Palm Pre review

October 8, 2009 3:48 pm

by David Phelan

Categories: Mobile Phones Reviews Tags: Palm, pre

We love

The touchscreen, the cool interface and the compact size

We hate

The fact that we’ve waited so long for the Pre – other phones have stolen its thunder

Verdict

Positioned as the phone to take on the iPhone and, you know what, it is

Launch Price

£Free on contract

10 Pages

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This is it. The Palm Pre. The mobile phone that wowed tech hacks in CES, the massive Las Vegas tech show nine months ago. Finally, it’s here – but is it still the dream phone it looked like in January? Read our Palm Pre review now to find out.

The Palm Pre has lots to recommend it: a bright, high-resolution 3.1-inch capacitive display – the same easy-to-use kind that the iPhone features – plus a full QWERTY slide-out keyboard. It has multi-touch, so you can use two fingers to pinch the onscreen image to zoom in or out. And it has apps: in fact Palm’s earlier PDAs and phones pioneered third-party applications that could be added to the gizmo’s basic functions. The App Catalog can’t match Apple’s numbers, but it’ll grow.

The Palm Pre has a great way of aggregating your personal information, adding friends’ Facebook photos to their entry in your address book, for instance. Or showing your work and personal appointments in different colours on your calendar, pulling the information directly from the various sources and helping you not to double-book. This is a neat way to pool information and works tremendously.

Palm Pre UK: first impressions and hands–on photos!

The Palm Pre has a much diddier profile than Apple’s handset – and for many the iPhone is just that bit too big, so this is ideal, and a snazzy-looking handset to boot. It’s also especially useful if you want the security of a physical keyboard instead of an onscreen one, and although small, the Pre’s keys are highly usable.

The keyboard gets you to the heart of the Palm Pre quickly, too. It was always easy to search the contents of a Palm device. Here, you simply slide open the QWERTY and start typing. It looks for contact names, calendar appointments, memos and more. If it doesn’t find anything there, it takes you straight to a screen so you can choose to search in Google, Google Maps, Wikipedia and Twitter. This is cool stuff.

Touchscreen interfaces have to be easy to use and the Palm Pre’s is impressive. It looks great, with a tiny ripple on the surface registering each tap. It multi-tasks, unlike the iPhone, and the active programs are shown as cards you can move around onscreen. When you’ve had enough, one flip of the finger whizzes the card offscreen to close it.

The Palm Pre is certainly the best smartphone that doesn’t hail from Apple. If it has a fault, it’s one of timing –the Pre’s features were novel and unmatched when the phone was announced but rival handsets have many of them now, too. Even so, they look so good and work so well that it’s a real joy to use.

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D.B. Nelson

I have had this device since 6-09. I would strongly recommend to anyone considering a purchase not to choose this device. In less than two weeks the first one had to be repalced outright and now the same problems are cropping up. It just decideds to shut down for no apparent reason and can not be restarted

Vick

D.B. Nelson, I don’t think that’s a problem with most Pre phones out there. I got my Pre in Aug09 here in US and it works just fine. May be the first few batches had some problems.

electricpigreader

I think everyone agrees, the Palm Pre is far superior over the iPhone in terms of useability, form factor, keyboard, multitasking, removable battery, and style. The only factor that keeps the iPhone from sinking is their app store while the Palm Pre has about 100 apps in the App Catalog and several hundreds more outside of the App Catalog.

But as more 3rd party developers build more and more apps for the Pre there will also be a large array of enjoyable and useful apps; love the WiFi Router app for the Palm Pre…allows you to tether multiple devices.

http://www.electricpig.co.uk Ben Sillis

I’m torn! Do I go for the Pre or wait for the BlackBerry 9700? Choices, choices.

