Comments on: Palm IIIxe Discontinued?

A check of the Palm Store shows that the IIIxe is missing. Only the IIIc remains from the long-lived III series. Maybe this was to be expected after the rebate program last year and the price drop earlier this year. Is this just clearing the way for the new M series models coming soon?
Return to Story - Permalink

Article Comments

 (39 comments)

The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. PalmInfocenter is not responsible for them in any way.
Please Login or register here to add your comments.

Comments Closed Comments Closed
This article is no longer accepting new comments.

Down

Tell tale signs are there

MadMax @ 2/25/2001 1:46:31 PM #
You will also notice there's room for 2 more modles on the page layout. Additionally suspicious was the fact that Palm support was "closed for upgrades " on 2-24-01 ?!
I think thats a little odd, however if everyone was learning about some new products that could be a possibility.
Lastly, the only product available at the Palm store's refurbished center is the Palm III. That's it no IIIc's for $229.00...
We'll see what's going on very soon...

https://store.palm.com/Refurbished/Refurbished.asp?parent=1012&type=0

RE: Tell tale signs are there
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/26/2001 12:39:18 PM #
We (Palm Technical Support) were closed on Saturday because we were doing a massive upgrade and overhaul of our Call Tracking software that would have hampered our ability to give any form of worthwhile support had we remained open on Saturday.

Only the V/VII has 'normal' screens?

kisrael @ 2/25/2001 2:15:46 PM #
In a way that's kind of too bad, because the m### series has smaller screens, right? So that would mean they've kind of lost their 'workhorse' series... you can have an m10whatever with a smaller screen, a V where you're paying a lot more for the styling, a VII where you're paying a lot more for the connectivity, etc.

Well, maybe they'll come out with something in the general M### shape but with a more normal screen. The one thing I really like about that line is the peek-a-boo time viewer... the Palm has been my main timepiece for the last 4 years, and that would make it easier.

RE: Only the V/VII has 'normal' screens?
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/25/2001 2:28:31 PM #
Dude,
The screen size on the models, to my knowledge, has not been released or even really speculated for the rest of the 'm' series. Sure, the screen is significantly smaller on the m100 as compared to any other model, but that doesn't mean that the m505, for example, will have a screen the same size.

In my humble opinion, the screen size will remain the same on the more upscale models. Palm wouldn't stick loyal V(x) users with a "better," newer machine but have the screen size be smaller than the previous line of products.

I myself am one of those loyal V(x) users but I probably wouldn't buy a V(x) updated model with a smaller screen. I'd rather wait until Sony releases their color Clie.

My two cents,
Eric

RE: Only the V/VII has 'normal' screens?
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/26/2001 3:49:02 PM #
Use Clock Pop hack with X-Master-works great!

RE: Only the V/VII has 'normal' screens?
Altema @ 10/11/2001 8:37:31 PM #
The screen on the M5xx series is about 1/16th of an inch smaller, so it's really an insignificant difference and appears to just eliminated the waste space. I really can't tell the difference in text size, even when side by side. The M1xx series has the smallest screen, small enough to make a significant difference, and was one of the reasons we returned my wife's M105. The text was just too tiny.

The IIIxe is a really good machine, and should serve anyone well who does not need expansion. I bought two the first day they were available (one for my son and another for a friend), and wish I had bought the five pack so I'd have a backup for the M5xx.

Palm IIIxe Gone???

Mavman @ 2/25/2001 9:16:34 PM #
Geez Whiz!! I just bought this model about two weeks ago and now it is history!!!???

Well time marches on, so I hope the newer and better model to fill the gap will be just as good or even better than what it replaces.

I really like all the features of the IIIxe!!! I sort of outgrown all the memory from the m100 and graduated to the IIIxe and having lots of fun using it. Great little device and much more portable than laptop!!

RE: Palm IIIxe Gone???
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/25/2001 9:27:04 PM #
Ok, flame me if you want to, remember I told you that palm was stupid to kill its current products to make new power palms that will never compete power wise with the pocket pcs?

The palms V/vx/IIIc are next, they will be DEAD pretty soon, when the new m# # # palsm are out, bye bye to all the 2nd generation palms!

Even pocket pc's will have more life than the current palm IIIc! (I know the IIIxe was the discontinued one)

Palm is killing a whole generation (m100, 3,5,7) and make a new generation (m500,m505, etc etc) to compete in "power" with microsoft.

BIG MISTAKE PALM



Grab your fire extinguisher
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/25/2001 11:47:21 PM #
Well, business is business; M$ knows the hottest market out there is the handheld market [wireless], and the fact is: Not introducing new products just to keep existing customers tummy's warm and fuzzy is a bad survival strategy. In business you must change & grow, or die. It's that simple.


