Why is Apple so opposed to PDAs?

[godslabrat]

I know this is a sore subject with some people, so I apologize in advance.

WHY won't apple try their hand at a PDA, especially when they've had such good luck with the iPod? I've heard the argument that PDAs take Apple away from their "core business"... well, I consider that bunk since Apple's making tons of cash selling cell phones and mp3 players and set-top video boxes. I've also heard that PDAs are going the way of the dodo, since smartphones will be the norm from now on. Oddly, 4 out of 5 current PDA users I speak with strongly disagree with this, so I have my doubts.

I'd really like a midrange PDA with basic document editing and WiFi capability, but it seems like the stuff on the market currently isn't really innovative. OTOH, I'd have thought the iPod Touch was perfect if the screen could work with a stylus and I could edit word docs on it.

I really think that the PDA market is something that needs Apple's touch, yet Apple consistently refuses to touch it. It's almost like they won't let go of the "failure" of the Newton.

BTW, since all OSX releases are named after big cats, why not have the PDA-OSX be names the Kitten?

 

[ghall]

I think the iPhone is closest Apple is going to be getting to making a PDA.

 

[synth3tik]

Remember the Newton?


Yeah, Apple won't go down that road again.

 

[TheAnswer]

I think ghall is right. The iPhone is as close as Apple will come to a PDA. However, over the next couple of years, I could see the iPhone's evolution into a product that has much of the functionality of a PDA.

 

[0098386]

I think ghall is right. The iPhone is as close as Apple will come to a PDA. However, over the next couple of years, I could see the iPhone's evolution into a product that has much of the functionality of a PDA.

I can see this happening too. Give it a year or so and I can imagine similar functionality.

Bought Pages? How about throwing in a cut-down version for iPhone? 'Cuz I'd like that at least

Would be ace if Apple nailed voice communcation with OSX in general. So you could ¨ask¨ your iPhone to check emails and such. But that's another story!

 

[zap2]

Because the Newton stands for what was wrong with Apple, at the time of Jobs's return. Outside of core bussiness, over priced, and lost touch of what consumers wanted

 

[gkarris]

I think the iPhone is closest Apple is going to be getting to making a PDA.

Plus a phone generates more revenue for Apple than does a PDA...

 

[MisterMe]

...

WHY won't apple try their hand at a PDA, especially when they've had such good luck with the iPod? ...

In case you hadn't noticed, the iPod is not a PDA. Different functionality. Different target audience.

Several years ago, Steve Jobs was questioned about returning to the PDA business. He said that the PDA had no future. Its functionality was being folded into the cellphone. I don't know if you have heard this, but Apple developed a cellphone and put it on the market. Rumor has it that the Apple cellphone doing pretty good.

As for the PDA, not so good. Palm split itself in two. The hardware side of the business is struggling. The software side doesn't appear to be going anywhere. Microsoft got into the software side of things with Windows CE or Windows Mobile or whatever they are calling it this week. It strong-arms its bitches like HP-Compaq to take all the risks in the hardware business while Microsoft gets its money upfront.

 

[arn]

WHY won't apple try their hand at a PDA, especially when they've had such good luck with the iPod? I've heard the argument that PDAs take Apple away from their "core business"... well, I consider that bunk since Apple's making tons of cash selling cell phones and mp3 players and set-top video boxes.

I agree with the other posters that the iPhone is essentially Apple's PDA. Well, they are an SDK away from being a true PDA. If that comes, I think you'll have everything you want.

arn

 

[CalBoy]

I think ghall is right. The iPhone is as close as Apple will come to a PDA. However, over the next couple of years, I could see the iPhone's evolution into a product that has much of the functionality of a PDA.

Doesn't the touch have three-quarters of the features needed in a PDA? Seems like it could easily become an unofficial PDA.

 

[bousozoku]

Doesn't the touch have three-quarters of the features needed in a PDA? Seems like it could easily become an unofficial PDA.

It's just that you can't enter a lot of data at this point. What you can get is greater than most of the iPods to date, but it's still an information viewing device.

 

[John Jacob]

I'd say the iPod Touch IS a PDA. What can a PDA do that the touch can't?

 

[jackc]

I'd say the iPod Touch IS a PDA. What can a PDA do that the touch can't?

Well it's not there yet, but clearly it is moving in that direction even if Apple doesn't want to call it a PDA and people continue to say, "stop complaining, it's just an iPod!"

 

[Stella]

PDAs are dead. The market has been declining for years.

The future is the smartphone.

