Enderle: The Death and Rebirth of Palm

Rob Enderle posts his thoughts on the demise and rebirth on Palm at Technology Pundits with PalmSource's acquisition by Japan’s Access representing death and Palm's rumored Window's Mobile-powered Treo signifying a reincarnation of sorts.

Enderle likens Palm's history to that of Apple in the 90s (post/pre Jobs) as "Palm attempted to create a series of clone companies and like Apple the clones (or in this case Sony) started to clean their clocks. Instead of killing the clones Palm separated into two companies and PalmOne, the hardware entity, then out executed Sony forcing them from the market as the entire hand held computer segment dropped into decline. Unlike Apple which went from 40% of the PC market to 2%, PalmOne continued to out perform Microsoft in terms of total volume but was not able to adequately penetrate the large business segment dominated by HP/Dell/Microsoft and RIM (who, surprising most of us, continues to do well)."

Enderle continues to compare and contrast the two companies and states:

While not identical it may showcase what would have happened with Apple had they taken the same path. Looking forward the Microsoft platform products were initially hampered by poor hardware and software and then continued to be hampered by hardware that just wasn’t as attractive or forward looking as PalmOne was able to produce. With Palm’s expected move to this platform we should see what can happen if strong hardware is coupled with Microsoft’s platform and better see what might have happened had Apple built Windows boxes.

I guess a better case can made for HTC regarding the latter point, since they designed/manufactured the Treo 650 and are one of the leading innovators in the Windows Mobile space with their myriad storm-named products...