HP, it's time to get down to business [Point Counter-Point] 66
Welcome to Point Counter Point, wherein Derek vents his spleen like the dour misanthrope we've all come to know and love, Dieter consoles us all with rainbows and unicorns, and the truth lies - as it always does - somewhere in the middle.
Today's topic: What to make of all the pie-in-the-sky future talk we are hearing from HP instead of actual product announcements.
Point: Time to put up or shut up - literally
Since HP took over Palm one month ago, the company’s executives have been hitting the interview and presentation circuit on television, print media, and all across the internet. From head honcho CEO Mark Hurd to CTO of Gaming Rahul Sood to CTO of Personal Systems Phil McKinney, they’ve been out and about pumping the media and desperate webOS users and fans with what amounts to rhetorical vaporware.
Okay, so maybe that's a bit harsh. I fully understand that there are immense challenges involved in integrating a spunky company like Palm into the monolith that is HP (the world’s largest tech company, for the record). Heck, there are immense challenges involved in just running either of the two companies, let alone what it’ll take to make them one. But we’re a month into the acquisition, which was announced three months ago.
I also understand that there's only so much HP can do while the engineering work is going on behind the scenes in Sunnyvale and Palo Alto. Palm obviously had to have at least a few somethings in progress in the R&D department when HP came riding in on the white horse with saddlebacks full of Franklins. With the Pre a year and a half old (released for a year) when the buy-out was announced, I have little doubt that Palm had a successor device ready, or at least almost ready, to ship out the door. They know as well as we do that the modern flagship release cycle isn’t the 2-3 years of the Palm OS days. It’s annual, and shorter for companies not named after fruit.
We know Palm didn’t have the money to push out another large device release. They pretty much told us that when they said that they were going to focus on selling the million+ Pre and Pixi devices still in inventory. But now they do have the money; HP forked over $1.2 billion for the company alone, they’ve got plenty more in the bank to launch new product. Did they decide that whatever Palm had in the works wasn’t ready enough (especially in the face of recent Android phones and the iPhone 4) and sent them back to the drawing table? Maybe, we don’t know, but the relative closed-lippedness is starting to get old.
Scratch that, closed-lippedness isn’t the issue. I don’t have a problem with product development secrecy. It’s made covering Palm quite enjoyable; we really had no clue what to expect at most press events. Pretty much every announcement from Palm since CES 2009 has caught us off guard in one way or another. The tightness and secrecy is astounding, and somewhat invigorating compared to ye olde days.
Flexible displays are cool, we get it, but we all know they’re literally years from being feasible in consumer electronics.
What’s frustrating is the vague future-talk from these HP execs. Flexible displays are cool, we get it, but we all know they’re literally years from being feasible in consumer electronics. Tablets are also cool, but vague speak of building an ecosystem of phones and netbooks and tablets and printers all running webOS means very little without any details.
So enough of this blogger tirade, eh? What does Derek want? I want HP to look at how Palm conducted themselves before the buyout. Upcoming products weren't discussed, or so much as hinted at. The best we ever got was a passing mention of "multiple form factors" or something like that. There was no trotting out flexible displays, no "imagine this" talk unless it led up to revealing the product we were being asked to imagine.
It's a simple message for the execs at HP: Enough. Enough of the wallowing in the middle of not saying anything or saying everything. We’re all desperate for info about what you’re planning on doing with all the resources you got when you bought Palm. You know we are. But either tell us or don’t tell us. Vague hints and talk of out-of-reach technology are frustrating to those of us that want more info and know better (the readers of this site), and confusing and possibly off-putting to those who are casually interested (the majority of webOS users).
Here’s the deal: we want info. webOS users want to know what’s coming next because we’re looking at the current crop of smartphones, with newer and better devices (at least from the hardware standpoint) coming out every week, and we’re getting desperate and antsy. If anything, the Pre Plus’s extra RAM and the various overclocking kernels available have proven that what webOS needs more than a software update (which it does need) is better hardware.
Here’s what it boils down to: for the sanity of the webOS userbase, please stop toying with us. Stop being coy, stop trotting out technologies and concepts that are years from fruition. I know it's not intentional - it's what you've been doing for years when talking about printers and desktops and laptops. And it works for those products - but half of the mobile devices game is presentation. It's about wowing people with the unexpected. You can blame Apple for that, but it's worked quite well for them.