RE: Palm IIIxe Gone???
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/25/2001 11:53:05 PM #
Flames a comin. You PPC types will never give up.
Alway every move palm makes is a mistake.
B4 it was "palm is going to die because they never really change anything."
They make changes and they are doomed because now they are trying to be like PPCs.

Quote:
"Even pocket pc's will have more life than the current palm IIIc!"

After years of MS touting the supreriority of color. Palm wins the first time out.
It must just kill you that the IIIc is already by far the most popular "color" PDA ever.
The palm IIIc with its "pathetic color screen" still outsells all pocket pcs combined!
Even if it is discontinued it will be replaced by something better, that will continue to dominate the market.

Palm will continue to laugh at your kind....all the way to the bank.

RE: Palm IIIxe Gone???
scaught @ 2/26/2001 8:46:10 AM #
i use a palm iii from like 4 years ago. ya, i said iii. no x, no xe, no c. i can run any program any other palm can run and will continue to be able to for quite some time (regardless of whatever M___ may come). come to think of it, except for maybe the very first palmpilot, any palm can run any program. even ones that were released today. just cause your PCs go extinct in a month, dont apply that thinking to palms. palms are like macs in that regard.

Correct. "Discontinued" is not synonymous with "obsolete."
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/26/2001 1:43:14 PM #
nt

RE: Palm IIIxe Gone???
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/26/2001 3:52:20 PM #
Next I suppose people will be telling me that I can't get anymore upgrades to CP/M 2.2...

RE: Palm IIIxe Gone???
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/27/2001 2:56:40 PM #
hey so should i buy a Palm IIIxe or something else. Everybody is telling me its great but discontinued but i am not sure what that means . Is it a good idea to buy a Palm IIIXe now?

RE: Palm IIIxe Gone???
Ed @ 4/27/2001 3:27:51 PM #
There are still some on store shelves but Palm will never make any more IIIxe's. Warranties are still good and Palm will still offer support but it is no longer cutting edge. If you don't care about that and you get a good deal on it, I'd say go for it. I still think the IIIxe is a fine first Palm. It offers decent expansion possibilities and doesn't cost too much.

Still, you might consider an m105, the IIIxe's replacement. It is smaller and easier to carry but offers most of the same features and costs about $200. You can read more about it here:
http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=1680


---
Plenipotentiary
Palm Infocenter

RE: Palm IIIxe Gone???
Altema @ 10/11/2001 9:07:34 PM #
>The palm IIIc with its "pathetic color screen" still outsells all pocket pcs combined!

I agree it was a big seller, and I miss mine very much. If there was a way to expand it, it would still be my favorite. I don't agree about the screen being pathetic though, I loved it myself, and no one in my department would turn on their PPC at the same time because the IIIc made them look bad.

Generation Change

Eston Bond @ 2/26/2001 6:42:52 AM #
I hate to say it, but it sounds like the end of a generation of extremely successful Palm devices. What do I mean "generation"?
1st generation: Pilot 1000 series
2nd generation: PalmPilot Personal/Pro
3rd generation: Palm 3, 5, 7 series.
The m series seems to be the 4th generation.
RE: Generation Change
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/26/2001 1:37:45 PM #
Close.

Most people consider the 1000/5000/Pro/Personal to all be the same "first generation", as they are all virtually identical save for the amount of RAM and OS version (and, of course, screen backlighting).

The "second gen" machines were/are those based on the Palm III-style case, to include the Palm IIIc and VII/VIIx.

The Palm V/Vx would be correctly categorized as a "third gen" device, since it came after the III series and was a significant departure from it.

The m100 and forthcoming m-series devices are now "fourth generation" machines.



Customer Service Verified the IIIxe has been Discontinued

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/26/2001 1:09:35 PM #
I just called Palm Product Order line and they told me that IIIxe has been discontinued. They also said that the replacement model (I assume the m series) would be available sometimes March/April time frame.

I sold my first generation Palm Pilot 5000 and now need a new PDA desperately. I am glad I still have my desktop software Installed at work and home computers and that is how I am living my life! I considered Vx but due to it being monochrome, did not purchase one. IIIc is another option for me but I am afraid if I purchase IIIc, it may go obselete on me pretty soon!!! Therefore I am forced to wait for another month for the new line of PDAs from Palm.

BTW, I purched the Casiopia EM500, but returned it the next day since I did not like dealing with Windows OS on it. The screen was beautiful, but I notice slowdown while opening applications. I just could not depend on the OS with lots of temp file on the background hogging up space!!

