HP crushes dreams, offers no WM6 upgrades
By Chris Ziegler 
posted May 10th 2007 6:55PM
posted May 10th 2007 6:55PM
The former Windows Mobile heavyweight champ (sorry, HP, but we're pretty sure that title belongs to some friends of yours now) has made the unfortunate -- though not altogether unexpected -- announcement this week that it will not be providing Windows Mobile 6 upgrades to its existing line of Windows Mobile 5-based devices. That list includes the rx4000, rx5000, rw6800, and hw6900 series -- among others -- leaving even buyers of the company's more recent models in the lurch. If it's any consolation, the models won't be offered with Windows Mobile 6 preinstalled either (because let's face it, it'd just be downright insulting to be teased with an upgrade you can't have) though all future models out of the company will mercifully be rocking Redmond's latest and greatest.[Via the::unwired]
I have the hx6900 series device, the who PocketPC platform needs to be rebuilt based on user-feedback. My device is disappointing for several reasons, mostly due to WM5. In my research of WM6, I don't think it would have been much better. But, I had hoped to upgrade and Dell was good about it when the produced the Axim. I won't buy another device now from HP, may even put this on ebay.
Well, that is the true test to see if a company actually cares about its customers. As a business owner I often times work for free, or even PAY to work for someone, just because I want them to know that I care about them; rather then only wanting their money.
The day one of these corporations start doing this they will be noticed and they will recieve a larger market share.
Well that strikes HP off my list of companies to buy from.
I don't really have a dog in this fight, because I have zero interest in anything Windows. However, seeing as this is how little HP cares about their customers, I can assure you it'll be a cold day in hell before I buy an HP-anything. It's simply astounding that companies show this much enmity towards the people who keep them in business.
well clearly HTC's lead is because of the boom in Smartphones and PocketPC phones, something Windows Mobile 6 addresses. While I think its great that PocketPC phones are becoming a success, its really been a step back for PocketPC hardware, especially in the U.S.
Just goes to show how much loyalty the company has to its customers.
I think HP should just quit the smartphone business while they are still making a profit :p Their hardware is designed and built by HTC so it does not really matter in the end, does it?
Anybody upset about this should check out the differences between WM5 and WM6 before blowing a gasket. Calling it an "incremental upgrade" is awfully generous; other than an HTML mail viewer, a dolled-up Vista-style theme and the requirement of a newer version of ActiveSync, there is really not much to be excited about.
HP stopped being a player when Carly Fiorina wanted to turn it into the next IBM--where "services" are everything and products nothing. They bought Compaq and essentially killed the number one PDA at the time--the iPAQ--and it's only been going down-hill for them since then. I won't generalize to their other products, but I won't touch an HP PDA or phone ever again. I have their iPAQ 4350 and the HX-4700, and they stopped supporting them pretty much as soon as they were out the door. For shame!
I'm not surprised.
HP did the same exact thing when Windows Mobile 2003 SE came out a few months after they debuted their top-of-the-line iPaq 55xx... they didn't offer it. This is exactly why I no longer purchase HP products - they just don't care about their customer base.
Even if the differences between operating systems are minimal, they should still offer their customers the option to pay to upgrade. Improvements are improvements...
Way to go HP!
*yawn*
Windows Mobile sucks. I'm qualified to say this because I've owned a WM5 device for over six months. Saying it's sluggish would be generous. Meanwhile, WM6 doesn't sound like it offers any really compelling improvements. Not getting an upgrade to WM6 is about as disappointing as not getting an upgrade to Windows ME.
hp is a very large company. in fact it surpassed dell this year in the computer market. they are also leaders in many office hardware applications ranging from printers to servers. the recent purchase of voodoo along with the largest R&D department in the world will allow them to blow past dell/alienware in the next year. The recent laptop announcements have them leading the way in newer tech developments. As far as handhelds are concerned it is a very small part of the company on the whole. I would not be surprised if they have something else up their sleeve that they are developing with out windows. just remember windows is not the best handheld os available. As to where hp is going, go to voodoopc.com and read the rahul sood blog and you will learn more about hp and technology then this dump of a site ever will teach you!
> just remember windows is not the best handheld os available.
Actually, sadly it is, which is not saying much about the hand held OS arena. Which OS is currently better? There are really not many players: WM, Palm, Symbian and the forever-wanna-be Linux. Palm isn't worth talking about, since they're about to ditch it themselves for Linux. Linux isn't worth talking about (yet) because it's not currently being used in any shipping high volume device. This leaves Symbian. While there are indeed some very slick Symbian devices out there, I have read horror stories about S60 from Nokia developers themselves. It's supposed to be a horrible development platform, and quite pathetic at general multitasking. If some of the Nokia devices appear to work so well, it's more a testament to their developers than the OS itself. In terms of high volume shipping devices WM is currently the most powerful and flexible OS available, warts and all. I was having high hopes for the iPhone, but by the sound of it Apple intends to keep very close reign over access to the platform, so it may not end up being a very attractive development target after all.
