Brighthand's First Impressions of Palm OS Cobalt

[kimh]

Brighthand has an article covering the first impressions of the new Palm Cobalt OS. Keep in mind this is relatively early before the OS is officially released but from what I see there are some glaring issues.

For one there is no official landscape support which we have come to enjoy with the T3. I hope they release this in the final build. I do use the landscape mode often when viewing pictures or using Wordsmith to read.

Also from the article I seriously doubt that Cobalt will be available as an upgrade release to current PDA owners. For one the new OS may require more powerful hardware and most exisiting applications need to be "tweaked" to run under the new OS. :confused:

Granted this is an early preview but I hope the landscape mode will be added. :(

For full article: http://www.brighthand.com/article/First_Impressions_of_Cobalt?site=Palm

[abid786]

I, too, am sure that T3 owners won't get a chance to upgrade :(, since they wont make an upgrade.

Abid

[iiicRules]

Thanks for the heads-up. I hope they don't release it before its ready. One of the big positives of the palm os is its stability. I hope they keep it that way!
I have hope that the OS will be available for the T3. I think Palms with less than 200Mhz are out of the equation, but I see no reason why a T3 couldn't cope with it. Having said I hope, I still don't think it's very likely though!! If it comes out soon, i.e. if the next Palms run it, then I would hope for an upgrade. If, its not till summer when the OS comes out, then I don't think Palm will care about throwing away T3 users, and forcing them to upgrade their "old" machines..:(

[PalmTealLover]

After reading all articles above and all subtexts, . . . .

Sounds like it TOTALLY blows.

[SoS]

errrr...palm flagsship pda=T3...cobalt=no landscape support.....errrrr

having seen the screenshots, have to say it hasnt rocked my world as yet. lets wait for tyhe real thing tho', multitasking, if they pull it off in a stable and useable way, will be a very big deal IMHO...

back to redigitizing my T1....

[PalmTealLover]

While I COMPLETELY share Sos's PANASONIC 256 MB Card (I'm buying one at Fry's today, because I won't take a chance on Lexar being a Panasonic vs Sandisk!!) . . . . I only wish what Sos said re: multi tasking would in fact come true.

1. Multi tasking means more than one thing running. You think you've got low battery life now . . . .

2. I wish palmOne would concentrate on getting one task right first . . . like the ROM!! Or perhaps syncing with Outlook without glitches and 4,578,324 different conduits, some of which are "dead," but "you need them anyway." HUHHH?????

3. I think it's over. Makes me sad. At this rate, palmOne will be the Roman Empire of handhelds. We get the T3, we buy the "landscape" in more ways than one, hoping for a Pacific Ocean Sunset and winding up with a leaky oil derrick. This is such BS. I've got to take time out of "my increased productivity" to AGAIN fix 32 different apps I just took pains to make sure worked in OS5? Nobody with Windows has ever had this problem. PalmOne are supposed to be innovators, not profit grubbing slight-of-hand "which walnut shell has the peanut/correct OS" BS artists, whose VERY OWN "Customer Service" people won't tell you how to work what you've got, let alone fill you in on any details of upcoming models.

4. Office Depot's price is still $398 on the T3. Units are here, but not there . . . we'll know more in 2-4 weeks I'm sure. I wish I could have at least A LITTLE enthusiasm about all this, but I think ALL OF US on this forum -- TUNGSTEN owners -- represent the "core" of the palmOne market -- and they've screwed all of us, one by one, model by model, until "Cobalt, the final sword." I believe they not only don't care about current users -- they don't want us. Their sights are now focused on the 12-16 year old MP3 group -- not that there's anything wrong with attracting them -- but they couldn't give a rat's about the "business user," or they'd be making sure he could still conduct business -- in landscape mode for spreadsheets -- as promised. Take a good look through these past threads of recent days and weeks, examine the evidence in San Jose -- and tell me I'm wrong (please!).

