Sunday, 7 June 2009
So, about the Palm Pre
There are plenty of reviews out there, this is not a review. since I've only played with the Pre for about 10 minutes at the store on launch day. I came into the store very well informed.
When the sales drone started his speel, I cut him off, explained I've been following it since CES, and he just handed it to me and walked off.
At first, it was sorta broken, presses weren't registering, apps barely launched, but after a reset it all seemed fine, another rep said it was probably provisioning, which sucks CPU or whatnot, anywhoo, it finally settled down into a usable state, so I dove in. I really already decided NOT to buy one just yet, cuz the reviews hit on a few show stoppers. I wanted to see these in person though, and also to try out the keyboard.
1. I'm gonna have to call BULLSHIT on the Copy & Paste. Copy and paste inside edit fields only is so half-assed, I wonder why they even bothered. Since every app is a browser, I'd figure they could just fix this in 'one spot' and get true copy and paste everywhere at some future point. Anyway, this is 'broken' or 'incomplete' such that it's a show stopper.
2. Integration isn't all there. To wit: pull up google maps, find a store or pub or whatever, and try to add it to your contacts... nope, can't do it. This was a bit boggling cuz my WinMo version of google maps does it just fine. Amazingly disappointed in this. 3. No tethering. I've been tethering since having my nokia on t-mobile some 7-8 years ago. (and then on my HTCs via sprint), But now they cut the feature. Can't tell if it's 'not done' or just won't be ever supported.3. Rate plan BS. I'd be fine to go to 'simply everything' for $79, but they told me I can't... cuz i have 2 phones. Even if one of those phones is as stupid as a rock, I'd need to buy simply everything family.. which is $130 fucking dollars. Uh, no. Until I find a CSR that gives a shit to keep me as a customer, I won't be upgrading. Either that, or I have to cut off my friend who pays me $10 for her line, I somehow doubt she wants to pay $70/mo.
4. Minor, but still annoying. Word completion when typing is pretty much non-existant. My WinMo phone gives me 3 'best guesses' as I start typing, which is pretty sweet.
5. Minor: Accelerometer doesn't work in all apps. Why not? This isn't a freaking iphone. If I want to read my mail in landscape, then by joe I should be able to do that.
6. Minor: the 'phone' app itself is sorta week. I just have large freakin buttons that STAY ON AFTER I CALL. Just like my winmo phone, I have to 're-invoke' the keypad after dialing, which annoys me.
However, it's not all a steaming pile of poo:- Type-to-search. This is very much like Vista/W7s start menu search box. Use it to quickly pull up apps or contacts. I sorta like using this over the launcher! Keyboard has to be open though. It seems to not be 'enabled' all over, like, uh, email?
- Overall look: colorful, slick, 'finger friendly'. The UI is pretty easy to use (especially after the dozens of videos I've watched). Things bounce, scroll, and otherwise fly aorund quickly. The cards-as-apps metaphor WORKS. The middle button pulls you out to see cards, so instead of it being a 'home' or 'windows key', its more of the 'task manager'. If I owned one of thsee, I'd probably leave contacts, calendar, email, and the phone apps all the time. Then just flip between them.
- The web browser is super fast on EVDO, and zooms & scrolls are fast and smooth. Renders everything but flash just fine. Even javascript intensive pages.
- Youtube and sprint TV apps played back video that was decently sharp, zooming out with the silver button paused video though. ( I sorta wanted it to keep playing audio at least)
So, Who is this phone for? I figure it's for people with a 'just-a-phone-phone', who might want to bring their social network with them whereever they go. Average joe iphone users might be happy to switch just for the multi-tasking, and river-pebble form factor. Anyone with a serious investment in iphone, such as a heavy app user with a $100 library would find it hard to make the switch. This certainly won't make converts out of any typical apple zealot, as they are all claiming 3.0 update gives them 'all of what the pre can do'. Which is a half truth, but apple dorks are fine with half-truths. An average joe win-mo user might also like it, since it's not really that clunky to move around in, WinMo power users like myself will have to wait for the apps or SDK to show up. that copy-and-paste shit needs to get fixed though.
