My family always asks me for advice on what gadgets they should buy. (After they ask my Uncle Richard, that is. He can always spot a deal.) Last week, my sister Michelle asked me what the best tools were for staying organized. She is heading back to school and wants to keep track of her class work, and I suspect, her classmates as well. My advice was direct, if somewhat arbitrary:
Treo or Blackberry? Treo.
Windows or Palm? Palm.
I thought the Treo 700p was a pretty logical choice. But no. She bought a Palm TX.
That's right: She got an old-fashion PDA--meaning it doesn't make phone calls. Sure, it has Wi-Fi, but that is a far cry from the ubiquitous coverage of the cellular networks. Still, the simplicity of the device, and the fact she already owns a cell phone and likes it, made the TX appealing to her.
Personally, I just don't get it. The conventional PDA is in its death throes. Just look at Gartner's numbers on sales for the first quarter of this year. HP iPaq sales were down 29.9 percent, Dell Axim sales were down 34 percent, and Palm's own PDA sales were down 25.2 percent. And yet the average PDA price hovers around $300. If you sign up for a service plan, that's the same price as a Treo 700p (after rebates). I don't see why anyone would carry two devices when you can carry one.
Why can't Michelle see my logic? It isn't because I'm smarter than she is. As she loves to point out, often in large family gatherings, she blew away my S.A.T. scores. No, I think it's because she is a woman. More specifically, because she has a purse.
Although I do carry a messenger bag to work, most of the time I have to fit my essential gear (wallet, keys, and phone) into my pants pockets. I really can't carry anything else. (Don't get me started on the whole cell-phone-on-the-belt thing; that's another column.) But Michelle, and I think most other women, can easily throw multiple devices in their bags. Plus, Michelle actually wanted the ability to separate her work life from her social life. I know, it sounds weird to me, too.
Nonetheless, the answer to quarter after quarter of slumping PDA sales is clear: Market them to women. More colors, more accessories, and maybe brand-name designs. Where is the Oprah Edition of the Palm TX? Turns out, in 2004, Palm's own research showed that 50 percent of its Zire customers were women. I bet that number is even higher now. The sales guys will kill me for this, but today, the ideal PDA user isn't a PC Magazine reader: She is a Real Simple subscriber.
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August 24, 2006 3:59 PM
Right on, Dan (my trusty sidekick on Gearlog Radio). I've never thought about that. Why DON'T PDA manufacturers design PDAs for women? Of course, I'm guessing that the majority of people who use PDAs are men (at least, on NJ transit I only ever see men using them). But, women are starting to come out of the wood work by showing their interest in technology more and more each year. I can see why Michelle wanted an old-fashioned PDA. I, for one, don't necessarily think I need all-in-one devices. Sure, it's handy to own an AIO printer, but when it comes to making calls, I like to keep it separate from listening to music and surfing the Web. Why? That's just my caveat. Maybe it's because I'd rather use a sleek cell phone to talk rather than talking on a PDA. Call me old-fashioned, but that's the way technology works for me today! And I bet women PDA users are also Pink Magazine subscribers.
August 24, 2006 4:11 PM
I don't know if it's completely because she's a woman; I mean, there is still some lure of havng a device that doesn't have to be everything and do everything. I have a Palm Tungsten T3 that I purchased a couple of years ago and I'm incredibly happy with it (and I'm not a woman!) specifically because I like to keep my cellphone separate from my calendar and my contacts. It's kind of luddite-ish of me, but I like my Razr as my phone, and my T3 as my PDA. I need my cellphone everywhere, but I only need my PDA in the office. Just a separation of tasks, I think. I'm with Michelle, and Jen up there for that matter, all in one devices just don't always do it for me, and I've been burned by previous generations of smartphones and all in one devices that sure, can do everything, but do everything BADLY. Perhaps at some point I'll invest in a Treo, but my Tungsten (with my SD wifi card!) will get me by just fine, and without expensive data contracts from my cellular service provider! ;)
August 24, 2006 4:21 PM
Isn't that just a wee bit condescending? Not all of us watch daytime TV... we work and stuff. How about the Georgia O'Keefe edition? The Rosa Parks edition? The George Eliot edition? The Hillary Rodham Clinton edition? (OK, I'm kidding with that last one.)
August 24, 2006 4:40 PM
Haha The Oprah Edition...I forgot to comment on that one! I'm a big fan of Oprah, although I never get to watch her (unless I'm working from home). I don't know what would be so special about the Oprah Edition though. Oprah wallpaper? Celebrity interviews? Exclusive video of Tom Cruise jumping on her couch? For the young crowd, why not the Paris Hilton Edition? The American Idol Edition? The Pussycat Dolls Edition?
August 24, 2006 9:07 PM
Oprah isn't just about daytime TV Carol. She is an icon, business leader, actress, and magazine maker. She does it all. And I bet she has a PDA.
August 25, 2006 8:00 AM
Yep, what's one more thing amongst all the other stuff? I hate those big bulky phones and wouldn't want to hold it to my ear all day long. Multi function devices are like a jack of all trades. It can do a lot of things, but none of them well.
August 25, 2006 12:50 PM
Many duo users prefer their old trusty PDA devices for their simplicity. They continue to hold on to their ancient monochrome devices which still do the needed basics. They are determined to milk it for every ounce of value they invested years ago. Many new users are actually intimidated by the complexity of the smartphones and do not see the usefulness of all the functions in one device. The missing tutorials have killed the market. Years ago, I personally confronted the Marketing VP of both Palm and PalmSource with this issue. Many do not purchase new devices because they never realized the full value of their first device. The marketing people insist that the devices are so intuitive that tutorials are not needed. The result is millions of expensive dead Palm paperweights in dust drawers. Professionals and end users like the larger screens for ease of use. Many complain about the small keyboard and thus prefer Graffiti. In addition to my Treo 650, I constantly use my LifeDrive as a companion to my camera.
September 1, 2006 4:07 AM
ADEL PHONES INC. We are the import of all brand new mobile phones , They are cheap and unlocked with 12 month international warranty.We sell them in Bulk and in Retails ,We shipped inconjunction with fedEx Express, they shipped within 48hrs to your door step. if interested, Contact via e-mail : adel_10900@yahoo.com PRICELIST FOR NOKIA PHONES IN STOCK : Nokia 6125 Bluetooth Quadband Unlocked GSM Phone....$190 Nokia 6136 Bluetooth Quadband Unlocked GSM Phone....$200 Nokia 6265i Unlocked GSM Cell Phone.....$180 Nokia 6282 Unlocked GSM Smartphone......$220 Nokia 8800 GSM Unlocked GSM 900/1800/1900 World Phone.....$190 Nokia 770 Internet Tablet Support.....$210 Nokia 8801 GSM Unlocked GSM 850/1800/1900.....$200 Nokia E50 QuadBand Unlocked GSM Phone......$190 Nokia E70 Unlocked GSM Smartphone.....$175 Nokia N70 Unlocked GSM Smartphone.....$165 Nokia N71 Unlocked GSM Smartphone.....$175 Nokia N72 Unlocked GSM Phone Black....$170 Nokia N80 Quadband Unlocked GSM Smartphone Black.....$200 Nokia N90 Unlocked Quadband GSM Smartphone w/128MB card....$200 Nokia N91 GSM Unlocked Phone.....$210 Nokia N92 Unlocked GSM Smartphone....$230 Nokia N93 Unlocked GSM Phone.....$300 PRICELIST FOR MOTOROLA PHONES IN STOCK : Motorola A1200 Unlocked Quadband Phone Black.....$190 Motorola A910 Unlocked GSM Phone.....$150 Motorola E1070 Unlocked GSM Phone.....$160 Motorola L2 Candybar RAZR Unlocked GSM Phone....$130 Motorola Q for Verizon......$200 Motorola Q Unlocked GSM Phone.....$250 Motorola Rokr E2 Unlocked GSM Triband Phone w/iTunes....$210 Motorola V1050 Quad Band Unlocked GSM Phone.....$175 Motorola V195 Unlocked GSM Phone.....$165 Motorola V3 (Gold) Edition Unlocked GSM Phone....$150 Motorola V3c RAZR for Verizon.....$145 Motorola V3i Dolce & Gabbana Unlocked Quadband GSM Phone.....$185 MOTOROLA V3x (PINK) Unlocked GSM Phone w/128 MB Card.....$170 Motorola W220 GSM Unlocked Cell Phone.....$200 PRICELIST FOR SAMSUNG PHONES : Samsung P920 Unlocked GSM Cell Phone......$300 Samsung I830 Smartphone Unlocked GSM Cell Phone....$250 Samsung Serene SGH-E910 Unlocked GSM Phone.....$500 Samsung S401i Unlocked Triband GSM Cell Phone....$200 Samsung D870 Unlocked GSM Phone.....$230 Samsung Z710 Unlocked GSM Mobile Cell Phone....$270 Samsung p900 unlocked GSM Cell phone......$285 Samsung p860 unlocked GSM Cell phone......$255 PRICELIST FOR SONY ERICSSON PHONES : Sony Ericsson K310 Unlocked GSM Phone....$145 Sony Ericsson K510 Unlocked GSM PhonE....$165 Sony Ericsson K610 Unlocked GSM Phone....$165 Sony Ericsson K790 Unlocked GSM Phone....$200 Sony Ericsson K800 Unlocked GSM Phone....$190 Sony Ericsson M600 Unlocked GSM Phone....$175 Sony Ericsson P990i GSM Unlocked.........$400 Sony Ericsson W700i Unlocked GSM Phone...$150 Sony Ericsson W810 MP3 Quadband GSM Unlocked Phone....$155 Sony Ericsson W850 GSM Unlocked Cell Phone.....$250 Sony Ericsson W900i Unlocked GSM Phone.....$230 Sony Ericsson W950 Unlocked GSM Phone.....$240 Sony Ericsson Z710 Quadband GSM Unlocked Cell Phone.....$250 Sony Ericsson p910i unlocked GSM phone.....$185 PRICELIST FOR PALM TREO PHONES : Handsping Treo 650 GSM Quadband Unlocked Smartphone PDA....$140 Handsping Treo 700w GSM unlocked phone .....$160 PRICELIST FOR IMATE PHONES IN STOCK : I-Mate JAM 128MB Unlocked GSM Phone....$210 I-Mate JAM GSM/GPRS Pocket PC Unlocked Phone....$190 I-Mate JAMin GSM/GPRS Pocket PC Unlocked Quadband Phone....$220 I-Mate JASJAR Quadband GSM Unlocked PDA Smartphone.....$350 I-Mate K-Jam Quad Band Unlocked GSM Smartphone.....$240 I-Mate Smartflip Unlocked Quadband Smartphone.....$250 I-Mate SP5 Unlocked GSM Smartphone.....$160 I-Mate SP5m Unlocked GSM Smartphone....$140 PRICELIST FOR QTEK PHONES : Qtek 8100 Tri-Band Camera Music Unlocked GSM Phone White.....$125 QTEK 8300 GSM MOBILE SMARTPHONE.....$145 Qtek 8310 Unlocked Quadband GSM Phone....$165 Qtek 8500 Unlocked SmartPhone.....$155 Qtek 8600 Unlocked GSM SmartPhone....$225 Qtek 9000 3G Pocket PC Unlocked GSM Phone.....$320 Qtek 9100 Smartphone / Pocket PC Unlocked GSM Phone....$190 Qtek 9600 Unlocked GSM SmartPhone.....$280 Qtek G100 GPS PPC and Pharos Ostia GPS Software(US Maps)....$175 QTEK S200 GSM/GPRS Pocket PC Unlocked Quadband Phone.....$185 If Interested Contact : adel_10900@yahoo.com
September 1, 2006 4:11 AM
ADEL PHONES INC. We are the import of all brand new mobile phones , They are cheap and unlocked with 12 month international warranty.We sell them in Bulk and in Retails ,We shipped inconjunction with fedEx Express, they shipped within 48hrs to your door step. if interested, Contact via e-mail : adel_10900@yahoo.com PRICELIST FOR NOKIA PHONES IN STOCK : Nokia 6125 Bluetooth Quadband Unlocked GSM Phone....$190 Nokia 6136 Bluetooth Quadband Unlocked GSM Phone....$200 Nokia 6265i Unlocked GSM Cell Phone.....$180 Nokia 6282 Unlocked GSM Smartphone......$220 Nokia 8800 GSM Unlocked GSM 900/1800/1900 World Phone.....$190 Nokia 770 Internet Tablet Support.....$210 Nokia 8801 GSM Unlocked GSM 850/1800/1900.....$200 Nokia E50 QuadBand Unlocked GSM Phone......$190 Nokia E70 Unlocked GSM Smartphone.....$175 Nokia N70 Unlocked GSM Smartphone.....$165 Nokia N71 Unlocked GSM Smartphone.....$175 Nokia N72 Unlocked GSM Phone Black....$170 Nokia N80 Quadband Unlocked GSM Smartphone Black.....$200 Nokia N90 Unlocked Quadband GSM Smartphone w/128MB card....$200 Nokia N91 GSM Unlocked Phone.....$210 Nokia N92 Unlocked GSM Smartphone....$230 Nokia N93 Unlocked GSM Phone.....$300 PRICELIST FOR MOTOROLA PHONES IN STOCK : Motorola A1200 Unlocked Quadband Phone Black.....$190 Motorola A910 Unlocked GSM Phone.....$150 Motorola E1070 Unlocked GSM Phone.....$160 Motorola L2 Candybar RAZR Unlocked GSM Phone....$130 Motorola Q for Verizon......$200 Motorola Q Unlocked GSM Phone.....$250 Motorola Rokr E2 Unlocked GSM Triband Phone w/iTunes....$210 Motorola V1050 Quad Band Unlocked GSM Phone.....$175 Motorola V195 Unlocked GSM Phone.....$165 Motorola V3 (Gold) Edition Unlocked GSM Phone....$150 Motorola V3c RAZR for Verizon.....$145 Motorola V3i Dolce & Gabbana Unlocked Quadband GSM Phone.....$185 MOTOROLA V3x (PINK) Unlocked GSM Phone w/128 MB Card.....$170 Motorola W220 GSM Unlocked Cell Phone.....$200 PRICELIST FOR SAMSUNG PHONES : Samsung P920 Unlocked GSM Cell Phone......$300 Samsung I830 Smartphone Unlocked GSM Cell Phone....$250 Samsung Serene SGH-E910 Unlocked GSM Phone.....$500 Samsung S401i Unlocked Triband GSM Cell Phone....$200 Samsung D870 Unlocked GSM Phone.....$230 Samsung Z710 Unlocked GSM Mobile Cell Phone....$270 Samsung p900 unlocked GSM Cell phone......$285 Samsung p860 unlocked GSM Cell phone......$255 PRICELIST FOR SONY ERICSSON PHONES : Sony Ericsson K310 Unlocked GSM Phone....$145 Sony Ericsson K510 Unlocked GSM PhonE....$165 Sony Ericsson K610 Unlocked GSM Phone....$165 Sony Ericsson K790 Unlocked GSM Phone....$200 Sony Ericsson K800 Unlocked GSM Phone....$190 Sony Ericsson M600 Unlocked GSM Phone....$175 Sony Ericsson P990i GSM Unlocked.........$400 Sony Ericsson W700i Unlocked GSM Phone...$150 Sony Ericsson W810 MP3 Quadband GSM Unlocked Phone....$155 Sony Ericsson W850 GSM Unlocked Cell Phone.....$250 Sony Ericsson W900i Unlocked GSM Phone.....$230 Sony Ericsson W950 Unlocked GSM Phone.....$240 Sony Ericsson Z710 Quadband GSM Unlocked Cell Phone.....$250 Sony Ericsson p910i unlocked GSM phone.....$185 PRICELIST FOR PALM TREO PHONES : Handsping Treo 650 GSM Quadband Unlocked Smartphone PDA....$140 Handsping Treo 700w GSM unlocked phone .....$160 PRICELIST FOR IMATE PHONES IN STOCK : I-Mate JAM 128MB Unlocked GSM Phone....$210 I-Mate JAM GSM/GPRS Pocket PC Unlocked Phone....$190 I-Mate JAMin GSM/GPRS Pocket PC Unlocked Quadband Phone....$220 I-Mate JASJAR Quadband GSM Unlocked PDA Smartphone.....$350 I-Mate K-Jam Quad Band Unlocked GSM Smartphone.....$240 I-Mate Smartflip Unlocked Quadband Smartphone.....$250 I-Mate SP5 Unlocked GSM Smartphone.....$160 I-Mate SP5m Unlocked GSM Smartphone....$140 PRICELIST FOR QTEK PHONES : Qtek 8100 Tri-Band Camera Music Unlocked GSM Phone White.....$125 QTEK 8300 GSM MOBILE SMARTPHONE.....$145 Qtek 8310 Unlocked Quadband GSM Phone....$165 Qtek 8500 Unlocked SmartPhone.....$155 Qtek 8600 Unlocked GSM SmartPhone....$225 Qtek 9000 3G Pocket PC Unlocked GSM Phone.....$320 Qtek 9100 Smartphone / Pocket PC Unlocked GSM Phone....$190 Qtek 9600 Unlocked GSM SmartPhone.....$280 Qtek G100 GPS PPC and Pharos Ostia GPS Software(US Maps)....$175 QTEK S200 GSM/GPRS Pocket PC Unlocked Quadband Phone.....$185 If Interested Contact : adel_10900@yahoo.com
September 1, 2006 4:15 AM
ADEL PHONES INC. We are the import of all brand new mobile phones , They are cheap and unlocked with 12 month international warranty.We sell them in Bulk and in Retails ,We shipped inconjunction with fedEx Express, they shipped within 48hrs to your door step. if interested, Contact via e-mail : adel_10900@yahoo.com PRICELIST FOR NOKIA PHONES IN STOCK : Nokia 6125 Bluetooth Quadband Unlocked GSM Phone....$190 Nokia 6136 Bluetooth Quadband Unlocked GSM Phone....$200 Nokia 6265i Unlocked GSM Cell Phone.....$180 Nokia 6282 Unlocked GSM Smartphone......$220 Nokia 8800 GSM Unlocked GSM 900/1800/1900 World Phone.....$190 Nokia 770 Internet Tablet Support.....$210 Nokia 8801 GSM Unlocked GSM 850/1800/1900.....$200 Nokia E50 QuadBand Unlocked GSM Phone......$190 Nokia E70 Unlocked GSM Smartphone.....$175 Nokia N70 Unlocked GSM Smartphone.....$165 Nokia N71 Unlocked GSM Smartphone.....$175 Nokia N72 Unlocked GSM Phone Black....$170 Nokia N80 Quadband Unlocked GSM Smartphone Black.....$200 Nokia N90 Unlocked Quadband GSM Smartphone w/128MB card....$200 Nokia N91 GSM Unlocked Phone.....$210 Nokia N92 Unlocked GSM Smartphone....$230 Nokia N93 Unlocked GSM Phone.....$300 PRICELIST FOR MOTOROLA PHONES IN STOCK : Motorola A1200 Unlocked Quadband Phone Black.....$190 Motorola A910 Unlocked GSM Phone.....$150 Motorola E1070 Unlocked GSM Phone.....$160 Motorola L2 Candybar RAZR Unlocked GSM Phone....$130 Motorola Q for Verizon......$200 Motorola Q Unlocked GSM Phone.....$250 Motorola Rokr E2 Unlocked GSM Triband Phone w/iTunes....$210 Motorola V1050 Quad Band Unlocked GSM Phone.....$175 Motorola V195 Unlocked GSM Phone.....$165 Motorola V3 (Gold) Edition Unlocked GSM Phone....$150 Motorola V3c RAZR for Verizon.....$145 Motorola V3i Dolce & Gabbana Unlocked Quadband GSM Phone.....$185 MOTOROLA V3x (PINK) Unlocked GSM Phone w/128 MB Card.....$170 Motorola W220 GSM Unlocked Cell Phone.....$200 PRICELIST FOR SAMSUNG PHONES : Samsung P920 Unlocked GSM Cell Phone......$300 Samsung I830 Smartphone Unlocked GSM Cell Phone....$250 Samsung Serene SGH-E910 Unlocked GSM Phone.....$500 Samsung S401i Unlocked Triband GSM Cell Phone....$200 Samsung D870 Unlocked GSM Phone.....$230 Samsung Z710 Unlocked GSM Mobile Cell Phone....$270 Samsung p900 unlocked GSM Cell phone......$285 Samsung p860 unlocked GSM Cell phone......$255 PRICELIST FOR SONY ERICSSON PHONES : Sony Ericsson K310 Unlocked GSM Phone....$145 Sony Ericsson K510 Unlocked GSM PhonE....$165 Sony Ericsson K610 Unlocked GSM Phone....$165 Sony Ericsson K790 Unlocked GSM Phone....$200 Sony Ericsson K800 Unlocked GSM Phone....$190 Sony Ericsson M600 Unlocked GSM Phone....$175 Sony Ericsson P990i GSM Unlocked.........$400 Sony Ericsson W700i Unlocked GSM Phone...$150 Sony Ericsson W810 MP3 Quadband GSM Unlocked Phone....$155 Sony Ericsson W850 GSM Unlocked Cell Phone.....$250 Sony Ericsson W900i Unlocked GSM Phone.....$230 Sony Ericsson W950 Unlocked GSM Phone.....$240 Sony Ericsson Z710 Quadband GSM Unlocked Cell Phone.....$250 Sony Ericsson p910i unlocked GSM phone.....$185 PRICELIST FOR PALM TREO PHONES : Handsping Treo 650 GSM Quadband Unlocked Smartphone PDA....$140 Handsping Treo 700w GSM unlocked phone .....$160 PRICELIST FOR IMATE PHONES IN STOCK : I-Mate JAM 128MB Unlocked GSM Phone....$210 I-Mate JAM GSM/GPRS Pocket PC Unlocked Phone....$190 I-Mate JAMin GSM/GPRS Pocket PC Unlocked Quadband Phone....$220 I-Mate JASJAR Quadband GSM Unlocked PDA Smartphone.....$350 I-Mate K-Jam Quad Band Unlocked GSM Smartphone.....$240 I-Mate Smartflip Unlocked Quadband Smartphone.....$250 I-Mate SP5 Unlocked GSM Smartphone.....$160 I-Mate SP5m Unlocked GSM Smartphone....$140 PRICELIST FOR QTEK PHONES : Qtek 8100 Tri-Band Camera Music Unlocked GSM Phone White.....$125 QTEK 8300 GSM MOBILE SMARTPHONE.....$145 Qtek 8310 Unlocked Quadband GSM Phone....$165 Qtek 8500 Unlocked SmartPhone.....$155 Qtek 8600 Unlocked GSM SmartPhone....$225 Qtek 9000 3G Pocket PC Unlocked GSM Phone.....$320 Qtek 9100 Smartphone / Pocket PC Unlocked GSM Phone....$190 Qtek 9600 Unlocked GSM SmartPhone.....$280 Qtek G100 GPS PPC and Pharos Ostia GPS Software(US Maps)....$175 QTEK S200 GSM/GPRS Pocket PC Unlocked Quadband Phone.....$185 If Interested Contact : adel_10900@yahoo.com
October 4, 2006 8:01 AM
DO NOT PURCHASE ANY PHONES FROM AN ADEL PHONES, INC. He is a scam artist from Nigeria. Claims that he is based in the US. After transaction is completed he tells you that he reocated to Abuja Nigeria and the phones are stuck in custom. Tries to collect additional money. I have been taken for a lot. I reported him to the FBI. But, I am on a Mission to post articles all over the Internet where he seems to advertise. Thanks Rita Bogaert