10 minutes with Palm Pre: Switching from Apple’s iPhone UI
What would it really take for an Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone owner to move cell phones and away from the extremely popular iPhone UL to something else?
Would the answer be the Palm Pre? This new Smartphone from Palm (NASDAQ:PALM) has a rumored March 15 release date and is really causing a stir in the phone world thanks to its stylish design and features.
The video below shows you a hands-on with the Palm Pre for over 10 minutes, but as an iPhone owner I still find it hard to see why to switch devices. Many of today’s “iPhone Killers” seem to try and copy what the iPhone did first.
Watch the Palm Pre review below and if you own an iPhone, would you switch?
Watch the video below or join our video news feed.
The Video
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February 28th, 2009 at 15:22
I have had an iPhone since its dawn, and have seen its downs at first, and now it ups. The bad thing about the iPhone is that everyone has one. And to be quite honest, its getting old. I’m glad to see Palm coming out with something fresh. You say that the “iphone Killers” are trying to copy what the iPhone did first? Well tell me what it is the iPhone did first, a touch screen? Its been a long time coming, and as an avid iPhone user, that doesn’t mean that I am an iPhone user until I die. I ike the Palm Pre, and my service with the iPhone will die upon the Pre’s release.
February 28th, 2009 at 15:40
The ability to park an application, open a new one to look something up then go back to the previous still running application and continue with it is impressive.
This phone supports multitasking/live applications, email and calendaring integration.
Easy launching, closing and switching between applications with the card view.
Touch and key pad.
I’m impressed.
February 28th, 2009 at 16:32
“[Palm Pre] is really causing a stir in the phone world thanks to its stylish design and features.”
If “stylish” is what someone’s after, then why go from iPhone? I find both phones “stylish”. Besides, stylish is in the observer’s eye so there’s really no telling how these people may turn.
I know Pre is an iPhone “killer” when it comes to certain aspects of usability and integration of various personal data. Great physical keyboard and other stuff Palm has been known for can’t be iPhone “killers” because these have been around even before iPhone. I’ve got a Treo 680 that’s still more than usable, albeit lacking some of the newest technology (like WiFi), but it’s a frog compared to the iPhone, esthetically. Still, I’d never consider upgrading to an iPhone.
But as Jack said, as iPhone “is getting old”, and Palm brings something fresh with Pre, it might actually win many iPhone users looking for a new phone.
February 28th, 2009 at 18:42
i was sold ,Jan. 8
February 28th, 2009 at 19:49
@Jack
I Completely agree, to add to your comment, there are many lower tier devices that had the ability to record video, copy and paste, MMS, etc. As well as except 3rd party applications without restrictions. To many, Apple dressed up the iphone with an impressive UI, beyond that all the other feature have been around and are pretty basic.
February 28th, 2009 at 19:55
If i wasn\’t already with Sprint and on a $30 Plan that included 500 minutes plus nights and weekends and unlimited internet,text,picture mail,tv,radio,etc.I would jump over from the inferior network of ATT to Sprint for the upcoming Palm Pre….I though about jumping to the Iphone 3G before but though damn I can\’t jump just for a newer phone to a worse network and a monthly fee wel over double for what i get now just for an ohh ahhh factor and say hey I am cool look at me world LOL sheepish much? bahhhhh bahhhhhh… I was looking at the touch pro but ill wait for the PRE =)
March 1st, 2009 at 02:34
With extra large fingers I need MRE key board
March 1st, 2009 at 03:32
Any iPhone user (or any smartphone user) that would stick with their cell phone after seeing a Pre in use is stuck on stupid!
Also, developing apps for Pre’s WebOS is absurdly easy!! Just using Javascript, Html, and CSS, and soon to support Flash, opens up a virtual universe of application development opportunities!! Why hasn’t anyone thought of this until now!!
March 1st, 2009 at 04:44
I got an iphone a year ago and im not too impressed with it. I think the Palm Pre looks great and it will be my first choice when I get sick enough of the iphone i have now.
March 1st, 2009 at 14:17
This is easy. The iPhone is the first phone of any type that I totally enjoy. My life is diminished whenever it goes missing for a few hours. It’s my laptop of choice, my browser of choice, my mail client of choice, my chess opponent, my corporate software test platform, my text messenger, my impulse snapshotter and my wallet full of family phots whenever I meet with old, and sometimes new, friends face to face. Its my travel book and music and movie. It’s my notebook and my appointments book. It’s my map, GPS, phone log, and teleconferencing system.
In the past few weeks my sister and my cousin and both their spouses have gotten iPhones too. Because I shared my experiences and my phone with them. It’s not about fashion or features. This is a life changing device. Sold by a company that understand that the best way to serve it’s shareholders interests is to make it’s customers happy and loyal. They got me. Thank you Apple!
