Monday, September 29, 2003
A PDA Phone With Too Many Hangups?
Posted by Janak Parekh in "ARTICLE" @ 02:00 PM
This article gives an informal review of the Hitachi G1000 PDA phone, and it's clear that the author really dislikes the device. I agree the device has its flaws, but I'm not sure some of his criticism at Microsoft is properly directed.
"The real problem with the keyboard, though, is that it's integrated only in a physical sense. The Pocket PC software wasn't designed for use with a keyboard and doesn't support it well. A newer version of the Microsoft software, Pocket PC 2003, does offer this support, but devices with keyboards using the 2003 software won't appear until late this year...In fairness, most of this isn't Hitachi's fault. Microsoft has been a notorious control freak, giving Pocket PC licensees very little flexibility to customize the software. For example, the G1000 weirdly maintains an on-screen keyboard (mercifully, it mostly stays hidden) because the Pocket PC specification requires it."
First of all, he's confusing two issues: the hardware form factor and software customizability.
Hardwarewise, there are Pocket PC devices coming out with more innovative form factors, and Microsoft has specifically said that they've loosened the hardware form factor requirements they once had. I'm still looking for that OEM that can include a thumbboard but hide it intelligently, a la the Sharp Zaurus with its sliding cover mechanism. Personally, I think Hitachi could have done a better job with the G1000's package -- it's too large to be pocketable. It's premature to blame Microsoft on this note, apart from the 240x320 design which requires a long display.
Softwarewise, I had used my Stowaway pretty well with my old iPAQ years ago. Granted, it's not completely possible to replace screen taps with keys, but the Think Outside guys had put some effort into taking care of the basics. And what about the on-screen keyboard? To the best of my knowledge, one is still built into the ROM of all PalmOS devices. I do admit that Palm does certainly allow more customizability of the OS, but this is a double-edged sword, as Ed's Saturday post refers to. Still, there's no reason Hitachi couldn't have added software, such as a custom dialer application, to make their thumbboard more useable, and better keyboard support in the OS would be a good thing.
Without question, the Pocket PC Phone solution has to continue to evolve and improve. But to say it doesn't combine phone and data functions well, and blaming Microsoft for this, is a bit presumptive. I use one every day and I find it to be an excellent tool.
"The real problem with the keyboard, though, is that it's integrated only in a physical sense. The Pocket PC software wasn't designed for use with a keyboard and doesn't support it well. A newer version of the Microsoft software, Pocket PC 2003, does offer this support, but devices with keyboards using the 2003 software won't appear until late this year...In fairness, most of this isn't Hitachi's fault. Microsoft has been a notorious control freak, giving Pocket PC licensees very little flexibility to customize the software. For example, the G1000 weirdly maintains an on-screen keyboard (mercifully, it mostly stays hidden) because the Pocket PC specification requires it."
First of all, he's confusing two issues: the hardware form factor and software customizability.
Hardwarewise, there are Pocket PC devices coming out with more innovative form factors, and Microsoft has specifically said that they've loosened the hardware form factor requirements they once had. I'm still looking for that OEM that can include a thumbboard but hide it intelligently, a la the Sharp Zaurus with its sliding cover mechanism. Personally, I think Hitachi could have done a better job with the G1000's package -- it's too large to be pocketable. It's premature to blame Microsoft on this note, apart from the 240x320 design which requires a long display.
Softwarewise, I had used my Stowaway pretty well with my old iPAQ years ago. Granted, it's not completely possible to replace screen taps with keys, but the Think Outside guys had put some effort into taking care of the basics. And what about the on-screen keyboard? To the best of my knowledge, one is still built into the ROM of all PalmOS devices. I do admit that Palm does certainly allow more customizability of the OS, but this is a double-edged sword, as Ed's Saturday post refers to. Still, there's no reason Hitachi couldn't have added software, such as a custom dialer application, to make their thumbboard more useable, and better keyboard support in the OS would be a good thing.
Without question, the Pocket PC Phone solution has to continue to evolve and improve. But to say it doesn't combine phone and data functions well, and blaming Microsoft for this, is a bit presumptive. I use one every day and I find it to be an excellent tool.
