DOA: Top 10 mobile failures
by Jason Perlow | August 23, 2011 6:35am PDT | Image 1 of 10
Previous | Next
Momenta
While the history of mobile computing is littered with dozens of failed devices, we picked through the cream of the crop of products which legitimately launched but horribly underperformed in the marketplace, resulting in their cancellation.
One of the most hyped startups of the early 1990s and considered to be one of the earliest mobile device duds, the $4,995 Momenta was an black and white MS-DOS-based portable personal computer and an early forerunner of today's tablet computers. The machine featured a detachable keyboard and a touchscreen pen interface. After burning through over $40 million in cash, laying off most of its employees, Momenta shut its doors within 10 months of releasing its first product in August of 1992.
Just In
Hey I know you guys are Apple cheerleaders but you seem to have left off the Newton. Not that I disagree with any of the choices you've presented.
@bschrib Hey! Didja actually read the article, Dorkboi?
"The Newton was a mobile dud by today's volume unit sales standards, but had a cult following and managed to live on for several years before being killed off by Steve Jobs during his triumphant return to the company in 1999, so it didn't make our shortlist."
So long, but thanks for playing
"The Newton was a mobile dud by today's volume unit sales standards, but had a cult following and managed to live on for several years before being killed off by Steve Jobs during his triumphant return to the company in 1999, so it didn't make our shortlist."
So long, but thanks for playing
@chaze911 I'm not sure that I follow this line of logic -- According to that line of logic the Zaurus SL series fits the same criteria in having lasted for quite some time (at least from 2004 to 2007, though it appears to be a short time before 2004.).
Thanks for the logical fallacy and name calling, but I was simply pointing out something that didn't make the list.
Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharp_Zaurus
Thanks for the logical fallacy and name calling, but I was simply pointing out something that didn't make the list.
Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharp_Zaurus
@bschrib the Newton sold far more units in volume in the United States than the Zaurus ever did and sustained a business for six years. Newton sold as at least ten times the amount as the SL in the US, an estimated 300,000 over the course of six years. The SL only sold for two years and a total of 10,000-20,000 units before exiting the US market. This is why SL is a much more serious failure than the Newton.
Why do I know this? Google my name and "Sharp Zaurus"
Why do I know this? Google my name and "Sharp Zaurus"
@bschrib
As JP explains, the Newton had a life span of 5 or 6 years and something in excess of 300,000 were sold. They is hardly a failure in the frame of something like the MS Kin. So, whilst Newton was not a resounding success, it was also a long way short of being an utter failure.
As JP explains, the Newton had a life span of 5 or 6 years and something in excess of 300,000 were sold. They is hardly a failure in the frame of something like the MS Kin. So, whilst Newton was not a resounding success, it was also a long way short of being an utter failure.
@bschrib ...Says the poster who addresses everyone as "Apple Cheerleaders."
And again, chaze911 made it very clear that Newton was mentioned in the article as a dud. How you equate the fact that the author said that it did not make the articles short-list as a "logical fallacy" is perplexing in itself. Maybe an email to the author of the article requesting that a picture of the Newton be included in the article will soothe your jangled sense of fairness.
Or, maybe you should just stop trolling forums to look for opportunities to bash anything that has to do with Apple.
And again, chaze911 made it very clear that Newton was mentioned in the article as a dud. How you equate the fact that the author said that it did not make the articles short-list as a "logical fallacy" is perplexing in itself. Maybe an email to the author of the article requesting that a picture of the Newton be included in the article will soothe your jangled sense of fairness.
Or, maybe you should just stop trolling forums to look for opportunities to bash anything that has to do with Apple.
Which is surprising, given its Palm roots and pretty spectacular fail.
The Tapwave Zodiac. Started by some former Palm executives and, though described in Wikipedia as a "Mobile Entertainment Console", it was really a Palm PDA on steroids.
And it was a nice piece of work. Anodized aluminum body, powerful, with a graphics accelerator, Yamaha sound, even two SD slots. It really was ahead of its time.
I bought a couple cheap from the guys doing the reflash and clearance of a bunch of unused demo models.
The Tapwave Zodiac. Started by some former Palm executives and, though described in Wikipedia as a "Mobile Entertainment Console", it was really a Palm PDA on steroids.
And it was a nice piece of work. Anodized aluminum body, powerful, with a graphics accelerator, Yamaha sound, even two SD slots. It really was ahead of its time.
I bought a couple cheap from the guys doing the reflash and clearance of a bunch of unused demo models.
@tkeller@...
They forgot WP7, it sell almost nothing.
And the patenttroll Microsoft are very scared
They forgot WP7, it sell almost nothing.
And the patenttroll Microsoft are very scared
@Sultansulan
I was expecting to see that also.. But people swear they have one. But only had 1 person ask me about it, and never seen any in the wild...
I was expecting to see that also.. But people swear they have one. But only had 1 person ask me about it, and never seen any in the wild...
