Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 100

As a developer and regular user at PalmGear, I've noticed some major problems at their site recently. Oftentimes, typing in http://www.palmgear.com takes forever and even results in an error message by itself. Any search takes forever, then again, errors left and right. Worse, many of the files I KNOW exist there (because I posted the files!) are unsearchable! Has anyone else encountered this? I'm wondering if they're having major server problems or something. I'm getting to a point where I don't feel comfortable recommending them anymore.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 1571

Feel the same way

Man Palmgear.com needs to clean up their act fast!! I am seriously thinking of going to another site...all this hiccup is getting ridiculous...they are more down than up..or so it seems!!

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 91

PalmGear: Love/Hate...leaning toward Hate.

The Palm OS is becoming serious business in the consumer market. (Palm's latest foray, "Audrey", should attest to that, whatever level of success it achieves.) As much as I love PalmGear it's starting to look amateurish these days, despite the 7700+ software titles (many of which are just stupid "keep track of your crap" types lately).

For starters, PalmGear boasts servers that serve errors as often as not, and a GUI designed by someone that seems to have been more interested in page views than actually getting us to where we know we want to go (Why can't I decide BEFORE the search whether I want to look only for apps, FAQ's, News items or Developers?) I mean, Really! How dot-com! Hey, you with the millions of dollars! This niche is ripe for the picking, especially as the Palm OS continues to gain in popularity.

As a group of people they seem to be a great bunch. Bought a lot of software from them, etc., and never a problem. But the way they merchandise their wares has GOT to go.

[Deep Breath]

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

Win2K bug

According to Netcraft, PalmGear is running on a Windows 2000 server (presumably with IIS), which hasn't proven itself IMHO for the kind of load capacities PalmGear has to deal with. I noticed the same problem with Hotmail: when the service slowed down continually last year, I queried Netcraft, and sure enough, Microsoft migrated Hotmail from a BSD/Apache server to Win2K/IIS. PalmGear should consider Apache with Linux or Unix -- any Unix.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Moved to Clie Land
Posts: 331

Glad to know I'm not the only one teed off by this...

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"Stupid Handspring."

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: bright side of the moon.
Posts: 996

Re: PalmGear: Love/Hate...leaning toward Hate.

quote:

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Originally posted by VancouverCanuck
(Palm's latest foray, "Audrey", should attest to that, whatever level of success it achieves.)

---

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Stealth-Mod.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Richmond, VA, USA
Posts: 151

Win2k

I seriously doubt that Palmgear's probs are caused by running Win2k server. My guess is it is slow/old servers rather than the software. See visorcentral's recent server upgrade. What a difference more RAM and/or faster servers can make.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 91

Re: Re: PalmGear: Love/Hate...leaning toward Hate.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Hoser_in_USA

quote:

---

Originally posted by VancouverCanuck
(Palm's latest foray, "Audrey", should attest to that, whatever level of success it achieves.)

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actually, that was 3COM....they just used the PalmOS for the device.

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Posts: 2531

I'm still partial to Eurocool. If I can't get it there then I go to PalmGear, Handango, or Palmspot. I've had problems with PalmGear that I attributed to running IE 3.0, but I'm still having them with my Mac running IE 5.0. It's to the point where I'd rather try and hunt down the developer using google than search for the app at PalmGear.

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-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 27

I used to check Palmgear website everyday when I purchased my visor a year ago. Now, I barely check it once a week because it is so slooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 3

I tried to order a springboard module a few days ago and every time I clicked to proceed to checkout I received an error message. E-mailed Palmgear and received the following reply:

"Thank you for bringing this error to our attention. Due to a very large increase in traffic over the last few months, we are currently upgrading the site's servers and connectivity. We are also preparing to implement a more
user-friendly interface design.

We would like to make these improvements without any glitches in service, but at times that is just not possible. If you get the error again, please be patient while the corrections are updated to our servers. You may also try refreshing your browser.

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience and thank you for visiting our site. Our goal is to make Palmgear.com a more pleasant and functional on-line experience for our customers.

I will also forward to our web team to investigate.

If you are trying to place an order please either reply with your phone number and we can call you (U.S. Residents only please) or you may call us at 800.741.9070. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and are working as fast as we can to correct the error."

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 91

Why don't they indicate this directly on their Website, then? Not everyone checks VisorCentral, the newsgroups, etc.

Slightly off-topic, I would've thought they would have anticipated a prolonged surge in traffic after Christmastime, and tried to meet the resultant server needs months ago....

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 1683

I've ALWAYS had problems with PalmGear's site...I don't think it is anything new.

In addition to the server problems, the interface is terrible. Ugh.

Palmspot is nice. I like the interface. They don't have nearly the same amount of software, though.

Handango has been my recent favorite.

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Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 100

Thanks for all the responses, everyone. I'm glad to know it isn't just me and my (DSL) connection, although I'm also saddened that one of my favorite sites for quick downloads is suffering so badly.

-- L

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