Comments on: Insults Fly When Palm and Pocket PC Go Head to Head

When I first heard that this debate was going to happen, I was really curious to see if these corporate executives could come up with new arguements that we haven't heard many times in before in the Palm/PPC holy wars. I guess the answer to that is 'no'. I wish I could have gone to this but it seems I didn't miss anything besides some VPs ragging on each other. Which might have been fun but wouldn't teach me anything new.

---
Plenipotentiary
Palm Infocenter

Yesh! You would think they were running for president!

You know, in my office there are Palm users and CE users. I would say the biggest difference is that it seems to me that Palm users actually do more on their devices. But anyway, some people want one thing, some want another. It seems MS and Palm both neglect the fact that there is different price ranges and potentially markets for these different devices. While Palm has a device starting at $150, the HP and Compaq devices start at $450. That is quite a difference. The Handspring Prism tops out at $450, giving Palm OS a range from $150-$450. That hits a particular market. The ipaq, if you want storage/peripherals, starts creeping up to $700-$800 just to accomidate modems and CF cards. These are DIFFERENT MARKETS. It seems stupid to me that they are all trying to compare devices that are not comparable.

Anyway, even though CE uses higher definition screens, I like Handspring's color screen better. It is my preference. Not to mention the fact that there is no Mac support for CE devices. I don't know why people always try to objectify a subjective experience. Maybe they just cant handle freedom.

there's a reason why it's called winCE... think about it!

What's so hard to understand? It's all about CHOICES! Whenever a new device comes out, I think, "Cool! Another choice for people!" Sure, this can cause some hard decisions for a lot of people, but we all know there's no "one size fits all" device, and there never will be. Palm is all about choices. If you need it to do something, there's almost certainly an application that can do it, and if not, there's a TON of developers waiting to write the next killer app.
As powerful as the PocketPC is, it's all about LIMITING our choices. Mac user? Sorry. Linux user? Sorry. Eudora user? Sorry. And the list goes on. They don't want people to make their own choices on what software to use, on the PPC OR the desktop. They want it to all be THEIR software, not to mention Operating system (therfore their hardware). And to top it off, they STILL can't get it all to work together properly.
But I digress...
Instead of having these idiots (Palm execs included) getting up in front of a decidedly pro-MS crowd to tout their wares, they should be spending more time at the drawing board.
MS needs to take it's thumb out of it's ass and accpe the fact that OTHER OSes and handheld devices EXIST, and WILL EXIST (and be more popular, hehe ;-) for a long time to come, and build in some freaking communication support for other devices, instead of forcing people to install expensive applications that still only half do the job. Imagine a world where devices would be chosen based on their own merits and the needs of the user, and NOT simply because your friends or coworkers have one or the other.
Palm needs to realize that it's hitting the brick wall of it's own simplicity. They need to step out of their box for a few minutes, and realize that it IS possible to expand hardware and software functionality AND maintain backward compatibility with other hardware and software. I would love to have the hardware of an iPAQ with the simplicity and versatility of the PalmOS.

My point is, all this "debate" showed us is that neither side really understands things. All they want to do is "WIN WIN WIN!"

Go Palm. Feh.

One day, we will all be using the wireless internet via an evolved form of a PPC. Meanwhile, why should I pay $600+ when I could get a new computer, used or otherwise, (yes, a laptop) that is just as conveniant to carry and does way more?

The bottom line is that people who want a very effective, portable, expandable, affordable tool w/choose a Palm/Visor. If you want a toy that is basically a shrunken, bastard computer, a PPC is for you.

BTW, as far as the arguments that a PPC can do more, remember what they say about guys w/ big, expensive cars.....

Somebody in here made the comment that they would like a iPaq with Palm OS. I wholeheartedly agree! Toys are cool and tools are useful, but put them both together and all would be perfect! I would gladly spend $500+ for a multimedia handheld with the quality of the PPC with Palm OS, but I'm hesitant without Palm. I love to play with hacks and gadgets on my Palm IIIxe but would love MP3 and high quality color that surpases the IIIc. I guess I'm living in a dream world!

Simplicity is the key for me. I want to Tap and Go. I do not need all the bells and whistles, that's what my full size PC is for. My Palm is small, light and fits in my pocket. Power To The Palm.

I love my Palm Platform (visor or palm ) it is as clear as black and white

Microsoft, that is. Just because Microsoft & its minons say we all REALLY want a personal computer that fits in a pocket doesn't make it true. MS swings some heavy weight like the Pocket PC Party they threw in Redmond for a select few & the economic clout the use to pound certain "allies", but trying to convince millions of satisfied Palm users that what they really want is a mini-Windows is arrgant and misses the reasons for Palm's success. Of course, how else would they be able to market those things?

As a salesperson of handheld devices, I find customers will almost always choose an OS device because of its proven record, speed, expandibility, and size - especially professionals!