Sony Halting Clie PDA sales in U.S.

[BobVB]

its called SonyEricsson P900...
supports BT, graphical data entry - excellent, excellent handwriting recongition - uses natural handwriting - not like Palm grafitti.. oh, and can do voice recordings too ( and video )...

I guess I was thinking of Palm - I have dozens of Palm applications that I use(d) on a regular basis, ones I doubt will ever show up on a P900. I had databases that sync with their Filemaker counterparts, I had dozens of Palm Reader books I would read when in waiting places. I did go look at the P900 and if it were Palm OS, I'd get it in a heart beat. But the review never mentioned what 3rd party (if any) products are available for it.

I guess my real gripe is that Palm never got their act together after such a good start. Where is the Palm OS phone like the P900? Not the treo's that's for sure.

 

[davetrow1997]

PDAs serve a valuable function...

wow. that's a surprise to see that they're shutting down the Clie, and they just released that new model not so long ago...

oh well, when you've got a 10" sub-notebook who needs a PDA?

I can't carry around even a sub-10" laptop in my coat pocket.. when I need access to data at a patient's bedside.. reference ranges, drug information, medical calculators, etc... I need a PDA. No replacement... I used to have to carry enough books around in my pocket to give me a hernia.

 

[jtfaria]

Build iPod minis into cel phones

Why not just build an iPod mini INTO a cel phone? The mini is already smaller than a cel. A good fraction of it consists of a battery and display panel, which a cel phone needs ANYWAY. Basically you're adding the software, a tiny hard drive and a processor to the mix.

Since the thing you've built is a cel phone, it has voice input AND 'net access. Therefore: you could, with the right software, have access to your .mac data via your cel (at last, a truly compelling reason for .mac). This could include your address book.

Possibly the phone could have voice recognition as well, to add new entries. These could be transmitted to your .mac database, where they also could be tweaked later if not exactly right.

You might also update your music on the fly, using a similar method.

I know, I know. Battery life. But if that's the ONLY problem - again, why not?

 

[JrbM689]

Solution? VOICE MEMOS! That's the easiest possible form of input--easier and faster than keyboard or stylus even. And it doesn't change the iPod's simplicity--IF they build it in rather than requiring an add-on pod. Please!

There's always a compromise--in the case of voice memos, you must re-enter the data on your computer when you get home.

You know how MS Word Mac 2004 has built-in Voice Memo support? Well, an iPod could be used to take voice notes on the spot and then later imported into your Microsoft Word document when you sync the iPod with your Mac at home!

 

[JrbM689]

i think they are going about them all wrong, pda's need to simplify. they don't need digital camera's they don't even need gobs of memory to put music or videos on. they should replace the memo pad, in which what they do need is good screens, good text recognition. good organized contact and memo and draw functions.

Hmm, sounds like something I know... now what was that device called that kicked off the whole PDA industry??? OH YEA, Apple's Newton!

 

[Abstract]

The Newton didn't include the technology because it wasn't around back then...

And they make PDAs with only the basic functions. Look for the low-end models. Some of you that are whining may have missed those...

 

[fpnc]

Why not just build an iPod mini INTO a cel phone? The mini is already smaller than a cel. A good fraction of it consists of a battery and display panel, which a cel phone needs ANYWAY. Basically you're adding the software, a tiny hard drive and a processor to the mix...

You have a point here. Problem is that it is likely to go the other way. Smart phones will probably replace the iPod or at least begin to take sales directly away from the iPod. How quickly or how soon this will happen may be somewhat uncertain. But eventually I suspect that most people will end up carrying a smart phone that acts as a mobile communications device, a PDA, a camera, and a music playback device. It won't do all of those functions as well as a dedicated set of devices. But I expect that most people will prefer the convenience of carrying a single device.

Of course, enhanced smart phones do leave room for a very small and inexpensive music playback device. But, obviously, that is not the iPod of today.

