The Palm Pre

almillar

I'm thinking of Psion, Atari, (even some Apple stuff!).
Anyway, Atali - you may find that you'd be better keeping the WiFi on at home. This is much more efficient for when the Palm is transferring data, so the phone will have fewer blips like this, but it also helps battery life.
O2 Germany have confirmed that they'll be stocking the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus, so I wouldn't be so quick to write them off in the UK. In fact, I bet they'll be here before the Autumn.

Clark80

o2 will let you play with one in their stores.

As for Apps you probably want to also have a play with an iPhone and HTC desire.

stugib

Palm bought by HP, $1.2bn, plans to put it on phones and tablet devices.

Can't say HP hardware has ever excited me but be interesting to see if they can establish themselves beyond iPaqs. Guess that's the end of the Palm brand as far as hardware goes.

gjchester

stugib wrote: »

Palm bought by HP, $1.2bn, plans to put it on phones and tablet devices.

Can't say HP hardware has ever excited me but be interesting to see if they can establish themselves beyond iPaqs. Guess that's the end of the Palm brand as far as hardware goes.

Thats a pity. HP have taken a lot of companies took the best bits and dumped the rest. Look ah how Compaq was pretty much relegated from the brand leader to a sub brand, and a lot of Compaq innovations lost in the process.

Not sure why they say "Bradley also believes HP can get Palm over the hump by exploiting HP's existing relationships with wireless carriers. " HP have some phones out there based on Windows CE, but they never sold in any bulk, so there not a player in the phone market.

I also suspect they'll come under a lot of pressure from Microsoft to take Windows 7 on phones, and that will get development priotity

atali

I don't see this takeover as a "pity". Its a great piece of news. HP is the world largest PC maker.

If HP can provide the hardware then the software is already very advanced so as long as they get a high spec/well built phone out with webOS on its going to be a big hit regardless. All it would need is the marketing which HP's budget can no doubt provide. I doubt they would remove the Palm brading from future phones. But you never know.

At worst this definately takes the worry off of Palm going bust. So you can be safe in the knowledge you won't be left high and dry and just enjoy the simplicity that webOS offers. Palm have been developing webOS at an alarmingly quick rate. I don't see it as too much of an issue if platform development slows down to iPhone levels. Its already ahead in most aspects. If they can continue to develop the platform at the same rate they have been it would be quite an achievement.

Only problem in the UK is the tie with O2 which is hoilding the Palm Pre back as O2 are iPhone orientated. Hopefully there will be a way out as the phones would be made by HP.

Also looks like a webOS tablet will be on its way from the pitcure used in HP's presentation. Can't wait to see what happens!

I for one shall definately be sticking to webOS for my future devices. There is no doubt that many developers who gave webOS a thought but decided not to do anything will now begin developing apps for webOS.

stugib

atali wrote: »

There is no doubt that many developers who gave webOS a thought but decided not to do anything will now begin developing apps for webOS.

I'd say there's very much still doubt until people see what HP do with it.

almillar

Looks like Palm's going to have a stable future then, anyone holding back on buying one needn't worry. HP could really go after the iPhone with this...
With regards to branding, there are plenty of people who whould've said 'iPaq' and not 'HP iPaq' - I think they would be wise to use the the Palm brand (which all the intelligent analysts who didn't see this coming were saying is one of Palm's most valuable assets) as their mobile brand. Maybe HP or iPaq tablets, but definately Palm phones....

gjchester

almillar wrote: »

Looks like Palm's going to have a stable future then, anyone holding back on buying one needn't worry. HP could really go after the iPhone with this...
With regards to branding, there are plenty of people who whould've said 'iPaq' and not 'HP iPaq' - I think they would be wise to use the the Palm brand (which all the intelligent analysts who didn't see this coming were saying is one of Palm's most valuable assets) as their mobile brand. Maybe HP or iPaq tablets, but definately Palm phones....

Maybe. HP have had many mergers and many innovate products have ceased through them being integrated nto the HP family. Palm is the latest, there was 3Com, VooDoo PC (Just like Dell bought Alienware) Compaq, All respected in their fields at the time, all now just sub brands.

It will probably be Apple and Microsoft that decide WebOS's fate.

Apple, as if the iPad fails the device class will fade again. I've used tablet PC's in the past, they are a nice toy but after a while you tend to use a laptop as the keyboard is kinda more important that the touch interface for any serious amount of data entry.

Microsoft, in that if they wished they could change the pricing on Windows 7 (PC and Phone versions) so HP would be disadvantaged if they chose to release WebOS Phones. HP sell millions of PC's each year, having to pay Microsft $1 more per PC in licencing would become a large amount.

BillScarab

Pesonally I don't think it matters who owns Palm, I think they'll struggle to get significant Market share particularly in the UK.

Blackberry are the dominant player in business smartphones. Apple lead the consumer market with the iPhone and the biggest threat to them is Android as the Android market share is increasing dramatically. Then there are still huge numbers of Symbian phones out there. I don't see what is so compelling about Palm and WebOS that will lead to them having a major impact in the market.

gjchester

almillar wrote: »

With regards to branding, there are plenty of people who whould've said 'iPaq' and not 'HP iPaq' - I think they would be wise to use the the Palm brand (which all the intelligent analysts who didn't see this coming were saying is one of Palm's most valuable assets) as their mobile brand. Maybe HP or iPaq tablets, but definately Palm phones....

Case in point there really. iPaq was a Compaq brand that HP adopted in the merger.