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This site is no longer maintained.
My current weblog.
Tuesday, October 08, 2002Dell aiming for $199 Pocket PC?
CNET is reporting that Dell's Pocket PCs will start at $199. Pocket PC Thoughts says "Dell isn't firing a shot across HP's bow. They are aiming their cannon right at the hull." Robert Scoble suggests that Palm is dead.
I'm also reminded that I neglected to blog Viewsonic's planned $299 device and HP's $200-$400 iPaq.
If the pricing rumour is true, I'm with Scoble: Dell is aiming at Palm, not HP. My reasoning is two-fold:
- Declining component prices aren't enough to achieve such low pricing; it implies very favorable licensing terms from Microsoft. The other licensees have been targetting $299 as the low-end.
- Microsoft would only be likely to grant favorable terms if they believe the result would be to expand the Pocket PC market, as opposed to poaching sales from other licensees (ie: HP).
Dell is a selling machine, I don't have any trouble believing that they can ship 2 million Pocket PCs next year at either of the rumoured price-points. If the $199-$299 pricing is true, Dell could probably out-sell Palm.
Pocket PC End-User Update 2 for Maestro
Audiovox has finally released EUU2 for the Maestro. Get it while it's hot!
Why you should wait for Dell's handhelds
David Berlind writes:
Unless you need a handheld device tomorrow, my advice to those who are looking for a PDA is to wait and see what Dell comes up with. While scant details are available, Dell officials have indeed confirmed that the company is about to dive into that market and that units could appear in time for the holiday buying season. [via ZDNet]
I'm with David. Whether or not you choose a Pocket PC from Dell, you stand to gain from waiting because Dell's entry will create downward pricing pressure. Personally, I expect to buy from Dell if they hit the rumoured pricing levels ($300 and $500 models) and come through with the planned peripherals. I've never liked the iPaq line because it doesn't offer built-in Compact Flash, and I hesitate to buy another Pocket PC from lower-volume manufacturers (Audiovox, Toshiba, NEC) because of the lack of peripherals.
If there were a thumb keyboard available for the Maestro, I would use it a lot more...
I've been wondering if this will prompt another round of companies pulling their products from Dell's distribution channel. Currently Dell offers a variety of handhelds from NEC, Casio, Sharp, Palm, Sony, Handspring, and HandEra. Interestingly enough, they aren't offering iPaqs and the only Jornada model listed has been discontinued. Did HP pull their PDAs, or has Dell never offered them?
