I have to throw my hat in the ring. This fray is just too much now.
It is totally pathetic how much this new product line is getting trashed. This also
shows just how much of a skewed demographic you
can get by only surveying Internet users on matters of consumer electronics and style.
It explains why so many dot-coms are in
trouble right now.
There have been a lot of comparisons between this and past models of Apple Macs.
There is a reason why the Apple deal to license
the PalmOS is dead and Sony's deal is full steam ahead. I have said it before and and
I will say it again, Palm devices and
handhelds in general follow the demographics of consumer electronics a lot more than
PCs.
There have literally been over a thousand models of Sony Walkman since the wearable
stereo concept was introduced in the early 80s.
Expect that for Palm devices. This is why so many top Palm execs some from places
like Nike and such. It is a style and volume
game! Not just technology. Of those types of Palms that I expect to see in the next
few years follows. The names below are market
and brand concepts not actual product names.
Palm Sport -- water resistant w/ the trendy black, yellow and rubber trim (bundle in a
stopwatch app)
Palm Teen -- effectively, this is the M100 as show (add in an extended address book w/
smart dialer)
Palm Executive -- further refinements of the Palm V to a sleek Madison Ave. class
Palm Industrial -- a very rugged and hardened case palm akin to the Symbol SPT1700
just not as dedicated
Palm Artist -- color screen w/ a drawing and art programs bundled in
My First Palm -- for children with a big pixel size and lots of games and drawing
programs (eMate done right)
That will shotgun the marketplace and have the PalmOS everywhere you can think of and
in no time, Palm may become a generic name
where it is not already. Also, snap on skins is a brilliant idea. I can see then not
just in colors but they can also be bought
and have them with promotional logos on them. I'd bet good money they will be handing
out "PalmSource 2000" skins this year and if
any of you software publishers are smart, I'd by a bunch of these and have your logo
printed all over them for promotional
giveaways.
I can see things like sports teams and bands promote their name in a Palm skin and
have it some with a database of their appearance
schedule. Heck, why not a church promote their cause with a Palm device and then have
prayers / scripture / philosophy in a
database or applications. You could even have a clothing, sports equipment or
restaurant chain be rolled out with skins and
software to give a feel for their offerings. If Palm hasn't put this on an executive
white board, they should. This will put even
more nails in Pocket PC's coffin.
Overall, this is a maturing and growing of any consumer electronic line to provide a
growing user base. Palm geek be damned! I bet
some of you are still working on generic white boxes or complained that Macs don't
come in solid colors anymore and you need this
"translucent thing" that distracts you too much. StrongARM? Isn't that a marketing
promotional tactic? :)
"Nesse, Rustin" wrote:
> Ah, it's so that the unit itself will fit better in smaller hands. If
> it gets any bigger, people would be geeky like me and be carrying a
> Symbol SPT 1700 around.
You can make it larger and work. I keep on thinking of a "big pixel" version for
those with poor eyesight or very young children.
>
>
> Small, colorful, and Euro-styled: Next, a purse cradle and
> stylus/lipstick dispenser. =)
> -Rus
Frankly, I don't see why not.
Steve
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