Palm retail stores to close by month's end

Oh Palm, things just seem to be going from bad to worse. After your recent (and repeated) Palm OS II delays and employee layoffs, you really should be due for some good news -- but that's not the case today. According to a member of the TreoCentral forums who cites "sources," Palm will be folding all but its airport-based retail locations by the end of January. Apparently, other forum members have checked in with their local stores and gotten word from reps there that the doors are indeed shutting, so it seems like this is a go. Palm, we're not going to say you're in your darkest hour just yet, but we're pretty sure you can see it from where you're standing. C'mon guys -- get it together!

[Thanks, Anonymous]

[Penn @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:08PM]

palm had retail stores?

[Boostjunkie @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:09PM]

I was about to ask the same thing, what in the world did they sell?

[Ellianth @ Jan 24th 2008 12:05AM]

I also was unaware of the retail stores.

[Darkest Daze @ Jan 24th 2008 4:06AM]

Now I want to go find one of these stores just so I can look at it and ask the all important question, "What were you thinking?"

[Isaac @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:08PM]

Sorry Palm. It is really over unless you guys can pull off something amazing. I wish you all the luck. I like your phones.

[Rae @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:08PM]

they had retail stores?!

[ukickmydog @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:10PM]

"thud" goes the nail into the coffin

[Nate @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:11PM]

Jesus, it's like watching a plane crash. Please just stop trying, the centro makes me want to throw up everytime I see it. My old MDA is smaller than that door stop.

[Jonathan @ Jan 24th 2008 8:30AM]

It's more like watching Aunt Bunny fall down the stairs.

[Andrew @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:13PM]

Tomorrow I'm exchanging my Treo 700wx (fourth replacement unit in a year) for an HTC Mogul.
I've been using Treo's for 5 years, but they kept standing still while other companies kept innovating.

I look forward to the day when Palm releases a new Treo with all the features modern phones have, and with a similar form factor.

Bye Palm!

[Churma @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:59PM]

You may want to hold off on the Mogul purchase until the edvo rev. a and aGPS rom update are out next month. The Mogul has a lot of issues... Check out http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/forumdisplay.php?f=44 for the 411 Its also on the list of bad drivers or lacking drivers by http://www.htcclassaction.org/

[Lawyers Rule @ Jan 24th 2008 6:16AM]

> ...Tomorrow I'm exchanging my Treo 700wx (fourth replacement
> unit in a year) for an HTC Mogul...

Given that class action settlement just made for the Treo 600 and 650 defective units, http://www.palzasettlement.com , you may want to check around to see if there is an ongoing one for the 700wx.

[chilifordinner @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:17PM]

'Apple buys Palm' headline in 3 ... 2 ... 1 ...

[blinkcowz182 @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:25PM]

For what?

[MickeyMoo @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:27PM]

and Bergdorf Goodman buys Dollar Tree - like WTF? - Why would Apple buy Palm - they have no useful IP, their hardware is antediluvian compared to the iPhone. The only people who will be sad when Palm closes down are the ad agencies and brand managers who suggested they spun off, rebranded, repurchased, rebranded yet again, ad nauseum. Good Riddance.

[Nate @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:30PM]

Stupid, why would a company pay for dead weight? Palm's phones suck, their employees obviously are not the pick of the litter, and they don't have any holdings. They payed a lot of money for a shitty OS. WHY WOULD APPLE DO THIS? No smart person would buy this shitty company. They are living off of a decent smart phone that was made 4 years ago and have yet to innovate since.

[QoS @ Jan 24th 2008 3:58AM]

Apple already has a dead sexy mobile OS, I don't know what they'd want with Palm. They rushed it out the door without an SDK, but that is coming.

[Khris @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:29PM]

This can't really be a surprise to anyone.

[Ellianth @ Jan 24th 2008 12:07AM]

You're wrong. This was a surprise to many people, but not for the reason you might think. Scroll up and see how many people were surprised to find out that palm even had stores :p.

[kakapo @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:36PM]

Who?

Oh! Oh!

Them....

Forgot about them a while back - say, Oh... five years ago. Has some good stuff at one time. Really liked that I could Bluetooth with my mobile... and I had a really nifty folding keyboard... (rummages through "old stuff that I don't think I'll ever use again drawer") Yep, still have it.

Got rid of my Palm Tungsten yonks ago. Stopped using it when there wasn't any support for OSX...

Thwack x 72

[cswallow01 @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:39PM]

If Apple bought, Palm everyone would be canned, the next day!!!

The only thing Apple could maybe use is any patents, Palm has...

Although, one could say that the Foleo & Macbook Air were quite similar, conceptually.... Maybe Apple was looking at that, but decided to Apple-ize it???

At this point,

APPLE, BUY PALM AND PUT THEM OUT OF THEIR MESERY!

