Comments on: Quickies: Palm Rumor, Palmtop User, HanDBase, Backdrop GC
Palmtop Publications has published the first issue of Palmtop User, a magazine designed for anyone who uses a Palm, Handspring, Sony, or other handheld computer or communicator. It includes news, in-depth reviews and features, tips and solutions. -PR
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RE: Question about HanDBase 3
RE: Question about HanDBase 3
I also noted that the database file size is now quite a bit bigger than the v2.x files, properly due to forms and views data associated with the database. For a Treo user like me, this is not particularly good news since I have over 20 database in RAM, and sucking away over 2MB!
RE: Question about HanDBase 3
It's now on it's second bug fixing release 3.0c - the only saving grace in all this is that the DDH Software team is so responsive in addressing issues.
RE: Question about HanDBase 3
RE: Question about HanDBase 3
Palm name change
RE: Palm name change
RE: Palm name change
RE: Palm name change- Wise IMHO
My guess is we'll see the Palm brand able to be used FAR MORE by folks like Sony and Handspring, and get more awareness of the distinction it offers compared to WinCE-PPC.
RE: Palm name change
The trademarked names....
Magazines losing Palm-only coverage
I've seen this first issue of PalmUser and it sucks. There is about a five page article describing (with all hype and barely any critique) the standard features of PocketPC. It is a glowing review and is essentially a sales pitch.
I find it disturbing that the Palm community cannot support a single magazine devoted to the platform itself.
These two magazines were the best for Palm content. Now, that content is very watered down. I don't know whether I should "hold dear" any bit of PalmOS info I see in these rags or if I should just let my subscription lapse in protest.
-Kevin Crossman
Commercial Business
Take for example, I am from an asian company that devoted in the design and manufacturing of Palm handhelds accessories and some mobile solutions too. When Palm handhelds are not selling as well and with more corporate users going for Pocket PCs, what should the company do in order to survive? Bite the bullet and hold onto it? we tried but the economy is not doing that good and worse of all the entire market (Singapore) is so quiet (http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/bizit/story/0,2276,53990,00.html?) that we have to do something about it else we will need to be laid off workers.
But do you think Palm, Singapore will stretch its hand out and said that your company has been with us for years, let me help you since you are a true developer that stands side by side with us? I never receive any calls from them because we do not have anymore freebies for these leeches that will claim to be best of friends when time is good but avoid you when they themselves are struggling.
RE: Magazines losing Palm-only coverage
RE: Magazines losing Palm-only coverage
You bet that it hurts like crazy and have to hand those retrenchment letters to those that been with you for so long, fighting alongside to build the company.
Today, everythings is almost gone.
RE: Magazines losing Palm-only coverage
OTOH -- I may be considering dropping the two subs I already have and if others do the same the plan could backfire...
-Kevin Crossman
RE: Magazines losing Palm-only coverage
RE: Magazines losing Palm-only coverage
The Palm marketshare isn't declining. Go back to your PocketPC hole where they actually believe that stuff. You are right though, the average Joe Blow m100 user doesn't want to read this stuff, nor does he need to. That's why he bought a Palm in the first place.
RE: Magazines losing Palm-only coverage
BUT: There are still *63* editorial pages of *direct* Palm OS relevance, which is hugely more than any other publication in the *world*. In case you hadn't spotted, the three 'Steves'(!) are all big Palm OS users and so of course Palm OS will get a LOT of attention.
Yes, the overall amount of Palm OS editorial content has decreased somewhat, compared to PalmUser magazine, but don't you at least find it *slightly* interesting what's going on elsewhere in the handheld world? In these days of increasing commoditisation, the OS a handheld runs is becoming slightly less important, IMHO.
Steve Litchfield
Palmtop User, http://www.palmtop.co.uk/
RE: Magazines losing Palm-only coverage
"relevance" is relative.
Away from that - it doesnt hold water even if you would count the numerous cheap ads selling mostly useless products.
The German Palmtop-Pro Magazine instead has 96 pages of Palm deep-rootet informative Palm only orientated reports and is without any advertisement. Away from that - even for a higher price it gives a far better value. Get a magazine, compare and follow.
my two cents.
RE: Magazines losing Palm-only coverage
What bothers me is that I am a new subscriber. I subscribed to the magazine because of their promises of so much wonderful Palm coverage. They spoke about 100+ pages of coverage on their webpage. I sent them a great deal of money (granted a lot of it was for shipping to the US). The first issue I received was NOT a Palm OS magazine. It was a mishmash of computing coverage and most of it was simply general common information. If I had wanted this type of content, there are several magazines in the States and UK that I could receive. I chose to spend my money with these people because they had what I wanted - a Palm OS magazine.
