Walkthrough: Palm Pre

That is exactly why you do not want to support Apple, they are always trying to patent things which wind up stunting innovation, forward progress and fair comptetition.

Well Apple was just assigned a patent for multi-touch technology. I think the Pre interface will have to change if Palm decides not to license the technology from Apple. (And no, I don't think Apple should have been granted the patent in the first place.)

My only knock on the Pre, which I think is an excellent device, is the lack of an external memory card slot. Palm tried to make the case that it was an aesthetic decision, that the additional hardware that would have been required would have ruined the "lines" of the device. That of course is a load of donkey excrement.

Here is an example of where Palm really did steel from the Apple playbook. Apple mobile devices don't support external memory because not onle because such a feature would make it difficult to convince consumers to upgrade older memory-constrained devices, an external memory option would be a bypass to Apple's carefully controlled access.

Other manufacture's envy Apple's tight control: that's in part why the Diamond and the Pre don't have external memory options.

I like the interface, and especially the form factor. I even like how it integrates into the cloud, which is how I think the futire of co mputing lies. My concern is connectivity. I have the potential of being without a phone signal month on end when I go back to a ship. My question is how well will it function as a standalone PDA? If it does not sync with a local computer as an option, then it may well be closer to useless without a wifi or cell signal.

Like any mobile OS WebOS will have its disadvantages but from initial impressions I think it offers a level of intergration in such areas as business productivity (email, calendar functions) and consumer functionality (web, multimedia, social networking) that it definitely makes WM and all other mobile OSes look disjointed and not as seamless. I would have no hesitation moving to the Pre if not for the fact it will only be on Sprint in the US.

With WM 6.5 now not looking likely to surface till EOY 2009 and maybe even 2010 one wonders who will be buying WM devices if all they have to show for it is a pretty shell?

I know webos will give windows mobile (in its current form) a run for its money, simply becuase it will reach a larger audience. WebOS will not be for everyone but will def. push ms to move windows mobile 7 faster i believe.

Man, the other impression I am getting is people do not want to move from where they are now...

Change is NOT good, is what I am reading.

I personally think Change for the Sake of Change is not good. But Change for the Sake of Innovation is Fantastic when it improves the Human Condition.

The Issue I see here is, the Palm Pre has from the appearance I have seen in the demonstrations I have seen a much cleaner and clearer Multitasking Environment. This makes for a smoother experience.

Smoother Experience translates to much easier way to get things done.

To have literally 10 things running at the same time and be able to pop from one to the next to the next and not have to wait for load time, that is a Huge Benefit.

This means I can now work at the speed of my thoughts and not have to stop and hold that thought as the phone catches up to where I happen to be going with my train of thought at the time.

This increases the ability to get MORE done in LESS Time.

Now say you can do this with a WinMo Device?

The Sore Spot will come when there is a demand to look at a Windows Word Document, Power Point Presentation, Excel Spreadsheet or Access DB.

The Pre can do Outlook interfacing. That has been demo'd.

What about accessing and editting those documents I just mentioned on the Pre????

Business Productivity....

I know you can interface to multiple Cloud Calendars, Google being one of them.

I think Plaxo and Linkedin will be major players here that the Pre will need to make allowance for.
Facebook is nice but if this is for the ProSumer, then something like Plaxo and LinkedIn is necessary to better interface to the Business World.

Man, Pent Up Anger out there.

First it was Conjecture on the Overtaking WinMo.

IMO WinMo has an inside Track for any connectivity to any Windows Product, Exchange is a Windows / MS Product.

As for overtaking WinMo.

This is a person by person comfort factor judgement call in my opinion.

If you are comfortable with your Windows Desktop and want to take that look and feel with you on your phone, then you likely will enjoy the WinMo.

Personally, I have played with Windows for Years. But I also play in the Unix World too.

That being the case, I have seen X-Windows, Java and many other GeeWhiz apps and am not completely Jaded by the Alure of Windows.

I have been using Palm Devices since back in the days of Palm III and Palm Pro. Had Multiple Treo's.

I have evolved over time to a GSM user that prefers the freedom and flexibility of Unlocked phones with alaCarte Purchase capability to use only what I use and not pay for features or functions I do not use or need. That is why I am with T-Mo now. I also have a Chinese SIM for Chinese 3G and GSM. The Treo 680 unlocked Cingular version and ATT branded after the last ROM update.

I will be cutting down the ROM on the 680 and only loading what I need and not what does not work, or is broken or what I do not need.

I was able to attend the lanuch and handle the device at CES. It's not hugely smaller than the iPhone 3G (and it's thicker). It reminds of the original HTC Touch in feel, which is a very good thing.

The screen has the same number of pixels as the iPhone, but is smaller. The screen is beautiful! Very very easy on the eyes. It doesn't match up to the screen on the Touch HD, the device I carry, but the HD is a brick by comparison.

The focus was on the OS as it should be; the Pre is easily a match for the iPhone out of the box (before adding any third party applications.)

I wouldn't hesitate recommending the device I saw, especially to first time smartphone users.

The big question is, will it be enough to save Palm? At this point I'm leaning towards "a little too late." We'll have to see what the complete package looks like when they're available from Sprint. Many will be sold but not in the overall numbers Palms needs, especially in the current economy.

As to Dave's title for this review, I'm not sure what it means either. The Pre is just another example of what a smartphone OS can and should look like. It's also another example of just how raw and antiquated the latest Windows Mobile OS looks. At his CES keynote this year, Steve Balmer reiterated Microsoft's commitment to the Mobile marketplace. We'll see...

Intresting review

Outside of the impressive features, I believe this to be yet again another attempt at making a phone similar to the iphone with the exception of the speaker and drop down key pad. Great looking phone though...

It is difficult for me to see WEBOS completely eliminating WM because WM is so firmly entrenched in enterprise which is dominated by Windows. I also have heard from several people that the MS Exchange experience is substantially better on a WM device when compared with other platforms that have purchased licenses for Exchange (iPhone).

i love how they upgraded the palm omg im sooo excited to actually use this device myself!! alot of ppl r makin negative comments on this device they should be happy palm did this and upgraded all the features and made it a better smartphone for everyone to use!! what more do ppl want!!

The Palm Pre is a lot smaller than I initially thought it would be. A good size comparison would be an iPod classic with a big hard drive. In terms of thickness, it's definitely not as thin as the iPhone, or even the bold, but it's an acceptable size considering it's a slider.

talk some more here http://www.PalmPreForum.org see ya

I'm just really excited to see something new from Palm. And, for a change, they're not simply trying to play catch up to Apple, they are at least TRYING to come up with some new features.

I'll be watching this one closely, very glad I stuck with SERO...

Your sub-title about Palm taking over Windows Mobile was pathetic. You never even mention WinMo in the text oe the video!!! This entire post was completely worthless!

How do you type in landscape view? Surely they need to add on screen keyboard to this system.

Little concerned about the "Cloud", and having to flip out a keyboard all the time... would be nice if it had an onscreen keyboard until you slide down hardware keyboard.
Looks like Palm at least is doing something... been waiting for how many years? Is this to little to late? Looks pretty good so far, but what if we dont have a data connection or signal?

Does this sync up with your PC?