05-26-2005, 06:30 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Where PalmSource Went Wrong
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0%2C1759%2C1819265%2C00.asp
Recall that PalmSource is the operating system side of the Palm family, which is where I have always had my complaints with the PalmOS system. Much of the hardware over the years has been compelling and innovative, especially early HandSpring devices, Handera/TRG Pro devices and the later Sony models. All the cool hardware in the world though doesn't make up for an operating system lacking in core functionality.
Guy Kewney at eWeek has a similar take on the platform but goes all the way back to the US Robotics days to understand not only where it went wrong, but why.
This is somewhat related to my May 11 "pa1mOne Figuring It Out" post. By the way, if you haven't heard it, you should listen to Jeff Kirvin's 1src podcast on the LifeDrive where he blasts me and a number of our readers that responded in my thread. According to Jeff, Garnet (PalmOS5) and pa1mOne can already do everything Windows Mobile can and Windows Mobile 2005 is the operating system playing catch up. When you listen to the podcast though, you'll see how this trickery takes place. To match the capabilities of any Windows Mobile device, even going back to WM2003SE, you have to pick and choose features from multiple devices while no single device has all of the features, and worse, no single device can, no matter how much third party software and hardware you pile on it. This has always been the beauty of Windows Mobile devices. There is a core set of functionality that covers email, PIM, office productivity, multimedia, networking, etc. that is on every single device made. You are basically left with choices for style, which wireless radios (GPRS, EVDO, WiFi, Bluetooth) and which screen resolution you want. And for the record, a Microsoft Project program has been available for Windows Mobile devices for as long as I can remember, and it amazes me to this day that one isn't available for the PalmOS. I use Pocket Plan almost every day and have for several years. Perhaps there is one for PalmOS and Jeff is incorrect about that too.
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05-26-2005, 06:45 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 23
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I alway liked this cover from M-Business July 2001. Things never change.
http://mbu.com/18.jpg
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05-26-2005, 07:45 PM
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05-26-2005, 07:53 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 196
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I've used both Palm and Windows Mobile devices. Both have their strengths and weaknesses.
However, for the type of device I need (phone/pda) the Treo650 is the best I have ever used. The fact that is truly has one handed operation (which is only coming in WM 5.0 supposedly) is HUGE.
Sure WM is much prettier in many regards and you can do more with Windows Mobile and with the integration of .net compact framework the potential for WM is much bigger, especially for enterprise level applications.
I am very curious to see what the WM 5.0 devices look like, how they work how the phone edition actually works in reality. But for now I am sticking with my Treo
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05-26-2005, 07:58 PM
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Swami
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,303
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A good namecheck there Ed. :wink: That's a pretty funny podcast by Jeff Kirvin (but he quibbles)! :lol: That's some serious bluster and yes, we had worked out that he'd had too much sugar that day. :wink:
I won a Palm IIIc when I worked at 3Com and promptly passed it onto a friend and bought my Dell X5 Pocket PC. Features, power and control over hype and 'simple' simplicity any day. :devilboy: Sure, each does have it's stengths and weaknessses and I've chosen the platform that best suits me.
That's a good picture Fred44. Cheers. 8)
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05-26-2005, 08:02 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 481
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Re: Where PalmSource Went Wrong
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
... According to Jeff, Garnet (PalmOS5) and pa1mOne can already do everything Windows Mobile can and Windows Mobile 2005 is the operating system playing catch up...
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Well, you really didn't really expect a different answer did you? I know some developers who write apps for Palm and it seems that they're fuming while the guys like Jeff (not me!!!) are saying that the Palm OS is fine while and it's the windows OS which is all wrong. They have to listen a little to they're developers. I don't know if there is a way to fix up the Palm OS at this point in time. All they're still doing is playing hokus pokus - poof - trying to come up with an OS :deadhorse: They're just falling further and further behind. At some point they'll just loose the rest of they're developers and then we can write beautiful eulogies and obits :cry: :angel:
I never thought that someone named jeff could be so wrong but I guess I found one (and no it's not me this time). I for one am so very happy to have left Palm many years ago. :mrgreen:
Jeff-
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05-26-2005, 08:17 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 734
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Re: Where PalmSource Went Wrong
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
According to Jeff, Garnet (PalmOS5) and pa1mOne can already do everything Windows Mobile can and Windows Mobile 2005 is the operating system playing catch up.
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Ah misplaced pride and optimism - so cute in a disturbing sort of way. Someone should give Jeff a firm slapping to awaken him from this fantasy. The only way they can bring POS into this century would be to create a complete new OS. Sure, it's nice that they're finally adding something resembling multitasking and things like that, but I've had that since Win CE 2.1 - that's what... about ten versions ago or something?
In the end, POS doesn't give me the tools, power and control I need to do my job. I used to be a hardcore Palm guy (in fact, I was a software developer for two years!), but now I would never want to be limited by a bad OS ever again. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I will not buy another Palm unit until they completely rewrite every bit of code into an entirely new OS.
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05-26-2005, 08:28 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,466
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Since Windows Mobile is now leading PalmOS, does it really matter what Jeff (or anyone for that matter) thinks? In his latest podcast Kirvin sees the Palm economy as being quite healthy and vibrant, all while PalmOS is shrinking, and PSource is struggling internally. I don't normally slam other enthusiasts, but Jeff lost all credibility as an agnostic unbiased figure when he went in the direction of Palm fanboy.
Frankly these Palm vs. PPC arguments are outdated and irrelevant. It's a shame people still put so much emotion into a tiny slab of silicon. Where's that beating a dead horse smiley? Ah yes, here it is... :deadhorse:
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05-26-2005, 09:05 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,202
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Right on Foo Fighter.... I couldn't have said it better myself. I would have to add one snide comment, though. How much is Palm paying Kirven to spout this propaganda?? :roll:
It's always the same argument from Palm fanboys - we can do that - of course they don't mention that it's not part of the OS, but bundled with the Hardware. He makes it sound as if WM users have had NO option to see photo contacts or powerpoint presntations until WM5. He makes the point that PPCThoughts readers bash Palm without really trying it, but his entire Podcast is perfect example of bashing WM without really knowing how things work today.
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05-26-2005, 09:36 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,097
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I agree.
Most of us here use Windows Mobile, sure. However, many many of us use Windows Mobile because we tried the Palm OS and found it lacking. I'm not so sure it works the other way around. How many Palm users started with a PPC and moved to a Palm? Probably significantly less than the users who migrated from Palm to PPC. 'Course, I have no data regarding that, it's just the general impression I get from our community here. Maybe Palm forums have "Power Users" :roll: that can't stand the WM OS because it's lacking in features/power... Somehow I doubt it though...
So to claim that we bash the Palm OS without even trying it is bunk IMHO. However, I do know quite a few Palm users that think their device is superior but have never held a WM device (most of the Palm users I know consider WM to be 'too much' and are afraid of it).
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