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What if WE bought the PDA business from Handspring?

We have done a lot of 'what if' games here, and I am wondering...

Scenario- we have created a small group of investors who have managed to convince Handspring to sell us the Springboard and related technology side of their company.

We need a name (Taxi? Visor?)

We need an interim product line to get started with (probably 'cobbled' from existing products), and a future plan.

We need ideas for promoting our products.

We need a plan to prevent the same problem with modules from happening again (Lackluster sales slow development, keep prices high.)

We need a way to distinguish ourselves from the masses.

So- what do YOU think we should do?



(Heck, maybe someone reading this will actually be able to pull it off and hire us as consultants!)

__________________
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are at!

Re: What if WE bought the PDA business from Handspring?

quote:

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Originally posted by Madkins007
So- what do YOU think we should do?

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First Order of Business

Six Pack!!! LOL

__________________
Cheers

The SpringBoard offers a host of great applications that MS and even my beloved CF can't easily match.

Scanners- for inventory, cattle management, and far more.

Medical instruments- diabetes management and other medical applications. Therapists out here wish they had a whole series of portable data collectors that I think the Springboard could handle with its ability to marry sensors, data managment, etc.

Control system interfaces- someone somewhere made an interface that allowed a Visor to run a building's security system as a dedicated computer.

Sure, some of the best uses are rather marginal as far as customer base goes, but that is the challenge- how do you serve those customers AND the general public profitably.

For example, what if we built in a SD/MMC card slot, and adopted that media as our 'standard'. From there, we...

Create a 'VisorCam' that would be a small, self-contained digital camera with its OWN SD/MMC slot and a peephole viewfinder. Dock it into the Visor for more options, memory expansion, etc. Rig it so the format used can transfer seamlessly from camera to PDA to computer (probably via a program on the PDA such as AcidImage).

Create a 'VisorMP3' with similar characteristics (perhaps both use a standardized 'power sled' for extended 'off unit' use, or feature built-in batteries that recharge while the Visor is in the cradle?) Add voice recording and enhanced PDA alarm/sound abilities.

Basically, I see our company offering three PDAs- entry level B&W, high res B&W, high res color.

All would feature:
- Flash-upgradeable OS
- Springboard slot
- SD/MMC slot
- Virtual file management, back-up, and file management utilities in ROM
- Enhanced speaker (enough for decent alarm clock, for crying out loud!)
- MetalHalide AAA batteries configured to recharge in cradle, or be able to run off alkalines, etc.
- Removeable flip cover rather than snap cover
- Jog or Grafitti 2
- Bundled with multi-format doc reader, multi-format photo/image viewer, movie player, enhanced calc and other standards, etc.

Anything else a customer wants, they can add with the Springboard- without sacrificing the use of the meory card.

__________________
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are at!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Madkins007

Basically, I see our company offering three PDAs- entry level B&W, high res B&W, high res color.

All would feature:
- Flash-upgradeable OS
- Springboard slot
- SD/MMC slot
- Virtual file management, back-up, and file management utilities in ROM
- Enhanced speaker (enough for decent alarm clock, for crying out loud!)
- MetalHalide AAA batteries configured to recharge in cradle, or be able to run off alkalines, etc.
- Removeable flip cover rather than snap cover
- Jog or Grafitti 2
- Bundled with multi-format doc reader, multi-format photo/image viewer, movie player, enhanced calc and other standards, etc.

Anything else a customer wants, they can add with the Springboard- without sacrificing the use of the meory card.

---

• Springboard Slot
  
• SD/MMC Slot with SDIO support
  
• Jog Dial
  
• Optional Keyboard: Ever since switching to a Treo, I can't imagine going back to Graffiti -- especially Jot/Graffiti 2 -- as my primary input method. My idea is to make part of the case modular. Have a snap in plate surrounding the Graffiti area, giving users the ability to remove this plate and snap in a keyboard that fits over the Graffiti area. This keyboard would be similar to Treo keyboards with two additional keys: a "Home" key and "Find." The shortcut symbol would be accessed by a combination of the Option+Menu keys.
  
• Navigational D-pad similar to the one that is sported by Palm's Tungsten family. Users should be able to use it to select buttons without using the stylus. keyboard users should also be able to use it to navigate through text the way desktop keyboard users can use the arrow keys.
  
• USB connector with support for USB On-The-Go allowing them to interface with USB peripherals like keyboards, cameras, flash storage keychains, etc. For backwards compatibility, build an optional bridge that to allows Visor or Palm (universal connector) users to continue using their old cradles and peripherals.
  
