Comments on: Palm, Sony Hint at New Models

Palm Inc. and Sony are expected to be releasing new handhelds soon. Both are releasing hints about these, some deliberate, some accidental.

According to an anonymous source inside the company, Palm will be sending out an email on Monday to its list of customers that seems designed to create some buzz. It says simply, "All we can say is that the newest Palm handheld is coming. Very soon. Stay tuned for more details."

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16MB... a trend or a peek of things to come?

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 1:25:02 PM #
With Sony releasing many new models with 16MB and Handspring Pro with also 16MB, makes me wonder if this is the beginning of new Palm Powered PDAs that will sport 16MB from now on...

It's also rumoured that the new Palm models with OS5 will sport either 16 or 32 MB. Quite possible since the ARM processors can address up to quite a large amount of RAM (was it 64 or 128MB? I can't remember).

RE: 16MB... a trend or a peek of things to come?
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 1:48:58 PM #
It surely is a trend, hope it becomes a standard too. Now that many apps like avantgo, plucker, adobe reader, a few games, etc. need quite some space compared to apps in the past, more memory is a must!PDANature - http://pdan.has.it - Hourly refreshed pda news, reviews, commentarys, software, software update notices, features, etc. http://pdan.has.it



RE: 16MB... a trend or a peek of things to come?
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 5:57:04 PM #
ARM processors can address well in excess of 32MB... I'm doing development work on an SA-1110 based system which has 512MB RAM (it's a wearable computer). Sitting next to me on my desk in fact.

RE: 16MB... a trend or a peek of things to come?
Hed @ 1/13/2002 1:20:10 AM #
Please stop advertising your PDA Nature site. Or at least have the courtesy to register. Thank you.

RE: 16MB... a trend or a peek of things to come?
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/13/2002 3:07:37 PM #
Instead of inviting surfers to visit your site, you are turning them off with those excessive advertising.

RE: 16MB... a trend or a peek of things to come?
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/13/2002 3:31:25 PM #
And it's such a HORRIBLE site. Especially when compared to the first-class PalmInfocenter. Please spare us and give it up.


Nothing really new....

SaxonMan @ 1/12/2002 1:27:50 PM #
well didnt we know that already?

RE: Nothing really new....
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 1:32:07 PM #
No. We didn't know that Palm would send a letter Monday and we didn't know that Sony has "officially" acknowledged these two devices for US sale.

If you don't think it is news...fine. Just don't give Ed a hard time as he tries to keep the rest of us in the loop.

RE: Nothing really new....
SaxonMan @ 1/12/2002 1:41:15 PM #
No offense aginst Ed he's doing an outstanding job. i'm just saying that there were some rumors...

regards

SaxonMan

T615C/L & T615C/S

dhchung @ 1/12/2002 2:08:36 PM #
Probably the difference in color?

RE: T615C/L & T615C/S
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 11:28:42 PM #
Based on the part numbers for T600C/L and T600C/S in Japan, they are for blue and silver respectively.

RE: T615C/L & T615C/S
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/13/2002 3:09:31 PM #
In Singapore, only 2 color - Blue and Silver are being sold. No news of any other color will be available as at now.

T615C/S vs. T615C/L

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 2:14:34 PM #
/S and /L probably indicate case color. Silver and Lavender?

The real question. When will these hit the stores? I hope Sony is not waiting for the Palm release. I would have thought that CES would be the perfect venue for the announcements.


Can't understand why T615c in Hong Kong is only in Silver...
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 2:30:54 PM #
If they come up with a lavender in U.S. I will ask someone to get it for me. Silver is just too dull and probably will look more dull when color cases come out.

BTW I don't really care about the i700 whatever because only people in states can use it. Not really global I suppose...

RE: T615C/S vs. T615C/L
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/15/2002 6:01:43 AM #
I saw Blue ones in HK.

/L + /S

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 3:01:55 PM #
I would guess that...
/L = Limited Black
/S = Satin Silver

RE: /L + /S
mikecane @ 1/12/2002 3:43:00 PM #
Or limited Royal Blue. Whatever! As long as there's an alternative to Everyone-Else-Has-Silver!

