system. The hardware company, known as palmOne, was bolstered at the same time with the acquisition of Handspring, the company behind the Treo line of smartphones."
Another interesting thing to speculate on, isn't it? Keeping in mind that palmOne is just a PDA vendor that happens to be using the Palm OS, and also keeping in mind that in most markets the Pocket PC OS has now reached parity with the Palm OS, if you were palmOne and you had years of experience in hardware design, this is something you just might consider. I've liked most of the palmOne hardware designs - I got a chance to play with a Zire 72 yesterday and was impressed by the hardware (other than the silly writing area). I'm willing to bet that once unleashed from the constraints of the Palm OS, palmOne would be able to make some very interesting hardware. And let's not forget that with Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, square resolutions are now possible. And who's got the most experience in designing square-screen PDAs? Speculate away my friends...
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05-06-2004, 08:09 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 734
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I'd love to see this happen. Like it or not, Palm makes some decent hardware at very affordable prices. Granted, their processors and memory are still lagging, but I'm willing to trade that for some hardware flexibility.
You've got your basic Zire 21 peasouper, through the Zire 72, up to the Clie TH55 [WiFi, BT, Camera, 320x480 - I'm buying one in less then a week] all the way to a Clie NX73... Imagine a Clie running the PPC OS! 8O Or a $75 color PPC!
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05-06-2004, 08:10 PM
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05-06-2004, 08:14 PM
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05-06-2004, 08:17 PM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 498
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a $149 zire51 with WM2005? interesting. 
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05-06-2004, 08:41 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,202
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Think about this - If the earlier Rumor of Dell buying Palm One comes true - Maybe someday you could buy an Axim X11 with your choice of Operating systems 8O
You could chose Palm 0S verision or Windows Mobile. The difference in hardware is very minimal today - they both run on ARM based processors. WMSE supports 360 x360 or 360 x480 screens, just like Palm.
Even if it isn't on a Palm One machine it's entirely possible someone will offer something like this before too long.
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05-06-2004, 08:46 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 481
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Across both PDAs and smart phones, has the same company ever marketed both a PPC and a POS device? Does any OEM make both? I figured Dell would try a POS device (I don't think they'd buy them), but nothing seems to be coming.
PalmOne making a PPC would be interesting, but I'd rather see the Sony of a year or two ago make a PocketPC. But I sense they're backing away from PDAs as the company continues to struggle.
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05-06-2004, 09:02 PM
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Mystic
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,887
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by PPCRules
Across both PDAs and smart phones, has the same company ever marketed both a PPC and a POS device? Does any OEM make both? I figured Dell would try a POS device (I don't think they'd buy them), but nothing seems to be coming.
PalmOne making a PPC would be interesting, but I'd rather see the Sony of a year or two ago make a PocketPC. But I sense they're backing away from PDAs as the company continues to struggle.
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SAMSUNG.
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05-06-2004, 09:06 PM
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Mystic
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,887
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PALMOne would have to be MAJORLY ticked-off at PALMSOURCE for this to be anything more than a marketing tweak by the MS exec in question.
At present, the Palm PDA market is PALMONE and Sony.
The PocketPC market?
Dozens of hungry low-cost asian manufacturers.
I get this image of a frying pan over a flame...
So, unless PALM OS6 is a monster of a disaster (in features or schedule), another no-go.
Funny, it didn't seem like a slow news day... :-)
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05-06-2004, 09:07 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 50
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I would love to get a Clie with Windows Mobile!
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Linear Mode
