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Review - Palm Pre (2009)
Technology. What a wonderful thing. Progress, most times, is even better. It seems like so long ago that we first start seeing phones with multi-color screens, the ability to access the internet, or even a decent MP3-playback feature. From brick-like Motorolas and Nokias to the sleek and sexy iPhone and Pre, the industry has almost been turned upside down. For me, its hard to imagine a world without the iPhone. The industry has been so radically transformed in only two short years. Before then, Palm had been the king of the "Smartphone," but now, everyone is doing it. Frankly, a comparison to the use of the term "Supercar" is applicable. Forever and ever, it was between Palm and RIM (Blackberry) who would divide and conquer in the "Smartphone" market. If Palm and RIM had been the Ferrari and Porsche of the phone world, surely, Apple would be the Audi - an unexpected contender - that has completely changed the game.
So, here we are with the Palm Pre, a phone that has been in the works for far too long, and ultimately carries quite high expectations with it. Announced back in early 2009, a lot of momentum moved behind the phone with its Linux-based WebOS software that had been in development for some time. Palm had promised a higher level of usability for the consumer, and an increased level of ease in the demands for programmers who develop for the phone. That is not to say that the Apple is anything difficult to deal with, but in this day and age, just like with the "supercars," its all about how you sell it.
Back in July, I picked up my Pre from Sprint at a healthy $299 with a two-year contract. There is a $100 rebate available as well, which puts it squarely in competition with Apple's iPhone 3G ($199) and 3GS ($299). Available only on the Sprint network for the time being, the Pre comes standard with a 450 minute talk plan, which also includes unlimited texts and data for $69.99 a month. Need to go totally unlimited? That'll be $99.99 a month. Compared to AT&T, Apple's exclusive carrier, and its a steal. They'll be happy to charge you the same $69.99 a month for 450 minutes and unlimited data, but they tack on an extra $20 fee for unlimited texts. Dealbreaker. Both use dedicated 3G networks, however AT&T's GSM-based system can be spotty at times, while Sprint's EVDO-A system can be finicky, but generally more stable. WiFi is standard fare, as well as BlueTooth, and most of the regular junk you would expect with a "smartphone" these days.
Software
The WebOS software is likely what Palm wants to talk about most, and for good reason - its the best part of the phone. The UI is clean, easily customizable, and almost too easy to use. Furthermore, multiple applications can be used at the same time - something the iPhone should have, and strangely, doesn't. While I'm searching the internet for directions to Urban Outfitters, I can have my GPS unit running to get me to East Lansing, and if the phone rings... I can take my phone call, all without having to disturb the other applications. Its an absolutely brilliant feature that has come in handy more than once, and I hope its something that more people copy in the future. Web browsing is quick and easy, two taps on the screen zooms accurately to any item (or text) on the page, and most features come up without much trouble. Palm promised a Copy and Paste function early as well, which works nicely, but under pressure, I think Apple ended up doing it a little better. I don't like having to manually drag my finger over the text I want, I like how the iPhone will (usually) figure it out for me.
Other applications seem to work better than average as well. Sprint packages a nice GPS system with the phone, one that is able to find most places easily, despite a few hiccups. On a recent trip it was not able to find a signal for what I had assumed to be an easy problem, but it was the first time it had happened. Best of all, its free (AT&T charges for their GPS service). Sprint also includes NFL and NASCAR applications that contain a wealth of information for both sports, which can be handy when you're at work and missing the game/race. But, generally speaking, the App Store has fallen flat thus far. Palm has not released their SDK to outside developers, and consequently, the Pre limps around with fewer than 50 applications made available. Things like Pandora Radio, Flixter (Movies), Tweed (Twitter), Yelp! (Consumer Reviews), among others make up the core applications that most would use, and there have been a few other interesting additions. But saying that there is "More to Come" is not exactly a selling point.
Sprint and Palm have done a good day of making their OS Updates easy to do as well. All are downloaded over the air and installed automatically, and thus far, have made the phone far more stable than what it was when I first bought it. Fixes for signal strength and stability have been welcome additions, as well as fixes for ringtones and the overall time required to launch large applications. I'd like to see a new update that would address the "hanging" issues that the phone has occasionally, taking too long to do anything, but it seems to be more rare than what I had experienced previously on the iPhone 3G.
Hardware
This, for the most part, is where Palm has fallen short. In this case, the iPhone is most-definitely the Audi, perhaps a R8 V10 to the Palm's Corvette. Sure, most of the goods are there, but it just feels a bit too cheap, a little too flimsy, and not quite right. One of the better features of the phone is its Achilles Heel, its slide-out keyboard. On many of the phones, the mounts have been a little loose, creating the "Oreo Effect" that has plagued too many unites. The screen will rotate slightly, as much as 2mm+ in any given direction. The drop out keyboard has had its hits and misses as well. Plenty of people have complained about how "sharp" the edge is (it gets dull with use), and how the keys don't stand out enough to be effective. The second point is strong, especially when my brother's "Free" Sanyo phone. The keys don't stick out enough to be easy to feel at all times, but as most things go, with use, its easier to do the right thing most times. The camera included with the phone is pretty nice as well. At 3.2MP, with a flash included, it isn't entirely class-leading, but it bests the Apple. Kinda. They've chosen to add video recording to the 3GS, something that (as of yet), the Pre is not able to do.
Generally speaking, the piano black finish faces the same problem seen on most other gadgets using it. Its prone to smudges, and gets finger-printy quick. The screen itself is bright, easy to read, and looks beautiful. It is not quite as big as what the iPhone packs, but screen resolution is roughly the same. Pictures are crisp, and the videos run smoothly. The screen is a bit too prone to smudges though, but it seems to be a typical problem for most touchscreen phones. Which reminds me - the accuracy of your touch seems to be pretty accurate and direct under most circumstances, almost to the point where if you aren't paying attention, you hit the wrong thing. I've started applications accidentally because of it, or zoomed in on things when I've not wanted to. There is a point when too good is really too much.
Verdict
In the end, the phone is at least as good as the iPhone, but it does not best it under most circumstances. Challenged by Apple, Palm has made a competitive phone that in its own way, will shape the industry - mostly with its software. WebOS is an excellent, excellent start for a platform that holds a lot of promise, and with a more solid piece of hardware behind it, I think it will begin to shine far better than any other would. The hardware is where the phone falls short, and while it isn't exactly a disaster, its not enough to call it a total success. In a heartbeat, I would recommend the phone to others, but I would give warning based on the prospects of the Pre going to Verizon, and furthermore, the next pieces of hardware that will carry WebOS (Pre 2 and "Eos").
Palm Pre (2009)
5.75 out of 7
