Rumor: Palm to Release New Mid-Range Model
According to The Register, Palm is currently working on a mid-range model between the m100 and m500 series. They cite "industry sources who've been briefed by Palm on its plans" as their source. They apparently didn't have many details or specifications on the model, or even its name. However, it has long been rumored that Palm would release an m300 series, which would be their new mid-range. This model could be it.
The most surprising thing about this rumored model is that it will use the V series connector. Palm promised that all future models would use the Universal Connector that is on the m500 series, which is incompatible with the V series.
To make speculation on the m300's feature set more difficult, Alan Kessler, Palm's chief operating officer for platforms and products, said back in February that all future Palm models would include an SD slot. If this is true, differentiating this new model from the m500 might be difficult.
It is possible that Palm has simply changed its collective mind and is going to release a model without the SD slot or Universal Connector. Or some of the details in the Register article could be incorrect.
Related Articles:
On the Web:
- The Register: Palm preps 'm300' PDA
- PalmStation: Palm m300 rumors
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RE: rumored "mid-range" Palm...
If I could have a fast, expandable, color V for less than $200... sign me up.
RE: new palm model using Vx connector...
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mondo
Sydney, Australia
RE: new palm model using Vx connector...
Business market
So why do businesses like the IIIxe?
- Probably because small size is not important (III size Palm is fine for them),
- they may prefer to have AA batteries over rechargable (where do mobile professionals plug the cradle into?)
- Don't need color
- Cost is right ($250 x 1000 field engineers = $250k, which is almost half the cost of outfitting them with m505 or iPaq)
So why doesn't Palm just keep selling the IIIxe?
- Businesses want the expansion option so they can add custom developed applications, and databases
- probably want to have the universal connector
- the new design might be able to be manufactured more cheapely now.
I could be way off, but I think several others are looking at it as an individual buying a Palm for personal use.
Why do I have the above opinion? Because I am making PDA decisions for my company right now, and these are the factors we've discussed.
RE: Business market
RE: Business market
Journalism 101
Do you mean, "They cite....."
RE: Keepin' our sense of humor
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News Editor
Palm Infocenter
An educated guess
Part of the appeal of the III series (after they were no longer top-of-the-line), was that they were reasonably capable, reasonably indestructible, and reasonably cheap, so that it would do what you needed, and if it got broken/lost, you could get a new one and simply hotsync it back into being your trusty friend, without shedding a lot of tears. The demise of the III series does, indeed leave a void. If they ever do release a m30x series to fill that void, I'm guessing it'd look something like this:
- $250-$300 price point
- Industrial strength all-plastic case
- 160x160 grayscale screen
- DragonBall CPU: 20Mhz? 33Mhz? (dunno, could go either way)
- 8Mb ram, 2Mb flash
- SD slot
- The new universal connector
- 2xAAA batteries
It's better than an m10x because it has flash rom and the SD slot and new connector (an m10x may get the universal connector but I doubt they'll ever get SD); it's cheaper than the m505 because it has a less complex plastic case and a mono screen, and skips the rechargeable battery (and the charger), and it's a bit larger (III sized, more elbow room inside means it can use larger, less expensive parts). Probably no built in vibrator, either :-)
It'd probably be an appealing machine to sell into corporations. CEO's might buy m505's (or m70x's) for themselves, but they'd buy m30x's for their workforce.
And no, I don't have any inside info, and I'm not trying to troll. But I've been watching the Palm scene for the past few years, and I think this would fill a definite niche between the m10x and m50x series devices.
RE: An educated guess
There would probably have to be an m305 with colour to fill the IIIc usage.
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mondo
Sydney, Australia
m3xx is right
What it's look like?
I hope it have TWO sd slot
RE: What it's look like?
Oh tha m305 version will have color like tha m505, remember though I predict the m305 havin smaller screen like da m1xx series.
Peace yall.
RE: What it's look like?
