Apple and Palm Computing: Take 2?

ChronosX writes "A news.com article provides a hint that Apple is thinking about relaunching a branded handheld product, but isn't interested in developing their own. Who's the only company making an all around solid handheld that fits Apple's easy to use computing philosophy? Why that would be the Pilot, of course. " At the shareholders meeting, Jobs has left open the possibilty of Apple relaunching a handhold, and confirmed that they have talked to 3Com about the Palm division. ApplePilot anyone?

Comments

Buy or License?

[RobotSlave]

The article states that Jobs confirmed "discussions" with 3com about buying the Palm division. It also said that there was no comment about licensing the palm technology and issuing an apple-branded Palm, like the IBM Workpad.

These rumors are a little too sparse for me, and the two different possibilies outlined would have very different implications.

A sale would be a little unlike Apple-- they've historicly had an acute case of the old NIH syndrome, though this is changing.

A straight licensing deal would be neat, though-- the masses would really dig an iPalm in 5 fruity flavours.

Focus

[Grenamier]

I've always felt the PalmPilot succeeded and the Newton failed because the Pilot was originally very focused on just doing what was really needed and not too much else. Not that Newton was a mess or anything, but I thought it was a bit too ambitious and consequently, too expensive.

With all the changes and the growth of the Palm platform lately, I hope Palm and Apple remember that the Pilot was great because it was primarily focused on needs instead of technology.