March 1st, 2009 at 19:05
For me, its simple. With the iPhone, I get drawn into all things Apple because of the tight integration and lock-in. But that’s not what I want. I want a phone that helps me manage my information and thats it. Touch screen, GPS, Accelerometers, etc are what I expect a phone to have - nothing special. So while I applaud Apple for forcing the market’s hand by introducing the iPhone, what they did was first generation. I consider the Palm Pre to be the start of of second.
Besides, Palm have been making devices that manage information for years. I would expect them to learn from the iPhone and produce a device that further solidifies their reputation for information management. That’s what they did and the result is beautiful. Besides, there is no lock in - heck, I can even use Linux if I want - I don’t have to use iTunes! I like that.
I would therefore go with the Palm Pre. It gives me exactly what I want without the lock in. The iPhone is getting old - I mean, come on, no memory card support? I have to use iTunes? Please. I like my information open and portable without having to buy a Mac. With the Palm Pre, I win as a customer and I like when I win.
March 1st, 2009 at 21:33
@ Hank
I am sure your completely enjoy your iPhone, and for good reason. But are you sure that it is “first” phone that you completely enjoy, or just the latest phone that you completely enjoy? Didn’t you “completely” enjoy your first camera phone before a new better more integrated camera/music phone came out?
And to say that your “life diminishes greatly” when not around your iPhone seems to me that you may want to re-examine the content of your life before owning your iPhone! How is it that your life completely revolves around your iPhone?? A smartphone should help manage your life, not BE your life!! I think your “loyalty” may have gone a little too far!!
March 1st, 2009 at 22:58
@Carl: Let me, as somewhat a Palm fan, be the one to remind you that Pre, as their first in line of devices based on webOS, won’t have memory card support either.
But I agree with your other points and I expect Palm will be releasing other devices with memory card support after initial Pre. It would make sense to release as many different devices based on webOS as they can and if I’m not mistaken they stated that’s their plan, although it’s anyone’s guess as to when and how many…
March 2nd, 2009 at 01:03
My interest in the iPhone died when i realized that despite its many “cutesy” features, it did not have two essestial features that I would never do without—”cut and paste” and “global search” (the ability to find any and all references to any word you type in).
The Palm Pre has this and so much more—I call it the Smart Phone for Smart People…and I can’t wait for its release!
March 2nd, 2009 at 14:05
>>>>Also, developing apps for Pre’s WebOS is absurdly easy!! Just using Javascript, Html, and CSS, and soon to support Flash, opens up a virtual universe of application development opportunities!! Why hasn’t anyone thought of this until now!!
—————–
Apple initially did this with the iPhone and were blasted for not having a full SDK. While the Pre’s programming interface may been dead-simple, it is also very limiting. The iPhone SDK is extremely powerful, with OpenGL graphics and strong multimedia support. A lot of folks use the iPhone as a gaming platform, which cannot be done using the relatively weak Pre.
Interesting seeing iPhone uses labeled as sheep. It’s almost like the anti-Apple crowd are as sheepish with new devices as Apple fanbodys are with theirs. The Pre isn’t even out yet and all we have are videos of it, yet some folks instantly think its the greatest smart phone in the world.
The Pre has a lot going for it but it also has a lot going against it. One, Palm doesn’t have the money for a huge promotional campaign. RIM spent a lot of money in promoting the Blackberry Storm, yet its release has been disappointing. Two, Palm is entering the market late. Their previous phones were trash, so they are trying to reinvent themselves. They are about two years late in the game though. Apple came in VERY strong with innovations, the Pre isn’t nearly as game changing as the iPhone is. Three, the carrier is garbage. Sprint is easily the worst carrier out of Verizon, AT&T and Sprint. Not only that, they are also in as much financial trouble as Palm is. If this phone were on Verizon at launch, I’d like its chances much better.
March 2nd, 2009 at 14:27
Well, now that we’ve heard from Palm’s ad team, maybe somebody else from the general public will give us a much less polished opinion
March 2nd, 2009 at 17:46
I think both devices look great. And this is only the beginning….
Apple are to be congratulated for both giving the ’smart’ phone market a much needed kick up the jacksy and at the same time making a product flawed enough to leave plenty of room in the market for the competition.
At the same time Apple do need to kept on their toes, by the likes of Palm, to keep them innovating, and maybe make them think twice about all this protectionism (iTunes, non-replaceable batteries etc).
Apple’s (and now Palm’s) brilliant job with the UI design will hopefully make the ‘traditional’ phone makers like Nokia (sorry N97 not quite in the same league UI wise), Motorola and Sony up their game some more as it has with the Pre. Then we’ll have lots and lots of choice.
Either way, there’s no shame in owning either of these phones (or for that matter any other). The whole ‘fan-boy/girl’ thing is just the marketing man’s dream - brand loyalty. Stop being gullible and just pick what’s best for you, even if that is just a plain old phone!
Go go gadget phones!