Rumor: m500 and m505 April 27?

Posted By: Ed Wednesday, April 18, 2001 8:24:44 AM

Rumors are starting to come in that the m500 series might be available in stores sooner than many had expected. Dennis Esler sent in an e-mail he had received from Alan Kessler, Palm's General Manager, Platform Solutions Group, who said in part, "We, like you, are very enthusiastic about our new products. Clearly we are not satisfied with the slope of the ramp. The good news is we have started production and have just started shipping."

PalmStation is running a letter from a user who was told by a Palm Representative that Palm is expecting its first shipment of 5 thousand m505's by the end of this week and that they should be going out to customers a week after.

An anonymous reader on this site has submitted a conversation he had with a manager from a Staples store, who said he expected to receive his first shipments of m500's this Friday and that he expects to have them on his shelves by April 27. The letter also said, "He [The Manager] said the m505 should also be in his store around the same time frame."

It is possible that these stories are the result of confusion between the m500 and the m505. The monochrome m500 has long been expected at the end of this month, while the color m505 isn't expected until the middle of next month. When the m500 series was announced on March 19, Palm said, "The m500 handheld is scheduled to be available in the United States in late April" and "The m505 handheld is scheduled to be available in the United States in May".

However, last week Palm announced that though they will launch the m500 and m505 on time, there will be a delay before they are shipping in large quantities. If the initial shipment is of 5 thousand units, this is certainly true. It is almost a given that there have been more than 5 thousand pre-orders, considering all the online stores that are taking them.

An important question, then, is how Palm will distribute the first shipments. If Palm sends some units to retail stores, which the conversation with the Staples' manager seems to confirm, that is fewer to go to those who pre-ordered but more to people who wish to see a unit before purchasing.

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small error i guess......

sub_tex @ 4/18/2001 10:12:20 AM #
third paragraph says, "...he expects to have them on his shelves by March 27."

should be April 27th right?

whatever......

:)

RE: small error i guess......
Ed @ 4/18/2001 10:29:06 AM #
Yes, you are correct. Regular readers of this site will notice that this isn't the first time I've made this mistake and that I persist in believing that this is March. In any case, thanks.

---
Plenipotentiary
Palm Infocenter

Good News.....But

hockeychiro @ 4/18/2001 10:27:44 AM #
That sounds promising, but I received an email from Palm regarding the status of my pre-order that stated "Unfortunately we do not have an estimated ship
date for the m500 series. Please check our website periodically for the most recent information. For immediate assistance contact our Order Center at
1-800-881-7256. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused." This came from Roxanne at Palm

I guess time will tell. I am going to keep a close eye on my local Staples in the mean time.


Comp USA

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/18/2001 11:03:37 AM #
I talked to a Comp USA inventory rep yesterday and she looked it up and said that she had the m500 and m505 shipping to their central warehouses on 4/25 and that they could possibly be in stores 4/27. Of course this is all up to Palm as to whether they ship to Comp USA on time. Just thought it was worth mentioning since the dates seem to be lining up w/ Ed's story. Thought it was interesting that they had the same date for both units although...and she did look them up separately so she wasn't confusing the two.

Office Max too

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/18/2001 11:41:03 AM #
I just spoke with a representative from Office Max who said they expected them in the store on April 27th (Friday). At least we're seeing some consistent dates between stores now!

this is sooo bogus

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/18/2001 5:13:52 PM #
NOWHERE has been able to verify this! i've called all of the mentioned retailers and searched all of their sites. staples said shipping in "7-14 days" but they said may 10th on the site too! NOBODY HAS SAID APRIL FOR THE 505! i'm anxious for this palm too, but it just doesn't sound like it's really that soon.

RE: this is sooo bogus
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/18/2001 7:01:14 PM #
I went to Good Guys today and watched him look up the shipping date for the m505 (that is 505). They told me it would be in their central warehouse by 4/22 and on the shelves by late next week. They will also accept a deposit to hold it for you. The salesman said that this is up to date. We will see but it sure seems to fit with what everybody else is saying.

RE: this is sooo bogus
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/19/2001 5:50:59 AM #
I'm attending the official launch of the m500 series here in Singapore in abt an hour's time. Let's see if I can get any info :)

m500/505 Sound

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/18/2001 10:32:07 PM #
Does anyone know if the m500 series can generate touch tone dial sounds??
Sorry to post this here but.....

RE: m500/505 Sound
Ed @ 4/18/2001 11:03:57 PM #
We had this conversation a while back under another article. Follow this link:
http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=1753&MODE=FLAT#8537

---
Plenipotentiary
Palm Infocenter

New Screens?

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/19/2001 2:30:51 PM #
Saw this on pdastreet.com in a thread...

Samsung SDI to build Palm screens
By Bloomberg News
April 16, 2001, 10:05 a.m. PT
Samsung SDI, the largest maker of computer displays, said Monday it will make plastic touch-screen displays for handheld computers and will begin supplying Palm with them next month. This month, Samsung SDI will start producing 100,000 3.8-inch screens monthly, half of which will be supplied to Palm. Production will increase to 500,000 screens per month by December, adding up to a total of 2 million this year, according to the company.
I wonder if this means that there will be a different screen for the m505 than the one that we will be receiving from our pre-orders....or will they be making the screens w/ the same specs as the first batch of m505's?