LK

To Ben Sillis -
Wait for the BlackBerry 9700… wish I had. I’ve had my Palm Pre for a couple of months and am having trouble with learning to operate it. There were no instructions with it and it’s a learn as you go thing. There are a few videos on line that will show the basics, but I’m upset that it doesn’t have voice recognition, won’t tape videos, will seldom play from YouTube. I’m learning to like it less and less everyday.
Philip Cadena

Dont listen to D.B. Nelson this is best phone ever and I’ve had since the day it came out in The States. I recommend over any other phone out there right now
bridage.dc

I would read other user comments and reviews before asserting Mr. D.B.s comment. I suspect a iphony loyalist?
Michael

This thing is awesome! I have had it for 3 months and have loved using it everyday. Best thing about it–homebrew and tweaks. Awesome!

http://www.electricpig.co.uk Ben Sillis

The thing I’m most interested to know is how does the build quality hold up? I’m worried about the “Oreo” effect in the longer term, as the one thing I noticed with prototypes I tried was that the slide mechanism was creaky. How are you current owners finding it?

Chad

I have seen small hints of it, but I am a pretty heavy user of a phone I got the opening week and it is still ok.

http://www.electricpig.co.uk Ben Sillis

Good to hear it’s still holding up.

http://www.electricpig.co.uk Joe Minihane

Like Ben, I’m another EP staffer whose contract is up and wants a new phone. For me, it’s this or the iPhone 3GS. Or perhaps a long wait to see what Jobs reveals next summer. Great to get some comments from you guys across the pond too.

http://www.electricpig.co.uk Ben Sillis

I just can’t bring myself to tear myself away from a physical keyboard is the problem.

http://www.gravatar.com James Holland

I love my iPhone. I’ve owned one since the day the first version went on sale in the UK, but do admit that the keyboard continues to annoy me. When it’s behaving it’s a dream, but more often than not the auto correcting feature has a mind of its own. “Me” is constantly replaced with “Mr” – now where’s the sense in that? How often do you write “Mr” in a text message, as aposed to “me”? Ludicrous. Apple’s far from solved the issue, and more and more it’s making me think my next phone should have a proper keyboard.

http://www.electricpig.co.uk Ben Sillis

It’s only that and the lack of multitasking that have stopped me from getting an iPhone. I like my BlackBerry’s ability to run tons of IM clients, upload photos, download email, listen to music and surf the web at the same time. But man, do I wish it had a browser like the iPhone’s. That would be perfect.
cgibbons

to be fair T9 phones have the same problem. A physical keyboard wouldn’t change anything. It’s not really the keyboard it’s the auto complete, which i believe should be removed from every phone and abandoned completely.

cgibbons

the problem with the pre, and the reason it will never challenge the iphone, is that it’s Palm. Palm has a long standing stigma associated with it. It started out as a lame ipaq rip off. They then proceeded to dupe people into buying there inferior, yet more expensive, products by way of better advertising. Now that palm has started to release some ok products, people are wary of them because of their legacy of antiquated junk. While the pre looks like it will have enough momentum to break through the palm stigma, but it will be the job of the next generation to challenge the iphone.

http://www.electricpig.co.uk Ben Sillis

It’s a fair point, and I think Palm has gone a long way shaking off its stigma with webOS, which looks beautiful. Is it the cheaper Pixi that will help re-establish it in the UK though? Or a webOS phone after that?
http://www.gravatar.com James Holland

Oooh, I’m not so sure! I had a Palm IIIc, way before the iPaq lumbered into view. It did its job wonderfully and I loved it. Yeah, some of their less successful phones have failed for a reason, but the Pre is different. It’s all new, it’s built from the ground up to run apps (whereas the iPhone had the ability grafted on afterwards, hence the lack of cut-and-paste support for a long time) and has come at just the right time to capitalise on apps going mainstream.

What Palm needs to do is hurry up and get developers creating apps to satisfy demand. Oh, and make sure there’s less than a six month gap between announcing the product and putting it on sale – by then the hype has dimmed significantly, along with interest in the device.

http://www.electricpig.co.uk Ben Sillis

I think it worked for the Pre, as it kept it a secret until unveiling, really did build buzz for the best part of half a year and boosted Palm’s stock price up massively (We’re talking tenfold). But yes, it’s risky if they do it again, as they won’t get as much buzz and the phone will quickly get outdated in the meantime. Even the Pre’s 8GB of storage seems a bit measly now.

