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Hands Down, Palm is Now Number Two
jamesl writes "InformationWeek reports that the number one PDA operating system now comes from Redmond, 48.1% last quarter (41.2% a year ago) compared to 29.8% (46.9% last year) for PalmSource. The big gainer was RIM, up to 19.8% from 4.9%. Linux ... a valient 0.9%, off slightly from last years' 1.9%.
The article has some thoughts about where the market is going with phones taking on more PDA functions."
Let me start by saying that I love my Treo 600. It's the best "mobile device" I've ever had. But I didn't buy it for the Palm OS. In fact, that's my least favorite thing about it. I bought it because it was the first convergence device to "get it right." No one, at the time, had done the integration so well. No one had hardware that "just worked." And no one had a Smartphone/PDA option that worked so very well as a PHONE, in addition to having superb internet capabilities. With Blazer (a very nice browser, included) and VeriChat (MSN/AIM/etc.), and Newsgator Online Mobile Edition, I've got pretty much all the functionality I really want. BUT. My next device is probably not going to be the Treo 650. It's probably going to be the PPC-6601 (sold under the Audiovox brand in the US). Why? Partly because it offers superior hardware features that I want. But most of those I can get with the Treo 650 (better screen, bluetooth). Now, the 6601 still has a much higher resolution (640x480), better CPU & memory, better SDIO support, and an even better form factor (slide-out keyboard). But more importantly to me, it runs Windows Mobile. Before my Treo, I had an Ericcson T610 and an iPaq 2215, both with bluetooth. Having compared both OSes, the Windows Mobile platform is entirely superior for my needs. From an OS-level standpoint, it's quicker and more refined. It's also more reliable, in my experience. The interface is cleaner, and more functional. Despite the above commentor's opinion that Windows Mobile tries to use the "desktop methaphor" on a PDA is completely ludicrous. In fact, to use his example, when looking up an address, I would do it pretty much the same way on either device. I would hit the "contacts" button from the main screen, and begin typing the contact's name on the keyboard until the name I want is in view. Then I'd tap it, and have all of their information in front of me. That's true on the Treo 600, and it's true on the Windows Mobile phones I've seen. "To suggest that PocketPCs are intrinsically superior to equivalent Palm models is hilarious." I don't see why that would be hilarious, though I don't think anyone has done that, either. What I suggest is that assuming an equilivant form factor, battery life, and phone functionality (the first considerations for most people like me)... Windows Mobile wins. It does everything the Palm OS does and so much more. That includes better hardware add-on support, better networking support, better screen capabilities (Landscape mode, higher resolutions), Macromedia Flash support, .NET Framework support (only will matter to some), and better integration with business systems.
They have vastly superior multimedia capabilities, better internet software, better upgradeability (for instance, PalmOne has announced no plans to give Treo 600 users the software on the Treo 650, which includes Exchange support).
If you're interested, you can check out more on the PPC-6601 here:
http://www.sprint.com/business/products/phones/ppc 6601_allPcsPhones.jsp
That version does not include built-in WiFi, which that model does in most other markets. Some of us are holding out hope that Sprint will add it back in for the consumer version sold in stores (to be announced very soon). But sadly, it's something we may have to live without.