What do YOU reckon ...

A

AL234

New member
Hey all! :D

Taking into account PTL?s yearning for something new from Palm, and the fact that there doesn?t seem to be any signs of a new Palm PDA on the horizon ? I thought it?d be interesting if everyone would share their views on the following areas:



a) What would you like to see in the next generation of PDAs?
b) Do you think there will be a next generation of PDAs?
c) What do you usually use your PDA for?
d) What do you see a PDA as?
e) In your opinion, how do you think using Linux as the base for the next Palm OS will affect the future of the platform itself?
f) Where do you think the Palm OS Platform should be heading?



I know it?s a tough ask, and I?m probably posting in the wrong forum for this, but this is the forum that I visit the most (as most of you probably know), and it?s also home to some of the most knowledgable and unique individuals.. no names mentioned!!!

Please take the time out to reply ? you can choose to reply to all, reply to parts or reply to none, but at the end of the day, it?d be nice to know everyone else?s opinions ? I?ll kick things off ?



Hope everyone is having a great start to the year. ;)
Drewster



P.S Keep an eye out for another hopefully ?interesting? thread!
 
a) What would you like to see in the next generation of PDAs?

In the next generation of PDAs, I would like to see more of the same ? i.e. improvements to performance (maybe true multitasking?), more storage, improvements to battery life, improvements to in-built wireless technologies and maybe this time the engineers can allow for a removable battery!!

IMHO, I think PDAs have really reached their potential ? but that?s just my opinion. Why do I think this? Well, my definition of PDA is a device that bridges the gap between a laptop and computer when you?re on the go ? not replace them. It?s there to help you: schedule meetings, keep track of tasks, maintain contacts, allow you to edit documents on the move, keep track of expenses, and also keep you entertained every now and then too!!!

Personally, I don?t think PDAs were ever meant to replace a PC ? but that?s what it seems like everyone is pushing for these days. With Palm OS for Linux, the humble PDA will easily be as powerful as a desktop!! But ask yourself, do you really need that much power?? I don?t use a laptop, but have a desktop at home, and at uni there?s stacks of computers. So really, I don?t find myself using my T|X for hours on end. Sure, things may be different for business users, but I?m not quite there yet! My T|X does far more than I need ? 416MHz, 128 MB Memory (which seems like more because Palm file sizes are so small) and with support of up to 2GB extra memory, this little device is more powerful than my first computer, and almost 100 times smaller!!! (ok that?s probably exaggerating).

So, to sum up, my opinion is that I see only minor revisions to PDAs in the future, which is sad ? the emphasis will be on smartphones now. Although, especially with Palm OS for Linux on the horizon, it would be interesting to see a laptop/PDA/tablet hybrid ? think the size of a Psion or bigger (same nice big keyboard!). Anyways, HOPEFULLY, PDAs will still be made in the future ? just in case my T|X dies in the future!! Of course, only time will tell.


Drewster
 
b) Do you think there will be a next generation of PDAs?

See above. Answer is yes, but the next generation will just contain minor improvements to the already powerful devices. We probably won?t see anything too revolutionary like the progression from the original Palm Pilot to Palm Vx, or to Handspring Visor or even the Palm IIIc/Tungstens. Though, with Palm OS for Linux in the works, who knows what could happen? Perhaps with the increase in stability and functionality will see PDAs being more widely used ? think hospitals, technicians on-call and rural communities who don?t have experts in certain areas.



c) What do you usually use your PDA for?

My PDA is used to:
- Manage meetings / assignments / tasks / contacts
- Edit Office Documents
- Play games
- Play music
- Little bit of video
- Keep in touch with latest news events (AvantGo)
- Little bit of surfing the web
- Control the TV and amplifier


d) What do you see a PDA as?

As above ? a device that bridges the gap between laptops and computers (not to replace them!), so that you can still remain productive on the go!



e) In your opinion, how do you think using Linux as the base for the next Palm OS will affect the future of the platform itself?