RE: /L + /S
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 4:13:19 PM #
/L may be Limited Red or Limited Green or Limited brown...

RE: /L + /S
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 4:20:05 PM #
I say Limited Black because there is a /L in the Japanese version of the T400 and it stands for Limited Black. Anyhow, yes, any colors are welcome though Silver is a classic.

RE: /L + /S
pontif @ 1/13/2002 1:06:04 AM #
L is for Blue, S for silver. They already use those letters with the T600 for blue and silver respectively in Japan.

Also in the past Sony has used B for black, S for silver, V for Violet, and L for blue.

There was a rumor of a black version at some point. I've seen photos of a black T series from Japan, so it could happen I suppose, but HK and SG sites don't list a black. Also the US support site only lists two colors. Also, the black unit was monochrome, I think.


RE: /L + /S
mikecane @ 1/14/2002 8:35:58 AM #
I must agree it will most likely be blue. The T415B is B for Black. L for bLue. They could've used R for Royal blue, but then everyone would think it was Red. Or Ruby.

No m525?

sandbuck @ 1/12/2002 3:23:50 PM #

Nothing about this rumored device? I guess the T615 is my next stop.

Where is my m525?

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 5:40:21 PM #
I like my m505 but I want 16MB and Hi-Res screen.

RE: Where is my m525?
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 6:29:12 PM #
I rather have a soft graffiti area than a high resolution screen

RE: Where is my m525?
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 8:50:39 PM #
What do you mean by "soft graffitti area"? Is the Sony surface hard?

RE: Where is my m525?
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 9:27:22 PM #
"Soft" Graf area meaning it collapses like on Handera. Get more usable screen for viewing etc.

RE: Where is my m525?
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/13/2002 7:39:29 AM #
I think when things going on like before we have to build our own device ... do you really think palm is planning to develop/release a device we wish?

RE: Where is my m525?
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/15/2002 4:34:34 AM #
"Soft" Grafiti = means software Grafiti, it is displayed on your screen, but you could go without it, or you could change it. It's somehow like the "soft" keyboard which appear when you touch the left bottom corner of the "hard" grafiti area

"Hard" Grafiti = means hardware, it's always there, like on all Palm

Dan.

i705 needs to be 16MB

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 6:09:47 PM #
Let's just hope that we don't see another lackluster device announcement from Palm, and that this i705 comes with all the things we'd expect: Universal connector, SD/MMC card slot and 16MB of RAM(which all the other licensees are going to)!!!

Anything less will be a disappointment...

C-

RE: i705 needs to be 16MB
digilaw @ 1/12/2002 6:15:35 PM #
We'll see how much they charge for the i705 but if its over $250, its already disapointing if its not a color model.

RE: i705 needs to be 16MB
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 6:52:08 PM #
I think the i705 will be $449 and GREYSCALE.

RE: i705 needs to be 16MB
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/13/2002 3:11:53 PM #
Palm is lacking behind far away by many of its hardware manufacturers, many with better and innovative value added features that surpassed it within a short period of time.

Just look at Sony, so many PDA penetrating different market segments meeting different needs.



RE: i705 needs to be 16MB
Foo @ 1/14/2002 10:10:34 AM #
Quote: "Let's just hope that we don't see another lackluster device announcement from Palm, and that this i705 comes with all the things we'd expect: Universal connector, SD/MMC card slot and 16MB of RAM"

Wow! You've got pretty low expectations. Palm will have to do much better than these specs to satisfy me. I want a higher resolution display (ala Clie) and a virtual Graffiti area.

505 SOLD OUT

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 7:27:57 PM #
Well I have been looking for a m505 the last few days. Every where I went they were out. Today at my 7th store I got one. So maybe that is an indication that a unit will replace the m505. Just wait and find out.

RE: 505 SOLD OUT
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 9:16:13 PM #
Office Depot had 5 of them in stock today so I'm not too sure about your theory. Where do you live, Skunkhill, Arkanas?

