Palm's LifeDrive getting the axe, marked "end of life"
By Darren Murph 
posted Jan 30th 2007 7:12PM
posted Jan 30th 2007 7:12PM
In a move that could be considered somewhat insensitive to those still grieving over Palm OS' official departure, Palm has now gone and axed a little bit more of itself, as the firm's once-popular LifeDrive device has been marked "end of life." Not even two full years after seeing the device get legit, go on sale, get photographed, and hit the chopping block, the media-centric Mobile Manager is on its way out. Notably, the unit has also vanished from UK retailers after reportedly "having fallen foul of EU regulations on the use of hazardous materials." Yeah, we've still got a few Treos and whatnot to keep us occupied, and there's always an (admittedly dim) glimmer of hope that Garnet solves all the Palm-related woes, but it looks like the LifeDrive has finally suffered the same fate that so many other dedicated PDAs already have.
I just bought one of these for my Dad for christmas, and he loves it. I really do love it to. I give you the Palm OS could use some help but still the device itself is a decent piece of hardware.
Palm is making a lot of silent noise. What gives. CES - retread. Iphone comes out - Nothing. Palm OS name change - nothing. Garmin drops palm devices - nothing. Lifedrive Dead ends - nothing. I'm ready to give them the mirror test for signs of any brand life. Even if you come out with something spectacular you are garnering a lot of ill will by not even saying anything. No sh** sherlock. It comes full circle I guess you reinvented the Newton and now the Apple has knocked you unconscious. It was your game to lose. Just like it was Sony's game to lose when Apple reinvented the Walkman.
It didn't hurt Ali to declare what he was going to do in the ring. This marketing drought except for all the dropping of this or that is downright disappointing and not honoring of those palm faithful.
What?
Last time i saw one of these it was $399. I think...
anyways...iphone murders that.
However, i'd pay a hundo for one.
As users we all want "easy". With limited space in our minds, we don't want to search for another "anything" in one of our too many coats, pant, shirts or bag pockets. I get tired of having to update another gadget. We upgrade and throw or give away the old as fast as they come... When I got my first Blackberry it meant the end for all the palm devices that I had. My Ipod Video also killed a lot of media devices. Palm's saving grace would be a new machine to battle the OQO... Otherwise I agree with the graceful bowouts...
CompUSA told me these were discontinued back in early November (had one die and wanted to get it replaced under warranty)
Awe man :( Lifedrive you will be missed
R.I.P My dear Friend :(
So, what replaces it? As far as I know, there's nothing!
Engadget, stop misreporting the facts. Palm OS has not departed; all they did was change the name and the logo! This is the second time you've said this.
And before you start whining, kids, I'm not a Palm fanboy; my phone runs Windows Mobile.
Is Palm even doing anything relevant anymore? The treo isn't even their design. It was designed by Handspring. They couldn't even get Cobalt out the door. It seems like they're putting all of their eggs into one basket (treo) and praying.
Hmm.... Palm was started up by Jeff Hawkins, Ed Colligan, and Donna Dubinsky. They didn't like how it was going (being part of USRobotics/3Com) so they left and started up Handspring and came up with the Treo. (Now independent) Palm bought Handspring and the family was back together.
Ed Colligan is the current CEO of Palm.
Palm has been shooting themselves in the foot for the past 5 years. Every chance they got to pull ahead they dummied up and either priced themselves out of corporate buying or kept holding out hope for vaporware OS releases. And I deeply regret it to see how they turned over market share to Windows Mobile, Pocket PC, or whatever Redmond is calling these days. Vista-To-Go?
They should have gone the way of Nokia with the n800. If Palm had made it the unit would sell for $999, not $399.
iPhone replaces it. There was never a market for LifeDrive at $399.
Doesn't replace it for me. I don't need another phone. I already have one. I don't want my pda to be a phone.
heh
I think we are reaching end game with POS, and all I can say is its about fracking time. Never have I seen an antiquated OS linger on for as long as POS has. It goes to show just how powerful a fanbase Palm had...before they started spitting on them collectively.
All I can say at this point is good riddens to an OS that is on par with DOS in 2007.
I got a Palm TX for $200 on eBay, keeps all my life in order, plays music, checks my e-mail, and lets me show off my portfolio when I need to.
I really don't see the problem, it's simple, hackable and has tons of third party support.
As long as the bloodline isn't cut I like it when models go out, price drops and poor college students like myself can afford them. iPods especially. I had a used Sony Clie I bought off a teacher for $50, probably one of the best purchases I have ever made.
What a shame. Looks like the Palmpilot is going the way of the Amiga for exactly the same reasons: incompetent management (why change the name of a well known and popular OS) and failure to innovate after having a huge head start over all competitors...
Anyone know where I can pick up one of the EOLed units - it looks like the Palm online store doesn't let you order it...unless it's open box.
And goodness knows, these'll hit some sweet spot where it actually makes sense to buy one.
Just add a phone capability, with 20 gb for video+bluetooth+camera. I think there is a gap between PocketPC phone and umpc. Just a thought.
Please dont axe the T/X... I just got one...
It's sad what is happening to palm. They should have beat blackberry to the punch... they should have beat the tablet PC to market. I really like their software, and they are sooo much better than PocketPC, but it doesn't matter. Pen devices didn't take off, and now everyone types better than they write.
Giving up on the hard drive PDA in the WiFi era is stupid, too. Looks like they're just a small cell phone hardware company now.
btw, love the n800, too. Think I'm getting one, who cares about price, it's less trouble than a second Windows laptop at home.
LifeDrive + some Treo Innards + Phone Dialing Software = the pPhone!!!
Pick this up Palm, come on...