[SoS]

Hey PTL...good rant!!!

the power issue is a good one but I have a work around - USER CHANGEABLE BATTERY.....why is this so difficult? Ok its another thing to carry around but not such a big deal. Doesnt seem to me that there is a 3000mAh 5g battery coming anytime soon (at least not with Li-ion) so this has to be the next best thing (or make all units like the T|C brick...).

[PalmTealLover]

You know, if I don't get the medication EXACTLY on the hour . . . . . !!

I'm just going to sit here in the "happy place," strap my helmet on real tight, and wait for the little school bus . . . . . . .

[SoS]

Originally posted by PalmTealLover
You know, if I don't get the medication EXACTLY on the hour . . . . . !!

I'm just going to sit here in the "happy place," strap my helmet on real tight, and wait for the little school bus . . . . . . .

I know the feeling.....

SoS departs to locate stash of happy pills...:)

[Ardee]

[You know, if I don't get the medication EXACTLY on the hour . . . . . !!

I'm just going to sit here in the "happy place," strap my helmet on real tight, and wait for the little school bus . . . . . . .][B]

HA! HA! HA! NOW THAT'S FUNNY!!!!!!!!!:D :D :D

Ardee

[DaveDsewz]

I'm not so sure that PalmOne is abandoning us Tungsten owners. I have seen articles which indicate that they will continue to develop OS-5 parallel to OS6 which is to be more oriented to a new generation of Smart Phone PDAs.

As I am on my 5th Palm PDA and have had only one very positive experience with Palm Customer Service, I guess I am not as cynical as some.

I think it is premature to rant about an OS that has not yet been released. Hang in there guys and gals, we may see that OS5 is tweaked for our needs.

[PalmTealLover]

Have you read the articles, Dave?

Early this morning I skimmed the palmOne USA site. They have some comparative charts showing improvements, and you may be right . . . increased security during HotSync, et cetera. My question is whether or not software we have now (at a cost to me personally of around $1,000) will continue to work.

When I first got the M505 and had it 2 weeks, I remember saying "If Palm charged me $400 a YEAR for this, it'd be worth it." Seems that's now coming true since my 30 day old T3 may have to last if I want the software to last. You have followed that school of thought, having owned FIVE. Will a sixth "do it" for a while? When is OS7 scheduled?! Palms are becoming more and more like the IPAQs they compete with -- but IPAQ quality has skyrocketed and Palm hasn't. IPAQs take more software apps than ever before -- palms don't. IPAQs are sticking with the same OS -- palm isn't.

My "rant" as it will be known from here on out is not directed at the Forum, nor any of what I have praised for so long about palm(one). I wonder where "they're going" and if considerable money beyond the OS6 Cobalt PURCHASE price will be necessary.

They've alienated Mac Users. Many cellphones aren't compatible NOW, although that is claimed. People continue to have Outlook sync problems. We've all downloaded a "fixed" ROM. I don't think I could have "fried" my 505 with a sledgehammer and a truck -- or Afterburner or 9 hacks or apps in flash! It was HUMMING -- and I imagine you've done the same and more with your previous PDAs.

No, it is NOT correct to blast off when nothing is in a store yet or in our hands to look at; I am tired of statements being made (by palmOne) about T3 landscape, etc and then their COMPLETE abandonment of a two week old press release. NOW is the time for complaints -- not 2 months after the units are in the stores and we're "stuck."

I'll state it again -- the first 100 Cobalts will probably go to people ON THIS FORUM and I'd like to think that THIS TIME they (including you Dave, and possibly me?) will get the $$$ worth. I still think the T3 is the best PDA by a long chalk out there -- the question for me is whether or not to skip OS6 and make due with the T3 until "something necessary" comes down the pike. I, unlike many of you, don't really have the need or desire for the bluetooth/WiFi deal -- although sending a faxed WordSmith doc would be nice, I haven't found anyone that can do it yet. A FAX!? Not exactly brain surgery -- your microwave can probably do it. A good, secure business "belt laptop" is what I need and the Palm do date has done it BRILLIANTLY. There hs been no one more impressed, vocal and loyal regarding Palms -- I hope I was ranting prematurely (?).