• Removable flip cover with a clear window for viewing data using the hard keys and D-pad.
  
• Regardless of whether they are AAA or rechargeable, the batteries should be removable.
  
• Bundled with the standard Handspring enhanced software. Also, add a tabbed launcher with an integrated file manager.
  

• Monochrome 160x160 screen
  
• 8MB
  
• 33 MHz Dragonball Processor
  
• PalmOS 4.x
  

• Monochrome 320x320 screen
  
• 16 MB
  
• 66 MHz Dragonball Processor
  
• PalmOS 4.x
  

• 12-bit color 160x160 screen
  
• 16 MB
  
• 66 MHz Dragonball Processor
  
• PalmOS 4.x
  
• Bluetooth
  

• 16-bit color 320x320 screen
  
• 32 MB
  
• 144-200 MHz Arm-based processor
  
• PalmOS 5.x
  
• Bluetooth
  
• Voice Recorder
  
• Backlit Graffit Area/Keyboard
  

• 16-bit color 320x320 screen
  
• 64 MB
  
• 400 MHz Arm-based processor
  
• Second SD/MMC Slot
  
• PalmOS 5.x
  
• Bluetooth
  
• Wi-Fi
  
• Voice Recorder
  
• Backlit Graffit Area/Keyboard
  
• Camera
  
• MP3 Support
  

• Visor Edge form factor with SD/MMC slot
  
• 16-bit color 320x480 screen with virtual Graffiti area
  
• 32 MB
  
• Internal Backup Module that can perform scheduled backups and retain data in case the battery runs down
  
• 300 MHz Arm-based processor
  
• PalmOS 5.x
  
• Bluetooth
  
• Voice Recorder
  
• MP3 Support
  
• Removable metal flip cover with built-in keyboard
  
• Data sled with second battery, Springboard Slot, second SD/MMC slot, an additional 32 MB of Flash memory, and Wi-Fi support
  

I would have been enthusiastic about proposals a few months back.

However ... as long as Handspring continues to offer a NEO for $99 US including shipping they are still tickin' along as far as I can see.

Plus the Neos, though offered as reconditioned/refurbs really appear to be brand new.

Also, from a recent experience of ordering one as a gift, from the time I placed my order here in Florida until it arrived from Utah was an amazing 36 hours!

I've also been getting some really nice feedback letters about the article.

Say what we want, the Neo, either by design or by accident is a classic book reading devise.

If and when I have the need for a pda/handheld to do other tasks, I'll be thinking of something IN Addition to the Neo.

It almost doesn't make sense not to have one just for reading.

Alight- but that is the point. These ARE great devices that are being allowed to fall out of an active production schedule (as far as we can tell), and seem to no longer be supported by Springboard developers, etc.

I think that if Handspring does not want this part of the business, then someone should buy it from them and run it intelligently.

Example- the Neo IS a great book reader, but it is not for sale outside of a few localized websites or stores and almost no one KNOWS about using PDAs for books.

Personally, I have never understood the marketing strategy most Palm OS companies have used- most ads seem to be aimed at gadget/computer people and/or business people, who pretty much already know about these things. Other ads seem to appear in rather 'elitist' magazines- sure, these people have money, but how large of a group are they?

With the current trend of both organizing and simplifying your life, I'd think that PDA companies would be stumbling over themselves to put ads in Reader's Digest, 'womens' magazines, and other places where related articles appear, AND I'd be writing articles for publication on using these things to replace/suppliment other systems (So the article does not mention MY brand or company- if sales overall improve, it will 'float my boat' as well!)

Ah, well. How does that quote go- something about 'of all the saddest words spoken, the saddest are 'it might have been.''

__________________
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are at!

Oh, Madkins007, I really do understand what you're saying.

In addition to paying lip service to the average user, there's also a saying about the advantages of keeping the masses ignorant.

But, let's not go there. I left the "unreal" world a long time ago and have no plans to return.

As long as there are a few of us pointing out an outstanding, affordable, and still available product (the NEO) we're making a difference. I take no personal credit for the success of the article. However I am definitely pleased with every letter of "thanks". And I know that folks are passing it along as well.

If the only way Handspring can continue to make Neos available at the $99 price is by calling them reconditioned/refurbs, I'm cool. There certainly is no competition and nothing on the horizon. And CSpotRun will always be a classic.

If you read a review of any handheld/pda, book reading is not even mentioned. Although ... you can spend money to listen to Audible.com books because of the handy-dandy multimedia functions available!

So, I'll just keep sharing wherever I can, one person at a time.