Using Palm OS for Linux is possibly one of the greatest steps forward for the Palm Computing Platform since those executives split away from 3Com to form Handspring (have no idea what their names were ? Jeff someone?). We?ve gotta face the facts, the Palm OS was originally designed to be an organizer ? and I don?t anyone can disagree with me, that it did that exceptionally well.

Since the early days, we?ve just been building on-top of that platform. I don?t think it was really meant to be a full-tilt operating system that supports multimedia, wireless networking, hi-res displays and multi-tasking. Perhaps this is why we are experiencing performance and stability issues from time to time ?

Anyways, I can only see Linux for Palm OS as being a positive for the Palm Computing Platform. Linux as you all know should deliver tougher security, more robust and excellent performance, not to mention open the door to a flood of third party software.

 
f) Where do you think the Palm OS Platform should be heading?

Ahhh, my favourite question of them all! Personally, I reckon the Palm OS Platform should look at branching out ? diversification is the name of the game! The PDA business should still remain as its core activity, and it should continue to make a PDA to suit each class of user (student, business, power user, entry-level). BUT, I reckon, especially with the Linux version due soon, that Palm should move into other consumer electronics ? think smart appliances.

Not only will the Linux Palm OS be infinitely powerful and flexible, it will also be easy to use, and incredibly fast ? assuming they still aim for the instant-on capabilities of a PDA. We could see new entertainment centres based on the Palm Linux Platform ? bugger the Windows Media Centre. If they want to come into our territory, we should go into theirs!! I really reckon, that Palm can give M$ a run for its money in this area. As most of you know, some of the best programs out there are GNU, so sourcing a solid media player will not be hard.

Other smart appliances that could be developed by Palm and/or any other consumer electronics firm (maybe Sony will regain interest in this area ? I think they still have a license with PalmSource despite exiting the PDA industry) ? internet refrigerators, full-featured telephones (that combine contact book, meetings etc.), digital jukeboxes, thin clients ? and the best thing could be that they all sync and talk to each other, because they are based on the same platform!!!!! I can?t think of anything else, but you guys and girls probably can ? The possibilities are really endless for the new Palm Platform, just hope that people can see it, especially the big corporate bosses.


Drewster
 
Hi Drewster. It's nice to see at least inspired excitement and "palmishness" and I can remember a year ago when I was frothing at the mouth too. I hope that spirit continues for "Palmers," but I can't help but get the feeling things are a little bleak, short and long term. I'll address each point briefly, as I'm about to load the new Jan 7th Branch Build of Firefox (which I am frothing about!!) - in last 3 days there were 41 fixes to 1.5, 17 today alone - it's really becoming an amazing browser and hopefully one day will be available for Palm, Linux based or not. That's my other decision this week - dual boot Kanotix Linux (Ubuntu is awful, IMHO) alongside Windows 2k, since I need all the conduits - again, for Palm. Anyway, here goes. . . . .

a. Nothing "new." That's right. I'd like to see nothing new. A regression to having the ability to "doctor" ROM and put apps in it along with (obviously) more storage space, and a REGRESSION (!!) to a faster clockspeed (same as T3) would be fine. WiFi can just go to hell; it's too late to the party and the laptop will have EVDO.

b. Probably not a generation that'll appeal to me. I don't want convergence and won't use a converged device. A Linux OS that could support "skinning" of any OS you want (or multiple - you know that a Mac G5 will run Windows, Mac OS10 and Linux at the SAME TIME, right?) - imagine having Windows based apps AND Palm OS (better!) and a choice.

c. Business management, spreadsheet tweaking in the field, scheduling including days since an event in separate timings, contacts, alarm clock, video clips, image viewing (maps and business related), financial calc, tracking databases for personal & business. The T3 does it all handsomely, efficiently and well - superb unit. Still the flagship.

d. A malleable, changeable, user defined instrument you can make whatever you want with the freedom to carry it on your belt

e. As mentioned above probably eliminate system "hook" problems and allow freeware and commercial software authors alike to make more software faster without needing 13 different versions for different models. One only has to look at the history of Tealpoint apps over the last 2 years to see hundreds of upgrades made necessary by a newer specific MODEL of Palm - GUI problems related to Palm's incessant habit of changing 1 or 2 things that bring no new functionality, just add problems for software authors.