Talking about vision and strategy mean little when you don't talk about what that really means. Connected devices with uniform interfaces are great, but tell me how that's going to change my life. I know it's not actually going to change my life (if it does, so much the better), but I at least need you to try and convince me. What made the presentations by Palm and Apple so awesome was that they showed me how this or that was going to fit into my life. Vision doesn't fit into my life, nor does strategy.
All this talk is wearing on my jaded Palm fan nerves. HP, I love you, but the honeymoon is over. It’s time to get down to business.
Counter-Point: It's HP's culture, get used to it.
Maybe it's a product of my long, long history covering all things Palm, but this quiet period in the desert of product announcements seems relatively short and painless compared to the long, long wait we had before webOS. It's true, we are now in a new era of smartphones where any product release cycle longer than a year is essentially unacceptable - and if you count the 2009 CES announcement of the original Palm Pre then we are in that territory. So: granted.
This quiet period in the desert of product announcements seems relatively short and painless compared to the long, long wait we had before webOS.
But playing devil's advocate here, it's pretty clear that HP and Palm have been trying to tell us as much as they can without making actual product announcements: we have learned that slates, printers (ahem), new smartphones, and even webOS 2.0 are all in the pipeline.
So wither the actual product announcements? Let's assume (if only for the sake of our own sanity) that we won't be waiting until 2011 for a new webOS phone. We have learned from hard experience that the length of time between product announcement and product launch should be as short as possible. If Palm has a smartphone coming, it's in their best interest to announce the thing fairly close to release.
HP and Palm simply must be aware that we've stopped waiting with bated breath for new hardware and instead have exhaled and passed into exasperation, so they feel the need to tell ussomething, unfortunately that something is light on details and lighter on timelines (excepting the promise of webOS 2.0 by the end of the year).
In that context, talking about the possibilities of technology as a way of building up a company's brand makes more sense.
The question on the table, then, is this: if you can't say anything nice, should you say anything at all? In the gadget world, the answer is generally "no." HP, though, is not of the gadget world. They're of the PC, printer, and enterprise world. I could be wrong, but I don't think there are many people frothing at the mouth at consumer-level printer rumors these days, nor do enterprise customers put much stock in grainy spy-shots of the next server hardware. In that context, talking about the possibilities of technology as a way of building up a company's brand makes more sense.
More to the point, HP has a long history of talking about blue-sky futures and creating an ethos of research and innovation that leads to those futures. They're not shy about talking about that research, either. Peruse HP's Data Central Blog (skip past the Hurd announcement) and you'll see plenty of examples of how HP casts a wider net when it comes to what they discuss in the technology space: influential tweets, information as asset, and even a Central Nervous System for the Earth.
So while hearing about technology that's years away from consumer availability can be frustrating, it's important to remember that we may be too attuned to the typical gadget rumor cycle where FCC slip-ups and carrier testing portends technology that's weeks or months away from consumer availability. It's actually rather exciting to know Palm is now part of a company that is looking into flexible displays, augmented-reality gaming, and crazier tech they haven't talked about yet.
I don't see this talk as a replacement for real product news, of course. Soon (I hope!) we'll have product news with a expected timeline of months rather than years. In the meantime, get used to the fact that the cats at HP are so excited about future tech that they can't help sharing.
66 Comments
I want to be all impatient for new hardware and all that, I want to jump ship, but I can't. I love this old ass palm pre and it's beautiful webos. Everything else seems so primative compared to it. I'm not goin anywhere, I'm just gonna sit here with my old-ass phone until it blows up or till a new webos phone comes out
-1
you're a sheep. Demand more from the company...YOU are the consumer.
Or he's normal and you're a cog in the wasteful capitalist machine (I don't think you are, really, I'm just playing devil's advocate in the spirit of this article). Did you consider that perhaps he has a product that works well for him and has no need to demand anything from the company?
While I can appreciate the counter point I have to side with Derek. I have been sitting on a Sprint upgrade waiting for some sliver of an announcement while every day I drive by Best Buy and think about taking the Evo for a spin. Or, looking at screenshots on Engaget of new Windows phone 7 devices and thinking how I might like to give one a try. WebOS is losing users hand over fist with each new Android release and when the Samsung Epic releases on Sprint they will likely lose more. HP needs to tease out something soon to keep us in the fold. Homebrew is awesome, overclocking is wonderful, but we would love to see a new form factor to enjoy these things in. How long does HP want their beloved WebOS to be in the "other" category. That's my rant.
and when you take EVO for a spin, then you remember how much better webOS is than android, right? eye candy or functional and efficient? take your pick.
i may give into eye candy by 2011 if there isn't a new prePaq with a huge 4" screen.
