Comments on: Palm.com Offering $25 Off Store Orders

I would have to third the sentiment. Been quite some time since Palm has put out something I've wanted.

The last known classic PDA user.
I've recently upgraded from a PLAM TX to a Newton MP2000!
http://newtonpda.googlepages.com

time to dump the pda and move to a smartphone? it's almost 2009.

I really don't see myself going the smartphone route. I have to have a work cell phone with me at all times, and I don't want to carry two phones. The MP3 player with added functionality will probably be where I go next. The obvious choice would be a iTouch, but I'm not really thrilled by it. I really like the new Sony Walkman Video MP3 players and would like to see them add datebook, contacts, notes, and a text reader. I've seen where cheap Chinese MP3 players have all this and wonder why more of the bigger names don't offer the added functionality. The biggest thing for me is drag and drop ability, where I can use the device on multiple computers (not to mention Windows and Mac compatibility), drop in text files of the information I need to keep with me at all times. Drop in vCards for contacts, and the same for my calendar. I don't want to have to "sync" anything. So really the device I want does not exist.

The last known classic PDA user.
I've recently upgraded from a PLAM TX to a Newton MP2000!
http://newtonpda.googlepages.com

So, possible titles for this:

Palm's "All-You-Can-Eat-Of-Our Profits" Sale
Palm's Early Bankruptcy Blowout!!!
Palm's See It Now Before Overstock.com Extravaganza!
Palm's Hey, We F%ucked Up, But You Enjoy Bash-O-Rama

Vote now.

Lifelines not allowed.

Live Mesh? No thanks. I don't want my important data living in Microsoft's cloud. Microsoft doesn't have anything close to the good will needed to pull something like that off credibly.

I think what Palm should do first is announce extended-life batteries for the Centro. That would at least be more than a cosmetic improvement. After all, eventually, they're going to run out of Crayola colors.

It's arguable that iPhones/iPod Touches are the new PDAs, but I don't think so. I think the SDK still limits the potential of the devices. The inability to set alarms on the calendar is inexcusable, IMHO. They improved things a little bit with synchronization to Outlook, but I still think there's a long way to go before the iPhone/iPod Touch will really replace PDA functionality. It's more of a music/media/gaming device at this point.

I'll have to see how things shake out, but if it hits anything close to its true potential, my next phone [i]will[/i] be a PDA, and it will be running Android.

To be fair, the Palm Backup Card isn't just a blank SD card. If it was, you certainly would be nuts to spend that kind of money on it. The card actually comes with sofware on it that automates backups. Whether that kind of software is worth the price they're charging for the card is an open question, of course, but it's not just the card they're selling.

It also looks to me like part of the price you're paying is for a novelty item (i.e., something that they keep in stock as a legacy, rather than as a real money-maker). Check out the devices it's compatible with:

Tungsten E
Tungsten W
Tungsten T
Tungsten C
Tungsten T2
Tungsten T3
Tungsten T5
Zire 31
Zire 71
Zire 72
i705
m500
m505
m515
m125
m130
Treo 90
Treo 600
Treo 650

Not even the latest handheld from Palm (the TX) is on the list, never mind any modern phones.

Their prices on micro-SD cards isn't much better, though...

yah, you're right about the software, forgot about that. But years-old software burned into an MMC probably isn't worth much, might even give a user false confidence. A copy of Backupman with whatever card you choose is a much better combo.


Paying my annual PDA update tax to Palm since 1997.

WriteRights?

(Shudder)

Oi, I could use WriteRights. But not biting.