Suggestion...
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/26/2001 1:45:13 PM #
...buy a Palm device from some place that offers a 30-day return policy. Use it for a month, then return it. Then go to another store and buy another one. Use it for a month, then return it. You probably won't have to do this more than twice before the new units are available. :-)

RE: Customer Service Verified the IIIxe has been Discontinued
kisrael @ 2/27/2001 3:07:24 PM #
I recently got a IIIc, consider the iPaq.

The IIIc is a pretty conservative choice. You can trivially move all your data to it and its price is pretty decent right now, and will probably get better as more color options come on the market. If you can live with the length of it, and the way it's dim in sunlight, it might be a good choice. Compared to a 5000, the screen is *heaven*. Not only is it super readable, compared to the 5000 or even the V, but it
feels like a little minilaptop in some ways, just with the color icons...

Are they nuts?

Mike Currie @ 2/26/2001 2:55:44 PM #
Why would a company like Palm discontinue such a success story like the IIIxe? If they bothered to check the latest PDA user satisfaction poles, they would find the IIIxe way out in front of the m100 and the V. Stick to the good stuff that works!
RE: Are they nuts?
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/26/2001 3:12:42 PM #
It's easy....m = More Money!!!

they can't just stick with the old winners
Nate @ 2/26/2001 4:33:04 PM #
The III series was very successful, but the truth is that they have to move forward, since customers now expect more from their PDAs. Palm wants to make units available to people who want color, small size, and expandability. The new series will offer all of that, and be much more competitive with PPCs, which a lot of people switch too after finding Palms too limited. Luckily, Palm is also maintaining their focus on fuctional units by keeping a low-end Palm with the m100-105, and with a monochrome version of their new design as well.

Palm can't just sell the same product forever, and the truth is that the III series is a couple of years old, which is a long time in the world of computers.

Syncplicity. Redefining Simple. www.cognitiveroot.com

RE: Are they nuts?
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/26/2001 9:43:00 PM #
"The new series will offer all of that, and be much more competitive with PPCs, which a lot of people switch too after finding Palms too limited..."

What, are 'A lot of people' building PPC units themselves at home? The figures show that they're sure not buying them at the stores.

Since when is less than 20% of the market 'a lot of people'?


Franklin-Covey Catalog

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/26/2001 5:08:07 PM #
The Franklin-Covey catalog shows a IIIxe with the same body type and buttons as the IIIc. It even has the chrging light at the top. It is listed at the regular F-C price of $219 and says that quantities are limited. I figure they had to either cut and past a display on a IIIc body for some reason or there is a new IIIxe coming out? who knows. I switched to the Clie anyway.

my 2 cents

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/26/2001 8:28:06 PM #
1) saying "the fact that the xe got discontinued doesn't mean its dead or obsolete".

That is weird. The disc phone, the atari gaming machines, the wax straws, the 1980 VW rabbit, the vinil disc, the logaritmic tables (the thing used years ago instead of a calculator), the bulb based tv's.. they are all dead and obsolete .

2) 2 you can't stick with the old winners, the same old product forever".
Yeah, but my IIIc the m100 and the VII aren't really old products!

3) m$ are not gods. Their "technically superior" 200 mhz palms with color could NEVER beat the "rudimentary" palm V. The first color palm beat all of the year old, and "technically superior" pp's, and worse, the "technically superior" pp's are so technically superior they need every one of their 200 mhz and 32 mbit of ram to be able to compete with palms.

4) still, I am kinda mad at palm for doing this to products as new as the IIIc, m100 and VII

**message by ROD**


What are you babbling about?
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/26/2001 8:43:22 PM #
"I am kinda mad at palm for doing this to products as new as the IIIc, m100 and VII"

Doing WHAT? All of these products are alive and well. It's the IIIxe that appears to be discontinued; that's all.

As for obsolescence, this doesn't come merely upon being discontinued. As long as the Palm IIIxe can run current software, it will continue to serve its users well.

Now, where WinCE is concerned, being discontinued *also* means being obsoleted, since they change the software every time they come out with a new generation of hardware, thus sending all the developers back to their drawing boards.

my babble
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/27/2001 6:00:37 PM #
read the "new connecter standard" message thread here. THAT'S MY BABBLE!

BUYING NEW CIP ON MODEMS, CRADLES, ECT ETC ETC

And the current generation (from III to VII) won't be forwardly compatible with "M GENERATION" software/cradles/clip ons.

Am I babbling now mr. smartarse?

**message by ROD**


Connector standard?

