| ... |
 |
|
|
| Comparison Item |
 |
| Number of Software Programs |
Over 13,000 software titles are commercially
available.
This number does not include any of the specialized applications
that are developed in-house by many corporations.
|
About 1,600 software titles. |
|
| Software Compatibility |
Virtually all Palm OSฎ applications are compatible
across all Palm Powered products.
Properly written Palm OS
software will continue to work when the Palm OS moves to
ARM-compliant processors.
|
The compatibility story for Pocket PC devices is
very confusing. First-generation Pocket PC devices ran on different
processor architectures, so the same programs could not run on all
Pocket PCs.
First generation Pocket PC devices from HP and
Casio became instantly obsolete when Microsoft announced Strong
ARM-only support for future products.
In order to run
existing applications on new Pocket PC hardware, customers were
forced to replace all applications based on architectures other than
ARM.
• Any applications written for non-ARM Pocket PC systems were instantly made obsolete by Pocket PC 2002. |
|
| Hardware Freedom of Choice |
The range of Palm OS products includes mainstream
handhelds from Acer, AlphaSmart, Garmin, HandEra, Handspring,
Kyocera, and the Palm Solutions Group. High-end multimedia handhelds
from Sony, smart phones and communicators from Kyocera, Handspring,
Palm and Samsung. Enterprise handhelds from Symbol and Palm.
|
The Pocket PC platform does not support mainstream
handhelds or smart phones. Three separate platforms (Pocket PC,
WinCE 3.0, and Stinger) with three unique application sets would be
required to support the broad range of hardware that is supported by
the Palm OS.
WinCE 3.0 handhelds have unique user
interfaces and applications, which translates to increased IT
support and an isolated user experience.
• Stinger smart phones, not available until sometime the future, will also have a unique user interface and can not run Pocket PC software. |
|
| Software Developers |
Currently (01/02) over 200,000 registered developers
with over 30% developing the full range of enterprise
software.
|
• Developer enthusiasm is limited due to Microsoft's bundling of its own applications with PocketPC and its tendency of making architectures and products obsolete without advance warning. |
|
| Enterprise Standards |
91% of Fortune 1000 companies with a handheld
standard have selected the Palm OS platform for their standards
list. 85% percent of these companies selected Palm handhelds as
their corporate standard.
These findings are consistent with other independent research
showing that 83% of corporations that plan to support mobile devices
will support Palm-based handhelds. |
Independent research shows that only 44% of the
companies planning to support mobile devices will support Pocket PC
devices. |
|
| Enterprise Solutions |
• Embraced by virtually every major enterprise software company (Oracle, Sun, SAP, Siebel, Tivoli, PeopleSoft, etc.) and vertical markets such as education, healthcare, finance, and entertainment. |
• Many enterprise software companies are ambivalent about WinCE due to tensions with Microsoft. |
|
| Market Share |
Greater than 72% worldwide share. |
Less than 15% worldwide share. |
|
| Expansion |
Built-in SD/MMC, Compact Flash, Springboard and
Memory Stick.
Handeras handheld contains both integrated
Compact Flash and SD/MMC slots.
The Universal Connector, a
second form of expansion on all new Palm branded devices, makes it
possible to use add-on hardware across the entire line of new Palm
branded handhelds.
• Hundreds of add-on hardware products exist including, keyboards, scanners, printers, cameras, GPSs, modems and voice recorders. |
Only Compact Flash and PC cards. Some products
include an SD/MMC slot.
The purchase of expansion sleeves
or accessories is often required.
• Limited selection of add-on hardware options. |
|
Connectivity
|
The Palm i705 handheld offers built-in wireless
capability
with excellent coverage across the U.S. No additional hardware is
required.
The Palm i705 handheld is equipped with built-in
secure wireless email access and internet connectivity. In addition,
dual expansion capability supporting SD expansion cards and
MultiMediaCard and a customized instant notification manager.
WLAN access is available using the Xircomฎ Wireless LAN
(802.11b) Module for Palm m500 Series handhelds. In addition, easy
to configure clip-on wireless modems are also available for Palm
III, Palm V, and Palm m500 series handhelds.
