Handhelds Look Strong in Early Holiday Shopping

Posted By: Ed Tuesday, November 27, 2001 8:20:37 AM

The latest weekly figures from NPD Intellect show that unit sales of handhelds are up 20% from the previous week's and up more than 30% from the same week last year. This a sign that the whole sector may be looking at a good holiday shopping season, which it very much needs.

Though some might point out that a single week's change doesn't make a trend, the news was enough to drive up shares of both Palm and Handspring over the last couple of trading sessions.

Palm's unit sales were up 30% compared to the previous week's, Handspring's were up 7%, and Sony's were up 4.5%.

Also, Prudential securities issued a report that shows that the rampant price cutting of handheld models has slowed almost to a stop. The report said the average change in the lowest available price of 27 different handheld models dropped only 2%, a small change compared to those over the past few months.

As demand for handhelds has slowed, retailers and manufacturers have been engaged in a price war, which has cut profits to the bone and has hurt all the companies involved. Together, these two reports show that demand for handhelds seems to be picking up and that prices have stopped dropping.

Related Information:

PIC: Rumor: Merger Between Palm and Handspring

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Is the m500 selling?

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/27/2001 11:04:05 AM #

I would love to see a breakout by model. I would guess sales by rank is:

1. m100
2. m105
3. Handspring Visor
4. m505
5. Clie 760

I personally have bought 4 m100's as gifts over the last 6 months.

RE: Is the m500 selling?

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/27/2001 11:23:30 AM #

"I personally have bought 4 m100's as gifts over the last 6 months."
Quit flooding the virgin pda market with a crappy product.

RE: Is the m500 selling?

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/27/2001 11:35:24 AM #

I think the m100 is a great value. For the most part, it can do the same thing as one costing 10 times as much! m100 = $50. Clie 760 = $500. Do the math. Also, many people who not have/get a PDA at all of they were not so cheap (under $100).

RE: Is the m500 selling?

kaosfury @ 11/27/2001 11:36:27 AM #

Actually, m100 is a good unit for beginners in that it is cheap and easy to use. Since it is cheap, people won't feel it that much when they replace it for a better unit. My nephew is getting one for Christmas, and I expect that when he gets to college, he'll upgrade. But for my sister's first, we got her a Handspring Pro because of the price cut, and because she'll need more resources than her son will.

--
Karl Browning
kaosfury@yahoo.com

RE: Is the m500 selling?

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/27/2001 12:29:39 PM #

I personally have bought 4 m100's as gifts over the last 6 months."
Quit flooding the virgin pda market with a crappy product.

TO: I.M. Anonymous 11:23:30 AM

So you don't like the m100. Don't buy it, but leave the comments out of a relevant discussion.

RE: Is the m500 selling?

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/27/2001 12:49:58 PM #

> Quit flooding the virgin pda market with a crappy
> product.

OK, big spender. Since I was going to "flood" the VIRGIN market with the M100s, why don't you pull that WAD of thick greenbacks in your jockstrap and buy some m505s for me.

TANX.

RE: Is the m500 selling?

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/27/2001 1:49:30 PM #

Actually its products like the affordable m100 that will carry PDA's into the mainstream. Everyone knows that once a product becomes mainstream it ensures its future.

What ignorant people dont understand is the m100 is not about quality, (which is not too bad to begin with)its about value. Im sure you'd be hard pressed to name another PDA or any other electronic device that can do what the m100 can do for under $100.

If you think about it, its the m100 that will eventually get this "virgin PDA market" laid so to speak. Im sure thats a lot more that you can do...

stop flooding these boards with crappy comments...

RE: Is the m500 selling?

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/28/2001 9:20:49 AM #

MAn sotp give crappy handhelds to proplr you like,,, you do like them right???

Why not Reflective Screens for Laptops?

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/27/2001 2:38:36 PM #

Speaking of the m505 and Clie 760, why don't Laptop makers use a reflective screen for their Laptops as an option? Seems to make sense as a "Travel Laptop" model? Super light weight, visible in direct sunlight, and super energy-efficient. Why not Reflective Screens for Laptops?

RE: Why not Reflective Screens for Laptops?

dhchung @ 11/27/2001 3:10:41 PM #

I think laptop screens are too large that the LEDs or the small light tubes can't make the screen look good (the side of the screen is brighter than the center)

RE: Why not Reflective Screens for Laptops?

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/27/2001 3:17:27 PM #

Hmmmn. Sounds like my m505!!!!!!!!!

RE: Why not Reflective Screens for Laptops?

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/28/2001 12:15:17 AM #

A laptop display is too large an area to be sidelighted. Also, the display quality of backlighting is still much better, except in bright light. (As an owner of a IIIc and a Clie 610 I can vouch for that!)

$75 m100 @ OfficeMax

mikecane @ 11/28/2001 8:22:26 AM #

In a way...

They just ran a radio ad last night (11/27) in NYC touting the m100 @ $99. Buy it and get a $25 OfficeMax gift certificate.

Seems to me the only things selling at MSRP (that is, if they are selling!) are PPCs.

RE: $75 m100 @ OfficeMax

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/28/2001 8:43:31 AM #

"Sales of handheld computers will make a comeback. Manufacturers including Palm and Handspring will find a market with upcoming products that also function as a cell phone. But the traditional PC makers will have only limited success with clunky Pocket PC-based computers."

http://makeashorterlink.com/?E29F4103

Prcie cuts

randomguy1900 @ 11/28/2001 9:22:23 AM #

Price cuts have not stoped I dont know If I know something that sony hasnt sadi anything about but yesterday Best buy cuy the price of the n10c by 50dollers to 149.99 and that is no sale price everyday price there. Has sony done this allready

Rob