Comments on: Handango Releases Mobile Software Sales Stats

There are more stats in the full PDF report:

http://makeashorterlink.com/?J11752A52

As a matter of fact you can replace the operating system of the iPAQ with a version of Linux. Unfortunately you void warranty and can have troubles restoring WinCE (Pocket PC) onto the machine again.

As an aside:
The most interesting thing about the statistics is that the Palm-devices (produced by Palm,Inc.) are listed by series thus distorting the numbers. If you would list the number of programs sold to CLIÉ-Owners by model (eg. PEG-N770c, PEG-T665, PEG-NR70 etc.) or by iPAQ-Models (3600, 3800, 3900) the Palm would be the winner.

I am sure most software sells to PalmOS, but Pocket PC-Software brings in the highest numbers because it is more expensive (high development costs anyone?). On the other hand on could criticize that PalmOS-Devices need a comercial software package for taks beyond PIM (Browser, a useful picture viewer, movie players, for some PalmOS-devices Office-software, E-Mail-Clients that can handle attachements etc.)

I've always felt that this break down in sales has more to do with income brackets than anything else. People who buy iPaqs are typically upper-middle class or better, since they can afford such expensive gadgets. Folks who buy Zires, M100s, Clies (except for high-end models) tend to be lower-middle class or lower, since they can't afford anything better. More income = more spending money. Simple economics.

"it's better to be a pirate than join the navy." - Steve Jobs

> "I think you should add the sales of PilotGear to the one of Handango and THEN split them per OS. I am not sure IPAQ would then come out a so clear winner."

If you are referring to PalmGear, then no you can't add them to this comparison. PalmGear doesn't sell Pocket PC software yet (that's coming in the future though). That's the whole point of Handango's sales figures. They reflect sales of BOTH platforms, not just PalmOS.

"it's better to be a pirate than join the navy." - Steve Jobs

Isn't there an equivalent (or at least there used to be) to Palm Gear on the PPC side? It's Pocket Gear or something like that?

I'd say this is due to the complexity of Pocket PC-Software. There are Playstation-style games and relatively high level grafics manipulation programs for Pocket PC. While most PalmOS-Software (EXCEPT for Docs-to-Go, QuickOffice, SnapperMail, Deity/Masterthief etc.) are comparatively less complex.

The more complex a piece of software is, the longer it takes to develope and test, so it is more expensive to produce.

Yes, I own a PPC and I can confirm that that is what I did. Although I did not buy any softwares, many PPC users have to buy their softwares since not many are freewares. Also they have to get a task manager the first thing the get their PDA to close those 'multi-tasking' programs. The Pocket Word and Pocket Excel programs has less (I repeat LESS) functions than even Documents to Go for eh hem...PalmOS. Replacements launchers, some rilly cool games (I admit PPC still have the coolest games - Soccer Addict and Tennis Addict not to mention Tomb Raider, Quake, Quake II and Argentum), but I think it all comes down to Palm users usually get their softwares from somewhere else. Mostly bundled (I know ipaq comes with loads of programs), PalmGear, PalmBlvd and Freeware Palm. PPC has a dedicated freeware website but its load of crap.

Having said that I think PalmSource should watch out for a .Net PPC. If it's optimised for X-Scale, it could be fast. The real battel is OS6 Vs .Net PPC

Current PDAs: Palm Tungsten T, Toshiba e310

Past PDAs: Palm V, Palm m505, Palm m515, Sony Clie N770C/U, Sony Clie T625C, Sony Clie NR70V