Thanks Dave, for the sensibility.

[abid786]

Originally posted by SoS
Hey PTL...good rant!!!

the power issue is a good one but I have a work around - USER CHANGEABLE BATTERY.....why is this so difficult? Ok its another thing to carry around but not such a big deal. Doesnt seem to me that there is a 3000mAh 5g battery coming anytime soon (at least not with Li-ion) so this has to be the next best thing (or make all units like the T|C brick...).



I agree, if Pocket PCs can have user swappable batteries, then why cant Palms? Btw, swappable battery does increase battery life...

Secondly, if you think the Tungsten C is a brick, then you haven't seen the Sony Clie NZ90... :D

Abid

[abid786]

Originally posted by DaveDsewz
I'm not so sure that PalmOne is abandoning us Tungsten owners. I have seen articles which indicate that they will continue to develop OS-5 parallel to OS6 which is to be more oriented to a new generation of Smart Phone PDAs.

As I am on my 5th Palm PDA and have had only one very positive experience with Palm Customer Service, I guess I am not as cynical as some.

I think it is premature to rant about an OS that has not yet been released. Hang in there guys and gals, we may see that OS5 is tweked for our needs.


I have heard that too.

Abid

[DaveDsewz]

Paul.

Your concerns are well founded. I don't have the elaborate needs that some on the forum do. I do share your disgust with synching with Outlook.

For me the Palm OS has been more than adequate. Yes there are several limitations to it, but not in my eyes as severe as those reported with the PC PDA's and so on.

I am anxious to see how it all shakes down vis a vis smart phones and multi tasking. I do want a device that has both WiFi and Bluetooth. Hell, I want it all!

But in the final analysis the compromises I make to have the T2 that I am currently using are small in comparison to the great functionality of the device. If you had told me of these capabilites back when I had my first Palm Professional, I would have been unable to comprehend the possibility of so much that fits in the "Palm" of my hand.

So, like you I am waiting to see what PalmOne does next. And, yes I would love to have a shot at the first Cobalt OS device.

[PalmTealLover]

It is only human nature to want it all and while taking a "wait and see" attitude, here is a line from a nice email I received today from Amanda at Tealpoint:

(quote): Vince and gang had a good week at PalmSource, even though the next OS will not be very promising to our current programs. Will have more news about that later. (end quote).

This is what I'm talking about. They (Tealpoint) slaved for weeks and months "tweaking things" for OS5; now it suddenly "will not be very promising to our current programs."

That's particularly unfortunate for me -- I use about a dozen of 'em. I also use VERY SIMPLE apps, like "Date Difference" and "SysTool," along with FindHack, Agendus and Mobil DBase 4.

My needs are not extravagant; I hate to use such blashphemy as the following on the forum, but it's true: I DON'T CARE ABOUT MP3s on my PALM. There. I said it. Don't care for movies, either (except perhaps those two OUTSTANDING Tania Russof clips . . . . Sylvia Saint ain't bad either . . . !!)

What I need are BUSINESS apps which I have perfected to really "breeze" through what I have to do, quickly and efficiently, and committing nothing to paper. Rather boring, really -- but Palm has been an absolute GODSEND. All Date Difference does is record how many days from or to a specific date from today (countdown or counter); INDISPENSABLE for keeping track of how long it's been since I talked to or visited someone. Simple Simon stuff -- and about 17k of RAM. FindHack is a lifesaver; it's not a hack at all but a full fledged application now, 124K, does Boolean searches and performs searches of as few or as many Palm databases as YOU decide. That kind of thing. ALL OF THAT IS OUT THE WINDOW if it won't work in OS6, and Tealpoint are already in "the throes of it." At least they'll give it the College Try, if anyone will. Iambic has dumped TinySheet, Fastwriter and AllMoney ALREADY. They're apparently planning on "waving from the yacht" based solely on Agendus and a couple of games. WOW.