adnan

i’m doctor and was tired of carrying my cellphone, pager and an old palm tx to write notes and check medical apps inmplus I needed a good browser. I’ve had the palm pre since it came out june 6th, and my wife and brother, and a few friends have got it since. I LOVE IT. Its certainly no iphone killer or anything, but frankly I feel apple has become a bit of a bully in the smartphone world, and I lke rooting for the underdog, palm (in this case)

this phone has a superfast browser,it has increased my productivity, centralises me contacts, VERY intuitive. A good secretary knows what you want and thinks ahead of you, keeping ur life organized. Its weird, but the pre feels that way. Pros: small form factor, the touchstone charger (which is a must-buy) I have one for my car so I don’t need to fiddle with wires. The forums are great for tips on increasing battery life. Illuminated keyboard to type in the dark, nice camera, and you can directly upload pics to facebook. The app store is growing regularly by about 6-8 apps weekly. Accelerometer , the multitasking is unmatched. For example I can talk on speakerphone to the hospital, write the name and location of a pt in my memopad, look up some medical fact instantly on the web just by typing it in the phone, and text my wife,all at the same time! (if I want) the web os is smooth and silky-slick. This phone quite frankly is the closest to feeling like a mini-pc in ur palm because its got a launchpad, like ur desktop tray, and you can minimize or maximize windows.

cons: the keyboard takes getting used to, right now I’m typing with it. I wish future palm pre’s have more bumpy keys with more ‘clickety-click’. Give urself a few days to get used to it. They need a flash player so you can browse video sites on the web (it has built in youtube app) and future versions shouldn’t be so glossy cos
that’s very scratchable and gets smudged.

it does have wireless updating and charging (with the touchstone) no more messing with wires.

hope this is helpful to people. Youtube has a bunch of reviews too.
http://sweatstudio.com SweatStudio

I own two businesses and most of my clients are Silicon Valley Engineers and Execs. I’m in the midst of developing an APP for both the iPhone 3gs, Pre, MyTouch, Blackberry Storm. I’ve done researched and toyed with all these new smart phones and they all have great features. However, after using the Pre for 4 months I’ve noticed that is has a significant advantage over all these phones and that’s the multi-tasking capabilities and ergonomic user interface. i.e.: Just yesterday I was on a phone conversation and had to give someone directions and I was in the middle of typing an email. It was fairly easy to navigate to Google Maps GPS and return to the phone conversation followed by returning to my email composer. Another example opening up many browsers simultaneously and moving to any window in seconds.

Other distinguishable features is the “over the air” syncing for email accounts and the physical keyboard (even though the critics say it’s cramped I can still type 40 wpm), It takes great pictures for a cell phone.

Palm has been responsive on providing the Pre with viable updates which makes the phone continuously more attractive. As of 10-11-09 there are 144 Apps, virtual keyboard patch, plus 262 apps in the HomeBrew, I’m assuming that Apps will exceed 1000 by the end of the year. I know SO many people with iPhones including the new 3GS, and I’ve tried using them, but sorry I prefer the Pre. I run two businesses and need to be productive day by day, hour by hour and the Pre is making my days more efficient. Truly!
Steve0203

Well…. I’ve just ordered the Palm Pre as an upgrade on my business tariff. The Pre is likely to be the best of a bad bunch, what with O2′s limited choice in business upgrades (okay if you want a Blackberry or a bottom end Apple) The plasticky Fisher Price looking 5800 was one of the choices; the Samsung Tocco Lite the other free upgrade option. The awesome i7500 Android was offered, but required 128 quid thrown at it.
Anyway I’m migrating from a Nokia N95 4gb and the way I see it, remove the 5mp camera and it becomes as run of the mill as the rest. So, with that in mind, Im looking forward to the Pre’s arrival. Lets face it, with some many people wanting different things out of every product on the market, I basically want a touchscreen phone… yes phone! Just as long as I can press a few buttons and connect to the right number, the cheap build quality won’t be recognised by the person at the other end.

http://www.electricpig.co.uk Ben Sillis

The more I look at it the more I’m getting excited about the Pixi. WebOS, QWERTY keyboard, no creaking slider…it has the makings of an absolutely BlackBerry beater, other than the missing Wi-Fi.