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/26/2001 9:31:00 PM #
I guess this rules out using the ?000/PP?/III? base as their new 'connector standard' - Which is too bad, since that'll pretty much burn just about every third party hardware vendor out there, and all the V owners who bought adapters.
I like the OS, guys. Really. But the company has been mental problems, almost since the V was released.

"Sorry, Kodak. Guess you're going to have to retool all those palmpix.
Sorry, Rand McNally. Guess you're going to have to eat the loss on those nifty new GPS units.
Sorry, Users. Gotta buy new clip-on modems, new cradles, new cables.

But this is the last time we'll change the connector. Honest."

Right.

RE: Connector standard?
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/27/2001 1:55:19 AM #
And how do you figure that changing the connector affects the CURRENT INSTALLED BASE of all those products that the PalmPix, etc work with (and will continue to work with???)

All it does is lean them towards a SECOND model that works with the new connectors. But that doesn't mean that the millions of current III-series owners out there will trash their units and buy a new one (well, most of the folks that read these forums might... but that's a small %)

Oh well...

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/27/2001 12:38:19 AM #
Guess I can't be too bummed. Assuming Palm fulfills their $50 rebate, and after selling my III to a friend for $70, I effectively paid $80 for my IIIxe. Definitely worth it for the improved screen and a bunch more memory. I'm sure the new 'M' series replacement for the III will be nice (assuming they didn't go with the dinky screen), but the "old" form factor suits me just fine.

get with the program

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/27/2001 1:00:04 AM #
this always happens in the market. they end old models and come out with new models.

Look...

PalmPlan @ 2/27/2001 9:56:07 AM #
Like I've always said, the only constant in life is death. Look at it this way... there are still lots of old "obsolete" Pilots and Pilot Professionals working happily away for their owners. So what if Palm drops the IIIxe? It's a natural progression guys. I don't hear that many people complain when Intel phases out old proccessors - in fact, we look forward to better ones all the time!

So, let's just sit back and count ourselves lucky to have been witness to part of the handheld revolution - hey, I'm even considering buying a new IIIxe just to keep it in the box in mint condition. You'll never know how much it'll be worth one day!

OH MY GOD!!!

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/27/2001 4:03:23 PM #
Read this:

http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-4964476.html?tag=tp_pr

Palm is replacing the IIIxe with the M100/105 series! What the hell were they thinking??? What are we supposed to do now? Either buy a little toy M105 or go bankrupt by buying an M505?!?!?!?

RE: OH MY GOD!!!
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/17/2001 6:50:36 PM #
Well, for starters....continue to use your III. I used a Palm Pro for about 2 years before I upgraded to the Vx. I am exstatic with the improved capabilities of the Vx and the memory upgrade. Also, I have been waiting on Palm to either come up with an add on like the modem to add more memory. I am at the end of my 8MB after a year and a half of power using and am glad to see the M500/505 come out, plus I always said, "I am only going to upgrade if they add more memory and come out with a color one"....wouldn't you know it, they made both of my wishes come true at once. IT HAS TO BE AN EARLY CHRISTMAS....nonethe less, send me an email and I will sell you my Vx, modem, travel kit, hard case, soft case, and GoType keyboard for a good price so I can buy the M505. I am at vampyre0690@yahoo.com....I'll be looking for the email, PEACE!!!

Maybe not so bad

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/27/2001 5:11:29 PM #
I always wondered how high the 500 series would be. Palm has price slots for its various devices. There needs to be sufficient cost difference to justify some choosing to purchase the "lesser" model based on price. For example if the color 505 and the bw 500 differ in price by 25 bucks, everyone would choose color.

My point. If there was a replacement for the III series form factor(m300),what would it cost? 350.00 perhaps? How much would the bw 500 cost? 450.00? 500.00? where does that put the color 505? perhaps as high as 599.00.

My figures may be off but the principle is there whatever the price specifics are. This elimination of the III form has efectively reduced the price slots for the "high end" Palms.
No III form means that bw 500 model could come in at 350.00 (perhaps as little as 300.00)

If you must have the III form there is still the visor as an option.

Those who wanted III form factor could now afford the 500 or even a 550 instead.

It's a good sign or bad siqn?

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/27/2001 7:49:24 PM #
As what I see IIIxe is the most popular model amonqs palm.com products. It will cause IIIxe rush!

Jump ship

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/10/2001 5:41:37 PM #
What I hate isn't so much buying a new handheld as having to get the new cradle, too (since I want one at home and office).

I've been looking at Handspring's PDA line and seriously considering jumping ship on Palm. It's has the Palm OS and they offer a one-touch button transfer of your Palm data to their system. They also seem to have a better idea of how to develop their product line.

Top

Account

Register Register | Login Log in
user:
pass: