Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

I'm surprised that I haven't seen this posted here yet. PalmOne has
apparently been testing out Microsoft and Linux PDA OS alternatives.
Could this be why we haven't seen any PalmOS6 devices almost a year
after PalmSource released it to manufacturers?


http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1040_22-5438347.html

PalmOne ponders Microsoft, Linux options
Handheld-computer maker PalmOne is considering moves that would take it
beyond the operating system that helped make the company a household
name.

The Milpitas, Calif.-based firm has evaluated both Microsoft-based
operating systems as well as at least one version of Linux as a
potential alternative operating system to the Palm OS for its handheld
devices, CNET News.com has learned.

Sources familiar with the tests said PalmOne has been quietly exploring
operating systems to augment the Palm OS for some time. The company has
also been exploring partnerships that could let it use a tailored
version of the Linux OS to run on its devices, according to a source
familiar with the company's efforts.

The tests could presage a blow to Palm OS owner PalmSource, which
counts PalmOne as its largest customer. All PalmOne devices currently
use the Palm OS. <snip>

--
Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

Decafalon: The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only
things that are good for you.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

Jeffrey Kaplan wrote:
> I'm surprised that I haven't seen this posted here yet. PalmOne has
> apparently been testing out Microsoft and Linux PDA OS alternatives.
> Could this be why we haven't seen any PalmOS6 devices almost a year
> after PalmSource released it to manufacturers?

Nah, I think the problem with OS 6 was probably just that 6.0 was
not ready for prime time, which is why 6.1 exists already.

And yes, there has been the rumor that palmOne might do a Windows
or Linux device, but even if they do, that does not mean they will
suddenly drop Palm OS devices.

- Logan

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

Begin Logan Shaw quote:

; And yes, there has been the rumor that palmOne might do a Windows
; or Linux device, but even if they do, that does not mean they will
; suddenly drop Palm OS devices.

True, and they are under a contract worth $40/year to PalmSource
through 2006 anyway. But if the company that built the PalmOS and
carries the Palm name itself starts making PDAs with "the competition"
OS, what signal does that send to consumers? That would be like Apple
selling WindowsXP computers.

--
Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

DISCLAIMER: Terms and conditions subject to change without notice.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

In article
news:<1ivnp0t6je3m4ts6o0g4n5ci2i986vcrs0@news20.forteinc.com>, Jeffrey
Kaplan wrote:
> [PalmOne] has evaluated both Microsoft-based
> operating systems as well as at least one version of Linux as a
> potential alternative operating system to the Palm OS for its handheld
> devices, CNET News.com has learned.

Well, if I were they I'd be evaluating things like that too. I might
have no wish or intention ever to use those things, but I'd certainly
want to know whether it was feasible, and what the advantages and
disadvantages of doing so might be.

I's also want to be able to go back to PalmSource and say "You say it's
because our hardware is slow that feature X of PalmOS isn't working well
on the Y prototype hardware ... but look, it runs like a dream when
driven by rival OS Z ...".

... or maybe "Gee, you're charging us N% more for PalmOS Version P than
company Q want for their OS version R ... how about a discount to
persuade us not to switch?".

It may also be that PalmOne have an opportunity to steal some bespoke
hardware business form another manufacturer if they can build cheaper
hardware that runs an existing WinCE (say) application. That sort of
business might be worth going after.

There could be any number of hidden agendas, here.

Cheers,
Daniel.
Trying to look on the bright side.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

Begin Jeffrey Kaplan quote:

; Begin Logan Shaw quote:
;
; ; And yes, there has been the rumor that palmOne might do a Windows
; ; or Linux device, but even if they do, that does not mean they will
; ; suddenly drop Palm OS devices.
;
; True, and they are under a contract worth $40/year to PalmSource

Erm, that's $40M/year.

--
Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

DISCLAIMER: Postage will be paid by addressee.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

In article <1ivnp0t6je3m4ts6o0g4n5ci2i986vcrs0@news20.forteinc.com>,
Jeffrey Kaplan <cspp@gordol.org> wrote:

> I'm surprised that I haven't seen this posted here yet. PalmOne has
> apparently been testing out Microsoft and Linux PDA OS alternatives.

It's not news. PalmOne and Palm before it have played with other OSs. It's
part of their job. Do you think Microsoft has never tested the Palm OS?

See Colligan, of PalmOne's, responses to being questioned about this. You
can google them.

> Could this be why we haven't seen any PalmOS6 devices almost a year
> after PalmSource released it to manufacturers?

PalmOne is contractually bound to sell something like $40 million worth of
Palm OS devices a year through 2006 or 2007. So the answer is no.

PalmOne never been the trailblazer in the Palm device world. Sony was.

BTW, you should see some Cobalt devices early next year from Samsung and
some other licensees.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

Guy Bannis wrote:
> It's not news. PalmOne and Palm before it have played with other OSs. It's
> part of their job. Do you think Microsoft has never tested the Palm OS?

Sort of similar in a way to how Apple has at times (supposedly) had
versions of Mac OS that run on PC hardware.

And if you want to go a step further, I believe there was even a
Mac several years ago that contained a 486 processor (or something)
in addition to its regular processor and ran both Mac OS and Windows.

- Logan

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

Begin Guy Bannis quote:

; It's not news. PalmOne and Palm before it have played with other OSs. It's
; part of their job. Do you think Microsoft has never tested the Palm OS?

The gist of the article is not that they are evaluating the
competition, which any sane company does, but that they are evaluating
whether or not to make devices that run the other systems. Like if
Apple were to start making Windows machines, or IBM were to start
selling Solaris systems.

; > Could this be why we haven't seen any PalmOS6 devices almost a year
; > after PalmSource released it to manufacturers?
;
; PalmOne is contractually bound to sell something like $40 million worth of
; Palm OS devices a year through 2006 or 2007. So the answer is no.

In the short term, certainly. But when that contract expires?

; PalmOne never been the trailblazer in the Palm device world. Sony was.

And now Sony has effectively pulled out of the PalmOS world, only
continuing in Japan. My guess is that if they return to PDAs it will
be with either RIM or, more likely, Symbian or something from MS.

; BTW, you should see some Cobalt devices early next year from Samsung and
; some other licensees.

I'd like to see something from Kyocera.

--
Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

Actual label instructions on consumer goods:
On a Korean kitchen knife: Warning keep out of children.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

In article <duiqp05a9qoqk8tkf146psa6t566gud76u@news20.forteinc.com>,
Jeffrey Kaplan <cspp@gordol.org> wrote:

> Begin Guy Bannis quote:
>
> ; It's not news. PalmOne and Palm before it have played with other OSs. It's
> ; part of their job. Do you think Microsoft has never tested the Palm OS?
>
> The gist of the article is not that they are evaluating the
> competition, which any sane company does, but that they are evaluating
> whether or not to make devices that run the other systems. Like if
> Apple were to start making Windows machines, or IBM were to start
> selling Solaris systems.

I actually think it would be a logical thing to do, especially now that
PalmOne is a hardware company.

Did you look up Colligan's response as I suggested? This really is a
persistent rumor about PalmOne/Palm. And PalmOne/Palm have apparently
never denied it outright.

Did you know that Microsoft is a Palm OS licensee?

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

Begin Guy Bannis quote:

; I actually think it would be a logical thing to do, especially now that
; PalmOne is a hardware company.
;
; Did you look up Colligan's response as I suggested? This really is a

No, because there isn't enough specific keywording for me to make an
effective search.

; persistent rumor about PalmOne/Palm. And PalmOne/Palm have apparently
; never denied it outright.
;
; Did you know that Microsoft is a Palm OS licensee?

No. Are there reports of them considering building a PalmOS device, or
are they merely keeping an eye on the competition?