Sorry but i just don't think it's right to include the playbook! not saying i don't agree either BUT it's starting to kick-in pretty good! Let's NOT ONLY count the us sales on anything!
@sarllc Not saying your wrong but have not seen figures that indicate it is starting to "kick-in pretty good!".
God, how I wanted a Sharpe Zaurus. God, how I was unable to get one in the UK.
See, market the thing properly, and there are buyers there. Screw up the marketing and you lose even the customers waiting with their pound notes in their hot little hands!
See, market the thing properly, and there are buyers there. Screw up the marketing and you lose even the customers waiting with their pound notes in their hot little hands!
Why include the BlackBerry PlayBook? It's still alive.. all others on the list have been canceled or have been out of production for a while already.
This article/author lost credibility.
This article/author lost credibility.
@pedalshoe
As the article states, Sprint and other telecoms have cancelled the 4G version which pretty much "orphans" this tablet technology.
As the article states, Sprint and other telecoms have cancelled the 4G version which pretty much "orphans" this tablet technology.
@kenosha7777
Sprint in the US is not the only company recalling them.
Without WiFi or a Blackberry they are a useless brick with nothing but a connect to WiFi screen.
Sprint in the US is not the only company recalling them.
Without WiFi or a Blackberry they are a useless brick with nothing but a connect to WiFi screen.
Hi all,
I agree to add Apple Newton as one of the mobile failures. I think it was one of the first. (I'm a happy owner of Ipad 1 & 2)
I agree to add Apple Newton as one of the mobile failures. I think it was one of the first. (I'm a happy owner of Ipad 1 & 2)
If I recall correctly by the time the Newton came out, Woz and Jobs were gone from Apple, and the reins were in the hands of Gil Amelio. During this period, a number of devices were released that just never seemed to be backed by a serious level of commitment by Apple, such as DSP/Vox, the Newton, the Geoport telecom adapter, the (Quicktake?) digital camera.
Seeing as the Newton did actually sell, The end result fail would be Apple themselves for not commiting deeply enough during their Jobless period.
Seeing as the Newton did actually sell, The end result fail would be Apple themselves for not commiting deeply enough during their Jobless period.
@geminixx
Oh yeah, the Quicktake. I still have one of those. Not a very good camera.
At one point, I needed the software for it (lost that dang floppy disk!) and Apple wanted to charge me for the driver. WTF! Seriously? For just about any other device out there, manufacturer's provide online downloads of drivers. But no, Apple wanted to fleece me of more money. Hell with that, I found a driver disk elsewhere.
That was *one* of the things that left a sour taste in my mouth for Apple.
Oh yeah, the Quicktake. I still have one of those. Not a very good camera.
At one point, I needed the software for it (lost that dang floppy disk!) and Apple wanted to charge me for the driver. WTF! Seriously? For just about any other device out there, manufacturer's provide online downloads of drivers. But no, Apple wanted to fleece me of more money. Hell with that, I found a driver disk elsewhere.
That was *one* of the things that left a sour taste in my mouth for Apple.
The Newton should be the number one dud because its "handwriting recognition" that was to "change the world" never worked right. It hung on for six years because of the large "if its Apple, it must be great!" fan base that would put up with about anything and the delusion that salvation was just one more update away.
Although by hype vs. reality the biggest flop of all time has to be the Segway "Ginger" personal transporter, not a computer, but tour de force of embedded computers, that would "change the way cities are designed".
Although by hype vs. reality the biggest flop of all time has to be the Segway "Ginger" personal transporter, not a computer, but tour de force of embedded computers, that would "change the way cities are designed".
I noticed the huge difference in coverage at zdnet when the playbook was released and when the HP made its debut. The superior features and pricing of the playbook were not enough to prevent its being bombed by your reviews from day one, while the much weaker hp was lauded to the skies. I take it your embarrasment over your lack of perspicacity is what motivated your including the playbook as the only device in your list of failures which hasn't yet failed, and whose future is still being debated. Whatever your reasons, I'm sure you would be pleased to see the playbook die.
@radleym No reason to take the list personally. The spec sheet does not make a product better, it's got to be better. Not saying that the Playbook is dead but the fact that it's future is being debated says it isn't a success. If it were a success there would be no debate.
Both Thouchpad and the Blackberry playbook are 1.0 products. I wish they didn?t give up so easily.
We need all the competition we can get in the tablet segment or we soon will have the same OS stagnation as when Microsoft got too dominating.
We need all the competition we can get in the tablet segment or we soon will have the same OS stagnation as when Microsoft got too dominating.
With RIM's recent heavy promotion into secure tablet applications the Playbook & Blackberry finds a huge market, which needed cost savings, by nicely fitting into the Mobile Data market for Law Enforcement and First Responder use. None of the other competitors can fill this bill.
Cal
Cal
Join the conversation!
The best of ZDNet, delivered
ZDNet Newsletters
Get the best of ZDNet delivered straight to your inbox
Vendor Showcase
