Karl...You Were Right, Palm is Dead

Back 5 years or so when I was leading the consulting charge inside a web development company I worked with a guy named Karl.  Karl had the best laugh I've ever heard.  Just hearing it use to make me laugh.  At that time, a number of us had gotten new Palm PDA's - remember the Palm V.  It was everywhere inside this little web company.  I purchased a Palm IIIc and loved it (and still have it in a drawer believe it or not).  As we all ooooh'd and aaaah'd over these PDA, Karl boldly said "Microsoft is going to kill the Palm."  Many people laughed.  Our user interface designers all proclaimed that Palm's simplicity would triumph.  I'd used an HP palmtop (yes, I have that still too!) that ran Window's CE and I hadn't liked the experience.  Still, I wondered at the time, if and when Karl's prediction might come to pass.

Well Karl, if you're reading this today, come this Monday, you can laugh that laugh of yours.  You were right.

A number of sites began reporting this week that Palm was going to launch a new Treo that would not run the Palm OS.  The Treo 700 will run Window Mobile 5.  Business Week puts it into perspective.

Is the Palm software that powered the first practical handheld in 1996 and redefined mobile computing on the road to oblivion?

It would seem that spinning the software development off was truly the kiss of death for the much loved Palm OS, the final nail in the coffin being driven in recently when Palmsource was bought by some unknown electronics company. 

If you want to see some photos, be sure to check out Engadget who has posted some great photos.  It will be interesting how people find the unit now that it has a new OS.  As you know, I recently started using a Treo650.  Any regrets?  None.  Why?  Well, I figure it'll take a while before it reaches Canada - anywhere between 6 to 12 months I would think.  Was I going to wait that long to get a new cellphone?  No.  Secondly, despite the fact that they are getting a new OS, the truth is, there was really nothing wrong with the PalmOS running on the Treo.  It's not about the now for Palm, its about the future.  With the PalmOS not innovating quickly it couldn't be seen as competing in the future.  I think the Treo650 is an amazing little device - I love it.  Will I go to a 700 or 750 or 800 in the future that has a Window Mobile on it?  You know me, of course I will.  For me - its not about the OS....it's about the device doing what I need it to do.

Comments

[Roger Driekler]

I've heard that Verizon has a 6 month exclusive on this little device. That's a real drag. Do you think they'll come out with a GSM version running Windows?

[mip]

I got an email from Karl after a friend of mine told him to read my blog. He wrote:
"I never knew I had such a good laugh.
So Karl’s new bold prediction is that this spells the end for RIM…."

I'm with you on this one Karl, I think it's just a matter of time.

[Roger Driekler]

I think this is true too (sadly). I heard that in the later version of Exchange server Microsoft is building the Blackberry Enterprise Server in for free.