RE: 505 SOLD OUT
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 11:39:09 AM #
I've noticed plenty of m505s. I suspect it's the i705, but I'd be intrigued if it was an m525.

I saw a T615C/S display tag

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 7:33:13 PM #
The model number was T615C/S (Silver)
S is definitely silver.
The L is a special order item, and probably bLue
The price was US$399.
The salesguy said they had a huge number on order that would be available on Feb. 10.


RE: I saw a T615C/S display tag
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 8:49:18 PM #
where?

RE: I saw a T615C/S display tag
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 9:27:04 PM #
Ultimate Electronics in Murray Utah.

RE: I saw a T615C/S display tag
sandbuck @ 1/13/2002 12:07:53 AM #
Do you have a ph# for that store?

RE: I saw a T615C/S display tag
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/13/2002 10:09:18 AM #
Do you have a phone or an internet connection?

RE: I saw a T615C/S display tag
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/13/2002 10:33:20 AM #
Almost went to look...

You can look it up as easily as I can.

Big whoop

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2002 10:00:27 PM #
Its just Palms much delayed wireless device. Who cares. Anyone who wants something like this is going to buy a Treo instead and get a cell phone in the bargain. What they NEED to do is come out with a brighter M505 with a high res screen and 16 mb of ram. This is so obvious to everyone but the knuckleheads who run Palm.

RE: Big whoop
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/13/2002 12:52:46 AM #
It's coming...

RE: Big whoop
vincenzosi @ 1/13/2002 3:30:43 AM #
Why won't they just release one device that fills all bills? A color device that's slim, lightweight (a la the i705) has expansion, a Universal Connector, and is actually worth upgrading to? They put the VIIx in a new case here and think everyone is going to bite. I really do hope it's more of an upgrade than just form factor, because if that's all it is, this will be another wasted device.

RE: Big whoop
mknowledge @ 1/13/2002 8:25:52 AM #
I think you may be right!

16mb, color, SD/MMC, and wireless connectivity... that's the minimum that Palm needs to get a respectable notice on one of their "next" devices.

With the m505 and the Xircom wireless LAN module, we are "almost" there.. . but the connectivity is still quirky... I keep carrying the Kyocera 6035, too.

Seems silly that we don't have some more movement on convergence from Palm.

Definitely, that 8mb limit needs to be broken... the additional storage with the MMC/SD card is not a substitute.

After seeing the new Compaq with Bluetooth built-in and a sled that expands to CF or PCMCIA with 802.11b... I'm thinking we are at the leading edge of tapping into wireless networking that will be practical.... still expensive, but realistic.... Palm will need to make some strategic decisions that will position for similar readiness.

RE: Big whoop
Scott @ 1/13/2002 4:12:06 PM #
The upcoming device will probably be the i705. Not sure about the memory, maybe 16MB. Other than that, expect it to be grayscale. I'd love for them to come out with a color version, but it appears doubtful. I definitely don't blame them for releasing a B&W model, though. You need to remember that this is an always-on wireless device. That means that it will use up battery power. The target audience will probably be the same market that Blackberry targets. These customers will, by and large, choose a device that has prolonged battery life over one with color and needs to be charged daily.

Let's compare...

Blackberry RIM 950
- $370 (Buy.com)
- $40/month for unlimited service
- small/durable
- thumb keyboard
- grayscale (or maybe just B&W)
- instant email notification
- primarily used for email only
- 2-3 weeks use on 1 AA battery

Palm VIIx
- $199 - $100 rebate
- $45/month for unlimited service
- pretty large and not overly durable
- Graffiti
- no instant email notification
- offers a lot more non-email uses than a Blackberry
- acceptable battery life (guessing)

My predictions about the Palm i705:
- $250-300
- lower monthly service rate of $40/month (same as Blackberry) - though, IMO, this will still be too high to make this a breakthrough product
- smaller and more durable than the VIIx (key improvement) - though still not as durable as a Blackberry
- Graffiti
- instant email notification (key improvement)
- offers a lot more non-email uses than a Blackberry
- acceptable battery life (guessing)
- expandable memory via SD card

In short, my prediction is that this new and improved VIIx will have subtle, but important improvements from a corporate perspective. However, I still think that the product price and, more importantly, monthly costs will be too high for it to be "the next big thing".