Having said that, Apple could easily add interest in the Touch because it has the potential to be an excellent platform - if Apple makes it open to 3rd party developers ( much like the iPhone ).

I'd say the iPod Touch IS a PDA. What can a PDA do that the touch can't?

LOL.

At the moment, the Touch is a crippled PDA.

PDA can do the following, but the iTouch can't:
*Add 3rd party applications
*Add calendar entries
EDIT: * Email

 

[gkarris]

In case you hadn't noticed, the iPod is not a PDA. Different functionality. Different target audience.

Several years ago, Steve Jobs was questioned about returning to the PDA business. He said that the PDA had no future. Its functionality was being folded into the cellphone. I don't know if you have heard this, but Apple developed a cellphone and put it on the market. Rumor has it that the Apple cellphone doing pretty good.

As for the PDA, not so good. Palm split itself in two. The hardware side of the business is struggling. The software side doesn't appear to be going anywhere. Microsoft got into the software side of things with Windows CE or Windows Mobile or whatever they are calling it this week. It strong-arms its bitches like HP-Compaq to take all the risks in the hardware business while Microsoft gets its money upfront.

Everyone I know with a Windows Mobile PDA are trading them in for a Windows Mobile Phone. Hence, the iPhone.

I think, though, people would like the Touch to become a PDA because people are starting to figure out that Apple is really the only company that can pull off something like it...

 

[Doylem]

The PDA is 'dead' only in the sense that a lot of models have been poor in design and clunky to use. The functionality itself isn't 'dead'. For years I've had a Palm m515 (yes, I know, I keep my gadgets as long as they still work), and I'd be lost without the calendar, address book, etc. I bought a fold-up keyboard, so I can write when I'm away from home (I'm a writer by trade), but it's always been a drag trying to get it to synch with the Mac: far from intuitive.

With the iPhone and iPod Touch having on-screen keyboards, I would love to be able to add a 'proper' keyboard. That would be the clincher for me.

There are a lot of things that Apple 'don't do'... then when they get around to it, everyone applauds and says what a great idea (iPhone?). And I'm damn sure that if Apple started from scratch, reinventing and redefining what a PDA could be (as they did with the humble music player), millions of people like me would stump up the $$. The form factor - iPhone/iPod Touch - is already there.

PDAs have a bad name, OK. But Apple could take the whole concept by the scruff of its neck and produce an all-purpose product that would blow (most of) the competition away... and work seamlessly with my Mac. In fact, I'll wager that it's on the drawing board right now...

 

[CalBoy]

It's just that you can't enter a lot of data at this point. What you can get is greater than most of the iPods to date, but it's still an information viewing device.

Do you think Apple will expand the touch's data entry features in the future, or will it basically remain as is because of the iPhone?

 

[MisterMe]

The PDA is 'dead' only in the sense that a lot of models have been poor in design and clunky to use. The functionality itself isn't 'dead'. ...

You really decked that "straw man." Nobody said that the functionality of the PDA was dead. Steve Jobs and a lot of other people said that PDA functionality would be rolled-up into cellphones. Think of the PDA as a smartphone that can't make phone calls. Do you really think there is some secret untapped market for such devices?

 

[bousozoku]

Do you think Apple will expand the touch's data entry features in the future, or will it basically remain as is because of the iPhone?

I believe that Apple will adapt it so that it's more usable as a PDA, once they decide how to expand the iPhone's functionality. They've shown time-after-time that they don't want to cannibalise sales of various adjacent products.

 

[CalBoy]

I believe that Apple will adapt it so that it's more usable as a PDA, once they decide how to expand the iPhone's functionality. They've shown time-after-time that they don't want to cannibalise sales of various adjacent products.

Well, for me, it will probably work out like this:

Currently: want an iPhone but can't afford it. touch doesn't have enough, so it's not worth it

Later: I'll have the money for the iPhone, but the touch will have all the features I want

 

[zelmo]

I think the stand-alone PDA market is going the way of the dinosaurs. Eventually I believe the iPhone will be opened up and become a 1st class PDA for most, and Apple will release the much anticipated subnotebook which will feed the high end of the PDA market.

I can't wait to fondly miss my Treo.

 

[gkarris]

I think the stand-alone PDA market is going the way of the dinosaurs. Eventually I believe the iPhone will be opened up and become a 1st class PDA for most, and Apple will release the much anticipated subnotebook which will feed the high end of the PDA market.

I can't wait to fondly miss my Treo.

Yea, remember those iTablet rumors. October is coming...