• All Palm handhelds can use the Mobile Connectivity Software (MCS) to access the Web using infrared or a cable to connect with a connection-capable mobile phone. |
No integrated wireless Pocket PC solutions are
available in the U.S. Expansion packs and/or cards must be
purchased, making the Pocket PC solution even more expensive
compared with Palm Powered wireless solutions.
Unlike the
integrated Palm i705 handheld, an iPAQ user must figure out how to
install and configure a PC expansion pack with a WAN card + antenna
(four separate pieces).
Independent testing has shown that
for the case of the Compaq iPAQ "solution," this is a difficult
task, requiring up to several days for account activation.
• The lowest cost solution for an iPAQ 37XX is more than $1000 ($499 for the device + $399 for the PC Card + $149.99 for the PCMCIA expansion pack, source: Sierra Wireless Website). This is compared to about $399 for the Palm i705, which brings secure wireless email access and internet connectivity. |
|
Support for Web Browsing, Web Clipping, and
WAP
|
Supports Web browsing.
Pioneered Web
Clipping as an optimized format developed specifically for Palm
Powered handhelds.
• Supports WAP browser, included in Palm’s Mobile Connectivity software. |
Support Web browsing.
• Supports WAP browsers through third parties. |
|
Macintosh Support
|
• Native Macintosh support. |
• No support. Users must run a PC emulator. 3rd party software coming. |
|
Automatic Data Backup
|
• Palm’s HotSync® operation automatically backs up all data on the handheld. |
ActiveSync only automatically backs up the calendar,
contacts, Web favorites, inbox and tasks. The user must take
specific additional steps to ensure that other data/ applications
are backed up.
Gartner Group issued a warning about the
risk of data loss on the iPAQ based upon enterprise reports. They
recommend carrying a compact flash expansion sleeve and compact
flash card equipped with utility software to constantly back up
data, significantly increasing size, weight and cost.
From
their findings, even when data was completely backed up, data
restoration was "time consuming and cumbersome" taking "up to
several hours". |
|
Size & Weight
|
• Many of the current handhelds from Palm are less than 140 grams in weight, substantially smaller and lighter than any Pocket PC system. |
• Pocket PC devices range from 170 to 280 grams in weight. Add on wireless connectivity to the iPAQ and you are at 368 grams, more than twice as heavy as the Palm i705 integrated wireless handheld. |
|
Battery Life
|
• Independent tests indicate that Palm Powered handhelds last up to 2 weeks in a typical usage scenario. |
In independent tests, the Compaq iPaq runs out of
power in a typical usage scenario in under three days, putting the
user at risk of losing access to data on a short business trip.
• The battery life minimum requirement for Pocket PC 2002 was reduced from 10 to 8 hours of continuous use. |
|
Estimated Steet Price
|
• Palm Powered handhelds start at just $120, giving users many price vs. feature options. |
Prices for new Pocket PC 2002 devices start at $499 (suggested retail price), forcing all users to pay extra for features they may not want. |
|
| Footnotes |
Palm software measured by PalmGear.com. December
2001.
Independent survey conducted by Winn Technology
Group, Inc. 2002. Results based on the number of
respondents.
Jupiter Metrics Executive Survey, September
2001.
U.S. Market Share. Source: IDC, Full Year
2000
Requires Palm.Net® Service, sold separately in US only. Not available in all areas. |
Pocket PC software measured by independent survey
of Handango. December 2001.
Independent survey
conducted by Winn Technology Group, Inc. 2002. Results based on the
number of respondents.
IDC Personal Companions, calendar 2000.
Reported July 2001.
Gartner Group, Research and Advisory Services, 04/30/2001. |
|
| ... |
Palm OSฎ/Palm Powered
|
Pocket PC |
Handspring
IBM
Palm
HP Compaq
Fujitsu Siemens
Symbol
Sony
Toshiba
Compare
Software
Case Studies
PDA Glossary
top of the page