You are of course absolutely right. I did not explain myself properly. It was meant to be a continuation of what I was saying about HP and their R&D department. As to the iphone we already know it is not the best as it will be to restrictive on third party applications. I highly disagree with any company that puts security as its highest priority in R&D. Yes it is important but you can't force a customer to you use only one solution for every situation...oh wait we are talking about apple! their direction is ok but by doing it like they are spells a failure similar to what motorola has been experiencing for the last 5 years. they need to stop moving back release dates and focusing on how pretty their hardware is. eventually people wise up and stop buying the razr because it makes them look cool...oops i mean iphone!
HP sucks!
I have the rw6828 and i have sent it back 5 times now and they lost it once. They really don't care about their customers and now that they are not offering upgrades on the OS will certinaly never use them again for anything!
well i personally don't even what to upgrade my Dash to WM6. the differences are minor but there are problems with WM6. so far WM5 has no problems and every 3rd party software works fine.
Can it run Linux? If not, I wont't bother with it. Of course, I mean without voiding the warranty. Everything can technically run Linux, basically...
I just spent a couple of nerve-wracking hours this morning installing WM6 on a HTC Wizard -- couldn't wait for the free T-mobile update -- and it runs VERY nicely.
Have to say, it was well worth it. Turned my WM5 brick into a useful, productive machine. It's faster, smoother, and actually functional.
Give it a try, you won't be sorry.
I find it funny all the WM5 & WM6 bashers. I have been using WM5 phones for a while and I love them and have never experienced a problem. The ability to customize them over Palm and Symbian is huge. Perhaps Blackberry will release a high speed data phone and compete but until then, I would take a WM5 any day.
I cannot wait to install WM6 to my Treo 750. HTML support is huge and I will welcome it. The upgrade to WM office is big too.
I will take my Treo 750 (& other WM5 phones) over the phones I have had in the past year that were not Windows including Nokia E61, Blackberry 8100 & Treo 650.
Blue ray & HDDVD - well history is being repeated to the dismay of the consumer; remember VHS and Betamax video cassette formats back in the 70's; guess who lost out - THE CONSUMER. Hooray for technology!
This is not the way to keep repeat buyers. I currently own an iPAQ 6955 and it will be my last HP product!!!
When I bought my first IPAQ, I thought it was just bad luck they didn't offer any upgrade. So I bought another and got screwed again 2 years later. I don't mind even paying $100 for new software... but they have to provide it!
I loved the units, hate the company. I guess they figure their disposable $500 devices and we'll just pony up for a new one every two years.
Hey.. get a clue. No service, no repeat business. I'm not buying any more.
I wish they would do like their printers.. sell them for nothing, charge for the ink!
This is just par for the course from HP. I have an hw6515 with Pocket PC 2003 that would technically be capable of running at least WM5 if not WM6 but of course its never going to see an upgrade. It is my first and last HP handheld.
If you believe that you should be getting better support for your hw6900 for the amount of money you spent on it theres a petition just started for it :
http://www.petitiononline.com/wm646900/petition.html
lets hope…
I've had a 5500, 4150, 4700 and now a 6815 (two months old, still in the shops and already obsolete). It'll be my last HP. Just as everyone else is announcing free upgrades, we get this. Even the HP Bluetooth keyboard I bought for my 4700 won't work with it - because HP won't write a driver! This company really does not give a toss about its customers.
It's not about html mail, vista looks or anything like that. It's feeling like an idiot for buying something with zero support. The 6800 is covered in bugs. Rubbish bluetooth, and old build of wm5 that won't play nicely with BT headsets and voicecommand. The loss of speakers if you use your headset too often. A ringer that a newborn cat wouldn't be able to hear. These are just the ones I've come across!
There has not been a single ROM update from HP, other than the daylight savings time fix. Whoopee.
I'd like WM6, but mostly because the Bluetooth stack will have had a bit more thought. This isn't a feature request - it's a bug fix.
Thanks, HP but no thanks. I've learned my lesson now. Now I've heard of all these other manufacturers announcing free upgrades, I'll spend my money with them.
I was a Dell user, with the Axim, but they do not care about their users, so I changed to HP...Which they do not care about them either. so...my next phone a PALM TREO???? or maybe I will save a loto of money using a piece of paper and not calling anyone...why we do not boicot all these companies and stop buying gadgets...
My advice is to log a support case with HP:
http://www1.itrc.hp.com/service/mcm/countrySelection.do?action=submitcase&lang=en&prodSeriesId=1839223&cc=us&admit=-682735245%201182136875265%2028353475
If enough customers do this it will appear in HP's support statistics and will have to be addressed. The issue is not whether we really want WM6 but the fact that HP is releasing products with no intention of supporting them.
No problem, I just sold it and got a E-Tem M700 with WM6 upgrade for free and better camera, more memory and better looking, thanks