Their behavior of not saying a single thing about changing their focus until after teking my money is what bothers me. They could have at least contacted me and given me a choice. Other magazines I have subscribed to have given me choices when they change their focus. Offers of another magazine they publish, extra issues as a form of apology, or cancellation with refund. Unfortunately, PalmTop User was not mature enough to act so responsibly.
If the problem was that they were losing subscribers from their Psion / Symbian magazine, they should have just dumped that magazine. Then they should have just remained true to their lights at PalmUser. (My opinion, I'm not a rich entrepeneur so you know what it's worth)
As other writers have said, they are in this for commercial reasons and profit. Obviously the satisfaction of customers does not figure into this strategy.
I hope they are happy in their pursuit of riches. I will not contribute to this and I will be requesting a refund later this week. So long PalmUser, It was nice while it lasted. Good luck PalmTop, I think you're going to need it.
RE: Magazines losing Palm-only coverage
I just want to say I understand Kevin's issues -- it was one of the major concerns we all had when we discussed changing the format of the magazine.
Some key aspects of my job are to make sure (a) the Palm OS aspects of the magazine continue to be accurate, compelling, good value, and still the most comprehensive coverage available in a magazine, and (b) to make sure that the Pocket PC / Symbian side doesn't make incorrect assumptions about how they might be 'better' than Palm OS.
The Pocket PC intro wasn't meant to be a critique, but it also wasn't meant to be a sales pitch (although the writer is VERY fond of his Pocket PC - go figure). The new magazine has a very large pre-existing readership based in legacy Psion devices and these readers want to understand the basics of the alternative OSes they may consider adopting.
It's been a bit of a tightrope, but I think we've succeeded in sustaining a good level of informative Palm OS content, but the feedback from Palm OS readers is essential to help ensure we're continuing to meet their needs.
Cheers
Steve T
Palmtop User Magazine
www.palmtop.co.uk
RE: Magazines losing Palm-only coverage
As a Palm OS fan and PDA enthusiast, I think we've got the balance about right. And we've had *hundreds* of emails and letters praising the decision, to balance out the few dozen against, etc.
Steve Litchfield
RE: Magazines losing Palm-only coverage
As for Palmtop, I got a recent issue and was horrified to find it was around half the size of older issues of the mag, so it was obviously going down the dumper. I'm no expert but people who live and breathe Psion are going to stick to them as long as they can, but for those new to the PDA game this mag will no doubt help them to decide on what form factor they want to go for. It's a shame that there is no longer a Palm-dedicated mag out there but if the move to Palmtop User guarantees a future for a magazine that will still feature impartial and informative reviews and news on Palm OS products (something Palm are incapable of) then we're all winners.
And let's not forget the main thing here, it was just issue 1 so they deserve a chance to get some kind of balance going.
RE: Magazines losing Palm-only coverage
Steve Litchfield
RE: Magazines losing Palm-only coverage
> thing about changing their focus until
> after teking my money is what bothers
> me. They could have at least contacted
> me and given me a choice.
I can see your point, and if we were to do the same thing again I'm not sure we'd do it in exactly the same way. We did (and do) sincerely believe that the new magazine continues to be just as worthwhile to former PalmUser readers -- this was an important point raised at every editorial meeting of the new magazine -- hence the way we proceeded. I hope you'll consider the new magazine on its merits, but if we handled the transition less than perfectly, then I do encourage you to write to the Publishing Editor letting him know.
Steve T
Palmtop User Magazine
www.palmtop.co.uk
Why change names?
RE: Why change names?
RE: Why change names?
With the record Palm, Inc. has for covering up problems (remember the static situation?), it would be better for the OS to not be affiliated with them. When you ask for a "Palm" or "Palmpilot" you are going to be pointed at the whole shelf of licensee products--so the name should reflect that and the Solutions Group should not be able to benefit from the goodwill really due to the very well designed OS and UI.
IMHO.
RE: Why change names?
i give palm a lifespan of two more years... either (hopefully) sony will devour them and spit them out like the spoiled milk that they are, or they'll be overrun by the pocketpc machines that seem to be converting everybody nowadays.
RE: Why change names?
If that's the case, why is the *OS Company* the one that's (rumored to be) keeping the Palm name?
So They Can Have the Name "SONY"
RE: Why change names?
> would be better for the OS to not be affiliated with them. When you ask for a "Palm" or
> "Palmpilot" you are going to be pointed at the whole shelf of licensee products--so the name
> should reflect that and the Solutions Group should not be able to benefit from the goodwill
> really due to the very well designed OS and UI.