 

[BobVB]

And they make PDAs with only the basic functions. Look for the low-end models. Some of you that are whining may have missed those...

I missed the one with Bluetooth. And we already have ones with the basics, there's no need to buy new ones without needed features.

What you have missed is they could have been making new ones with all the basics and those that actually work within the PDA paradigm. Palm didn't and has paid the price.

 

[Abstract]

Well people keep complaining that the camera, mp3 player, movie player, etc, are novelties that aren't necessary and only add to clutter. What I'm saying is that the basic, cheaper PDAs offer the basic functions without any of the BS functions. Sure, some people may already have these models, but then why do people say they're looking for a simple PDA, and want to keep using their iPods for music, and their mobiles for phone use?

If what you mean is that they should build a simple, easy to use, handwriting recognition capable PDA with only the basic apps and functions (no multimedia, no camera, no phone), plus bluetooth and Wifi, then I guess I agree with you. After giving it some thought, i can't think of a simple PDA with bluetooth and WiFi. Most PDA's that come with features like BT and WiFi come with unnecessary features and such. If Apple can deliver a basic PDA with BT and WiFi, and their own OS, or using Palm's OS, then that's cool.

 

[iLilana]

why?

they are killing the clie because of the PSP.

 

[Awimoway]

Ah, but you don't have to - you can put it on a table just like a laptop!

And why wouldn't I be better off just getting a 12" PowerBook? There's a reason they call them "handheld" — you should be able to whip it out wherever you are, sitting or standing, and make a quick note. So, to reiterate, thumbs alone are not an efficent, practical way to enter data on a handheld device.

Thanks for the loyality compliant ;-) And no, Symbian applications are not scarse.. quite the opposite.

You certainly are loyalty-compliant. But you've intrigued me, as well. Could you refer me to some links where I can browse Symbian apps? Thanks in advance.

 

[Torajima]

Most people are missing the point here. The main reason Sony really failed was because they offered an expensive, inferior product.

Inferior? I don't think so... Sony brought an awful lot to the Palm platform. High-res graphics, upgraded Applications, built-in cameras, virtual graffiti, built-in Wifi and Bluetooth, etc.

I personally didn't buy a Clie because I didn't care for the rocker style buttons on the cheap models, and the more expensive models were just too big. But man, did they have beautiful screens.

And I do know people who chose the cheap Clie's over Palm's offerings because they were cheaper... at least for what you were getting.

No, I think the reason Sony failed is the same reason Atari failed back in the 80's... too many damn models, released to closely together... it confuses the customers, and pisses off retailers. I mean really, there was a new Clie model coming out every 3 months... ridiculous.

 

[gregorypierce]

The only device I plan on using is one that has a 1.x+ megapixel camera, symbian, palm or windows OS, a touch screen, and a keyboard. Sony's upcoming S700 is a GREAT device. If it had a keyboard as opposed to just a numeric keypad it would be the perfect device.

As it is now the choices are pretty much the Samsung i700 which isn't Mac compatible, the Treo 600 which doesn't have bluetooth so isn't mac compatible either, and the Sony P900 which is an uber device but on the large and painfully expensive side. I'm waiting for a revision of all of these devices to see how they shape up given that the PDA market is and will remain dead.

I talked to people at a seminar on developing for the wireless market a few months back and expressed that convergence devices would replace stand alone PDAs and many people were very skeptical, but smartphones are here to stay and as the popularity of devices like the Nokia 3650 showed - people want that functionality with them and are willing to pay for it.

 

[gregorypierce]

they are killing the clie because of the PSP.

Last I checked the PSP didn't have a keyboard, PDA functions, a camera, or the ability for independent developers to CHEAPLY develop applications for it.

 

[dopefiend]

This is where the future of PDA's is going.............

So Im going through my regular routine news checking and I saw this thing on news.cnet.com

God...I want it so bad

Next toy on the list of things I don't need, but will waste money on!

http://news.com.com/1606-2-5222650.html