PC WORLD: Five Reasons the Palm Pre Won't Prevail
Tony Peric
I would like to extend an apology to all of you that complained about the post I put up last night. I had complaints that it was an ad, which it was not meant to be. So I removed the post due to your comments. It won't happen again.
In REAL news, PC World wrote an article today stating Five reasons why the Palm Pre will fail. I would have to seriously disagree with their assessment (and that fact they haven't had their hands on with the device for any length of time).
Here is an excerpt from their article:
5. Palm is, effectively, a start-up. Forget the heritage, extract the name, and you have the Palm of today. While it has assembled a hugely talented team, startups can screwup. Not a predication, but if the Pre isn't close to perfect the company could face problems, especially if a hardware recall were necessary.
4. The ability to run multiple applications at the same time will, over time, be important. But, it's a feature most other smartphones, except the iPhone, already possess. By the time multitasking becomes a must-have feature for the masses, Apple will have it.
3. Unlike the Palm of yesteryear, today's Palm doesn't have lots of experience with developers. A huge applications and music store is a big driver of the iPhone's success. It may be a while before Palm has this and a long time before it surpasses Apple.
2. In an odd way, the Pre's keyboard could be its undoing. As much as I didn't like Apple's touchpad when my first iPhone arrived, I have come to appreciate the simplicity of a device that doesn't require me to open it or pull something out to make it work. And, if people want a keyboard, they already have a BlackBerry.
1. Palm doesn't currently have the financing to effectively compete with larger companies. That could be an issue. Suppose, Palm can sell all the Pre's it can make, but can't make enough to fill demand or, worse, convince developers to build Pre applications?
Read the rest at the link: PC World
Reader Comments (10)
That idiot has money invested in Apple. Rimm hasn't had the development community behind them, they are doing quite well. The fact that he is bringing up the KB only shows he is really referring to that BGR article. If I where Sprint or Palm I would consider bringing legal action against BGR if it is proven their article seriously undermined the Pre. As to #4 "By the time multitasking becomes a must-have feature for the masses, Apple will have it." So he's saying most people will not want multitasking until Apple has it? This guy is so far up Apples butt it's ridiculous.
Taking the author's reasons one by one:
5) "Palm is effectively a start up." ??? Weren't all successful companies start ups at one point in time? Palm already has great partners for their device that are NOT start ups--Google, Fandango, Pandora, etc. AT&T & Verizon have both said they want/will sell the phone.
4) "By the time multitasking becomes a must-have feature for the masses, Apple will have it." ??? This is nothing but an excuse for the CURRENT inadequacies of the iPhone. Why is the Pre's ability to CURRENTLY multitask a reason for failure? Very flawed logic.
3) "A huge applications and music store is a big driver of the iPhone's success." True, Palm is behind in Applications--it is a new devicve w/a new operating system--BUT it has an Amazon Music Store agreement & has recently proven it can synch w/iTunes. The Apps will come if the phone sells. The music is not a factor.
2) "I have come to appreciate the simplicity of a device that doesn't require me to open it or pull something out to make it work." Nothing more than a personal preference. Between the owners of Blackberrys & Palms, I think the public has spoken for now on this topic--more people prefer a physical keyboard. If Palm made a horrible keyboard, the author could be correct, BUT he does not make this point. Just that he PREFERS to not have "to open or pull out something."
1) "Suppose, Palm can sell all the Pre's it can make, but can't make enough to fill demand or, worse, convince developers to build Pre applications?"
SUPPOSE THAT IT CAN!!!??? What then? This review is simply opinion, & personal preference. It doesn't seem to have any real teeth to me. He didn't say the keyboard is horrible. He didn't say the screen is unclear. He didn't say the operating system is slow or unresponsive or that the phone locks up or the battery always dies. He gave no REAL criticisms IMO.
Cheers
I am obviously someone who is interested in the Pre. That is why I come here. But having said that, this is still one of the worst articles I have ever seen.
The author actually lists one of the Pre's best selling points as a reason it will fail! Multi-tasking isn't wanted or needed currently, huh? That's funny. Since that is the number one feature that has all of my friends and myself very interested in this phone.
I try not to throw the "fanboy" term around, but this does sound like the point of view of an Apple fanboy. Oh, my "team" doesn't have that feature? Then that feature is not only unnecessary, it is a detriment. Well... until my "team" adds that feature, then it will be new and innovative!
Yikes, what a biased piece of garbage.
PC World tends to be a little biased. I guess you have to sell advertising. It's funny that they list the strong points as the weak points. But consider this too, they haven't actually tried the phone! How can you do a review of a phone you haven't tried. Funny, isn't it?
Many of these authors seem to be saying, "if you can't beat the iPhone, you will fail". But none of them have brought any evidence to support that case. I believe just the opposite: if the Pre can gain even 10-20% of the number of users the iPhone has, it will be a great success. I also believe it won't have to steal iPhone users away to get these numbers. The market space is large and diverse enough to support many players.
Granted, I only read the excerpt, not the whole article. But among the glaring flaws of this excerpt are its premise. The premise is that Palm must beat Apple. While Palm seems obsessed with beating Apple, I believe that Palm is correct when they officially say they can be successful without beating Apple or RIM. Palm's initial assertion was that there is room in the "fat middle" between the Blackberry (professional) & Apple (consumer). The Pre seems more appealing to the consumer at first glance, but eventually Synergy may make it more appealing to professionals as well. The question is how well can they get the word out? I think Palm will take some customers from both Apple & RIM while still appealing to others who have not chosen sides. I believe that Palm's fate rests in how well they market themselves to people who don't like Apple or RIM for whatever reason; hardware, software, carrier, etc...
PC World should be ashamed to have published this article. It has no merits. They are running on pure speculation on everything. Palm has done their homework and is bringing out a product that covers most of the concerns of all cell phone users (of course, some things are still missing, but there isn't a phone out there that has everything). Now, there's two tests that the Pre needs to do: 1) work somewhat flawlessly; and 2) get enough sales to make a statement (of course, in some way, the Pre has done this but the sales will make a bigger statement). I am confident, if successful, the Pre will steal away consumers from Apple, RIM, Samsung, LG, and Nokia. If not, one thing is for sure, Palm and the Pre has set in motion what majority of consumer will EXPECT from cell phones and smart phones, alike.
Well... I'm enraged.
It's official, PC World are Apple fanbois. Let's move on and forget this piece of crap.
When Apple adds Multitasking it'll be a revolution, obviously it'll be patented somehow. Money talks.
Consider the source. PC World is the LAST place anyone who has any technical savy will turn. I used to refer my family members new to computing to it before the days of the Internet. I'm surprised they've survived so it is ironic seeing them discussing the prospect of Palm Pre's success.
Ditto to earlier posts about how riduculous it is to list strengths as reasons for failure.
Multitasking? Bring it on! Shame on Apple for not delivering that day one with the iPhone.
And, as for the keyboard, I DON'T have a Blackberry but I do have a Treo... why would I want to give up a real keyboard? Sure, it will mean having to "open" the Pre to get to it but that motion looks so smooth and natural.