Wrong,webos ain't all that!
webOS 2.0 is my next venture. I love my Pre Plus to the point that I haven't gone browsing in the VZW store at the 'latest & greatest' anything. Software is priority over hardware for me but the Sprint guys I'm sure are desperate for it.
counterpoint!
Shooo... That was an intense write up. Great points either side. Nice job D.
I to want to jump ship for a new device. But can't bring myself to do so after using other phone OS's. To janky to maneuver the other devices UI IMHO. I really want a front facing camera so I can see my daughter and new son when calling home. Only two options at this point and niether are webOS. Will wait and see what HP will do. But how many will wait, and for how long? This phone race is getting faster by the day.
Ok for starters this is the first time in my life where i have had a phone an entire year... That says something to me, time for a new device. I have been patiently waiting but i wont wait that much longer. the only reason my palm pre is still here is because of webOS i want a new phone. Fxck a printer,flexible device and a tablet. Fxck the next update, all i want is another phone. This hardware is so damn cheap. I am on my 4th Palm Pre. better hard ware same design, not so hard HP you bought Palm for a reason now use your resources and get me a phone better than any droids, iphones, or blackberrys!
This is also the only device I have kept past a year, not for the hardware, but because it is THE BEST OS out there (I was eligible for an upgrade back in June). I too have been through 4 Pre's, and doctoring is a snap. So, I am not afraid of hardware issue's, I can always get my Pre replaced, repaired.
What worries me is Palm/HP getting left behind by the users. This is the era of hardware, webOS can be the best, but the current devices do not stand a chance against what is coming out: 4" screens(hi-res), HDMI out, expandable sd card memory, HD video recording, etc.
If Palm/HP want to succeed against the DROID army, or the rotten fruit it is time to put up or shut up!
+1
+1
+1
my patience is drying up... But I still have until October 1st to really know what I'm gonna do as far as jumping ship. I could use the Evo until Palm release a new device... That's when I'll come back... I've come to terms with HP/Palm releasing whatever they're gonna release next year. Soooo my old Pre will be in a cell phone grave yard for sure by then.
I'm on a waiting list for an EVO. The call can come any day. While I love webOS, I need something bigger for my aging eyes to see, and some better hardware. The plan is to try the EVO for the 30 trial period, and perhaps go back to my Pre. That's unless I end up liking the EVO. As much as I love webOS I find it hard to imagine I'll like Android over Palm, but does HP/Palm want to drag their feet and let scores of people like me jump ship and try other devices?
You'll love the screen and the reflowing text that will adjust the text to fit the screen.
It's not just an HP culture issue, it's that HP is in their quiet period right now. I think the timing of Rahul Sood heading to Southern Cal for a couple weeks and the quiet period ending in a couple weeks will all coincide with a big announcement on August 24th.
If it happens remember you read it here first.
if it doesn't happen, I picked up this rumor from some guy on the street, and you know how trustworthy they are.
I was about to buy an iPhone today after my 5th Pre needed to be replaced. Sprint ordered me a refurb and if the apple store had any in stock I would have bought it and sold my refurb Pre when it arrived. But thankfully they were sold out and I calmed down a bit and decided ill take my 6th pre since its free and just get it homebrewed up to where it can last me until it breaks too, then ill just keep on goin with these free refurbs until HP / Palm can get their Sjit together and give me a new phone... and please let it hit Sprint first or at least at the same time as the other carriers or else ill jump ship... im going wherever the new Palm phone goes and buying it day 1.
i don't get it. I'm on pre #1 still. what do you people do to your phones?
+1, since last September. I carry it ALWAYS, and no case or protector.
Ditto. Day one Pre working fine and even overclocked. Its scuffed in a couple spots, but I can hold out until a new WebOS phone arrives.
My wife is on #3 because she had the earphone nub pop off twice. She told me after the second time that she actually popped it out because that's how she opened the slider. She would put her nail into the earphone nub and pull open the slider. :-0 I showed her how to open it by pushing the bottom with her thumb, so hopefully she won't have to get #4.
Seriously, I'm on Pre regular number 1 and still going strong. No hint of oreos, cracked screens, popped off charging covers or anything. No case, no screen protector, I treat my phone like the expensive piece of machinery it is.
