For those of you that regularly listen to Howard Stern you may have known that he has been auditioning new phones since last Tuesday. Stern has been a loyal Palm user for years but says that he is embarrassed to hold up his phone because it is “so old school”.
In a move (that is backfiring) to potentially capture celebrity buzz around the Pre, Palm sent a Pre to Stern to test out.
They’re going to show me the Pre and then take it away. They’re trying to build excitement for this thing. If people don’t buy this I don’t see how Palm keeps going.
From the title of this post you can probably guess what Stern decided to go with. He said that the lack of Lotus Notes support on the Pre was a deal breaker. I bet that a super popular long time Palm user publicly switching over to the BlackBerry Bold and talking about how great the Bold is on one of the most popular satellite radio shows right after saying that if the Pre doesn’t sell he doesn’t see how Palm keeps going, is the type of buzz Palm was going for.
What a collosial F-Up! Why in the world didn’t someone ask Stern’s people how he used his Palm before offering up the Pre?
There is no question that Lotus Notes is dying off, but, surely Palm is aware that many of their most loyal users are still on Notes and that not offering Notes support on the Pre out of the box would be a bit of a problem. I would venture to guess that Notes will be supported by some third party app from day one so I wonder if Howard’s choice to go with the Bold was more about what the Bold can do as compared to what the Pre cannot?
I was listening to Howard talk about this this morning on his show and it was definitely the lack of Lotus Notes support out of the box that made him go with the Bold. Originally what prevented him from switching to a Blackberry was the lack of threaded SMS even though all the latest Blackberries display the whole SMS conversation after you open up the latest message, he still wanted SMS to work like the Palm Treo. I believe there is one or more third party applications that can do that.
Well, that makes Jimbo’s comment even more profound. Someone from Palm should have known that there was one feature that was a deal breaker before setting this all up.
I dont get the whole threaded SMS thing. Threaded SMS is stupid. Its fine the way it is on the Bold. As for Stern, I think he finally realized he’s like the only guy around carrying a Palm, which makes him look like a putz. Maybe he’ll realize that nobody uses Lotus Notes (anymore) either, and get out of the 90’s. Palm is dead, and the Pre wont stop it.
I think Howard should tell the IT people at Sirius that Notes is dead (well, it’s not, but let’s get with the times here) and he feels like a putz.
Seriously, I’m eagerly awaiting the Pre. And I agree, it’s either do-or-die for Palm based on the Pre.
Your statement about threaded SMS being stupid is irrelevant, if that is what some users want. And the Howard Stern Show has been using Lotus Notes for years now and it works for them. Again, your opinion of Lotus Notes is irrelevant. I’m glad your happy with your Bold and like working with a device that is a bit long in the tooth, but again that is my opinion and is just as irrelevant to you as your opinion is to Stern. Have a nice day.
Great answer, qguaglia!
Would cares what Stern carries. The man is a washed up scum bag and the fact he was carrying a Palm means he has been long out of touch.
I would love to be as “washed up” as Stern. He still commands a large audience and make multi millions per year. He is also married to a hot model. So if thats washed up, I say sign me up!
You would be surprised at the number of people that buy the BlackBerry Bold because Stern decided to go with it.
Celebrity endorsements are huge, especially if they are, or, at least appear to be unsolicited.
You can say that again!
“Again, your opinion of {fill in the blank} is irrelevant”
Also might like to add,
“Again for the 1001st time, your personal opinion of others, and your desperate personal ego posts is not needed nor wanted here at rimarkable”
Face facts yet again Palm screwed up BIG TIME.
As Robb says, and I agree, it’s a known fact celebrity endorsements are big for RIM and their BB’s.
(“Again for the 1001st time, your personal opinion of others, and your desperate personal ego posts is not needed nor wanted here at rimarkable”)
Including your latest pathetic shot at BGR……
Oh dear…I must have struck a nerve.
Why don’t you hop on that yellow brick road and see what the wizard can do for you regarding that brain.
As for BG, look up the word ‘bias’.
(“Again for the 1003rd time, your personal opinion of others, and your desperate personal ego posts is not needed nor wanted here at rimarkable”)
Including your latest pathetic shot at BGR……
BGR bias? how uneducated…..
RIM’s stock should skyrocket when Stern’s recommendation sends the masses of satellite radio listening 16 year olds to buy the Howard phone.
Two birds with one stone:
How Apple will kill satellite radio this summer
http://blogs.computerworld.com/how_apple_will_kill_satellite_radio_this_summer
“Mike Elgan is an opinion columnist at large who writes for Computerworld.com, The Raw Feed, TechGear and many other online and print publications.
In the past, Mike has worked as chief editor for Windows Magazine, HP World Magazine, Inside HP, HP World News, The Palm Reader, Palm News, Road Tricks, Portable Life News, Laptop Life, BuzzWords, Pocket Windows and Portable Windows.”
Yes, it did backfire on Palm, but they still have an awesome phone nonetheless.
Raza Imam
http://www.PalmPreReviewer.com