I think you might be jumping the gun a bit. The name PalmOS is gone. ALP is not even the new name, but a code name. The OS formerly known as PalmOS was changing anyway to become PalmOS for Linux. Now that it’s in the hands of Access, there are some tweaks, but it’s still going to have the same PIMs, the same Hotsync, the same desktop software, and the old programs will even run on the new OS via a compatibility layer. Linux was going into PalmOS anyway. The look and feel and the edges may be influenced by Access, but don’t think it’s not PalmOS anymore.

But I agree with one thing… if ALP never sees any devices like Cobalt didn’t, then it may just be about the end of the road for PalmOS (but not Palm, Inc the hardware manufacturer, who surely still has some tricks up their sleeves!)

Don’t count Garnet out yet. Treo sales are pretty hot and Palm Inc is apparently releasing three new Treo or Treo-esque products this year (Lowrider, Hollywood and the 700p). Palm Inc has licensed Garnet through 2009 and will surely get a lot of mileage out of it yet.

I say this as a LONG time Palm user, but you can only hack an OS to introduce new features for so long. Sooner or later you have to introduce a new OS.