RE: New Screens?
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2001 8:52:42 AM #
palm is relesing the 700 series in fall. they need these screens for that, the m505 and 500 will probably stay the same.

bought m500

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/19/2001 8:07:01 PM #
Just bought one m500..too bad m505 sold out...

where?
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2001 9:02:25 AM #
the 500 is @ office depot, but the 505 isn't out yet

RE: bought m500
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/24/2001 11:35:56 PM #
So, you bought the M500 because you thought the M505 was sold out....

So you spend $ 400 for a product you did not really want and could not wait for another week or two....

Were in the world have you been ? Since you are posting here, haven't you seen enough comments from people here yet with regard to the NON-AVAILABILITY of the M505 for now ?????

*sigh*

But, thanks for that, at least I picked up more material for my thesis:

"Living in the 21st century with drastically reduced IQ levels".

Info from Palmstore

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/19/2001 9:33:31 PM #
Well,

I do not know how it is possible (or fair?) to get an M505 so early in retail shops, when we all are waiting in the pre-order line.

I called the Palm store tonight to check the status of my order, and a sale representative said to me that they expect to receive the first m505 shipment AT PALM around mid-May. I asked him if it means that I will receive mine a few weeks later: he said YES, probably end of May.

People at Staples or other retail shops may mix m500 and m505, but if I see any m505 in retail before, I'll just buy it and cancel my order at Palm ...

Skip'

RE: Info from Palmstore
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/25/2001 12:06:39 AM #
When I bought my m505 on March 19th the rep told me that if I found it somewher else first (which I probably would) to just buy that and cancel the order. She expected this to happen.
-JFM3
http://www.palmresourcecenter.com

Palm's Vague Dates For 500 & 505 / Viva La Rasistance

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/19/2001 10:24:42 PM #
palm is full of crap! it is so reduculouse that they are going to ship to all the stores before they ship out to the people that pre-ordered the 500 and 505.

all they wanted to do is create a hype... just like the those stupid little cabbage patch kids in the 80's, or the knight rider kit car.

my reaction... i called asked if this was true. their reply was "yes" so i said i was canceling my order.

the idea should be we all do this. if we cancel our orders it will show palm that the customer is more important then the store. after all you will see they are available first in the stores.

just wait and see when the 500 comes out before you get yours.

viva la resistance

Consider The Economics

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/19/2001 11:16:34 PM #
Are any of you in business? OBVIOUSLY I am just a lowly college graduate, but isn't PALM shipping to their pre-order customers first a WISE ECONOMIC CHOICE? Can we say "cut out the middle man and net more profit? If i sell to Joe Blow at 449.00 I stand to make a LITTLE MORE than if i sell to palmmart (an artificial name so don't go looking for it!) at some percentage of 449.00.

Obviously IM NOT WORKING AT PALM, but i know I would be getting my product to those web users first!

but then again, I'm just a lowly college grad!

RE: Consider The Economics
Ed @ 4/20/2001 9:37:54 AM #
I think it is a little more complicated than that. Palm has decided that it is important to have their products in retail stores because there are lots of people who won't buy a product unless they have held it in their hands. Also it increases Palm's visibility. Therefore, it is important that the retail store managers be kept happy. Telling them that Palm will be exclusively selling their hottest product of the year and the stores won't see it for months is not a good way to accomplish this.

Another way to think about it is both you and Staples are Palm customers. Palm may get a high gross margin on the device they sell to you, but you are unlikely to buy tens of thousands of them this year like Staples will.

---
Plenipotentiary
Palm Infocenter

M500 In stock at Office Depot

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/20/2001 12:48:22 AM #
I work at Office Depot, and have made it a point to keep an eye out for the M500 and M505 (what can I say, I'm a PDA fanatic).

Well, low and behold, I checked today, and there were 3 M500's sitting on the flatcart that all the lockup stuff goes on. Smaller box than the Vx, but I dunno if it's worth $100 more...*shrugs* oh well. Maybe the M505.

I'm keeping an eye out for the M505 though...so..we'll see!

Evan
evancg@qwest.net
ICQ@10287907

Saw m500 for sale at Office Depot in Annapolis, Md

rhash @ 4/20/2001 1:01:12 PM #
This may be old news...but I held in my hand an m500 today...they just got them in.

The guy working at the store was aware of the m505, but he had no shipping information.

But the point is, things are moving!

The machine was nice btw...didn't really notice that the sreen looked any better than a Vx's, which is to say it was typically excellent...

Was smaller (not thinner) than the Vx...



Office Depot has Got em (m500)

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/20/2001 1:44:40 PM #
Purchased m500 at the Redlands CA, JUst an Hour ago. THey had 1 more left. NO m505's yet! Good luck

Question about memory card
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/20/2001 1:49:00 PM #
Are these cards the same ones that would fit into a digital camera? Will I be able to insert the same card and show pictures on the palm?