--
Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

"Nothing inspires forgiveness quite like revenge." Scott Adams

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

In article <rm7rp0tqblghsegges0f22t07pto1vjg8d@news20.forteinc.com>,
Jeffrey Kaplan <cspp@gordol.org> wrote:

> Begin Guy Bannis quote:
>
> ; I actually think it would be a logical thing to do, especially now that
> ; PalmOne is a hardware company.
> ;
> ; Did you look up Colligan's response as I suggested? This really is a
>
> No, because there isn't enough specific keywording for me to make an
> effective search.

Try these:

http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=7260
http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=7288

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

In article <duiqp05a9qoqk8tkf146psa6t566gud76u@news20.forteinc.com>,
Jeffrey Kaplan <cspp@gordol.org> wrote:
>Begin Guy Bannis quote:
>
>; It's not news. PalmOne and Palm before it have played with other OSs. It's
>; part of their job. Do you think Microsoft has never tested the Palm OS?
>
>The gist of the article is not that they are evaluating the
>competition, which any sane company does, but that they are evaluating
>whether or not to make devices that run the other systems. Like if
>Apple were to start making Windows machines, or IBM were to start
>selling Solaris systems.

In the distant past Sun did have a port of Solaris for Power PC, and
there was an IBM part number so that you could order it from your IBM
sales rep to run on your PPC based RS/6000 machines.

I suspect that by now all the bodies have been buried and no one at
either companies remembers this product. (Sort of like Adobe
Photoshop for Solaris(SPARC).)

--
Brian Reynolds | "It's just like flying a spaceship.
reynolds@panix.com | You push some buttons and see
http://www.panix.com/~reynolds/ | what happens." -- Zapp Brannigan
NAR# 54438 |

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

Begin Guy Bannis quote:

; In article <rm7rp0tqblghsegges0f22t07pto1vjg8d@news20.forteinc.com>,
; Jeffrey Kaplan <cspp@gordol.org> wrote:
;
; > Begin Guy Bannis quote:
; >
; > ; I actually think it would be a logical thing to do, especially now that
; > ; PalmOne is a hardware company.
; > ;
; > ; Did you look up Colligan's response as I suggested? This really is a
; >
; > No, because there isn't enough specific keywording for me to make an
; > effective search.
;
; Try these:
;
; http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=7260

The statement is syntactically empty. Mr. Christensen did not
contradict the reports and/or rumors.

; http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=7288

And, apparently, the same can be said about Mr. Colligan's statement.

--
Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

In article <96tsp05ig70s0pj2je3a33su24ao0cm9r3@news20.forteinc.com>,
Jeffrey Kaplan <cspp@gordol.org> wrote:

> Begin Guy Bannis quote:
>
> ; In article <rm7rp0tqblghsegges0f22t07pto1vjg8d@news20.forteinc.com>,
> ; Jeffrey Kaplan <cspp@gordol.org> wrote:
> ;
> ; > Begin Guy Bannis quote:
> ; >
> ; > ; I actually think it would be a logical thing to do, especially now that
> ; > ; PalmOne is a hardware company.
> ; > ;
> ; > ; Did you look up Colligan's response as I suggested? This really is a
> ; >
> ; > No, because there isn't enough specific keywording for me to make an
> ; > effective search.
> ;
> ; Try these:
> ;
> ; http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=7260
>
> The statement is syntactically empty. Mr. Christensen did not
> contradict the reports and/or rumors.
>
> ; http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=7288
>
> And, apparently, the same can be said about Mr. Colligan's statement.

As I said in my first reply to you, the rumor is persistent and
PalmOne/Palm has never denied it outright.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

On 19 Nov 2004 17:36:33 -0500, reynolds@panix.com (Brian Reynolds)
wrote:

>
>In the distant past Sun did have a port of Solaris for Power PC, and
>there was an IBM part number so that you could order it from your IBM
>sales rep to run on your PPC based RS/6000 machines.

And let's not forget that IBM *does* do Linux systems now - albeit
mostly in their server market...