I got my Pre just before July 4th last year, and it's still kickin'. Sure, the USB cover is long gobe, and I have to tap it a few times to get the earpiece to work when making a call, but it's still the original. My wife has her original Pre, as well, and hers is in really good condition. Never understood why others had so many problems.
What HP/Palm need to do is just put out some harder information on when a new device, or set of devices, is scheduled to come out. Just name the month or a stretch of two months. But let people now how much longer they need to wait, or you may lose more people.
I'm more patient, and don't care as much, but I do care about Palm being successful, since I bought into the ecosystem. Therefore, I want to see them retain as many customers as possible, and then wow new ones over when they are ready to actually announce the device/s.
Point:
If they announce a new product too far in advance, they lose any element of surprise, and also have trouble sustaining that initial "buzz" in the market long enough to translate into actual sales.
Counter-Point:
If they say *nothing* and simply wait, as tight-lipped as Apple does, before announcing a new product shortly before it hits the streets, then everyone will question their commitment to WebOS, and whether it even *has* a future.
Frankly, I think they're walking this tightrope pretty damn well, as difficult as it is...
They're trying to keep hyping the bright future of WebOS to maintain *any* mindshare (among enterprises and would-be developers, in particular), until they're finally *ready* to deliver new hardware as part of a comprehensive push back into the marketplace. Palm alone couldn't *afford* to wait until they were fully ready to compete with the likes of Apple - HP has certainly learned a lesson from that experience, and I'm happy to wait for them to launch new products as soon as they can do so *successfully*.
Well said.
Sure they could announce now a phone that will be released in 4-5 months. But that gives Apple, Microsoft, Nokia, RIM and the various Droid factories extra time to catch up to any innovations the next WebOS phone may have. Giving up information to competitors is a huge no-no in a multi-billion dollar business like this one.
Yeah, I agree with you on this. The Pre announcement was a revelation, but the wait till consumer availability was a little much. I'm actually glad that HP is siding on the other side of the equation this time around.
everyone undestands that they dont have to show all of the new software upgrades, right?
Hardware specs would be plenty to keep the faithful around (given we get atleast a 3.9+ inch screen with iphone matched resolution, great front and rear facing cameras with a beautiful design).
Here is a poll that needs to be taken, who needs to know about new software to stick around? and who needs to see the new hardware specs to stick around?
i am guessing 99%+ vote hardware!!!!!!!!1
how cold is palm right now? so cold that the writers at precentral are creating articles to fill space and time. boring days being a pre owner. it sure as hell would be nice to have some kind of an option outside of the evo on sprint when the renewal date comes, it is getting pretty tired.
How are they creating articles to fill space and time? Look at all the real content with the app reviews, tips, from the forum, new in the app catalog, talkin' palm... oh wait, nevermind.
hopefully what you write is sarcasm....
The Epic, right now you couldn't find an Evo if you wanted to.
Hey, I love the format of this article. Keep it up, and I'll keep reading. I love Derek's sarcasm. lol!
As for the content, I was really jealous of a buddy of mine who brought his brand new EVO into work today. Quickoffice, and the best google voice client on the planet. I hear the next 4g phone for Sprint is a Samsung with a slide out keyboard like the Droid. Verrrrry tempting...
So the message to HPalm is, "Get Your Rear End In Gear!"
Sorry, Dieter. No disrespect.
Amen! Well said.
If any one listened to websroundup podcast. You would know that rahul sood mentioned along with someone else from hp that the quiet time would be over after august 23. Rahul mentioned to look out for news around the middle of September. Among other sources, Supposedly the pre2 will be out by November and webos 2.0 will be out one month prior. Soooo, this lines up perfect with what I've heard.
product announcement middle of September
webos 2.0 released in October
pre 2 or whatever they call it November
just in time for the holidays and to amp up the hype
I think this lines up with what ben and dion said about the release of webos 2.0
I saved schedule this in my calendar! Except one more (get my company's corporate web site updated so I can order the prePAQ!)
Did I miss something? I know what a pre is, and I know what an iPAQ is, but what is a prePAQ? Is it a pre and an iPaq duct-taped together, because I can sell you one of those right now.
LOL! I can't guarantee it, but I think I may have coined that Franken-term. I'm glad to see others using it. I'll have to go google that one.
