Monday, June 10, 2002
Has PalmOS Lost the Edge?
Posted by Jeff Kirvin in "ARTICLE" @ 07:08 AM
http://writingonyourpalm.net/column020610.htm
Bit by bit, Pocket PCs are chipping away at the traditional strengths of the PalmOS platform. Are PalmOS devices still a compelling choice?
After careful consideration of my Toshiba e310 vs. Sony NR-70V decision, my final choice is... to wait. (Mike Cane, I feel your pain!) Why? I decided not to get the e310 because while it's a fine machine, the new XScale Pocket PCs are just around the corner, and I have to see them before buying another Pocket PC. Why didn't I go with the NR-70V? Because as stunning as the hardware is, I have severe doubts about the Palm platform itself.
I should note here that I'm not a gamer or multimedia freak, so I could use PalmOS. I could live without Argentum and playing movies on my device. I have better uses for my time than games-- reading the hundreds of books I have on my CF card already-- and better uses for my finite storage memory than movies-- the aforementioned books. If I had to, I could live within the limitations of PalmOS. But why should I? Or, more to the point, why would any new PDA buyer choose a PalmOS device over a Pocket PC?
Bit by bit, Pocket PCs are chipping away at the traditional strengths of the PalmOS platform. Are PalmOS devices still a compelling choice?
After careful consideration of my Toshiba e310 vs. Sony NR-70V decision, my final choice is... to wait. (Mike Cane, I feel your pain!) Why? I decided not to get the e310 because while it's a fine machine, the new XScale Pocket PCs are just around the corner, and I have to see them before buying another Pocket PC. Why didn't I go with the NR-70V? Because as stunning as the hardware is, I have severe doubts about the Palm platform itself.
I should note here that I'm not a gamer or multimedia freak, so I could use PalmOS. I could live without Argentum and playing movies on my device. I have better uses for my time than games-- reading the hundreds of books I have on my CF card already-- and better uses for my finite storage memory than movies-- the aforementioned books. If I had to, I could live within the limitations of PalmOS. But why should I? Or, more to the point, why would any new PDA buyer choose a PalmOS device over a Pocket PC?