[lanejasper69 @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:49PM]

Who knew they had retail stores!?!?! I've never even heard of them having on and I've had every Treo since the Treo 90(?)
"Thems the breaks", they should have been working on an updated (as promised) OS instead of spending their last pennies on that Folio! I hate to see any tech company fail, but they sure have done a lot of dumb shit by not listening to the consumer of their products. They are SO behind the ball now I doubt they'll catch it ever.

Glad I got out of my Treo "era", looks like no new OS now....most likely. We'll see.

Faslane

[Nick @ Jan 24th 2008 1:12AM]

Yep they do, I'd seen two locations. One was a kiosk in Copley Plaza in Boston, the other at Logan Airport. They sold more than just palm stuff. They had the high end nokia phones as well I remember see the N95 there. I bought a sirius stilleto from the one in Logan a few months back(arrived way early for a flight, and needed to kill some time).

[John P @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:52PM]

I have a Treo 755p, and although it might be a little thick, I don't think it is as unimpressive as most people on Engadget seem to think. It does what most smartphones do - gets online, I can check email, does simultaneous SMS texts (which Jobsy was really excited about the iPhone getting last week, I might add), plays music, has google maps, etc. I don't do everything on my phone, that's why I have a laptop, but what I do use the phone for it does an exceptional job of.

That being said, Palm didn't need retail stores. Alot of people get their stuff at the AT&T or Sprint store - they aren't going to Palm stores in the airport. So it was about time. Hopefully their downward spiral will soon end. Because I've been a fan of Palm since their original Pilot. Here's to turning around the ship!

[Guy Briggs @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:55PM]

The news gets worse: Among the offers for pharmecuticals and other such nonsense, was a legal notice from Palm. Apparently, anyone who bought a 600 or 650 - and has had to repair or replace it more than one - is entitled to benefits under a class action settlement.

[Churma @ Jan 24th 2008 12:02AM]

So apple can add the best ringtone ever developed by palm (sarcastic) to the iPhone =P

[Version 1.0 @ Jan 24th 2008 12:15AM]

Well, can't say that they didn't deserve it. I've been using a Treo 650 for about 3 years now, and I am about to replace it soon, just not with another Palm product.

[Cycomachead @ Jan 24th 2008 12:40AM]

I feel bad. I do. I like Palm, they have good ideas if they could just perfect them and make them come to light.

But it's worth noting that over christmas I was given a voyage and exchanged it for an xv6800 over the 755p. I need a bigger keyboard and the .18 or some inches makes enough of a difference to me, even though I would (maybe) rather have Palm OS over WinMo.


If Apple bought Palm it would be odd, but the iPhone would be a great tool and maybe have v2 or a seperate moble with a hardware keyboard.

[emjoi @ Jan 24th 2008 12:44AM]

It would be genuinely sad to see them go under.
They made the market. Okay, Apple, had it's overpriced, oversized, underpowered Newtons, but Palm turned the idea into something people would buy.

Palm Pilot is still the first name that comes to mind when I think of PDAs.

[Matt @ Jan 24th 2008 12:47AM]

Palm's demise is sad. Back in the day you couldn't pay me to use a PDA that didn't have PalmOS on it. My antiquated, black and white Handspring with 8MB of storage got me through college and I *loved* it. My new Tilt with Windows Mobile 6 makes me yearn for the simplicity and efficiency of Palm.

RIP Palm. Er, well, RIP soon

[iStudioWeb @ Jan 24th 2008 1:22AM]

I have been saying this a long time ago - Palm is dead. Here: http://www.istudioweb.com/palm-readings-2007-11-15/

[jesse @ Jan 24th 2008 1:37AM]

LEGAL NOTICE


If you purchased a Treo 600 or a Treo 650 smartphone, you could be entitled to benefits under a class action settlement.
A settlement of a class action lawsuit affects you if you purchased, in the United States, a new Treo 600 or Treo 650 smartphone for your own use and not for resale. The settlement will provide either: (a) a cash rebate to any United States resident who purchased a Treo 600 or Treo 650 smartphone, experienced two or more repairs or replacements (in lieu of repair) on that device, and purchases a new Palm smartphone within a defined time period; or (b) a right of repair for hardware defects, beyond the expiration of the warranty on your Treo 600 or Treo 650, even if you did not experience two or more repairs or replacements.

If you qualify, you may send in a claim form to ask for a rebate, or a repair form to seek a repair. You can also exclude yourself from the settlement, or object. The United States District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division, authorized this notice. The Court will have a hearing to consider whether to approve the settlement, so that the benefits may be paid.

WHO'S AFFECTED?
Purchasers of a Treo 600 or Treo 650 smartphone. You're a "Class Member" if you are a United States resident who purchased in the United States a new Treo 600 or Treo 650 smartphone for your own use and not for resale.

WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?
The lawsuit claimed that the Treo 600 and Treo 650 smartphones had certain defects, failed at unacceptable rates, and that Palm made misrepresentations concerning the Treo 600 and Treo 650 smartphones. Palm, Inc. denies all allegations and has asserted many defenses. Palm is entering into this settlement to avoid burdensome and costly litigation. The settlement is not an admission of wrong-doing or an indication that any law was violated.