Oooh! Nope, somebody else beat me to it by almost 3 months. Hey, but maybe I can trademark it and make millions...Oooh! Nope, some medical/pharmaceutical has it tied up for like 10 years. Oh well!
Every time I start lusting over the iPhone 4 display, or the seamless speed of a Droid, or 4G speed of the HTC, I can bring myself back to reality in just one step-- there is no back guesture.
WebOS has ruined me for all other mobile OSes. I can't touch someone else's phone or tablet without trying to back swipe, throw away, whatever. Could I retrain myself? Maybe, but I could probably learn to write with my left hand as well, which would really be just an exercise in frustration at the end of the day.
I'm in it for the long run-- with any luck, I'll have my Preblet for xmas, with a new 2GHz widescreen phone not far behind.
But if none of that happens, I'll stick with the Pre until I've overclock-fried the last refurbed unit on the market.
Amen. I do the same. I actually GO to the fruit market periodically and dream of the sweet hardware and the ease of working within the same system as my MacBook...
Then I try gestures... and just sigh.
No one gets it until they use it... then it is, "how could I go without this?"
I'll wait.
Preblet.....LMAO.
+1
+1 AMEN
Ha, this is great. My girlfriend, who uses my Pre occasionally, went to the Sprint store to play with the Evo and some other Android phones and kept trying to swipe and throw away the cards. The rep told her not to even look at the Pre because of all the uncertainty surrounding Palm, but did see her using the gestures. He smiled and said that those were really cool features of webOS.
This behavior of limited to zero information about the future is not really any different than what Apple does. You get some teasers and then you just wait, hoping, wanting, until finally the day you have hoped for comes.
I too REALLY want to know what to expect, but HP is playing a game. If there is a much anticipation built, as it seems, then HP is playing the game well.
Give me something good, and I will buy HP!
My only real issue here is if you announce something and put a date on the release (WebOS 2.0 by end of 2010), MAKE (or beat) that date! And don't announce something and take 6+ months to deliver. I don't care if rumors get out or if you announce pie in the sky. I don't want to be left hanging like I was after CES 2009. I don't want to see release dates come and pass. Be honest and be consistent.
much agreed. Give me something new cause just like alot of other people have already said in comments before mine, hardware is looking better and better everyday. Lately there has been nothing to grasp hope upon coming from palm/hp. Update rumor after update rumor gets old! I love webOs trust me, the pre plus has been my first smart phone, I became a Palm fan over night. The OS is unmatched by far. But a beautiful OS running on out of date hardware is torture!!! STOP THE ANDROID VIRUS BEFORE IT CONSUMES ME (with its two bit choppy OS). It's already given me one android eye...and it's set on the EVO
If anyone else is or was a big fan of the Acura NSX, you will probably agree that this wait for a new Pre replacement is exactly like that of the first NSX and successor. Sadly, the NSX has yet to be updated or replaced.
I think point and ounterpoint are both wrong. They aren't talking futures because they think it will be interesting to webOS owners. They were talking about flexible displays years ago. They were talking about gaming hardware years ago. We were dropped in to the ongoing 'vision casting' that is a regular part of what people like Hurd, John Chambers, Bill Gates_ etc talk about.
the best take is what Rahul Sood said on his webosRadio interview. He talked about his questions on the GPU, potential for skype, etc. He said he knew it was needed, and he is headed to sunnyvale to learn more about what it will take to do that stuff.
palm is executing on the strategy that hp bought, and educating thousands of HP employees at the same time. Having been through a merger of similar size, it's like changing engines on an airplane while it's flying. 30 days isn't enough time for anything concrete. It will take another month or two. If I were Palm, I'd schedule the launch event now, so everyone would relax until the week before that date. That's what apple does.
but lets not think that HP started talking big picture at the moment they bought palm. Vision casting and executive horizons are a constant stream of consciousness intended for executives at hp customers across the spectrum. They talk about flexible displays to their printer customers, and they talk about connected ecosystems with them too.
/rant
I stopped into VZW today to see the DroidX. What a disappointment. The screen is nice and it's certainly fast, but it's way too long and Android on Motorola is such an unintuitive UI. It's basically no UI, but just a blank desktop with random app buttons scattered about. Of course you can customize the layout, but the lonely
Pre+ sitting not far away is so much more elegant in the UI flow. At least HTC Sense on the Incredible is more pleasant to look at and use, but I'd go Pre+ and then a (gasp!) Blackberry on VZW if I was one of their customers. Thankfully, I'm not. Please let a new next gen Pre come to Sprint in September. Mark Hurd's mistress would want that I bet.