Bigger is cheaper, that's the main difference between m3xx & m5xx.
RE: What it's look like?
RE: What it's look like?
And a big, ugly, heavy case, and no color screen. ;-)
I don't think so...
RE: What it's look like?
in fact the HandEra is Lighter than the II series by more than an oz.
RE: What it's look like?
That's not true. You really can't believe *anything* you read on boards like this!
RE: What it's look like?
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News Editor
Palm Infocenter
m300 & m305
Similar case design to the M100/M105, possibly bigger
Larger screens than M100/M105 - same screen size as IIIxe
Colour option - to replace outgoing IIIc - M305 ?
Colour screen will be similar technology to M505
SD slot will definitely be incorporated
Rechargable battery an option
OS 4.0
Universal Connector not V/Vx connector
But maybe they might surprise us all and include bluetooth or something else we are all missing
The Equaliser
RE: m300 & m305
My only question relates to the battery - it will need to be AAA or something to kee price down.
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mondo
Sydney, Australia
Midrange where?
[ No Subject ]
What's the point?
Vx connector? Are they *&^%$#@ nuts!!??
Is accommodation of non-Palm manufactured accessories important? You bet it is! For a long time, it was an important distinction from the PPC world. To change the connector again - albeit to one with legacy - would no doubt leave outside suppliers throwing up their hands and, frankly, contemplating thoughts of exiting the market as too fractured to make any money with.
If this rumor (and it *is* a rumor) has any merit, I certainly hope that it is wrong about the connector. The V-series connector was the poorest-supported of the two older styles. What would be Palm's motivation for doing this?
Is this midrange model going to have contrast control???????
Why not get a HandEra? is the wrong question...
Episode V: The III Series Strikes Back!
My perspective is this: It seems that the readers here perhaps reflect the majorities in the belief that, though the m50X are fine additions to the Palm line, they do perhaps leave a space for the middle class to fall in. It would be like having to choose between a IIIe and a Vx... with no in-between.
So Palm finds itself having to take a step back and look at the III series and what it's meant to so many. It is without dispute, the most expandable PDA on the market. Perhaps it was not such a wise strategy to sign the death warrant of the reigning Palm...
When Ol' Rickety meets it's demise, I'll probably replace it with another IIIc. 8megs still not used... call me frugal. But I bet I'm not alone when I say that, as much as I support Palm, they will only get my business if I buy more toys for my IIIc.
Brian Hazard
Other Handhelds
RE: Other Handhelds
make a color Palm V
RE: make a color Palm V
You mean why don't the rebadge a CLIE N710C and borrow TRG's speaker? Palm doesn't have the ability to engineer this by themselves. They are now primarily a marketing company.
> 1 gigIBM micro drive so I will have plenty of memory for mp3's without lots of 'easy to lose' MMC's or memory sticks,
MicroDrive requires CompactFlash - which Palm chose not to support. CompactFlash seems to make more sense - we didn't need another "standard" (CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, MMC, SD). Have you priced MicroDrives recently? And do you know anything about their power requirements?
> and also throw in a built in wireless modem.
How much do you think that would cost?
> Hey if they make a Palm like that i will buy it
But not many other people would. Palm is going to soon start trying to compete with PocketPC in terms of features (MP3, video, voice recording, good color screens, processor speed) but right now they don't have the hardware. And once the Palm hardware improves, the cost of buying a Palm PDA will be the same as high end PocketPCs.
RE: make a color Palm V
Confused,
RE: make a color Palm V
http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=2334&MODE=FLAT
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new palm model using Vx connector...
and where can i get some? heh =)
But seriously, throwing in both a Vx connector and an SD slot, well, thats basically an m5xx with a different connector. I highly doubt they're gonna go back to the 20mhz processor, and the green screen of the V series.
This is by far and beyond ridiculous... Microsoft cancelling Windows NT and going back to using OS/2 is more believable...