While I do like my droid, I could definitely appreciate some of the features that you've mentioned here on the Palm. I get very frustrated with the size of the keyboard for the Droid, just as you became frustrated with it on the Palm. Since I have small hands, it is difficult and annoying for me to navigate quickly on the Droid. It was very obviously made for someone with bigger hands than me.
Yet at the same time, I would like a smooth, glitches free smartphone environment, for all that I wouldn't call myself a user of your caliber or specificity. It frustrates me that there is a lack of a smartphone with the capabilities and apps of an iPhone or Nexus One with a physical keyboard that fits my needs.
Still, were I on the market for a smartphone right now, I'd probably grab the Pre. $50 is a steal!
"Is a near-perfect OS enough to overcome hardware and marketing flaws from on high?"
Yes, absolutely. I would even be as bold to say that the hardware gains on Android phones are a crutch for their glitchy OS. The hardware on the Palm Pre Plus is more than sufficient, and runs more efficiently on the "near-flawless" OS. While it would be nice if the 2nd gen WebOS devices have a better processor, bigger screen and a compass, I think Palm users are more worried about what new software features it will have.
In your last article about the Palm Pre Plus, I thought you were a bit unfair, even though all the criticisms you had of the phone were valid and justified. I just think you focused too much on the negative and didn't really delve into the positive aspects of the phone. There are great reasons why people should get a Palm Pre Plus and they wouldn't know that by reading either of these articles. I think it should also be noted that the major issues you pointed out in the last article have all been addressed. They sacked the company that made the original commercial and have a great new marketing campaign. (It should also be noted that Palm has been leading the industry in social media and internet marketing since the phones were released last June) Then they made immense improvement to their development environment to answer the concerns that app and game developers had. Then they released a major revision to WebOS that filled in all of the gaps between them and other smartphones. Palm has made HUGE strides to improve their franchise since your last article, and I think you did yourself a disservice by not reporting on it.
I really like your style of reporting. You are hard-hitting and you have impossibly high standards that are crucial to the competitive nature of this business. However, people also want to hear about the good stuff. Not trying to be disrespectful, I just think it would be nice if you were a little more balanced.
I just got my $50 Pre Plus from Verizon two days ago...
The first full day saw the battery die at 6:30pm, after some moderate usage -(new phone- gotta play around).
That night I realized wifi was on all day, so I turned it off the next day.
Battery was still at 56% at 6:30 the following day after heavier phone usage.
I really love the OS, really easy to just figure out for me -(googled a few things, like deleting email before opening), but the web experience is not great. I agree with the author that the screen is the problem. No webpage is really readable without resizing, and then the size of the screen becomes the issue. I came from a Samsung Blackjack2 with WM6 and it has the worst browser ever! But, I found it easier to just get a basic webpage and read it..
I will admit, I really like both the device and the OS. It really just works well!
Tonight I overclocked the processor to 800mhz and it's basically like going from an Iphone3G to a GS. What an amazing difference!
Does the slider still have the oreo effect on the plus hardware? I have to say after almost a year with my original Pre, I'm rather disturbed by the side-to-side twisting wobble of it. That, and the USB cover is long-gone.
Probably just the cost of being an early adopter, but I'm much more impressed by the OS than the hardware.
I only had the phone for about 6 weeks. Not enough time to determine whether or not the Plus also falls victim to the oreo twist. :/ The USB cover, meanwhile, is probably still equally prone to taking a hike--it's very delicate.
The oreo twist was present in my phone from day one, but I've heard the plus hardware supposedly fixed it.
At this point I'm trying to decide whether to give up on Palm and switch to the HTC Evo when it comes out - or to hold out for Palm because I'm such a sucker for WebOS
Oh, and since I replied before reading the other pages of the review: Excellent, fair review!
Not sure if you've heard of the homebrew scene for WebOS, but it's easily the best thing about the platform. Not only homebrew apps outside the official catalog, but patches to the OS itself.
It turns out that most of WebOS itself is implemented in plain text HTML / JS / CSS - which means that the GNU diff/patch tools used in open source development can be used to wedge new features into the OS.
