Should Dell get out of the PDA market?

[Mahstah]

There have been rumors circulating for a while that Dell will no longer sell Pocket PCs. This rumor has been purported and denounced over and over on the net.

An inside source has informed me that it is indeed true.

The Axim series is one of the top selling, if not THE top selling, Pocket PCs of all time. Dell has consistently sold the highest hardware specification PDAs for the lowest price point for years with the Axim line. Why would Dell discontinue a line that is so obviously popular and relatively cheap? High Tech Computing, the manufacturer of the Axim, reported a 71% increase in revenue from 4.2 billion to 7.2 billion in the last year. The Axim is a very profitable device.

A large majority of problems on newer Axims stem from Microsoft's Windows Mobile 5 OS, which has had mixed reviews. Most problems are solved through a hardware return, although they could be fixed in the software with the right help. I would presume that 75% of returns could be avoided. Dell has taken a big hit by using outsourced cheap support. Competent resolution of software issues would save Dell millions.

WM 5 is still in its infancy and has a second edition slated for Jan. 2007. In my opinion, Dell is severely misstepping in its premature abandonment of its PDA line. Dell should not be basing the future of the Axim line on the present response to the newest OS available, even if the present response is slightly negative. Let the OS mature, let the Axim line mature with it. Please disagree if you can, comments here are highly encouraged.

Should Dell get out of the PDA market?

Vote above.

[Mahstah]

Lots of views and no votes?

There is a purpose to this poll.

I am going to compose an open letter to Dell marketing urging them to continue selling Axims as new hardware emerges. This poll is to substantiate whether or not the general public supports the continuation of the line or not.

Please vote!

[Rheya's Assassin]

I say STAY IN THE MARKET!!!!!

I LOVE the Axim...It wasn't even a tough choice to go with the Axim over another PDA.

Thanks,

[Rheya's Assassin]

It says I can't vote on this poll.....

[Drifter]

Currently, my ideas fit neither of the options.

I think Dell have got the support wrong, but they do actually make a good range of PDA's at very competitive prices, so I think they sould stay in the market, but improve the support, listen to customers more and fix problems faster.

[WarComp]

I go through a phone about every 2 years. Would I replace a smartphone that often? At what they cost I should hope not. I am not that enthused about the idea of smartphones. I should hope my Axim lasts a lot longer than that. If production does stop I'll simply pickup a "spare". There are quite a few articles out there that argue to keep PDAs and cell phones separate. I back that idea.

[WarComp]

Originally Posted by WarComp

I go through a phone about every 2 years. Would I replace a smartphone that often? At what they cost I should hope not. I am not that enthused about the idea of smartphones. I should hope my Axim lasts a lot longer than that. If production does stop I'll simply pickup a "spare". There are quite a few articles out there that argue to keep PDAs and cell phones separate. I back that idea.

STAY IN THE MARKET !!

[Mahstah]

Originally Posted by Rheya's Assassin

It says I can't vote on this poll.....

There was a permission problem with voting for users when the thread was in the News section. You can now vote!

Thanks Drifter for suggesting that I add a couple more voting options...

[mbloof]

Dell "stole" the market with its underpriced PPC's. The margin on the Axims has to be razor thin so with even a minor miss-step with the hardware or software, these units start costing Dell money to ship rather then making them money.

Interesting options. Do they raise the price and pay more for R&D or technicial support? Do they just 'ride out' the current wave of technicial issues and introduce more reliable updates and products?

The 'shift' it seems in the market and the industry is to converged devices. I'd look for Dell to come out with a 'media player/PDA' or a 'media player/PDA/Cell phone' if they drop the Axim line.

The Ax51v has a beautiful transreflective screen that (to me) looks good in any light, couple that with a larger battery and 20-30GB of storage and you have a 'ipod killer'. (even if it costs 2-3x as much as a ipod)

Toss in cell phone and GPS functionality and you have a 'one device does all'.

My opinion is that PDA's as we know them will continue to go away.

Mark.

[DarkGenesis]

STICK IT OUT. Personally I think PDA's are a misunderstood or overlooked market. True it seems to a one that rides the razor edge, between technology and failure. Where I work they are either fashion statements or shiny flashies, meaning, other then the few IS people they use 2 or less features of their PDA’s.

With the ever growing trend of making computers and laptop smaller and still more powerful, people often overlook a PDA. Ooooohhh, a sub three pound laptop. WOW. MY PDA does all the functions of it and weights less then a pound, and I can carry it in my pocket. Sure they have 10.8" or larger screens, but my PDA can plug into a 20" monitor (Yes, I have done it), sure the resolution isn't great. But hey, again minor issues here.

PDA’s manufacturers fail in that they are overlooked and under marketed. Do you think that PDA’s would fail to sell if they put the same type of advertising budget that Sony does for their PSP?

Most Americans whom are “tech” whores like me dream of living in places like Japan, where new technology is released in so many flavors on so frequent of a basis that you could drown under demo products in a year’s time frame.

Look at how cellular phones have gone in the last 10 years. In places like England, and Japan, cellular technology and plans make the USA seem archaic.

Personally I think we are within a few generations of PDA’s will be coming out of the shadows and showing the technology craving US citizens what they can do.