IBM to Discontinue Palm Clones
For years, IBM has sold handhelds that were basically Palm Inc. models except with an IBM logo and a black casing. The company has decided to stop this practice, according to Cnet. A recent IDC shows IBM's WorkPad line was never very successful, accounting for only 2% of the handhelds sold worldwide in 2001. IBM will still sell WorkPads until it runs out of stock. Thereafter, the company will continue to sell Palm-branded handhelds both online and to its enterprise customers.
IBM's explanation for dropping the WorkPad was it wanted to focus on making its PC business more profitable.
It has long been believed that the main purpose behind the WorkPads was convincing nervous enterprise buyers that handhelds were a "safe" purchase. Branding with the IBM logo was supposed to help. It's possible that this is no longer necessary as customers are much more familiar with Palm and the Palm OS.
Sales may have been small but the WorkPads were popular with some users who liked the black casings.
IBM began the WorkPad line all the way back in 1997.
Thanks to Reggie for the tip. -Ed
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RE: WorkPad
RE: WorkPad
RE: WorkPad
Bummer...
I was looking forward to the next generation of Palm handhelds being sold as IBM models.
I absolutely love the look of the WorkPads. Their jet black sleek look is iresistable to me..
Oh well, hopefully someone else comes out with a black device.
RE: WorkPad
4s
The Black Palm
IBM should just by Palm and be done with it.
RE: The Black Palm
RE: The Black Palm
RE: The Black Palm
Also, as far as the name "black palm", I heard it all the time with no slur ever intended 'til you came up with it. Are you trying to pick a fight? PC died Sept. 11th, that is what go us into the trouble we are getting out of now.
RE: The Black Palm
the black c505 is nice tho :) hits a sweet spot for me, but, not as big a sweet spot as the SONY units :)
// az
aaron@ardiri.com
http://www.ardiri.com/
RE: The Black Palm
RE: The Black Palm
RE: The Black Palm
In our company (HMO) the Notes developers need to know much more than Lotus script to even get in the door.
The market also seems to pay them well. A developer with only four years experience gets $80 to 95k a year. I wish I did.
LOL IBM
Heh. That kooky IBM. They got more business stategies than Oracle.
"Our PC's are the core of our business. Except when they're not, then it's all about our workstations and servers. Unless you'd rather talk about Linux of course. But then you'd need web services and consulting, which we really feel is IBM's greatest strength. Did we mention our renewed commitment to our PC line?"
I realize they're a big company and all, but Big Lou really needs to pick a heading and just go for a while.
RE: LOL IBM
RE: LOL IBM
In any case, I too am saddened by the passing of the Workpad. My first Palm PDA was a PPro-style Workpad that I got with a discount at an IBM Warehouse outlet. The styling was just so much more refined, but like it's been said, they really weren't at all a separate product from the Palm-branded units at all.
rgds,
K. Tran
RE: LOL IBM
mrscarey
palmist and visionary
RE: LOL IBM
I think it was strictly a business decision. and BUSINESS is what IBM is all about. they are calm cool and collective. ie STABLE.
How much money could they be making by being an OEM from Palm anyway. If they were making the devices then I think they would continue selling WorkPads.
Besides, the PDA market is probably a small market for big blue. A company more than twice the size of Sony, it probably could care less about competing with devices that are packing mp3 players and video playback.
chow
RE: LOL IBM
IBM has lost Billions of dollars on its' PC business since it 'invented' the PC in 1981. They have been focusing (unsucessfully) on making their PC business profitable for 21 years. How is this going to make a difference?
This is off topic but...
RE: This is off topic but...
I've spent more time researching and shopping for my current palm than I've actually used it.
Gah.
RE: This is off topic but...
wow ;)
I'm not that weird after all...
RE: This is off topic but...
RE: This is off topic but...
-If you only knew the power of the Palm side-
RE: This is off topic but...
RE: This is off topic but...
--
This post is ROT26 encrypted. Reading it is a violation of the DMCA
RE: This is off topic but...
cyrus
RE: This is off topic but...
~Also an m125 awaiter.
RE: This is off topic but...
~me
Cool, discount time!!!
RE: Cool, discount time!!!
RE: Cool, discount time!!!
Unfortunate loss
No matter how you cut it and how well Palm is now recognized, the vast majority of people out there still believe a "Palm Pilot" is a personal organizer with no other functions than a Day Timer would have-a gadget with no useful purpose. On the other hand, if it has the name IBM on the case, then it is a perfectly "respectable" product that will benefit the workplace. Palm may have the market on handhelds, especially when compared to IBM but that blue acronym still commands a lot more respect in this world than Palm may ever have.
-If you only knew the power of the Palm side-
RE: Unfortunate loss
Of course, with Sony slapping MP3 players in PalmOS devices, the red flags may start shooting up for Palm PDA's soon.
RE: Unfortunate loss
I wonder where you work because my experience is quite the opposite.
We used to work with Palms but recently the IT department decided to switch to Sony. (don't know why)
workpad c500 for S$199!!
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WorkPad
How will they still sell WorkPads after they run out? Or will there be new Palm-branded handhelds not called WorkPads?
I am a WorkPad c3 (Palm Vx) owner. I only went with the c3 because I got a great deal on it. I must admit, it has served me quite well and the black color does look cool, although it is a bit of a dust/smudge magnet.
4s