Today’s discovery by TechCrunch that HP filed for a trademark on Palmpad confirms what many have guessed would happen. The acquisition of Palm will likely make its way into larger devices.

Palm’s webOS is the best mobile operating system and should translate better to a tablet than Apple iOS. However, I hope that HP does not make the same mistake that Palm did when it was independent — namely, chase Apple — because it still cannot compete with their head start, rabid fan base, or number of applications. At best, a simple webOS tablet could perhaps gain a #3 or #4 position behind the iPad but ahead of some eBook readers.

HP must redefine expectations to be in a position of strength. It can capitalize on the many false starts of its Microsoft Windows brethren and Google Android cousins.

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Quick! Which major cell phone manufacturer has performed the worst over the past two years in the stock market? If you have been reading business or technology publications lately, you would probably guess Palm. You’d be wrong. They are actually outperforming their non-Apple competitors Nokia, Motorola, RIM, and HTC (Source: Google Finance).

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A lot of people in the tech world are up in arms over Apple’s continued denial of Flash on the iPhone, iPod, and iPad. That’s no surprise as many people love these products dearly. The problem is that their brand religion clouds their understanding of what is really going on, and loyalists have bought Apple’s red herring hook, line, and sinker.

Aside from great ads and a rabid fan base, three features made the iPhone really popular.

1. Slick hardware with a user interface meant for your fingers rather than a stylus
2. The App Store
3. A simple product line

Most consumers don’t realize that the concept of an App Store wasn’t new. A little company called Handango has been doing this for a decade. I bought over a dozen apps back in 2005 on my trusty Sony Ericsson P910 including a very useful subway application, some impressive mobile games for the time, and even a SNES emulator.

Unfortunately this mobile revolution went virtually unnoticed until Apple realized its potential, both as a selling point and business model.

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Some people are so adamant about the brands they identify with that their loyalty could almost be called religion. You know the type: when it is all but impossible to counter long-held opinions in a rational discussion, let alone through advertising. They simply won’t believe your side of the story, as voiced so fittingly by Apple in their latest Mac vs PC commercial.

Can companies ever overcome that kind of dogma? Maybe, maybe not. Here are a few tips on how to at least influence brand religion.

1. Be patient. Recognize that you won’t convert anyone overnight. Some auto insiders have been harsh on the new Chevy May the Best Car Win ads, but I think they strike the right chord. Ask people to give you a chance rather than an immediate sale.
    
   
2. Be visual. Show, don’t tell. Sounds great, but how do you do it? I think this is one of the most valuable lessons I learned from my mentor, Mike Levin, in his series of long tail videos.
    
   
3. Be humble. Perhaps the most important thing to remember is not to insult your audience or make outlandish claims. Recognize that there are barriers to overcome. Listen to your customers, like Microsoft did this year in rebounding with their best ad campaign since Windows 95.
    
   
4. Be pervasive, yet subtle. I often compare SEO to public relations; think of it as a soft sell. Ensure you appear at the top of Google, Yahoo, and Bing for the keywords that you know skeptics will research. That gives you the luxury to be more subtle in your marketing message, which can help you slowly win over even the most stubborn people.
    
   
5. Be smart and focus on the right competitor. Even though you can find weaknesses in seemingly impenetrable products, that makes for an uphill battle. Palm and Android are fighting the wrong battle with the iPhone. You can’t beat Apple at being cool. Instead they should be trying to knock off the OTHER major smartphone maker, RIM. It is much easier to target the antequated interface and flimsy trackballs of Blackberry phones rather than attempt to one-up Apple with features like multitasking or better contact management.
    
   
6. Be exclusive if all else fails and expect to pay for the privilege. Millions of people are unhappy with AT&T service, yet put up with it to use the iPhone.