Discussion on:

It's crunch time for Palm

The people who invented the handtop computer are on the verge of fading away. I guess if Apple can make a mess of the Newton, Palm has every right to make a mess of it's device.

If Treo is all Palm has left then I may be upgrading to a new PDA vendor when the time comes. Palm, please take one more go at the Tungsten/LifeDrive product lines:

Start with the Tungsten T5 unit
- Add improved battery technology
- Add larger flash storage drive
- Add Wifi win min WPA if not full 802.11n
- Update to latest PalmOS
- Update sync software to support Linux

Ship that sucker and I'll be first in line at the product launch.

But the Treos - The Treo are great smart phones but I won't give-up half the screenspace and pivoting for a physical button pad. The antena nob needs to go away also.

But the T/X - The Tunsten T/X has build in Wifi but they limited "flashdrive mode" to the business class T5 and LifeDrive models. The processor has also been downgraded it looks like.

But the LifeDrive - The LifeDrive was a great update to the Tunsten T5 but has a physical movign hard drive. I've already had my T5 survive falls because it had flash storage with no moving parts.

Maybe a Symbian will be my next PDA system. WindowsMobile won't be without some very strong arguments plus complete sync for Windows and Linux.

To survive not only will they have to come up with some hits software and hardware wise but they will have to change the corporate attitude about end users. Right now you are more apt to end up getting a headache instead of help when dealing with palm. Once they have your money they sure seem to go out of thier way to be annoying. They definitly are not trying to maintain the loyal customer base they have enjoyed for so long. I'm using a lifedrive right now and when it stable it is the best. Full moon, too many A's in the day or what ever reason and even the slightest look sends it into perpetual reset. It's too bad they seemingly gave up on it. One good OS patch and it would have been a homer. Bundle it with a keyboard and some good basic apps and it does replace a laptop when you don't need the extra's. I think they went out and started pushing the phones and neglecting the rest. I have a cell I use it to talk. I have no desire to go blind on its screen or broke with its data fee's. When I want to watch movies, type letters or listen to mp3's, I use my life drive, not my phone.

Palm needs to go back to basics just like Apple did to keep things going.

I was thinking more my wishlist.

Stick to the T5 form factor with full screen, add wifi (heck, cell radio even), update OS to what PalmOS promissed to become when Access baught the source code.

Treo do what they do very well but like I said; I'm not willing to give up half the screen or have that stupid antena nob on top.

For stragety, they have to compete against winCE's Exchange Server support and Blackberry's email on the go service. That means business class networking support and Exchange plugins. They'd also have to pay remote attention to the Linux platforms now but that easily supports Apple and Linux at the same time.

As for coporate culture; My only experience has been owning the product and never having to speak to them directly. If they want to compete against winCE though, they have to provide at least equal support provided by MS and winCE vendors.

It's sad that Palm has simply become another example of technology built right then managed straite into the ground. I suspect I'll be moving to that little Sony handtop when this Palm dies. It can rest on the cemetary shelf with my Newton 2001.

I'd buy Palm again if they could put out another business class flash based PDA but they'll be out of luck as soon as I see someone get a Linux distro running on the Sony. (it's gotta be good if I'm willing to give Sony my money)