Obvious additional advantage would be then DESKTOP Palm would be Linux friendly and I'd have no "ties" to needing Windows for Docs2Go, MobileDB4, TimeSynch, TealDoc/TextSync, TealPaint, grabscreens and other conduits I need to have synched OTHER than the silly basic "4." Any new Linux distro will support one of two Palm "synching" softwares for "basic" backup - but even with Wine installed in Kanotix, I'm pretty sure I'll lose functionality of Documents to Go (spreadsheets) and TextSync. That's causing me to have to choose "dual boot" and retain Windows when I shouldn't have to.

f. Stability both in Processor and Memory management, and more honest features if they going to have them or tease us about them, less wind and more results, and no more cobalt vaporware fiascos. I don't want a dumbed-down Palm with a small display because now I can play Maxwell Smart and talk into it. That's what my shoe is for.


Thanks for the opportunity to rant a little Drewster - they were very good questions. Problem is , I don't think Palm give a tinker's damn about what "users" want; they're much more interested in media, media, media . . . as everyone at CES was, apparently - and delivering DVD quality movies to a 2" screen while you're nattering at a mall.

Good lord.
 
I agree that PDAs are already at their peak in development. I think developers need to be careful about what direction they are going. If too many features get added, the once speedy and simple PDA will become bloated and lose its simplicity and usefulness.

I am almost scared whenever a new Palm device is released, because the newer devices take a step backward or have features removed. For example, the voice recording feature no longer exist on the Palm. Also, the TX has a slower clock speed. There are some new devices with only 32MB of memory, instead of 64MB featured in the TC and T3. The vibrating alert is also a thing of the past. What other features are on the chopping block? Unless this trend stops, I see no future for Palm.

What I'd like to see in the future is the development of a desktop version of the Palm OS. Can you imagine how much faster PCs would be if they had the capability to run Palm OS apps? Also, it would be nice to run the same applications on both handhelds and desktops without needing special conduits for every type of document.
 
It's great to see that people are starting to post their views and thoughts. Just a quick note, I don't really care how long the posts are, just as long as we get some more views coming through. Everyone has their own ideas and desires, and I thought it'd be nice to share them in this community ... who knows, the corporate high flyers might even follow our examples!

Well, Dwinget, I think you're pretty spot on there ... it seems like in recent times, PDAs have indeed taken a step backwards. Dropping innovative features is definitely not a smart idea. PDAs are mainly used for productivity and convenience, so why take away key features like flashing LEDs, vibrating alarms and processing power? Sure, it might be to conserve power, but honestly, the power saving from chopping these features is minimal at best ...

The desktop idea mentioned by Dwinget is definitely an excellent one ... feasible too! Everyone says that Linux is too complex despite the implementation of nice GUIs like KDE Desktop, but now they have no excuse .. nobody can tell me Palm OS is hard to use! And now, it can actually take Windows head on too, because it has / will have the power of Linux behind it! Tho, I think to keep things consistent, I still think it would be better to introduce a tablet/pda/laptop hybird with this OS installed on it first, and go on from there!

Keep the views coming, they're great!
Andrew
 
I am kind of new at this. I just upgraded from a IIIe to the T/X and I love it. I like the versatility and mobility of the new units. I like the Wifi feature alot as I am in sales and I am able to check my email in between calls either by using my customers hot spot or by standing in the hallway and finding an open network that I can use for a couple of minutes. I would like to see the voice recorder put back in and a carrying case that you can clip on your belt like a cell phone (maybe one exsists, but I havent found it). I am wanting to try the keyboard but I understand that the drivers arent available yet for the T/X. I would also like them to include a cradle, like I had with the IIIe. Better battery life and a user replaceable battery. Thats all I can think of right now....oh, and a Palm version of Quicken that can sync up with my desktop version.

Bob
 
Back
Top