My Palm Pre first-gen fears
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I usually follow a simple rule when it comes to consumer electronics: I avoid buying any first-generation products. That doesn't mean I haven't ever done it, but I tend to wait for generation two or three before I plunk down my dough, particularly when it comes to heavily hyped stuff.
As I've written before, I'm a prime candidate to buy the Palm Pre. I'm a Sprint customer who has a contract conveniently expiring in June and I have a phone (the Mogul) that's on its last legs. Ideally, the Pre would cost $50 less and not have a mail-in rebate, but at least Sprint didn't price the thing at a pure $299, as I'm sure it would have preferred to do. Pricing aside, the biggest hurdle I'm facing is the fact that the Palm Pre is a first-gen phone--and platform--and I'm really not a first-gen guy.
By contrast, the iPhone will be on its third generation and its platform is already fairly mature. We'll find out exactly how the new third-generation iPhone specs out at next week's WWDC event, but it's safe to assume that many of the small, nagging kinks that were found in earlier editions of the iPhone will have been ironed out. I don't expect it to be perfect (no phone ever will be, because there's always something better around the corner), but I feel pretty good about getting a lot more iPhone for my $199 than those who purchased the original non-3G model (which was originally $599--with contract!) or even the iPhone 3G.
Sometimes, of course, a brand new product can come along that's so far ahead of the pack that even the introductory version is too tempting to avoid. In my book, the lack of a 3G data connection in the original iPhone was an instant deal breaker and made it easy to pass.
Future editions of the Palm Pre will assuredly have more than 8GB of memory.
(Credit: Palm )The Pre, on the other hand, has only one glaring issue on the surface: it's got only 8GB of built-in memory and no memory expansion option. It's also unclear whether the platform will truly take off and attract the large number of developers--and have a robust app store--that the iPhone has. Not that apps are the end-all be-all for smartphones, but if everybody's out there developing cool stuff for the iPhone and not the Palm, you're potentially going to feel a little cheated.
The other thing I like about the iPhone is that it does allow for software upgrades. Yes, you're limited by the hardware feature set, but phones, like computers and game consoles, should be upgradeable. Say what you want about the early editions of the PS3, Wii, and XBox 360, which were plagued with reliability issues; at least those "old" machines can all run the new system software, and, in the case of the PS3, the first systems offered backwards compatibility for PS2 games.
Another beef with the Pre: it's not a world phone, so you're stuck with just Wi-Fi if traveling overseas. We know that a GSM version of the phone won't be far behind--so that's just another reason to wait.
From my personal smartphone experience, Microsoft and the carriers have always been woeful about offering upgrades for Windows Mobile phones (upgrading the firmware on my Mogul was always a chore and would be near-impossible for technophobes).
By contrast, newer smartphone OS outfit Google seems to be doing a pretty good job of offering updates to its Android-powered G1 T-Mobile phone, so I'm hoping that Palm has an upgrade plan for the Pre that helps potential buyers like me get over their first-gen fears--especially with riper platforms like Blackberry and Apple sitting out there alongside up-and-comers like Android. (I'm not forgetting about Nokia's Symbian or Windows Mobile, but the former has more of a European base and the latter--in the form of Windows Mobile 7 devices--should have been out six months ago).
Maybe I'm a sissy. But I have a gadget philosophy. I try to live by it. I try to show discipline. How 'bout you? Anybody else holding back on the Pre because it's a first-gen model? Or is switching to Sprint the bigger concern?
Hunkered down in New York City, Executive Editor David Carnoy covers the gamut of gadgets and writes his Fully Equipped column, which carries the tag line "The electronics you lust for." He's also the author of "Knife Music," a novel. E-mail David. Follow David on Twitter.
I've used my current Palm Treo to access servers (remote desktop and telnet) located in Texas while on vacation in Las Vegas. I was able to fix problems with a wireless broadband connection without having to dig out my laptop and get a connection. Palm phones are more then just a phone, and by more I don't mean an mp3 player, ;)
Another thing to note is that Palm has always offered software upgrades for their products. They know what they are doing because they've been doing it, and doing it right, for years.
The rest of the WORLD (There is one outside the US) don't use CDMA!
Palm did with the original Treo running Palm OS YEARS before Apple.
quote nole4life80 "Palm did with the original Treo running Palm OS YEARS before Apple".
Pardon me but have you ever used the iphone or an ipod touch? I've OWNED palms touch screen devices and the resistive touch technology that is used in Palm's and most other touch screen devices sucks big time, and doesn't compare at all to the capacitive touch technology used in the iphone and ipod touch. Capacitive touch is the touch technology of the future. (beginning with the iphone) Try an iphone someday buddy. The touchscreen really is that much better and easier to use than the Palm treo you mentioned.
He probably either used a VNC client for the iPhone, or an SSH client for the iPhone, after tunneling in with the built-in VPN functionality of the iPhone.
Please do your research before personally attacking someone who actually owns an iPhone and knows what they are talking about. The iPhone is a GSM world phone so yes, it does work (and is sold) in India. I'm fairly certain that WiFi hotspots exist in India. Heck, Tata Indicom offers it for their broadband customers. In addition, there are a number of apps on the App Store for Telnet, SSH and VNC to allow anyone to remotely access a computer over the Internet. No, the battery cannot be removed but that's easily remedied using something like the Kensington Mini Battery Pack or the Mophie Juice Pack. Oh, and yes, you can easily open an Excel document in Mail or edit them using Quickoffice.
