Today we have an interview with Murray Alexander from Palm-Mac. A nice chap who gets a bit worked up now and then but his articles are always fun to read!
1) Murray, how many smartphones and PDAs have you owned and what is your favourite out of all of them?
Far too many to list…more than 30 no doubt since 1998. For example, I’ve had 9 so far this year which is ludicrous but enjoyable. My favourites I guess must be judged by how long I have used them for. In which case, I would have to say the treo 650, 680 and 750v…hmmmm…there’s a theme there….
2) Has Palm-Mac been as successful as you expected it to be?
I’ve been lucky in that I got very good early support from both pda247 and PalmAddicts and that sort of set the ball rolling. I don’t make anything from it but it is enjoyable and a chance to let off some steam too. Whether I get 5 000 hits a week or 250 makes no odds to me, I just do it for some fun. I couldn’t honestly tell you how many hits I get…I never check.
3) What do you want in your ideal smartphone that has not been
implemented yet?
Out of the box syncing with my home imac without the need for 3rd party applications, not just for the PIM apps but for every app on my device. The iphone of course may well change that …
4) What are your daily PDA web site haunts?
Well, I have 14 RSS feeds…WMExperts, Morning Paper, PA, pda247, MoDaCo, Treobits, jkontherun, some xbox sites….and a few other WM sites
5) What is the best book you have ever read and why?
Beyond Belief…a book about the Yorkshire Ripper and the rather sad incompetence of the Yorkshire police force. It is very evocative of the late 70′s and early 80′s and almost seems like a different era….a time when summers were hot and winters were cold, really cold here in the UK and when technology was just starting to take off.
6) Do you consider yourself to be an emotional person? You seem to get worked up from time to time on Palm-Mac.
My wife laughed when she saw this question. She says I am the most unemotional person she has ever met! Getting worked up from time to time is good…I’m just very (sadly) passionate about smartphones and similar gadgets.
7) Where are Palm heading?
Back to the top…unquestionably..and I defy anyone to say otherwise…ahem. I still think they produce the easiest to use smartphones. HTC make great high spec devices but they just seem to lack a little in useability, just seem a bit clunky in comparison to palm’s stuff.
Do you want an iPhone?
Not sure. I do and I don’t..I want the gadget but I’m not sure I want what the gagdget does…or doesn’t at the moment.
9) Why are the Scottish the master race
Natural evolution of the species Shaun, as you well know. The cream always rises to the top etc etc
10) Anything you want to add?
Palm…for goodness sake, make all your new handhelds available to everyone from day one. There are people out there who would like to buy them but can’t…what’s the point in that?
