Deja Palm
Today, the PalmOS platform finds itself in a similar race with its PocketPC rival. Oddly enough, this time, Microsoft finds itself in the underdog position against PalmOS, an operating system created and supported by many ex-Apple veterans, supporters and developers. Like the Macintosh of the 90's, PocketPC handhelds are often perceived as being more powerful than their counterparts, PDA's running PalmOS. This time, however, Microsoft is the one burdened by inflated prices--this time not a choice but a consequence of high minimum hardware requirements needed to run the bulky PocketPC operating system.

As a result, PocketPC manufacturers have made little headway breaking below the $400 price barrier, the cost of a basic desktop computer. Entry-level handhelds running the relatively svelte PalmOS operating system, however, face no such limitation, routinely selling for less than $100, a far more consumer-friendly price for people with bills, car payments, children, pets, and other numerous money-eating expenses.

While PocketPC's have made little progress on the low end of the market, PalmOS forces continue to advance on the high end, giving even the most financially-capable strong new choices in the PalmOS camp. The past year has seen the appearance of no less than three PalmOS-powered phones, high resolution displays surpassing those found on PocketPC's, and countless innovative software releases, including a few from companies with pleasant colors in their names. If this momentum continues, and there's no reason to believe that it won't, there's a good chance history will repeat itself yet again.

News Home  | Page 01  | Page 02  | Page 03  | Page 04  | Page 05  | Page 06