Palm handhelds have had a large, loyal following for many years. The Palm user interface is very intuitive and fast compared to competitors. But, many Palm users are making the switch to Windows Mobile. Even Palm is now selling smartphones that use Windows Mobile. Should your next device run Windows Mobile?
If you are not interested in a smartphone, indications are that Palm does not plan to make any more handheld PDAs. Your choices are to keep using older Palm technology (the newest devices were released in 2005) or switch to another platform.
Palm supposedly plans to release a completely new operating system based on Linux in 2009. Although an emulator to run older software is reported to be included, you have no guarantee that all of your software will work. And, you also don't know if you will even like the new operating system. Chances are good that you will incur expenses In updating to new versions of software that take advantage of the new OS. If you need to replace a device immediately, you may not want to invest in old technology. If not, waiting to check out the new Palm software may be your best choice before making a platform switch.
Unfortunately, Palm has been delaying the release of the new operating system. Some naysayers question that it will ever be released. Whether the new OS will be done and available in devices during 2009 is questionable. So, you may be in for a long wait before you can evaluate the devices running the new OS.
Software may be another concern. Some developers have totally abandoned the Palm platform while others are planning to develop only for the Linux version. Depending on your needs, you may find that specific software applications drive you to another platform. For example, Microsoft OneNote users can only sync to a Windows Mobile device, and the new Evernote application is not offered in a Palm version.
Palm has also experienced major quality concerns with some hardware. While other manufacturers have experienced issues, too, repeated bad experiences with Palm units may encourage your change to a different platform.
Some users have been happy with other operating systems such as Windows Mobile, while others dislike the slower response time and lack of software that duplicates a favorite Palm application. For users that relied mainly on Contacts and To Dos, other platforms could easily meet their needs. Power users, however, may have difficulty adjusting to a different OS.
The answer of whether to abandon the Palm platform or wait for the new Linux version is a personal decision based on your usage patterns, finances, and quite honestly, a gamble on whether you think Palm will release a good product or a flop.