I think what may be best for me is wait til T3s come down, buy 2 more as spares, and hide in the happy place again. At least with the T3 (and the landscape ROCKS for draggable BITMAP maps, by the way!) it's the M505 on steroids with a bright screen. Perhaps I've just been passed by; on the developer page of palmOne's website is a little "chat" explaining you can either go with the A68 files (old school) or the "cutting edge." I'm wondering how many developers will opt for cutting edge -- and if my favorite software will go the way of DBase IV and AmiPro!!

This is EXACTLY why I jumped on the OS5 bandwagon rather late -- I didn't get a Tungsten T or T2 -- I waited and the whole time was amassing apps and app versions that WOULD work in OS5. I figured (and got wind that) OS6 would be even more of a nightmare than just "losing hacks." Frankly I just don't want to do that again -- but if any of you do, I hope you're really really happy, satisfied and productive. For those of you with T's, E's or T2s -- I'd stick with 'em. I'm sad to say YOU MAY NOW HOLD IN YOUR HAND THE PINNACLE OF PALM.

[mattcube]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by PalmTealLover
[B]I believe they not only don't care about current users -- they don't want us. Their sights are now focused on the 12-16 year old MP3 group -- not that there's anything wrong with attracting them -- but they couldn't give a rat's about the "business user," or they'd be making sure he could still conduct business -- in landscape mode for spreadsheets -- as promised.


Sorry, while I completely agree with you for the most part. I'd just like to throw in that I'm 15 years old, and am currently using a Tungsten T|3, my third PDA, after a m100, and m505. I'm completely irritated with PalmOne, and for the same reasons you are. I skipped the 1st two Tungstens because of stability issues with OS5. Everything seemed to begin looking reliable, I get a T|3, and its completely screwy. Now it seems I've got my perfect handheld after using some patches, completely stable and reliable, and Palmsource is shooting out a new OS to bring even more nightmares. I see cobalt as bringing more irritating issues than a more helpful, intuitive user-face. I love my landscape mode, as I use Excel A LOT in science. While all my peers are forced to work on rough drafts at school, I whip out my PDA in landscpe mode, and can have a 2 week project done in a day or two. All while I'm listening to my music. My T|3 is what keeps me organized, I love simple programs like calendar and note pad, and I too use Date Difference, which in my opinion is one of the most helpful programs I've ever used, as well as one of the simplest. I just don't get why an OS would be released that couldn't run the most basic of apps. I don't plan on paying a dime to upgrade to OS6, atleast not until its equal in usefullness to OS5. Now tell me that isn't pathetic.

Anyhoo, I just wanted to shout out that there are a few of us out there who are 15 who use a PDA several hours a day, both for simple programs to manage day-in and day-out life, as well as for school projects, and even for mp3s, 3D games, etc. etc.

[PalmTealLover]

Very well written, but I wasn't insulting 15 year olds. I wish to God I'd had the T3 when I was 15 -- back then we were still using chisels on concrete blocks . . . . .

Here's my quote again:

"Their sights are now focused on the 12-16 year old MP3 group -- not that there's anything wrong with attracting them -- but they couldn't give a rat's about the "business user," or they'd be making sure he could still conduct business -- in landscape mode for spreadsheets -- as promised."

Nowhere in that do I bash 15 year olds, MP3s or spreadsheets. I am concerned that the "MP3" group represents a HUGE new market for palmOne, some of whom are 15. Some are 55. My point is, although I personally listen to a hell of a lot of MP3s (and write music in my own studio in fact), if I want an MP3 player I'll buy an MP3 player. palmOne's "amalgum" of cellphone/palm/mp3 player might appeal to some and might actually WORK, but when the OS6 "worst case" is that you can listen to an MP3 but half your tried and true apps won't work (either AT ALL or with an expensive upgrade -- that's another game I think is being played here), what's the point? The "T86" at that point is an MP3 player that has fatals when business software is loaded?

