day 45

microsoft smells $$s 2: pda envy

Yesterday, we showed there is a resurgence in the PDA market, but only because PDAs have been repositioned as network appliances. Actually, the PDA market has long been alive and thriving. People all over the world are clamoring for the Psion 3a from Psion Computer, a United Kingdom manufacturer that has sold over 2 million miniature DOS-like organizers. The company is expanding the 3a into the appliance arena. It recently introduced PsiMail, which gives Psion Series 3a users access to Microsoft Mail and cc:Mail systems. HP is selling its HP100LX and 200LX like cholesterol at McDonald's. The new HP OmniGo could fatten HP's coffers even more, and the Palm Computing PILOT is gaining momentum at the low end ($299). Just about every geek in Siliwood either has, or is getting, a pocket computer. Sharp's Zaurus 5800 offers developers a mail API for creating software for third-party mail systems. Sharp already supports Microsoft Mail and will support cc:Mail, shortly. An Internet mail client is a future possibility. The 5800 comes with a client for AT&T mail that supports attachments. Mail is also available via the Zaurus's built-in CompuServe client, which supports attachments and Internet mail. The Zaurus also supports two-way paging with optional hardware. However, access to the Web is limited to Unix sessions via the terminal screen. If the PDA market is so hot, why have the Apple MessagePad, Motorola Marco, Motorola Envoy, and Sony Magic Link done so poorly? There are maybe 250,000 MessagePads, 30,000 Magic Cap-based machines, and even fewer Envoys and Marcos in circulation. Why the big difference in PDA sales? Simply put, the poor-selling PDAs have gone over the wall of innovation.

microsoft smells $$s 1 Daily Dose Index