Design Matters

[Joel]

Jimmie Geddes of PalmAddict writes about an interesting idea for Palm to consider. "Why not re-do a "classic", a "classic" you invented ? I'd buy one in a heartbeat..." [details (http://www.1src.com/?m=show&id=1203)]

[Joel]

I definitely agree. The Palm Vx was my all-time favorite PDA. Give that form factor TH55 capabilities and I'll ALSO buy one in a hearbeat.

[JAmerican]

I definitely agree. The Palm Vx was my all-time favorite PDA. Give that form factor TH55 capabilities and I'll ALSO buy one in a hearbeat.

I really haven't been in the field for so long but I find the older PDAs to look a little wierd. The newer ones look better in my opinion. It might be this gap that causes Palm to stick with new ideas instead of jump to old ones. Now if Palm created a TH55 device with a slide out Keyboard, that would be beautiful, in my opinion. But I agree. Design does Matter., not just the OS.

JAmerican

[Jimmie Geddes]

Joel just wanted to thank you for putting my article on the front page:) I really appreciate you doing that. I owe ya one :) I hope Palm may consider this, so many people I speak with like their vx's or m515's because of the design. I hope Palm may consider it, the v was such a classic that it would sell like hot cakes. Thanks again Joel

[TJ37]

A Handspring Visor Deluxe with the works. :D

[smoothjordan]

I'm thinking Treo 90! I loved that PDA (Still own it, but don't use it because of the screen) Give it a slider, to where the kb slides down to show a 320 x 480 screen and you got me shelling out some dough!

[JAmerican]

I'm thinking Treo 90! I loved that PDA (Still own it, but don't use it because of the screen) Give it a slider, to where the kb slides down to show a 320 x 480 screen and you got me shelling out some dough!

I think the Treo would be nice with a hi-res large screen with a long-slideout keyboard like the Wizard.

JAmerican

[GadgetGuru]

I really think the V/Vx and the similar m50x series are the best handheld form factor to date. The E maybe as slim but it doesn't feel as good on your hand... Next to that the ipaq 19xx xeries also feels right...but this is a Palm-centric forum, so I'll settle for the V form factor anyday... Why they reuse the E form factor for so many handheld E, E2, T5, and rumored T7, but not the V/m5xx one is beyond me, the V/m5xx series feels more classy...maybe the metal casing is more expensive to fabricate....

I got one too on launch as long as it has at least the T7's rumored specs...

[Gekko]

"We do not need to build a bridge to the past. We need to build a bridge to the future." - Bill Klinton

[ucfgrad93]

The Palm Vx was my first PDA, so it has a special place in my heart. ;) But I have to say, that I think the best design was the m5xx series. I also loved my hp1910.

[addict]

Funny, I just pulled out my old Vx for a garage sale (with blue hardcase, pentopia pen/stylus, desk charger, travel charger, and international power adapters, if anyone's interested), then decided I was just too fond of it to pawn it off for a couple bucks (it'l go on eBay instead). It's so true - it's a classic design that should completely be revisited!

Let's just say that size was the largest adjustment factor for me when I moved to the CLIE NX.

[Jimmie Geddes]

The vx was also my first pda, and am happy it was. It was and still is in my opinion the sleekest, most elegant, classy pda ever made. The reason for the success of the motorola razr is the common theme here, "the thin slip in your pocket forget about it gadget" + "metal casing that makes it feel rock solid" = "gotta have it gadget". It's a simple equation. :)

[Jimmie Geddes]

Would anyone disagree that the Razr is kinda the Palm V of cell phones? Am I the only one who wants this in a device? I am willing to pay a little more for the design, I have a powerbook. These gadgets become very personal to us, and I am willing to spend a little more if it "feels" right, the v and m5xx series had this "feeling":) Again common theme.

[addict]

I don't own the Razr, but the hype and buzz around it sure emulates that which followed the Palm V release. I remember being super-pissed at my peers who scored Palm V's at JavaOne on the cheap that year. O'course, I ended up with a Vx later in life, so it was somewhat worth the wait.

Seriously, though, I know people who just WON'T change from their antiquated Palm V's because they love the form factor so much. Hell, they're not even color - a de facto standard in today's market)!

[eye_doc]

Palm Vx will always be the best looking and most comfortable PDA ever.

One of my work collegues still uses one and no matter how many PPC/Palm/Symbian/RIM devices also pop out he knows that he has the best looking PDA plus an ice cold degree of retro chic.

I think there is something in the idea of remaking it. I certainly would consider buying one.