WHAT CAN YOU GET FROM THE SETTLEMENT?
Palm, Inc. has agreed to provide a cash rebate to Class Members who experienced two or more repairs or replacements in lieu of repair, who purchase a new Palm smartphone within a defined time period, and who send in a valid claim form. The settlement provides for different rebate payments depending on whether you purchased a Treo 600 smartphone or a Treo 650 smartphone requiring repairs or replacements. Rebate amounts are as follows:

SMARTPHONE REPAIRED OR REPLACED AT LEAST TWICE TIMEFRAME OF PURCHASE OF NEW SMARTPHONE REBATE AMOUNT
Treo 600 Anytime after September 30, 2005 until the end of the "Redemption Period," which is six months after the Effective Date (the date the settlement becomes final) $75
Treo 650 Anytime during the Redemption Period $50
Palm has also agreed to provide a right of repair for hardware defects to any original purchaser of a Treo 600 or Treo 650 smartphone who submits a valid and timely Repair Form, even if they did not experience two or more repairs or replacements, and even if the warranty period has expired.

HOW DO YOU GET A PAYMENT?
A detailed notice and claim form package contains everything you need. Just go to www.palzasettlement.com to get one. You will be required to sign a declaration under penalty of perjury that your Treo 600 or Treo 650 smartphone was repaired or replaced at least twice and you will be required to provide documentation for at least one of the repairs or replacements.

IMPORTANT DEADLINES
Cash Rebate: The claim form for a cash rebate must be postmarked on or before July 28, 2008 and received by Palm no more than 21 days thereafter.

Right of Repair: If the warranty on your device has already expired by the Effective Date, the right of repair is valid for 120 days from the Effective Date. If the warranty on your device is still in effect on the Effective Date, the right of repair will extend for 120 days beyond the expiration of that warranty.

WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS?
If you don't want a cash rebate or to obtain a repair, and you don't want to be legally bound by the settlement, you must postmark your request to exclude yourself by April 7, 2008, or you won't be able to sue, or continue to sue, Palm, Inc. about the legal claims in this case. If you exclude yourself, you can't get a payment from this settlement. If you stay in the Class, you may object to the settlement. Objections must be received by April 7, 2008. The detailed notice describes how to exclude yourself or object. The Court will hold a hearing in this case (In re Palm Treo 600 and 650 Litigation, Master Case No. C-05-03774-RMW) on May 2, 2008, at 9:00 a.m. to consider whether to approve the settlement and attorneys' fees and expenses totaling no more than $1,554,000 and incentive payments to the named Plaintiffs in the aggregate amount of $21,000. You may appear at the hearing, but you don't have to. To obtain a full notice and claim form, and for more details, go to www.palzasettlement.com or send an e-mail to [e-mail], or write to Designated Co-Lead Counsel, Ralph M. Stone, Shalov Stone Bonner and Rocco, 485 Seventh Avenue, Suite

[cswallow01 @ Jan 24th 2008 1:45AM]

I just don't think Palm, can make it anymore... With Apple, Microsoft, Blackberry and Symbian in the market...

Apple's entrance sincerely hurt Palm the most, guys... No one can deny that!

I just got my iPod Touch, yesterday and listened to the Apple conference call, and it just hit me... Apple is now the new Palm, because like they said about the iPod Touch "the first mainstream Wi-Fi mobile platform, running all kinds of mobile applications".

Apple's gonna be the ones to run Palm out of business? Wanted a Foleo?
Now you can have a Macbook Air for 3-4 times the cost with a Core2Duo and OS X, but based on the Foleo concept! Light & Mobile!

My iPod Touch (and iPhone) are the new Palm Pilots and have the capability to do what the Palm OS just couldn't. The only thing keeping the iPod Touch/Phone from being the Apple Palm, is the lack of the Feb SDK and lack of functionality in the OS X firmware... Other than that, they're just PDA's with the Apple name and logo on the side...

iPod Touch & iPhone are the new Palm Pilots!

Just gotta get used to that, guys... It's just the way it is!

[okayokay @ Jan 24th 2008 4:49AM]

Okay! Thanks for your comments!

[Rollo Martins @ Jan 24th 2008 3:57AM]

What was the name of the guy sitting at the top of this company? Why isn't he exchanged? Are managers not exchangeable? Looks like this firm fell into a collective winter sleep five years ago... And they once used to be so good, sooo good.

[clicclic @ Jan 24th 2008 8:42AM]

Palm has made some incredible hardware - equally as good as anything HTC or Apple. The Palm Vx was gorgeous, heavy, perfect (at the time). The 650 was groundbreaking, the Tungsten TX - another perfect PDA (just a few years late). Handspring had equally amazing hardware (some would argue more amazing).

Palm is in an insanely competitive market that takes deep pockets. They need to find the "next big thing" and focus on that.

[RyanK @ Jan 24th 2008 2:38PM]

It turned out to be true:

http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/9608/confirmed-palm-to-close-retail-stores/