Lots of Rumors Flying About the m700

Posted By: Ed Saturday, July 21, 2001 12:20:09 PM

A reader recently filled out a poll sent to him by Palm Inc. One of the questions was, "Consider this new PDA/Handheld with the following features: compact size, sleek design, Palm OS, corporate email access (behind the firewall), Web-based email access, always on notification of incoming e-mails, instant messenger, Web browser, Web clippings, industry standard expansion slot (not proprietary), 8MB standard memory, monochrome screen, no external antenna." This certainly seems to be a complete description of the upcoming m700 and might even answer some questions about it. It looks like the m700 will not have a color screen, will have an SD/MMC slot, and will not have an external antenna.

This description seems to fit the images that were leaked to PalmStation in May (front and back). They show a small unit with no external antenna and its SD slot on the side. The images are in black and white so it wasn't possible to be sure that the screen was monochrome.

Another reader who works at a Staples said that all their stock of the Palm VIIx have to be returned the week before August 13, which seems to indicate that the m700 might be available then.

Palm's management has been talking about a new wireless handheld for months. Back in February, Palm's CEO Karl Yankowski promised that it would be better than the Blackberry pager and offer always-on wireless service. But they have only said that it will be out by the end of the year and won't even confirm that it will be called the m700.

Earlier this week, a reader wrote in to offer us advance info on the m700. The return address included was invalid. If this wasn't just someone yanking out chains, please write again and double-check your return address. I can be reached directly at Ed@PalmInfocenter.com.

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m700 Pricing

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/21/2001 12:39:03 PM #
Anybody have a prediction on the price? :)

RE: m700 Pricing
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/21/2001 12:57:25 PM #
Hopefully, they won't cross the price of the M505. Trade off color for always-on wireless capability.

RE: m700 Pricing
GrouchoMarx @ 7/21/2001 2:46:18 PM #
Traditionally, Palm has put its high-end model at $450 and pushed everything else down. With the VIIx price being dropped way down, and the continuing revenues from subscribers, and PocketPCs slowly inching into Palm's price territory, Palm would be foolish to make it that expensive this time. More than $300 would be a serious mistake.

On the other hand, they want to avoid canabalizing m505 sales.

See why running a business is so difficult? :-)

--GrouchoMarx

RE: m700 Pricing
atrizzah @ 7/21/2001 6:49:47 PM #
I'd have to imagine that it will cost more than $400 unless Palm lowers the price of the m500

Peace Out
Alan

monochrome

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/21/2001 12:48:54 PM #
actually, t could be determined that t was monochrome when those pctures were released. The contrast icon by the graftt area was a dead gve-away

-Pepper

BTW: please excuse the mssing "i"s, that key on my keyboard has ssues, and s startng to de

RE: monochrome
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/23/2001 8:36:15 AM #
Hey, couldn't we dream and HOPE that it's a new color screen with brightness and contrast adjustment??? :)

RE: monochrome
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/23/2001 10:36:34 AM #
hey, i was just pointng it out, okay?

-Pepper

RE: monochrome
JET8810 @ 7/23/2001 6:41:33 PM #
I see your keyboard is fixed Pepper...:).

RE: monochrome
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/23/2001 7:07:02 PM #
not really. work computer vs. home computer

-Pepper

Hope to see it soon

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/21/2001 1:07:16 PM #
Since as of last week, a major bank was offering the VIIx for free by opening a checking account, I'm guessing that the M700 will be coming soon.

what bank is this
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/21/2001 5:42:12 PM #
free wireless palm
just for getting an account
so what bank is this?

-hiku master

RE: Hope to see it soon
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/21/2001 9:09:01 PM #
Citibank. $1500 min. account balance though to avoid monthly charges.

RE: Hope to see it soon
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/23/2001 12:29:35 AM #
LOL, Hiku Man.

I think there is a high likelyhood that the Palm.net service is going to be the backbone of the m700, though there area probably network upgrades and hardware upgrades that will make the device more functional. Aside from the always-on feature, my guess is that the VIIx will be able to make use of the network upgrades (faster better browsing) and that the m700 will be limited by the inherent problems of Palm.net (PQA based browsing). It'll probably still be k-based pricing, which will be a big bummer.