This comment really doesn't make sense to me. You can't really separate the OS from the device...especially since they have been (until OS5) been developed together. The "goodwill"shouldn't go to the OS or to the hardware...it goes to the integration of both.
I think spinning off the OS into a separate company is a stupid move for Palm as a company. Sure it might help get more licensees but considering they aren't making any money right now without Palm hardware group, does it make sense. Also, the motivation for the reverse stock split is to help with the spinoff...well we know what that news did to the stock. Also, does this economic environment look really promising for an IPO? Giving up the Palm Brand would be an even bigger mistake, but I figure Eric Benahmou and the other fat cats will be richer..so they could care less.
RE: Why change names?
Another reason to do so, in my opinion, is that Palm is secretly planning an exit on the hardware scene. Look at what happened in the last two years: Palm simply cannot keep up with the competitor (SONY) on the hardware side. So a timely exit on the hardware scene is perhaps the best for Palm (and PalmOS). Even if Palm hardware flops, we're still gonna have more PalmOS products from various manufacturers, maybe even setup boxes, and cell phones, or Digicams?
Everyone is getting out of hardware. In the hardware scene, only the biggest survives. Look at SEGA.
TotalEclipse
http://www.imed.idv.tw
What about palm logo on oslo?
Remember when IBM was selling palms with IBM logo. Companies do this all the time. Some car manufacturers will sell the same car under two or three different "brand" names. Example: Ford Escape=Mazda Tribute and so on.
PalmUser blew it
"Pen computing" and "Laptop" mag are just as good from a Palm perspective. The current "Pen computing" is far better than this mag. If I had a PPC I would rather subscribe to "Pocket PC Magazine." They arent going to get the FLOOD of new subscriptions that they expect. And they will lose thousands like me.
And what a lost opportunity with Handheld computing abandoning "Palm only" coverage, Palm User could have promoted itself as "The only magazine 100 percent devoted to Palm OS. As it is it is just one of many Portable computing type magazines. IDIOTS
PalmUser blew it - but there is a alternative
There damned expensive but worth every cent.
RE: PalmUser blew it
One of the things the editor has done is rip out all the static 'reference' pages at the end (this info will be available on the web, by the way) to provide for more pages dynamic editorial content (i.e. articles). So although the magazine is multi-platform, we're not forgetting our roots and we're devoting as much space as possible to Palm OS articles.
What would you like to see in the magazine? (besides ripping out all the Symbian / PPC pages... :) )
I haven't been called an "idiot" in a long time -- which reminds me, I wonder where my ex-wife is nowadays?
Steve T
Palmtop User Magazine
www.palmtop.co.uk
RE: PalmUser blew it
I am not a narrow minded person who thinks that Palm products and OS are the be-all and end-all. Adding the PPC contigent potentially adds variety.
BUT
What neither magazine has/had is something that really grabs you. OK, we don't need to see half dressed women, like PC Format used to do but the magazine is boring.
What I would like to see in the magazine is something dynamic. I know that the readers/subscribers are going to be a little geeky but lets have some real world stuff. For example, there are some cracking business reasons for having a handheld computer and there are some fun reasons. Lets expand on that perhaps.
I would like to see myself in your magazine. If you would like me to submit something I will do that out of this loop but please get a little more excited about a very interesting and exciting subject.
MrScarey@palm-x.co.uk
mrscarey
palmist and visionary
RE: PalmUser blew it
> is something dynamic. I know that the
> readers/subscribers are going to be a little
> geeky...
Hey, I resemble that remark! :-)
> ... but lets have some real world stuff.
> For example, there are some cracking
> business reasons for having a handheld
> computer and there are some fun reasons.
> Lets expand on that perhaps.
Some excellent suggestions! You'll recall that PalmUser had a regular feature "Working for a Living" where we invited people from various industries (salesmen, teachers, pilots, writers) who wrote about how they used their handhelds to assist in their work.
And of course, every issue has had the "Games Zone" to review the latest time wasters :-)
Steve Clack is always interested to hear from potential contributors... if you have an idea for an article he's at editor@palmtop.co.uk
Cheers
Steve T
Palmtop User Magazine
www.palmtop.co.uk
RE: PalmUser blew it
RE: PalmUser blew it
Huh! I'm a bit surprised, not a criticism I hear a lot. We actually get a lot of praise from readers about how interesting the magazine is. Personally there's always something I take away from proofing the articles which makes me think "I didn't know that, that was worth reading!"
Well, hopefully you'll find the new Palmtop User more to your liking. :-)
Cheers
Steve T
Palmtop User Magazine
www.palmtop.co.uk
RE: PalmUser blew it
Certainly not at PIC – as you can see. The hundreds of frenetic readers seem to be rare here.