When I was your age I was in the "gifted minor" program, and all "Honors" classes. I rarely saw writing like you exhibit in your message here. I'm not being condescending here . . . . . it really gives me faith we're not raising a generation of idiots. EXTREMELY well written for a 35 year old, let alone 15.

Welcome to the board and thanks for being one of the few that has actually agreed with me on the "OS MESS." It's GREAT to see that at a young age, you're not led by the nose and BLIND brand loyalty. Do us all a favor and bang a letter of to palmOne's Vice President, would you? MAYBE YOU CAN GET SOMETHING DONE!!!

Take care and hope to hear more from you -- especially where you got the

"TT|3->PalmOne Handheld w/ 3D graphics card, 128 megs of memory, VGA screen, dual wireless, dual expansion (SD and CF)" from. That's new to me. Anyone else?

[mattcube]

Sorry to make you think I was under the impression that you were bashing those still in school. All truth be told, I did originally misunderstand your point. I understand completely that PalmOne needs its basic apps to work, what the handheld was originally meant for, before adding new multimedia features. So what if I get a new Cobalt Palm that can play mp3s, has a 3 megapixel camera, voice recorder, movie recorder, etc. etc. when I have a hard time loading up 5k-100k programs such as Date Difference, as well as games that worked perfectly fine on OS4 and OS5.

Personally, I think someone high up at PalmOne must be blind to the fact that us Palm users have other options. While I'm definitley not a huge fan of Pocket PCs, if I'm debating between a multimedia device (the future of Palm it seems), or a handheld capable of actually orginizing my life AND has multimedia capabilities, I think I'd jump onto the Windows Mobile bandwagon. Sure P1 could be under the impreesion that a larger marketshare is going to a crowd not interested in business, but rather in showing off a device capable of playing mp3s, movies, and taking pictures. But what they don't realize, is that its us, Palm's loyal users, that are comming to a point where we want to be able to do work with the simplicity of older PalmOS-based handhelds. Its not that I don't want multimedia features, thats not the case at all. Personally, I like having this all-in-one device, but if that comes at the price of loosing simplicity of work, well then I'll be sure to look at my other options. And that's where Palm may be killing itself in the process of trying to gain a new market.

So, back to the task at hand- PalmOne needs to create a stable OS before throwing in every multimedia application onto it. Without that, Palm will surely loose a large portion of its loyal users.

Thanks for the complements, and I'd like to let you know that I can completely agree with you, and I'm sorry if there was any confusion.

Oh, and by-the-way, the Palm I described after the T|3 is my dream Palm, I guess I sould have added a stable OS, but that used to be a given from Palm.

[strickjh05]

Mattcubed, I believe you are my antithesis; I am a junior in High school and own a Pocket PC. lol