[strider_mt2k]

Good article and a good point.

The Vx is an incredible looking piece, and retro is in if done properly.

[LupeValenz]

What are all of you smokin! Give me some of that, must be powerful to think that Palm vx is a good looking PDA. :D hehe sorry, just diffrent stroke for diffrent folks I guess :). I find the TH55 design so much more elegant and sleek :).

[jhintonh]

I definitely agree. The Palm Vx was my all-time favorite PDA. Give that form factor TH55 capabilities and I'll ALSO buy one in a hearbeat.

Good Evening-

ABSOLUTELY! That is my dream PDA, seriously. Could not agree more!

-Jhintonh

[jhintonh]

Good Evening-

BTW, I still have my Vx and I use it occassionally with my Magellan GPS attachment. So svelte!

-Jhintonh

[JAmerican]

What are all of you smokin! Give me some of that, must be powerful to think that Palm vx is a good looking PDA. :D hehe sorry, just diffrent stroke for diffrent folks I guess :). I find the TH55 design so much more elegant and sleek :).

I agree with you. I find the UX to be like a Razr. Open it up and its a amzing how thin it is. The older devices were large and did very little. I saw a Visor Platinum the other day and was amazed how big it was.

JAmerican

[jhintonh]

The vx was also my first pda, and am happy it was. It was and still is in my opinion the sleekest, most elegant, classy pda ever made. The reason for the success of the motorola razr is the common theme here, "the thin slip in your pocket forget about it gadget" + "metal casing that makes it feel rock solid" = "gotta have it gadget". It's a simple equation. :)

Good Evening-

True. Even the iPod uses some of this mystique with the shiny steel backing.

-Jhintonh

[jhintonh]

A Handspring Visor Deluxe with the works. :D

Good Evening-

Better than that, a Handspring Visor Edge with the TH55 guts...that would be nice. Not better than the Vx but almost as nice.

-Jhintonh

[jhintonh]

I agree with you. I find the UX to be like a Razr. Open it up and its a amzing how thin it is. The older devices were large and did very little. I saw a Visor Platinum the other day and was amazed how big it was.

JAmerican

Good Evening-

I know what you mean, though I do not own a UX. It is a bit thick though for my tastes. The NR70v was rather nice, still somewhat thin, still metallic and the flippy-do gymnatics of the screen was very showy. Even my CLIE n610c was an uncomfortable styling step away from my Vx.

-Jhintonh

[jhintonh]

...and retro is in if done properly.

Good Evening-

I agree. Think 2005 Mustang.

-Jhintonh

[Robyr]

I agree. Think 2005 Mustang.

Coming home tonight i was gonna post the SAME thing you did! Wow talk about creepy coincidence.

[Simony]

I have a TE2, which is great but I really miss my trusty old m500. The perfect handheld for me would be something with the capabilities of the TE2 shoehorned into the body of an m500. Better still - I'd like to see a matt black case (plastic is fine for me).

[T-Man]

I likw the i705 design. Put everything the LifeDrive/T5 has in that case and its for me! :)

[jhintonh]

I likw the i705 design. Put everything the LifeDrive/T5 has in that case and its for me! :)

Good Evening-

Interesting...no offence but I always thought that the i705 was one of the ugliest PDA designs. Stubby, thick, very plastic and off-white (!?).

To each his/her own, they say. :)

-Jhintonh

[jhintonh]

Coming home tonight i was gonna post the SAME thing you did! Wow talk about creepy coincidence.

Good Evening-

From that admission I am forced to assume that you possess a great mind. Since they say "great minds think alike".

;)

-Jhintonh

[jhintonh]

I have a TE2, which is great but I really miss my trusty old m500. The perfect handheld for me would be something with the capabilities of the TE2 shoehorned into the body of an m500. Better still - I'd like to see a matt black case (plastic is fine for me).

Good Evening-

I have become partial to a black casing myself. Both of my current use PDA's have black colored casings (TH55 and Zodiac2).

I do not have any experience with the TE2 and I cannot recall, does it have a collapsable Graffiti area? If not, then its lack of VG, WiFi and camera make it far inferior to my TH55, IMHO.

-Jhintonh

[tritan]

Good Evening-

ABSOLUTELY! That is my dream PDA, seriously. Could not agree more!

-Jhintonh


Agreed. Bring on the Vx design.