Or maybe this is a feeble attempt to reassure oneself that they made the right decision with the "not an iPhone"? How else would you explain someone explaining away the absolute brilliance and success of the App Store? Unfortunately the sheer numbers say otherwise.
BTW I'm not an Apple fanboy, I've been defending the Zune for years now. Apple nailed the iPhone and the App Store, there's no point denying it.
The fact is that Sprint bases most their commission on customer service satisfaction, so you have better odds of being helped right, especially in stores, otherwise their paychecks get hit, and who ever wants that?
Maybe i've been lucky. Dan Hesse is well aware of the customer service issues and that has been his top priority since joining Sprint, and i think he's doing a pretty good job in that area. Think about it, Sprint has to do something to stop the bleeding, and customer service is their number 1 issue, along with the lack of new phones. So don't you think they would do everything in their power to make customers happy? so people would spread the word so others would join in? Especially with the cell phone industry the way it is(they're the new used car salesman of our generation), competition is cut throat and they're on their last leg. Give Sprint a chance,i think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
of course now that i've said all that, i'm sure i've jinxed myself for life. Go me.
Sprint also made me a Premier Customer which means I get to upgrade my phone at full discount every 12 months, and I occasionally get free stuff and even rebates. The signal in my neck of the woods is great, and the EVDO rev.A data speeds are fantastic. My family unlimited plan is WAY cheaper than comparable plans on both Verizon and AT&T. I also like the fact that their phone offerings are getting better (I like my Touch Pro and my new Pre is pretty damn awesome so far). Add all that up and I am pretty happy with Sprint.
There are so many phones out there for one reason: every one's needs are different. That being said, the Pre has some fantastic features including a real keyboard, and webOS is down right functional and cool. If you live in an area that has good Sprint coverage and are thinking about getting a Palm Pre, I would say go get it if you can find one.
I disagree. You probably think a car lover should get a new car every year, too.
Now, I'll use an analogy that will put all of this in perspective. If you are a girl (woman, female) lover, should you get a new one the minute it comes out? No. Some do, some don't.
I love technology and cars. But, for me it's an art. Get the best for my pocketbook, and for what I want. One of the things I don't want is something not good. So, waiting is oftentimes the best policy.
After all, what if I love the car I have. Does keeping it make me some kind of non car lover? I don't think so. Actually, I think the people who get new cars all of the time like cars less than me.
So, there!
@hameiri What does this mean? What a silly comparison -- women aren't products.
"If you are a girl (woman, female) lover, should you get a new one the minute it comes out? No. Some do, some don't."
but they are certain things the iPhone doesn't do while the palm pre does them quite efficiently and in a iPhone like fashion
atleast from wat I've seen in the demos !
iPhone users have been screaming for features like multi-tasking ,better notifications etc but Apple has decided to become complacent
and hence people are going to move on !
The Pre is a totally different phone and the OS is way above and beyond anything Apple has come up with. Apple will now try and copy things from the Pre. The iphone doesn't multitask very well, the card system on the Pre alone is worth buying the Pre. Also being able to type in a search for people, web and on the Pre unit without having to open other programs is awesome. The Calender, being able to have your work and Google calender together is big. The address book where you can chat, or text or call, or email and see if the person is on Facebook is big.
There is so much to love about the Pre. This will be Palms middle finger to Apple.
The "retarded" curve design was utilizied for better comfort; notice how it is supposed to contour to the natural curve of the human hand when the hand is holding an object.
Cheap? I doubt it..what evidence do you have that the phone is cheap? That is a laughable comment..
Again, you are just jealous..you know you are going to go out and look at this phone...and when you know someone who buys one, you are going to ask to look at it, and quietly be impressed with it. All the wihle, you will vocally say, "well my iphone can do this while your pre can't do this or that, ha!"
First of all Palm is not new to the smart phone game. They are one of the creators of the smart phone and PDA, they know what they are doing. Where was Apple when the original Treo came out in like 2002?
Secondly, obviously they have taken a lot of time developing the Pre. It was in the works long before even the news of it in January which was still almost 6 months before it will be available.
Third, I had the G1 for a while and got it the day it came out. It did not have any problems that could not be fixed with updates. It was running a new OS also and HTC has not been making phones nearly as long as Palm.
Last, if you think about it.... Palm REALLY needs the Pre to do well and I am sure they have done everything in their power to make sure the first gen works.
And ppl, don't knock Sprint. I know thier phone's aren't world phones but they have done well just being a US carrier, also the same plan on other carriers cost almost 50% as much. I have the Treo Pro and the everything plan and I am VERY happy with it. I just left Tmobile because they are only good if you just want to talk and check emails on your phone. I love the navigation and watch Sprint TV without ever having to worry about my bill changing. My signal is actually better than my Tmobile phone too. Plus Sprint is the first US company even talking about 4G........
[CNET editor's note: Personal attack deleted.]
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by molotov
May 28, 2009 1:27 PM PDT
- You'd be lucky if it can make decent phone calls. Don't expect anything else they promise.
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