I have debated whether or not a Palm Pilot would to me better than a PPC. I have owned a palm pilot before and was very pleased. However many frustrating nights trying to understand hotsync made me believe there was something better. I wanted something that would be easier to understand and not so childish. I only say childish because it has a weird learning curve. You could learn the software in a few days but hotsync… God I hated hotsync.
There were only a few things I didn’t like about palm. The first is the no multitasking. The second was the inability to use folders to organize my notes. The third was the grayscale screen. The fourth was hotsync. The fifth being it was not a stand-alone device. You really needed to have a computer to use it properly. The last was the lack of RAM. Two MB was not satisfactory.
My palm broke after it fell from my couch to the floor. That was a very depressing October in my freshman year. I lived without a pda for five months. That March I saw an ad for a pocket pc and was intrigued. Color, 64MB ram, word and silver. ::drool:: I then sought out my ATM card and withdrew all my money and headed down to Best Buy.
I am pleased with pocket pc because it is similar to windows and with file explorer and my natural ability to decipher acronyms I could see how my pocket pc worked. It was great. It could do more than my old palm could ever do.
I don’t know what os 5 is like. I have no current knowledge of palm or its software. Me judging all palm pilots on my Palm 3e would be like you judging all pocket pc’s on a Ipaq 3600 (2000 model)
I can give you a glimpse of what a pocket pc can do though. A month ago I was bored and at school after hours. I had just been kicked out of webteam (an after school club that codes the website www.bensonhs.net ) because the boss wanted to go home and we couldn’t be there without him. I went to the main hall when my hp5555 vibrated. I had detected a wifi hotspot in the school and the pocket pc-when I turned it on, asked me if I wanted to connect to it. I taped yes and it was connected. I took out my keyboard and connected. I then opened up AIM, Internet Explorer, MSN messenger and an html editor. I signed in and IMed my friends. Since only a few people were signed on I could code some html like in webteam but here instead. The kids from sports were being loud so I took out my headphones and opened up windows media player and played some music.
So there I sat, chatting with friends, listening to music, coding HTML and checking my progress with IE. I do the same thing on my home computer.
So while waiting in lines I can read a book, listen to music or just play a Nintendo game. I am, to say the least, satisfied with my pocket pc. I don't think I will go to palm, even if the OS is more stable. I can use the exact same software I can now as I could with my 3765. I think the best thing pocket pc did was make sure their pdas had very strict standards so software is backwards compatible while allowing different manufactures could add their own flavor to the os.

[PalmTealLover]

As MattCube and I are now in perfect agreement (and were all along) along comes Strickjh with some Pocket PC points. I've had some good chats with the "PPC" side of the board here, and got some good suggestions. The only drag is when I visited their recommended freeware sites I was ASTONISHED by how big simple apps are -- what Palm can do with 120k, they need 3MB!!

128MB wouldn't last long at that rate, but Windows CE isn't likely to "hose" any of us either. Tough Call.

With the upgrades the T3 is stable in my opinion, although I see some "glitchy" writing in the address book from time to time. That may be due to my using WordComplete 3, which according to their site "doesn't work on the T3!" It seems ok most of the time and combined with TealScript is a real Godsend.

I'm sticking with the T3 and getting either an "E" or another T3 as a spare. Had dinner with a buddy last night who still uses a bunch of software on his MAC OS7! He uses Mac OS10 at work and hates it; said Mac are doing the same as Palm. One thing you can say for Bill Gates and Microsoft -- Windows 95 still operates stuff, and so does 98/ME/2000 Pro (what I have) and XP! Windows CE is likely to remain "constant and stable," as well.

OS6 may use all the A68 shadow files necessary to "emulate" the older software, although on their "software writer division" they challenge developers to "be on the cutting edge" and develop non a68 type applications. DATE DIFFERENCE happens to be a favorite of mine, and I just got the new Bonsai 3.0 -- I'm not throwing that money away. I've got this thing tweaked and so do a LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE; I think the marketplace may be on our side with the OS6 thing and "sanity will return." If not sanity, at least "compatibility" with older apps. Might have to wait for OS7 for that -- fine. I think multimedia and organizers need to be two different items; I still have a Nokia 3860 phone for PHONE CALLS, and the T3 for PALMING. Mixing the two with a Treo, for example, seems to me to be "skirting" quality on both sides -- neither the phone nor the organizer are that good.

Kudos to both of you for bringing up some intellegent "fodder" here on the forum -- I wish some of the "Veterans" would weigh in (they know who they are -- C'mon ladies and gents -- let's have a discussion . . . . We can turn Dad's old barn into a stage . . . . let's put on a show!!!

Take care

[strickjh05]

Quick question- If you are worried about the stability of OS6, can you simply downgrade the ROM (flash the ROM with an OS5 image)?

and lol, yeah ppc programs are big. But like a palm, I can install them to a memory card so it isnt so bad.

[PalmTealLover]

But that would defeat the purpose of getting it; faster processor? Is that what you're thinking? Maybe . . . . If the T3 was a fixed, non sliding unit (locked open), AND UPGRADED TO OS6 free from palmOne, I might consider flashing it with OS6, PROVIDED the apps work. All I care about are the apps. 400Mhz is fast enough for me; it's the APPS that do the work and make my life easier.

