09-14-2004, 05:00 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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"Palm Thinks It Knows Better Than European Users"
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1644687,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03129TX1K0000605
I have been saying this for years! My biggest problem with Palm is not specifically how the OS works or doesn't work. There are a lot of applications and operating systems that I don't like particular aspects of and I simply don't use them. Palm has always gotten under my skin though because they repeatedly tell you how you should use the device. They told you you didn't need a color screen, you didn't need storage cards, multitasking, etc.
Well, the Treo 600 is faring quite poorly in Europe. Orange reportedly has inventory they can't move, which is is a stark contrast to the US market where resellers have had difficulty keeping the 600 on the shelves. Europe is a very different place than the US when it comes to cell phones and, yes, bluetooth technology. They were told before they went to Europe, put bluetooth in the devices. Seeing how much of a general flop bluetooth is in the US, Palm didn't see the need. They knew better. :roll:
"Orange has had the exclusive rights to the Treo, and it certainly hasn't been short of product. They'll tell you as much�and they told Forbes as much: "Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi said: 'We still see [the Palm OS] as a very niche operating system beside Symbian and Microsoft Pocket PC. PalmOne has a geographical advantage in the US, and I don't think the reason it has not taken off here is all to do with the supply...When they showed me the prototype of the Treo 600, I said: "It's got to have Bluetooth, for Europe!" Anybody who actually lived in Europe could have warned them, and did: "We're all going to legally mandated hands-free, and drivers don't want wires tangled around the gear shift and hand-brake."'
They know better.
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09-14-2004, 05:09 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,202
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I certainly agree with the sentiment of this story. However, I don't think Palm is alone with their blinders on. I think both Sony and Toshiba have been quite blind to the wants and needs of the US market when it comes to handheld devices.
It seems many manufacturers don't really explore their market before entering it.
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09-14-2004, 05:25 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 15
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by whydidnt
It seems many manufacturers don't really explore their market before entering it.
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Then they scratch their heads and wonder why no one is buying their products. Then they pull out. :roll:
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09-14-2004, 05:49 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,202
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Lucky Bob
Then they scratch their heads and wonder why no one is buying their products. Then they pull out. :roll:
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Lucky Bob, you are exactly right. Sony and Toshiba are both prime examples of this. Why the heck couldn't I buy a Clie TH55 with Bluetooth, when the rest of the world could? Why didn't Toshiba offer the option of Bluetooth on the E805 to US customers.
I think the XDA II is another great example. The original XDA offered here was big, clunky and buggy. Sales suffered here, so everyone said "The US market doesn't like complicated multi-function devices" and never even offered the improved XDA II here. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy when you offer questionable products that fail and never offer to explore WHY they failed.
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09-14-2004, 05:57 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 125
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And Microsoft thinks we don't need the Close Button
Maybe I just need to give up my own opinions and accept what the companies tell me that I need and want and become a techie zombie
:cry:
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09-14-2004, 06:03 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 403
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Now Ed....as a regular reader of PPCT's, I'm gonna have to say you didn't quite tell the whole story on this one. In spite of the poor sales in Europe, the Treo 600 has had remarkable success as a smart phone. True, it didn't have bluetooth, however the company has been working on that, which was not mentioned by you or the author/article you referenced, Guy Kewney at EWeek.
I think PalmOne *is* listening. There are reports that a new upgraded unit which includes bluetooth and an ungraded 320x320 display, along with a *smaller* footprint is already being manufactured by HTC and set for mass shipping in October/November. You can go here for the link to this article which appeared 09/13/04 at the DigiTimes site.
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20040913B3087.html
I am a dedicated PPC user like everone else here, but I also like and use a Palm. Again, I believe your statement that PalmOne isn't listening to it's costumers is a bit harsh, based on recent develoments. :wink:
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09-14-2004, 06:41 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 172
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Palm
And apparently Microsoft doesn't think we need reliable alarms. I have both my e800 and Palm T3 with me today because I know the T3 will remind me when I have an appointment coming up. It turns out I prefer the e800 for just about all the other aspects, though, but that's just me - both platforms have a lot going for them, both have problems, and Palm and Microsoft both could do better.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both platforms and there pluses and minuses for just about everyone of the suppliers and manufacturers.
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09-14-2004, 06:44 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 734
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I agree 100% with the article. I'm a european - and I could've told them this would happen. Here's the thing: your average european won't buy a Treo. They don't know what it is, they don't need it, it's too expensive.
Who buys Treo's? Business people. People who spend hours on the road, and thus need to use a handsfree set. If a business phone doesn't have BT, it doesn't sell. Simple as that. Most of these people already own BT sets and they don't want to give them up.
I'm not a business user - but I do like my toys, and I've grown accustomed to my BT headset and BT functionality. If it doesn't have BT - I aint buying it.
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09-14-2004, 07:30 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 368
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by mbranscum
Now Ed....as a regular reader of PPCT's, I'm gonna have to say you didn't quite tell the whole story on this one. In spite of the poor sales in Europe, the Treo 600 has had remarkable success as a smart phone. True, it didn't have bluetooth, however the company has been working on that, which was not mentioned by you or the author/article you referenced, Guy Kewney at EWeek.
I think PalmOne *is* listening. There are reports that a new upgraded unit which includes bluetooth and an ungraded 320x320 display, along with a *smaller* footprint is already being manufactured by HTC and set for mass shipping in October/November. You can go here for the link to this article which appeared 09/13/04 at the DigiTimes site.
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20040913B3087.html
I am a dedicated PPC user like everone else here, but I also like and use a Palm. Again, I believe your statement that PalmOne isn't listening to it's costumers is a bit harsh, based on recent develoments. :wink: |
I think what Ed suggested was PalmOne should have listened earlier. Maybe PalmOne *is* listening, but obviously they *were* not a year ago, and maybe they are too late.
I was a happy Treo 300 user, and had a great expectation for Treo 600. With the development of PalmOS devices then, I didn't doubt that Treo 600 would have 320x320 screen and BT. It turned out 600 had neither. I was extremely disappointed, but bought 600 nevertheless and tried to use it as my main PDA and phone. I gave up after 6 months. It's nice to hear a new Treo finally comes with both features, but you know what? I don't care any more. I'm completely settled with PocketPC and a small cell phone combo, and if I buy a convergence device, it must be based on PocketPC.
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09-14-2004, 08:23 PM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 516
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Maybe palmOne was listening...to Ed!
I find it amusing that Ed is pointing out this article which bashes palmOne for not including a feature which Ed has long stated was dead or dying.
Perhaps the problem is that too many big companies are listening to Ed. Maybe palmOne scrapped including Bluetooth because Ed said it was dead. I believe that Ed has previously claimed responsibility for Microsoft's implementation of the "smart close" button as well.
Let's just hope that Ed doesn't start ranting about the uselessness of automotive air bags. 
Scott
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