Farewell to Palm, My Friend

This article originally appeared at iMedicalApps.com

As many of our readers remember, Palm was a pioneer in mobile computing that captured the attention of many physicians with applications like Epocrates almost a decade ago, long before Apple’s iPhone was even conceived. It subsequently faltered and, despite a short lived renaissance with the Palm Pre with its highly regarded WebOS mobile operating system, Palm fell too far behind to survive as an independent company and was recently sold to HP.In this post, guest blogger Dr. Saria Saccocio humorously reminisces about the loyalty many early adopters had for Palm and the disappointment that followed it. Saria Saccocio MD, is Associate Director of the Family Medicine residency program at Floyd Medical Center in Georgia.

I will miss you Palm, my very best friend in medical school. You made me look so smart hanging out in my white coat pocket, giving me all the answers for medication choices, their adverse effects, contraindications, and cost to my patients. Gone were the days of overflowing white coat pockets with books for everything from medical calculations to ECG guides. You were my first peripheral brain, with everything I needed in one heavy pocket.

But I must say goodbye…with regret but no remorse. I tried to keep you, but instead of growing together, we just could not find a way to adapt enough to make it work. Sure you tried, but of late, every attempt you made just appeared desperate. I’m sorry Palm, you just couldn’t keep up. I tried, and you tried, but in the end the temptation was too great and my looking turned into a hands-on love affair.

I have found someone new. Palm Tungsten, meet “i” — yes, as in iPhone.

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