Scott

RE: Big whoop
vincenzosi @ 1/13/2002 6:48:33 PM #
My point earlier was that people would be willing to wait for an "ultimate palm" so to speak. Rather than incremental improvements (which, by the way I've never minded: I've never owned a handheld by anyone other than palm: Palm Pro, 3x, 5x, M505) it's time to smack the market to wake it up even if we have to wait for it. Unfortunately it doesn't look like that's going to happen. I guess I'll be holding onto my M505 for awhile.

RE: Big whoop
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/13/2002 9:03:43 PM #
At this point I think the paradigm of slim form factor, wireless, color, good batery life and low price would be quite an engineering challenge. It may in fact not be impossible using current technology. If another hardware maker is able to release such a device, then I think it would be fare to criticize Palm. As of yet the only thing that fits the bill is the color Trio which is vapor-ware at this time and probably will be expensive and have crappy battery life.

RE: Big whoop
vincenzosi @ 1/14/2002 9:16:54 AM #
I'm definitely not criticizing Palm, it just seems like they release a new handheld everytime they figure something new out, rather than refining it before releasing it. I think the i705 will be a huge bust. Not because it'll be bad, but because it won't be enough.

RE: Big whoop
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 11:42:00 AM #
I think the i705 will likely flop, but because the general public won't be that thrilled, not because it's a lame device.

As is often mentioned, this site represents perhaps 5% of PDA users, if that. Many of us are interested in wireless connectivity, but I doubt the general public is that thrilled. Sprint PCS, for example, has had trouble selling it's "wireless web."

On another note, I think the Treo will be far less successful than most people who post to PIC. I'll probably get flamed for this, but it's MHO. I suspect that a number of people will see Treo's enhanced functions to be "too complicated" and therefore avoid it. What's more, if it's battery life isn't stellar (and the battery life for phones is getting increasingly spectacular), it will see sales suffer. And for the life of me, I can't get over Handspring's focus on GSM, which is everywhere in Europe but is a fraction of the market in the US. They've only hinted at the possibility of adapting for CDMA, which is dominant here. Any idea why they've pursued this focus?

RE: Big whoop
Midknyte @ 1/14/2002 12:59:33 PM #
"Sprint PCS, for example, has had trouble selling it's "wireless web..."

That's because it's just WAP...

corporate welfare

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/13/2002 2:50:31 PM #
Well, you can buy one of those "new" Palms if you want to send some welfare check to Palm and make sure they don't disappear before coming out with a enw product. But realistically, you aren't going to get anything you haven't been able to get for a couple of years: a 16bit device with or without wireless.

Rationally, the only thing to do at this point is to wait for Palm's new 32bit device, which will probably take about a year to come out. If your current Palm breaks, get yourself a low-end Sony or maybe m500, and it will run anything interesting the Palm platform is capable of.

RE: corporate welfare
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 8:10:02 AM #
Yes, in order to save a couple hundred dollars, carry around a crap mono PDA for A YEAR.

RE: corporate welfare
vincenzosi @ 1/14/2002 9:15:25 AM #
I don't buy into the M500 period. Once you go color, mono is a complete waste. Color is a lot more than an incremental improvement.

/L should be Blue

martopiggus @ 1/14/2002 1:42:52 AM #
When I bought my T600 the label on the top says "L - Blue"('Blue' in japanese) and of course, "S - silver". I guess this is the kind of representation they like to use.

RE: /L should be Blue
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/15/2002 1:04:20 AM #
what do you like about your T600 and what don't you like?

DID ANYONE GET THE i705 PALM EMAIL?

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 9:12:39 AM #
???