There's a reason why its sitting lonely in the corner...nobody wants her.
A "Leak" of whatever device is around the bend would do wonders for keeping Pre and Pixi owners from jumping ship.
I'm up for a new device on 9/1. I'm seeing rumors of a CDMA iPhone. If any more evidence of that shows up, i'm going Apple. If Palm tosses some scraps our way, I'll hold out for that.
If nothing materializes, I'm going android.
I bought an Evo and returned it after 12 days. The pre is the absolute best smartphone for my needs. Although, webos-internals has a lot to do with my patience.
God... Every time I go into this website I see articles clamoring for new hardware or people being impatient for a new hardware/software to be released as soon as possible... To silence you all think about these: (if you are one of those who actually listen and can read between the lines then you might have the same understanding as me.)
1. WebOS 2.0 will be available by the end of the year - did you really think that webOS 2.0 does not include a Pre 2.0 or ok "A new hardware"?
2. Did you really think that OS version will jump from 1.4.5.1 to 2.0?.... How bout 1.5.. didn't you think that specific OS version will be available before 2.0?... and a .5 jump means (mega update)...So am expecting great things from it.
you might flame me for this for now but you'll thank me later!!!
I was hoping for HP to finally leak something before the Samsung Vibrant came out so I can continue to wait, however long it takes for them to release something. Finally, I can't wait any longer and jumped ship to Android with the Samsung Vibrant. Its not a bad device with a beautiful screen but still much prefer webOS. I just hope this device can hold me over til the new webOS comes out. If by then there's still no new device or devices, adios Palm. I've been a long time Palm user since the original Palm Pilot, follow by the Sony versions, then the Treo 600 and 650. I tried to get into the Pre but the inferior hardware really turned me away. I tried the Nokia E71 with the Symbian OS last year but felt very archaic comparing to everything out there. So HPalm, please show us something now so you can prepare us for the holiday seasons.
YES, I agree whole heartily! I loved this article!!
I really need HP/Palm to say something, anything after the silent period, about a new device. I love my Pre and with all my paid apps I have put a lot of $$ into it. But I have always had the newest phone and am getting tired of being asked if I have the EVO. I would at least like to say I don't have it because I am waiting on the ____ to come out. I love my Pre but this launch day hardware is starting to get old and cheap looking. I need a faster, shiny-er phone. I love my Pre but if it's gonna be another year I'm going to have to find something else.
i am really disappointed in us what we let the global industries do to us. How come's that we seriously expect a new mobile phone hardware once a year? What happened to our TV sets that could run for 10-15 years and everybody was satisfied...
i still try to replace my phone not shorter than in 2 or 3 years. Call me outdated if you like but start to think about it. If the consumer does not demand it, the industry won't do it. It's not all about consumption and growth.
If you disagree, go watch (again) http://storyofstuff.com/
RETHINK!
i am still on my first pre and am very satisfied with it. i can live with firmware upgrades to make my phone better. don't need new hardware within the next one or two years.
you go jump ships if you like.
Along those same lines, I am disappointed to be among those wanting news of new hardware. I wouldn
I've used Palm OS devices since the Pilot & the PalmPilot 5000 in 1996. (Phew...were some of you in 6th grade playing Reader Rabbit then? ) Working in the industry, I owned and used the first Kyocera Palm phone, and the first two Samsung Palm OS phones. I remember David Diangson giving me a sneak peak at the Treo back at Handspring's offices. And I remember the big deal the original Treo600 created. Damn- this industry has come a long way.
But all along, Palm (whatever name we choose to refer to the team by over the years) has been plagued by internal issues that somehow always kept them from reaching their full potential. Like a tragic figure in literature, there was always sme sort of "organizational character flaw" to hobble them as they reached for the next rung...some internal battle, some decision maker who didn't "get it", some monetary constraint, some marketing misstep or another.
they have been enormously lucky to have stumbled half alive into the arms of HP.
they have a strong heart (in webOS) but have lost alot of blood (brand awareness, loyalty, goodwill, developer interest, etc) and HP needs to infuse this creature with new energy in the market, and not siphon off bits to be simply repurposed- or the core life blood will not be resuscitated in time.
I've owned my Sprint Pre for only 6 mos now, and the screen is surface cracked in the lower left, the touchscreen stops working when plugged into car charger without thumping the right side, and the GPS stopped working yesterday...