I was in therapy for months (lol) when I knew I'd lose my "hacks" in OS4; I got over that, and over an 8 month period upgraded all apps to coincide/match/work with OS5. Now the OS6 nightmare will be even bigger.

It's not stability in OS6 that's the issue; in fact according to "my sources" it will be MUCH MORE stable. But stable isn't any good if nothing works except your new shiny tabbed address book.

[mattcube]

Hmmm, strickjh05, I am quite fond of your story. There is no doubt in my mind that a PPC is a very capable machine. In all honesty, I'm not 100% sure why I stick with Palm. I think it has to do with the fact my roots are in Palm, and had I started with a PPC, I'd probably still be using a PPC. I think it has to do with Palm's overall simplicity. I can easily switch through apps, play a game, then flip to Excel, to the calculator, than read an e-book while listening to mp3s in an instant. With Pocket PC, I feel as if I'm always waiting, as I have to close apps, the re-open, hit start, then programs, games, then choose a game...etc.

But now it seems as if Palm is moving closer and closer into this direction. And if thats the case, and I find myself doing this when I open up my brand new TungstenAluminum TA|4, I'll probably be wondering why I bought this instead of a PPC which has better graphics for games, dual slots, more memory, etc. Sure, multi-tasking might be a Godsend for Palm, but unless its utilized in the right way, I think Microsoft will be rolling in more dough than ever before.

Now, please don't get me wrong. I currently LOVE my T|3 with Palm OS5, as I feel very secure with it. I believe now, after all the patches, my PDA is one of the most stable on the market. More and more apps are supporting 320*480 displays, as well as the 5-way navigator. I hardly ever have to reset the device, and landscape mode is AWESOME. If OS6 can kepp all this functionality coupled with better and faster hardware, useable multi-tasking, better wireless, and the like, I don't think I'd ever switch to PPC. Its only if Palm were to screw all this up that I'd look at all my other options.

PalmTealLover- I can understand your point-of-view that the Palm need not to be a multimedia device, but rather a completely useable managment tool. However, if I can keep stability and my old programs that I've spent upwards of $300 on, then I'm more than willing to buy something based on its multimedia capabilities. When you say that this doesn't matter to you, is this a generaliztion based on past experiences of multimedia coming at the cost of functionality, or that you would rather not have any of this at all, no matter what, to keep the price down?

Oh, and I too would like to hear some other forum posters' thoughts on the subject.

[PalmTealLover]

posts to this thread I can read. We're starting to repeat each other. I don't care about price. I care that multimedia will come at the cost of business app/functionality.

I'm curious about your comments at the bottom of your "sign-Off." What do you mean "dual expansion slot 128/meg?" i f you have a t3? What is that?

[mattcube]

Yeah, this topic is starting to get a bit lame without the opinions of other users.

As for my signature, I'm trying to show that my first PDA was a m100, then I got a m505, then I got my T|3. Then, after that comes my dream Palm, what I hope the next Palm I purchase will include.

[kimh]

Looks like the OS 6 first models won't be shipping until Summer.

Source: http://www.brighthand.com/article/First_Impressions_of_Cobalt

Availability
No big surprise, PalmSource isn't going to pre-announce any of its licensees Cobalt models at this time. However, David Nagel did say at the press briefing that he expected the first handhelds with the new operating system this summer.

I find this somewhat surprising, as I've been expecting the first releases somewhat earlier, during the spring. Of course, its possible Mr. Nagel is being conservative. On the other hand, consumers may have a longer wait than expected.

Upgrades Releasing upgrades for current models isn't up to PalmSource. Instead, each Palm OS licensee will need to decide if it is willing to take the standard version of Cobalt and customize it for each one of its models.

The standard EFIGSJ version of the operating system, which includes support for six different languages, fits in a 16 MB ROM.