[Take1]

I, like many here, would LOVE a m515 sized device with a 320 x 480 screen and an improvised d-pad (perhaps like the Zire 71) to minimize the footprint. I gotta say the Vx and m515 was a joy to use becauset the size was TINY when you factor in the killer flip lid design that really felt fantastic and all but dissapeared when folded back behind the PDA.


I don't think the Vx form factor could be used without making some major sacrifices in options that are standard in today's handhelds, but an m515 form factor is very doable with an OLED screen and the improved battery technologies available today. I would even recommend that WiFi be left out and offered through the use of an SD card or WiFi battery powered sled. I would pefer a removeable battery so run times, battery capacity and bulk can be controlled by the user (even the razr has a removeable battery!)

I don't think Palm is ever going to do this, however, as it makes too much sense

[jhintonh]

I don't think the Vx form factor could be used without making some major sacrifices in options that are standard in today's handhelds, but an m515 form factor is very doable with an OLED screen and the improved battery technologies available today. I would even recommend that WiFi be left out and offered through the use of an SD card or WiFi battery powered sled. I would pefer a removeable battery so run times, battery capacity and bulk can be controlled by the user (even the razr has a removeable battery!)

Good Evening-

OLED screen is a good idea, saving thickness. But WiFi only through a stick (yuck) or worse a sled (double-yuck) would be unacceptable to me. As I mentioned I have recently procured a Zodiac2, and a WiFi SDIO card to give it access. Whilst this works fairly well when speaking of connection speeds, etcetera, it is a royal pain in the u-know-whut to have to carry around an additional peripheral to accomplish something that needs to have spontaneous usage ability. After all, the beauty of WiFi is that you may have a spur-of-the -moment need to web and if you did not carry your extra gear (SDIO card or sled) with you, then you are poop out of luck. I often say in defence of my camera on the TH55 that it may not be 800 mexa-pixel but the best camera you can have is the one you have with you (I have crossed that saying over from my statement about the concealed pistol I carry). Likewise, the best WiFi connectability that I can have is the one that is built-in and therefore always there. This rationale can be taken to an extreme by wanting an espresso machine built-in because the best cup of caffienated-nectar-of-the-Gods (aka coffee) that you can have is the one you have with you. But I think most of us can see rational limits.

A removable battery is not an unreasonable request.

I don't think Palm is ever going to do this, however, as it makes too much sense

Here I think we agree. It seems that corporations always feel that they know what we want better than we do. They act as though if they provide exactly what We are clamoring for, they will be "sell-outs" or "uncool" or Heaven-forbid "not cutting edge". I think PDA users are a different breed from iPod users or even cell-phone buyers. PDAs are more tool than toy. Not that we are not capable of playing, but we are soothed by the knowledge that our "toy" is also our "tool". It is why I buy BMWs and Jeeps. They are at once luxurious and sports car fast (BMW) and civilized with mountain goat dexterity (Jeep). They allow us to...uh oh here it comes...*multi-task* our purchases. They are tools AND toys. And they cost a lot of money, BMWs, Jeeps AND PDAs, face it. SO we rationalize the expense by citing their multi-use capabilities.

But whilst some may call us geeks, we still appreciate a fine industrial engineering achievement like a Palm Vx or an Apple iPod or a Motorola Razr or a BMW 745iL or a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.

Long live the wonderful alloy of style and function.

-Jhintonh

[Jimmie Geddes]

Looks like HP is going "back to the future", it's funny because Jan from PalmAddict had this as the title of her story on how she agreed with the v "re-visited". Here's her article on Aug. 25, 2005, scroll down a few and you'll see:)

http://palmaddict.typepad.com/palmaddicts/2005/08/25/index.html

Here's bargainpda's story
http://www.bargainpda.com/default.asp?newsID=2647

[dstrauss]

...I don't think the Vx form factor could be used without making some major sacrifices in options that are standard in today's handhelds, but an m515 form factor is very doable with an OLED screen and the improved battery technologies available today...

I think Vx with all the modern goodies is VERY DO-ABLE. HP's little 4000 series, now 18 months old, had WiFi and Bluetooth in a package not substantially larger than the Palm Vx. Of course, a removable battery may not be possible, but 64-128mb with SD, Bluetooth, and WiFi, if you use an OLED screen, is very foreseeable.

Come on, Palm, bring it on. :D

[SonyStyle]

i dont really like the old palm style pdas but i like clamshells. but i have to say, the old palms were a symbol, when i looked at that old design, palm is the word that comces up to my mind

[T-Man]

Same thing SonyStyle said. :)

[Jimmie Geddes]

exactly, a classic is a classic