SD Memory card and Digital Camera
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/20/2001 8:22:34 PM #
You can go to www.sandisk.com and get information on the cards. The Palm accepts both the SD card and the multimedia card. The SD card is thicker and will not work in a device that does not have support for the SD slot, however if you have a camera that accepts the multimedia card, this card will work in the Palm units. The Palms accepts the SD cards and the multimedia. However a multimedia device, camera ect. will not support the SD card. Hopefully devices will come out that support both! does this answer your question? If not contact morningstar1844@hotmail.com


Purchase of M500 today April 20, 2001

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/20/2001 8:17:47 PM #
I purchased my M500 at Office Depot in Odessa, Texas today! They had 3 units, I purchased 3 additional card the 16 meg memory card SD, the game card and the travel card! Will post review later! Thanks to whoever posted the article on Palmstation today, saying that Office Depot had them in stock!

Staples m500 Info

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/20/2001 8:42:44 PM #
I don't have an Office Depot near me here in Rhode Island, but I've been talking to various Staples stores. One Sales Rep said the m500s would be on the shelves April 24th, and another said April 25th. Advertisements are going out in their weekly flyer Sunday, April 29th, so they should definitely have them by then.

m500 available at Office Depot in Atlanta

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/20/2001 9:20:34 PM #
They were not displayed, but when I asked the manager about them, he went back with a brand new unit and opened it for me: I had the opportunity to try it for 10 minutes. The form factor and the screen are excellent!

They had no date for the m505 though...
Skip'

diddo in Wisconsin
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2001 9:08:20 AM #
we've got the m500 at the madison store (on Witney way) but no word on the 505, but he said "soon"

supposedly (this is a rumor I haven't confirmed yet) some stores will be seeing the m505 in just a few days and compUSA already has them @ some locations

RE: m500 available at Office Depot in Atlanta
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2001 6:07:41 PM #
I'm also from Atlanta and I checked the closest store to me and they didn't have them. Which store did you find them at?

keyboard/cradles ?

Rpurkis@yahoo.com @ 4/21/2001 9:46:00 AM #
Anyone know if the m505 will work with existing cradles and/or keyboards? If not the TRUE cost to upgrade for many of us with accesories and multpiple pc's will be well over $600 by the time you add on new case, new keyboard, an extra cradle etc.
RE: keyboard/cradles ? NO!
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2001 10:13:45 AM #
For about the 500th time, the m500 series will not work with anything that uses the serial port. Nothing. Zip, ziltch, nada.

RE: keyboard/cradles ?
OldMatador @ 4/24/2001 8:42:13 AM #
Unfortunately, the m500 series has this new universal connector that Palm seems to be pushing. Unfortunately, the universe Palm is referring to right now is solely the m500 line.

I pre-ordered a Palm m505, a new keyboard, a case, and a memory card, and it ran me about $600. Luckily, I have a buyer who is going to buy my old Palm V plus accessories for $300+, so I just see a $300 upgrade cost.

--
Bill Lehecka
http://www.oldmatador.com/letterman/

RE: keyboard/cradles ?
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/25/2001 11:13:40 PM #
I do not understand what world you guys are living in. Go to the palm site www.palm.com, the 505 and 500 come with their own craddles from the box.

The existing universal keyboard, foldable from Palm Inc should work with it!! and other accessories that work with the Vx line...

RE: keyboard/cradles ?
Ed @ 4/26/2001 9:19:51 AM #
That just isn't true. The m500 series has a different connector from all previous Palm models and can't use most of the same peripherals, especially including the Palm Folding keyboard.

Here is a link to the Palm Folding Keyboard page on the Palm store. It clearly lists the models that will work with it and the m500 and m505 are not on this list.

https://store.palm.com/Catalog/productdetails.asp?productnr=3C10439U

---
Plenipotentiary
Palm Infocenter

M500

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/25/2001 9:51:41 PM #
I went by an Office Depot today (042501) and looked at the m500. It is everything I expected and more. the look and fill were solid and the screen res was excellent. The cradle seems much heavier and the stylus seemed a little thicker. I was a little excited when I was told the price $399.99. Palm held true to it's promises. I'm waiting on the m505 the manager told me he expecteded them next week. I'm glad I didn't pre-order...suckers --

RE: M500
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/25/2001 11:08:37 PM #
Well I saw the m500 model as you did and it was at Best buys, they say that the m505 is in the truck waiting to be unlodded. I did pre-order but I can cancel the order ANYTIME!!! which I already said I would do if I find it before MID-May

And yes, it leaves my sony s300 in the dust.

Palm 505 Owner?

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/26/2001 2:44:11 AM #
Well here I am waiting to see if all posts are true... it is now 11:58pm pst and I have almost 9 hours before I should even be expecting a call from my friendly Staples for my pre-ordered 505.

Three things bother me...

1) Someone mentioned a store agreement with the manufacture. Which causes me to wonder, would if the store already has the 505 and they are just holding it until that given date?

2) The date the store manager gave me was March 1st... What happens if they get them before hand and place them on the shelves and don't even think of calling the out the pre-orders until that date?

3) Is there anyone out there who has the 505 in their hand? And if so did they get a call for it or did they just walk in and ask for it?

Palm IIIc User

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