Steve0203

Go for the Pre… its a Blackberry beater too… infact sling an onscreen keyboard app at it and you have your virtual Pixi with wifi.
Sorry but I’m a “I want it and i want it now” type. O2 in the UK are sending me the Pre on 14 day approval. My only problem is… If i don’t get on with and it has to go back, the only choice I have is to dig deep and get the Samsung i7500 android. The other phone choices are somewhat dismal. The thing is, I just need phone, sms, email, camera and the ability to surf the net, so I’m sure the Pre will be well capable.

kingcobra2010

Before you buy any phone think long and hard. Do you want a phone that is old tech (iphone) and the only reason you buy it because your friends have one. Or do you want to be the first phone that will impress your friends and will than likely be the standard after people realize its functionality. When the palm pre was released, it was only meant for business persons. The main reason there were complaints because the phone was bought by people who did not need the pre’s functionality and expected a iphone feel. Do not get me wrong. Iphone made the scene and they brought a lot to the table. Now, however, they have not progressed & they have locked out possible functionality because of greed. It reminds me when I was a pc guy (ever since I finished with the vic 20 and commodore 64) but then I changed to mac. Win 7 was the last windows operating system I used because it is just crap (even though more people use windows does not mean it is good – mac is definitely better now). I still use xp for some of my older programs. Just like the iphone was good then but now it just does not meet the standard (more like a teenagers phone now). If you are still using the iphone, then your just letting life pass you by. Once the palm pre gets the flash 10 working on the phone, then it will be more of a dual purpose professional/teenager phone. I can see teenagers playing flash games on the pre while also listening to music, looking at flash trailers of movies while there out with there friends to see what they will watch after a test/dinner, etc. I speculate that once flash hits the mobile pda/netbook/phone market, palm pre will surely be the winner. The droid will run flash just like the winmo phones -> very very slow if your multitasking flash. See example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a47Z-A81HOU. If they used the droid phone to show off flash the same way -> the film would have been laughable (droid does semi multitasking and definitely can not multitask resource hog programs like flash). Droid definitely would have either crashed or your system would start to look like it is in slow mo. If you have a winmo phone you probably know what I mean when i say slow mo. If you want a very good phone, then get a palm pre because in the near future I suspect everyone else will be using the pre if they can weather the misinformation about the phone. PS Do not look at megapixels when you are deciding on your phone pic. 3 vs 5 megapixels will not produce a difference. If you want great pictures then get an slr camera not a camera phone. And if you want great video get an hd camcorder instead of using your phone. Soon palm pre will be able to get vid recording for your youtube pages. Android is just winmo with a different name (hefty, slow and truly untested on its multitasking statement but we will see it fall flat when tested with flash this year).

The only reason that iphone has been around is because it is a phone built around teenager habits with a little business function in it. If you look at webos, then you will see that it is a better match for netbooks. Once flash comes out the battery drain that it will produce on the google os will make it a weaker candidate for the netbook market versus webos. Also once flash comes out for the palm pre, we will see that palm will be able to take a good piece of the teenager iphone market with free flash games instead of paid for iphone apps. The future is here and webos is definitely the winner. Like i said android is just winmo with a different name. You guys need to test the true power comparison of the phone. i am no talking about processor power. Everybody knows that mac can startup, shutdown faster than the comparable pc with similar hdd, ram, vid card, processor. The os is the true decider of speed and functionality. Please test flash running in multiple applications (pre vs droid vs winmo). That will give you true insight. Flash dominates the media market and if the advertising market wants more viewer time then they need to push for more flash on phones. Especially the palm pre phone since it is the best suited phone for the demands of flash currently. But lets see what the test show.
PS If you guys are truly at the tech forefront then you will see that this as a definite task that needs to be performed.
Guest

To use the Palm Pre, the very first thing you are forced to do is to register/create a Palm account, but without a dataplan from your carrier, you are stuck with that activation screen, Chances are you can’t even even use your brand new Pre to make a call. A huge draw back when customers only want to use the device just as a cell phone without any data service.

Palm Pre review

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