Probably you better get moving over to the PPC sites – there you have certainly more luck. PPC readers are not so choosy anyhow.
RE: PalmUser blew it
Thanks but no thanks, I'm not a PPC fan, never owned one, and I doubt I ever will. I've no interest in them.
I've owned a PalmPilot Pro, III, IIIx, IIIc, Prism, Handera, m505, m515, and NR70V. My next purchase will probably be an OS 5.0 device. Over the bast four years I've purchased and registered 70 or so Palm applications.
I've contributed to comp.sys.palmtops.pilot and alt.comp.sys.palmtops.pilot since 1999 and I'm a moderator at Brighthand's Palm-sponsored forums.
Cheers
Steve T
Palmtop User Magazine
www.palmtop.co.uk
RE: PalmUser blew it
Lucan
RE: PalmUser blew it
The magazine is UK based, and mailing to the US isn't cheap. We've tried to find ways to bring the cost down for US subscribers but it's very difficult. The cost for an annual subscription is £27 which converts to about $41 US. It used to be worse (about $54) but we were able to do some savings last year.
Anybody who has doubts about spending that much for a subscription to a magazine they haven't seen (and that's very understandable) I suggest you try a sample issue -- you can get one by filling in the on-line subscription form and putting "one sample issue only" in the comments box. You'll be charged £4 (about 6 dollars).
We get an excellent re-subscription rate (and even better for people who's last issue has been the new PalmTop User and are resubscribing deliberately for the new magazine) so it looks like people who've been receiving the magazine seem to feel it's worth it.
If you check with your local PUG you may find one or more of the other members has a subscription, so you could cadge a look from them to see what it's all about.
Finally, you could do a search on Google under newsgroups for 'PalmUser Magazine' -- we've had nothing but praise from people who've read the magazine and posted their opinions, and this is reflected in every single post from PalmUser readers in the newsgroups.
(...or so I assume - I never got around to translating the postings in the Chinese newsgroup :-) ...)
Cheers
Steve T
Palmtop User Magazine
www.palmtop.co.uk
RE: PalmUser blew it
First, I don't have a terrible problem with the price. As a US reader, postage on a foriegn magazine is high and nobody can do anything about it. Several UK magazines I receive are MUCH more expensive (PC Plus 100 pounds for 1 year - I really like PalmUsers price in comparison - US readers need to grow up about this).
I don't mind Symbian coverage. I don't know about in the UK, but if it's like here, the only coverage Symbian gets is one page per issue in Pen Computing. That's it. I have a Psion 3 and 5 and liked them. If Nokia and others have their way, Symbian will continue to be around. This coverage is needed if only to provide a view of the alternatives to Pocket PC.
To have true diversity, I suppose you must have some coverage of Pocket PC. I really think this should be minimized - not because I don't like Pocket PC (I don't), but I think Microsoft spends quite enough money getting Pocket PC shoved in our faces in print and TV. My wife uses one of these beast and I'm not real sure that all the coverage of the Pocket PC is factual and I don't think their fire needs any more fanning. If you are going to have Pocket PC coverage, make VERY sure of all your facts and do NOT just reprint a Microsoft press release. This will do nobody any good.
I've always enjoyed your reviews - especially the multi page, more indepth ones. I would like to see the games section expanded a little to have an actual opinion expressed about them and not just a description.
I think one thing I've always liked about UK magazines is the different perspective on many issues. This isn't going to sound right, but they seem to be a little less commercialized and more honest. I mean take a look at the authors pages of many UK magazines. It's obvious that many of these people are not "professional journalists" but actual users of the technology and maybe even enthusiasts (some might say uber geek). I like being able to get editorial content that isn't as obviously sponsered (bought off). This is a long way of saying that I find your aparrent freshness very appealing. I'm a little tired of Jim Seymour, Bill Machrone, John Dvorak and company.
I'd also like to see more negativity in the content. I like being told what is good about a product, but what I find more valuable is what needs work in a product. You do a respectable job at this, but more would be better.
Well, I've rambled much too much already so I'll stop. Have a nice day all.
RE: PalmUser blew it
I've forwarded your entire post to Steve Clack (the Publishing Editor). It makes interesting reading!
Cheers
Steve T
Palmtop User Magazine
www.palmtop.co.uk
RE: PalmUser blew it
(And kudos to the PalmTop staff for constructive contribution in a thread that could have become a flame war and (for once) didn't.)
(Self-confessed Palm Geek)
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Question about HanDBase 3
Any users of it care to comment?