RE: Hope to see it soon
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/23/2001 11:11:15 AM #
You still need to pay for the monthly subscription fee (for Palm service).

m700

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/21/2001 1:42:41 PM #
While people cry (whiners) about the shabby display of the m505 the Palm may yet find its place in corporate america. You dont need color. The diversity of the ?m700 could be key to Palm Inc. success.

Caleb

RE: m700
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/22/2001 5:06:06 PM #
Loser is loser . nothing different

m700

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/21/2001 1:58:01 PM #
hmmmm... so this is essentially a marriage between an m500 and an VIIx.

Now for the really tough choice - keep the m505 or move to the m700.

Which do you want more - wireless or color?



RE: m700
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/21/2001 2:29:40 PM #
Depends if you want to sign up for an extra monthly fee and use monochrome or keep the color screen and just use a sled with CDMA or GSM technology.

RE: m700
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/21/2001 2:48:10 PM #
color AND wireless would be possible. you would have to be willing to do it yourself, and put up a LOT of $$ for it. I'd do it if i had the $$ (or someone were willing to pay for me to do it). Its actually pretty dang easy


RE: m700
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/21/2001 2:50:05 PM #
I want color and wireless. You can't beat the clarituy of a color display, the m505 display is not that bad and better than the IIIC. I am totally pissed. I was hoping not to have to carry 2 palms IIIc and VIIx. If this is where the its going. I might as well buy the m505 for the expandibility and keep using my VIIx rather than buy a wireless modem for the m500 series. This way I can at least use my palm pix and keyboard.

RE: m700
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/21/2001 10:12:37 PM #
I would trade my m505 for a m700 if the monthly fee was around $20 for unlimited (which is not going to happen).

RE: m700
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/22/2001 11:57:21 AM #
havent you guys seen the Samsung SPH I300? it is a cellphone with a bilt in color palm. the screen is only 8 bit but it will be realeased in august for sure it works on the sprint PCS network and looks to be a m505/pcgnc710 killer with its instant inet access and color! it is only 6 ounces and the case looks small and cool the graphiti area is software to add to screen size for web surfing or email reading. this is the machine im waiting for and unless the m700 turns up in color i wont be interested this merges a bad ass celly and a cool palm in one light package that looks muuuuuch cooler than kyoceras ugly brick. in the end u buy a handheld for business or for pleasure and the SPH I300 totaly fufills the pleasure category and surely can fulfil the business category adequetly. the only thing it is missing is an expansion slot. but as far as im concerned expeansion slots are over rated especialy if the product already has wireless integrated. I have had a visor for a couple of years and dont own a single springboard card and feel none the worse for it. they have yet to implement and real killer springboard cards at decent prices. i dont knwo about u but i am not willing to pay the smae amount i spent for my handhelp for some proprietary expansion gizmo of dubious worth. haha ok enoug ranting excuse the spelling please im terrible.. l8rs


-Bobby Digital

RE: m700
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/23/2001 6:15:41 PM #
I'll keep my 505, and live with the added bulk of a Minstrel modem from Novatel, with service through OmniSky.

RE: m700
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/23/2001 8:39:25 PM #
Novatel will lose out on this one big time if it does come out in August since they don't even have a
modem out for the M500 Series yet. The last date I heard was end of Aug or early Sept.
If the M700 comes out before Novatel I think they will take a big loss, and hopefully the M700 will do that to them.

Cool Design!

Cheetah @ 7/21/2001 2:05:31 PM #
A couple of random comments:

1. An always-on Palm may be a Blackberry killer (I think someone at Palm coined this phrase). If it was to have the wireless coverage as good, or better then Blackberry, then Palm will be opening up a whole new market (and be able to charge for service fees, not just for hardware) and gaining customers they may have lost to Blackberry. Maybe a key to their recovery.

2. As I mentioned the first time I saw those pictures, not only do I think they are real (unless the people faking it own a design company), but I REALLY like the design. So far my favorite design is the Palm V/505 style, but I like the 700 design even better (if it's as small as the 505). Also, IMHO the designs from the Palm camp cream the designs from the PPC camp.

3. I would buy this Palm in a heartbeat if it was in color, was about the size of a 505, and had similiar battery life (although I don't see how it would achieve this if it was "always on", even at a sleep-mode level).

