Will you buy the Linux Treo if you can't use old programs?

zelgo · 04/28/2008, 11:13 PM

Most of us who have been with Treo for years have also bought lots of 3rd party programs. I'm assuming that, with the upcoming Linux-based Treo, these old 3rd party applications will no longer work.

Many of us, who have stuck with Treo mainly because we bought so many of these applications, will use this opportunity to bolt and try another smart phone.

What will you do?

GreenHex · 04/28/2008, 11:34 PM

No way (I'd purchase a Linux Treo).

This is the situation I dread. We will have a situation similar to that of the desktop/ laptop... go deaf from all the noise about linux, but when one wants to get the job done, quietly bootup Windows. Even worse, a nonsensical thing like "dual-boot" will be touted as a perfectly viable solution. Aaaaaaargh!

Now I get it, Linux is "stable" because there is nothing you can do with it... just boot-it and look at the ugly GUI. Maybe, edit a few text files. (Just joking!)

johncc · 04/28/2008, 11:36 PM

I expect that I will be able to use PalmOS programs via some sort of emulation.

GFONG · 04/29/2008, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelgo

Most of us who have been with Treo for years have also bought lots of 3rd party programs. I'm assuming that, with the upcoming Linux-based Treo, these old 3rd party applications will no longer work.

Where you got the information to make you assuming that?

fishera · 04/29/2008, 05:25 AM

It would be a problem that would hold me back, sure.

I spent a good amount on Palm OS software back when I had my 600 and one of the main reasons I haven't made a jump to another other platform remains I have invested a lot of money on apps. Up until today I am purchasing new ones.

Obviously I won't wanna run my old OS Garnet apps on a shiny new Treo with a new OS... but if somehow all the developers had free or discounted upgrades for new versions. When Apple switched from PowerPC to Intel, most developers just upgraded their current apps, very few actually released entire new boxed versions.

1PTUser · 04/29/2008, 08:58 AM

The same way you can run many of your Palm OS apps today inside WinMob with emulation software, I expect the same will be true for Palm OS II. The question may be will Palm provide that functionality out of the box a la Access Linux or again leave it up to a third party to offer it.

khaytsus · 04/29/2008, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenHex

No way (I'd purchase a Linux Treo).

This is the situation I dread. We will have a situation similar to that of the desktop/ laptop... go deaf from all the noise about linux, but when one wants to get the job done, quietly bootup Windows. Even worse, a nonsensical thing like "dual-boot" will be touted as a perfectly viable solution. Aaaaaaargh!

Now I get it, Linux is "stable" because there is nothing you can do with it... just boot-it and look at the ugly GUI. Maybe, edit a few text files. (Just joking!)

We know, you hate Linux. We got it.. A long time ago. Stop kicking the poor dead horse.

Cash in your cluepon when you realize that a Linux kernel has absolutely nothing to do with the GUI.

jaytee · 04/29/2008, 09:12 AM

greenhex was talking about linux? I thought he was talking about vista! ;-)

I'd never think of dual boot if one program, GR2Analyst, ran under Linux. It's the sole thing holding me back..... but.. it's enough.

As others have said, there will likely be an emulation layer allowing the use of 'legacy' programs.

GreenHex · 04/29/2008, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khaytsus

We know, you hate Linux. We got it.. A long time ago. Stop kicking the poor dead horse.

khaytsus, you got it wrong... I don't "hate" linux... or any other OS... or anybody... or anything. What I resent is people touting Linux (or something else) as the magical, gift-from-God, one-stop solution to all of the world's problems. Me having strong views about something should not be taken as me "hating" it.

I'm only advocating that people realize the limitations (technological, architectural, social...) of Linux. It does have it's limitations, right?

One other thing... it's appears ok to keep repeating "Linux is good" ad-nauseum while it does not appear right to say "Linux may have its problems." more than a few times.

Quote:

Originally Posted by khaytsus

Cash in your cluepon when you realize that a Linux kernel has absolutely nothing to do with the GUI.

I do "realize" that. It so happens that I was a Solaris and Linux system administrator and sometime UNIX developer in an earlier life... (fairly successful too I guess - other system administrators used to consult me...) Not that it should matter to the current discussion.

DL.Cummings · 04/29/2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelgo

Most of us who have been with Treo for years have also bought lots of 3rd party programs. I'm assuming that, with the upcoming Linux-based Treo, these old 3rd party applications will no longer work.

That is until someone develops the equivalent of Wine or Cedega which will allow users to use said software.

Quote:

What will you do?

Just be patient and let the community of Linux users to work their magic.

Of course this is presuming that a Linux-based phone will have the community effort as does Linux-based PCs.

MarkY · 04/29/2008, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johncc

I expect that I will be able to use PalmOS programs via some sort of emulation.

This is my assumption as well, but I do not expect all Garnet 3rd party apps to work. My hope is that the new OS will incorporate functionality of some of the 3rd party apps I currently use and that it will not need most, if any, stability-related programs. I do not expect any stability apps to work on the new OS. I also assume that Palm will release something compelling enough that I will want to make a purchase.

tirk · 04/29/2008, 11:19 AM

Whilst I fully expect at least some degree of backwards compatibility, if there were none it would depend on how good the bundled applications are (one of my must-haves at the moment is Chatter, and we all know where it's developer went!) and what the likely availability of new third party applications will be.

Not forgetting, of course, how good the basic OS itself is.

Broadly, PalmOS's strength is/was "good OS, many third part applications". iPhone & Windows Mobile make you chose one or the other. In the long term, it's more important that Palm/Linux does both again than it slavishly allows applications from the Palm Pilot era to run.

GreenHex · 04/29/2008, 11:49 AM

Come-on guys, is running PalmOS applications in an emulation layer a viable solution? Is the n810 GarnetOS emulator popular? Now, that runs on Linux.

But the problem is, Linux (or any other OS) will have minor and mojor differences as far as the user is concerned. In the end, may things that we are used to with PalmOS will need to be unlearned. Much loved applications will have to discarded in favour of new, native, alternatives. As already pointed out, it is doubtful if software using the PalmSDK will work (as opposed to the PalmOS variety).

Notice what a struggle it is to make PalmOS behave and look like Windows (Launchers... ;-), while PalmOS itself has an elegant way of doing things.

DL.Cummings · 04/29/2008, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenHex

Come-on guys, is running PalmOS applications in an emulation layer a viable solution?

Possibly. I suppose it really depends on the application being used and how well it actually functions in such an environment. Additionally, the number of applications would be a consideration as well.

whatever7 · 04/30/2008, 05:22 PM

Is basically like getting a Andriod phone, with Palm ergonomic.

Or like migrating from 755p/Centro to a WM phone, but without getting windows.

Tonylmiller · 04/30/2008, 06:00 PM

I would go for it. I say, forget the old programs. People can write new ones that do the same thing, and they will.

jinx · 05/01/2008, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johncc

I expect that I will be able to use PalmOS programs via some sort of emulation.

same here

papped · 05/01/2008, 02:20 PM

It would be literally idiotic of Palm not to include this in some way.

Otherwise they would practically be begging you to just go the WM route and get StyleTap instead...

Note that I am not saying Palm wouldn't be this stupid...

Coachj · 05/11/2008, 06:29 PM

I haven't used Windows on my Desktop in years. I use Linux and have never done anything with a command line the KDE gui is superior to windows. I would jump all over a Linux phone.

theog · 05/11/2008, 08:03 PM

I would not use a linux phone... I don't care if it could not use old palm programs or not....

Think I'll stick with the windows OS from here on out.... MS finally has it right, so no need to jump around testing different things. Why?