Best Buy doesn't sell the Pre anymore so I'll be force to move to an Android (EPIC?) device under their warranty terms. I hope to be back-- but that's in HP's hands now...
Can't go to Sprint to get a new phone? I'd check that if you haven't. Those are very apt metaphors for the company and its current situation, very descriptive. No reader rabbit, but I played strip poker in high school on my m100. That thing was awesome. Nothing like pixelated boobs.
Everytime I try to leave, something keeps pulling me back. I love Palm. Always have preferred Palm phones. This is so frustrating and so wrong for HP to do this to Palm's devoted customers. Why can't we all just walk away. lol. Show them we don't find this torture funny.
As much as I love my Pre (and I really am HAPPY with Sprint's service!), I want refreshed hardware that includes WebOS 2.0, expandable memory via microSD or similar removable memory, better battery life, and why not include that beautiful screen technology that is in the new iPhone.
Don't give up the touchstone. I LOVE mine! (Heck, I own 3 of the darn things)
Figure out a way to do wireless syncing with our computers, so we don't have to use the microUSB port. Most PCs have WiFi and or Bluetooth. It's not that hard to make this work!
I gave up my iPhone for my Pre because I knew it was the right choice. I keep being lured toward the Android 4G devices because they do have bring the new hotness to the mobile game. HP, we need some news!
I have had my pre for less than 4 months. At the time that I picked it up, I had only a couple key features that were primary in deciding on which phone I wanted. I wanted mp3 playback (and a decent amount of storage) and it had to have as little upfront cost as possible, preferably none. In Canada it was a no-brainer for me. Signing a contract was not a problem, which made the pre the best choice. 8 gigs and it is free at Bell. Most of my friends have blackberry's, but they cost $100 and up and had no real memory included. A decent mem card starts at $100. The fact that I've been using my PalmPilot for a few years already was the icing on the cake, since I didn't have much trouble importing my old info.
I almost picked up an android instead, because the screen was bigger, and they looked cooler. Plus I already used gmail and google calendar so I thought there would be a good fit. At the time I didn't know that the pre would sync with google so well, so that was a pleasant surprise. The store I was in was in a rather huge mall, and a number of random passer-bys stopped at the android displays and told stories of unstable software nightmares, and how there was still allot of growing pains. After a few such testimonials I decided to go with my original choice and go with the older, more stable OS.
Once we finally have flash my only real complaint will be the screen size and lack of HDMI out puts, but minor probs which I am sure will be addressed within the year(which is the absolute longest we will have to wait for new hardware, but really i think fall). The true impact of HP really won't be felt until XMas at the soonest. My pre already does so much more for me than I had expected, and it is my first "smart phone". I went my entire life without those features, I think I will be fine as I continue to discover new capabilities of what I already have (and learn to more effectively utilize the one, and have no real desire to start the process over again on another phone running another system. Plenty of grass left on this hill, and it really is quite green.
Well basically people, I love My Pre Plus, and plan to make WebOS the only device controlling software I need. So In that matter, the tablet arena is the sweet-spot between Laptop and Cell Phone. We all know that, but who's actually thinking about (Us) consumers before a product is actually launched?......Think about it!... We all want to be the first with a new gadget, then complain, about the new gadget, because (...lol) nothing supports it. By then your playing catch up!...right!... - So as if you couldn't recognize a good business model if it drove by playing pleasing music, and selling everybody fair priced Ice-icicles. Me personally, I think HP/Palm Have a Good Game Plan. /now lets think about the history of Palm before HP... How long have they been taking account for early business devices... There hardware has kinda always been the Problem, but the Soul of that hardware is what they had faith in, which to me, seems to be what they ran out of funds to perfect, but at the right time achieved. Then using what they had left-over to make/hope for the best of the future. Diligent work that pleases Gods People is rewarded. - (Hints...HP) - So now here comes this Mega Mammoth of Hardware seeking a soul to tame it. now all the new buddies and ancestors go about the world to talk of this device to come ( pre's, Pixi's, Printers, ect...) all in support of, laying the foundation for their offspring. Now with all these other false prophets claiming to do what they cant. Watch who does. (From me to you, in a nutshell) The most proclaimed as a company in software MARRIED the most proclaimed as a company in Hardware. Everybody else escort yourselves to the lake of fire. And Take your language with you..(..lol)-- Naw!... all jokes aside... we've been confused long enough.