4. I don't hear any rumblings about this type of PDA/Blackberry combo from the PPC camp.

5. Go Palm!



RE: Cool Design!
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/21/2001 2:39:30 PM #
>I would buy this Palm in a heartbeat if it was in
>color, was about the size of a 505, and had similiar
>battery life

Who wouldn't? You just described the perfect PDA. Wait about 3 more years and that should happen.

RE: Cool Design!
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/21/2001 4:45:13 PM #
I agree that the pics looks nice, but although the silkscreen area is identical to that on the m500, the body looks a lot like a visor (especially with the rounded edges).

RE: Cool Design!
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/22/2001 4:22:11 AM #
color is important for graphs, maps and Finetype (wordsmith 2.0). Nevertheless no color is OK as long as the screen isn't green!
AriB

Competes with Omnisky??

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/21/2001 4:02:10 PM #
If it offers the same robust web access as Omnisky, without the dorky sled or springboard, I would buy it.

The ultimate Palm

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/21/2001 4:48:25 PM #
IMHO: The ultimate Palm would be the size of the m500 series, the 320x320 resolution of the Sony N610C with 65,000 colors, 16MB DRAM, the wireless capabilities of the VII(VIIx), an SD/MMC slot. It sounds like the m700 is started on the path......maybe a possible m705???

RE: The ultimate Palm
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/21/2001 6:05:28 PM #
I agree. Palm, if you are reading this board, that is the device that I would buy. I'd even settle for 8 meg of memory.

RE: The ultimate Palm
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/21/2001 10:35:54 PM #
neither of you are realizing that that is fricking impossible! there isn't enough SPACE inside the m505 to fit all that crap. infact, the reason the left rail is smaller is because otherwise THEY COULDNT FIT IT IN! now try adding all of your sh**, and it would literaly DOUBLE the thickness!

next time, think before you make your requests!

RE: The ultimate Palm
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/22/2001 12:09:45 AM #
technology is advancing so quickly, i wouldn't dare say anything is impossible. i say if it's do-able, palm should seriously come up with 320x320 resolution unit the size of the m505 and call it m705 or whatever.

RE: The ultimate Palm
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/22/2001 12:15:55 AM #
i agree, if sony can do it, why can't palm? colour and 320x320 resolution should be the next standard for future palms. to me feature-wise seems adequate, simple but enough.

RE: The ultimate Palm
GrouchoMarx @ 7/22/2001 1:53:21 AM #
I'd rather see 240x320 than 320x320. Yes, it's harder to scale up old apps. But in return you get a soft graffiti area, and a natural upgrade path. 240x320 is just one pixel doubling from 640x480 VGA resolution. Already a standard size. That brings PDAs into the same aspect ratio as desktops (albeit rotated), and gives a very clear upgrade path with no more funky non-integral scaling. Get the hard part over with now, and save trouble tomorrow.

--GrouchoMarx

RE: The ultimate Palm
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/22/2001 12:29:07 PM #
i admit, palm could make a palm w/ a screen like that, but they sure as h*** can't fit it inside an m505 formfactor.

RE: The ultimate Palm
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/22/2001 1:28:35 PM #
The only thing that might increase the size much is the wireless connectivity, but the rumored m700 sounds like it is fairly compact. The 320x320 resolution occupies the same space, it's just a better screen! The 16MB DRAM is identically the same size chip as the 8MB! The SD/MMC already exists in the m500 series! I don't call this stuff "SH**", I call it an advancement in technology. Just as we increase the amount of memory in our PC's (Cost decreases, amount of memory that comes in a PC increases), we should do so in our Palm devices.

Next time, check out some palm upgrade websites before you speak!!!

RE: The ultimate Palm
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/22/2001 4:20:53 PM #
As organic LED matures, Palm should be able to fit a low power color screen ina device that's the size of the M50x, and still have room for all the stuff it needs for the M70x.

Given the fact that OLED screens are also flexible, it may be possible that as long as they can carry a digitizer layer, future Palms may have rollaway screens - something like the gadgets in "Earth Final Conflict".

RE: The ultimate Palm
I.M. Anonymous @ 7/23/2001 8:16:46 AM #
I would have to agree with Larry, a soft graffiti area would be nice.

RE: The ultimate Palm
JET8810 @ 7/23/2001 6:43:18 PM #
Who the hell is Lary? ;)

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