RE: DID ANYONE GET THE i705 PALM EMAIL?
mikecane @ 1/14/2002 9:46:38 AM #
Palm is in California. They will probably send it at 9AM PT. Leaving us east coasters in the lurch. Score another one for Palm: don't they use automated mail?! (How else to explain that InSync I get?)

RE: DID ANYONE GET THE i705 PALM EMAIL?
mikecane @ 1/14/2002 9:48:44 AM #
Hmmm... you know, I just went and re-read the story. Should've done that before my above reply. This email might just be a rumor. Strange it would not be in east coast mailboxes by 9AM ET.

RE: DID ANYONE GET THE i705 PALM EMAIL?
fleegle @ 1/14/2002 9:52:41 AM #
What does it matter if you get the e-mail at 9AM PT? Why would it leave you in the lurch? You'll still get it on Monday. That's if it isn't a rumor.

RE: DID ANYONE GET THE i705 PALM EMAIL?
mikecane @ 1/14/2002 10:06:51 AM #
It's always best to get breaking news in the AM. Palm knows about press deadlines and stuff like that. Besides, after a morning stint, I am usually offline the rest of the day (contrary to the stalkers who think I am on all the time!).

RE: DID ANYONE GET THE i705 PALM EMAIL?
fleegle @ 1/14/2002 12:13:58 PM #
But you are on all the time! ;-)

Yes, you are right it is best to get them in the AM. At the company I work for (headquarters on the west coast) we don't do automatic e-mail. When we have an announcement, someone is here in the wee hours of the morning to send the e-mails worldwide.

BTW, it is now past 9AM PT... any news yet? :)

RE: DID ANYONE GET THE i705 PALM EMAIL?
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 12:46:00 PM #
I just got my email from Palm. It is a graphic with text. There is a BIG "Psssst." in graphics, followed by a very brief message that says that there is a new Palm handheld coming "Very soon." and to "State tuned". It end by saying to "Tell a (discreet) friend." Um...we're all discreet here, right?

RE: DID ANYONE GET THE i705 PALM EMAIL?
ocspub @ 1/14/2002 5:53:17 PM #
Well... go to www.palm.com. There is a picture with a red curtain and in big letters "Shhhh." Also says "be the first to learn about upcoming Palm products." Click on that image and it pops up a page that lets you register your email address
etc. It says there:

"Fill me in. I'd like to hear more about the new wireless Palm handheld. Please put me on the advance notification list."

RE: DID ANYONE GET THE i705 PALM EMAIL?
Foo @ 1/14/2002 7:00:50 PM #
Got mine.

This reminds me of Apple's lame attempt to build hype around an upcoming product. "Count the days...Count the minutes...Count on being blown away!".

"Way beyond the rumor sites. Way beyond.."

RE: DID ANYONE GET THE i705 PALM EMAIL?
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 7:25:43 PM #
On a totally unrelated note, a new Palm pilot will be officially announced and acknowledged by company officials within the next 14 days. My source hasn't indicated the exact date and/or time and wouldn't give me a straight answer when i asked him if the 14 days were actual days or 14 business days (working days); he just said within the next 14 days. Also, purchase orders are in the systems of almost all retail outlets.

-IASEDA


RE: DID ANYONE GET THE i705 PALM EMAIL?
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 7:32:03 PM #
Can't believe Palm has lowered themselves to such spamminess and marketing BS. They must have had some significant turnover in the marketing department. I'm embarassed for them. They were demo-ing the fully functional i705 9-10 months ago publicly. Now we are all supposed to have amnesia about it.

I think I had 4 other emails about "wanting to know a secret" today, but those were a completely different issue. Of the 5, I only hit "Unsubscribe" on the Palm one.

RE: DID ANYONE GET THE i705 PALM EMAIL?
NRowe @ 1/14/2002 11:35:38 PM #
There was one other interesting thing to the e-mail - the title to the web page: "Palm Everest - Psst PT-Migration Page."

At least they've created some buzz, which the share price could use about now.


RE: DID ANYONE GET THE i705 PALM EMAIL?
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/15/2002 12:57:00 AM #
Something is causing some interest. Palm's share price is up about 15% so far this year.

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