Here's a huuuuge list of random features hackers (including me) have released:
I had entertained the idea of discussing the homebrew scene in the article. I had even dedicated a section for hacking when I first brainstormed the layout of the article. In the end, however, I dropped that section because I want to devote a separate article to it. Also, I didn't think it was entirely appropriate to influence the overall rating for the phone with amenities not gifted to it by default, and I'm not certain Verizon would have taken to the notion very kindly.
The webOS modding scene is very compelling, particularly with the ease of opening developer mode and whatnot. I'll be writing more on it soon.
I only used it a little bit (I'm not blessed with an abundance of wifi equipment), but download speeds were quite reasonable. I'd say the experience was roughly comparable to the Verizon MiFi we used in Las Vegas (which Icrontic has reviewed). It gets sluggish with 2-3 people, but it's better than no Internet at all.
It's a feature I would love to see on other smartphones, but I know carriers won't eat into their tethering profits so readily.
I only used it a little bit (I'm not blessed with an abundance of wifi equipment), but download speeds were quite reasonable. I'd say the experience was roughly comparable to the Verizon MiFi we used in Las Vegas (which Icrontic has reviewed). It gets sluggish with 2-3 people, but it's better than no Internet at all.
It's a feature I would love to see on other smartphones, but I know carriers won't eat into their tethering profits so readily.
I love the idea, and I love the current price...
Just when I thought I was out, smartphones and contract wireless pull me back in!
Okay, I'm not a power smart phone user, in fact, I don't have one now, but there is a promo right now where I can get added to my family plan and get the wifi hotspot feature for free which appeals to me.
Pre owners, I just have to know one thing. That keyboard, it looks like a bear to type on. I mean I want to text now and again. Is there a software keyboard now that works any better? Whats the typing experience like for anyone here that uses the Pre.
One might say, why the pre and not something else, well, I absolutely dig the WebOS UI, I have played with it and I think its brilliant and fun to use. Love the multi tasking features, but if I can't seem to type on it, I'm not sure what good the phone is?
It appears to be a case where the brilliant software is marred by insufficient hardware?
That's really the story of the Pre, Cliff. The hardware keyboard is all you have, and it's not a very good one. There's no soft keyboard that I'm aware of... The screen is too small to make that worthwhile anyhow.
Pre owners, I just have to know one thing. That keyboard, it looks like a bear to type on. I mean I want to text now and again. Is there a software keyboard now that works any better? Whats the typing experience like for anyone here that uses the Pre.
There's a software keyboard you can download and install from the homebrew community, but I've never tried it. Could be hacky, could be fine.
But, personally, I think the hardware keyboard is fine after over a year of using it. I've got pretty big thumbs, and I have no problems with it. I use my Pre (non-Plus) to Tweet, text, IM, comment in forums, etc.
My wife has the Pixi, and her keyboard is even better. I seem to remember the Pre Plus keyboard being something of a mix between the two, which would probably be an improvement.
I've actually been pretty happy with my Pre, all told. I've got my eye on an HTC EVO, but that's mostly because I want to move on from webOS development to Android and I'm not all that certain about the future of the platform in HP's hands.
Its a real balancing act picking one of these things. Might be the most complicated technology purchase ever. I've spent countless hours mulling over the pros and cons of these things. Truth is, I don't really have to get one, but suddenly I suddenly feel motivated to jump into the smart phone market.
I've given everything a look. IPhone, simple, elegant, boring...
Android, powerful, feature rich, kind of clunky...
Windows Mobile HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Palm WebOS, Simple, Elegant, Best UI, meh hardware....
Still, I'm 95% of the way saying that at my core, I'm a Palm kind of guy. I'll trade some screen real estate and get used to a sub par keyboard for WebOS, I just like it too much, using it just feels a little too right for me to walk away from it. Its priced right and I get the wifi hotspot access free?
I just need to buy the damn thing and stop obsessing over it.
I got used to the keyboard on my Palm Pre 100 after using it for a year, and the plus's keyboard is supposed to be a big improvement. I wouldn't worry about it. I don't know if I'd ever get used to a phone without a keyboard and having to use a touch-screen keyboard, but if I used it for a year I'd probably get used to it as well. The best keyboard I ever had on a phone was my Moto Q9c, which I've gone back to temporarily because I drowned my Pre. I'm actually shocked how much I can still do with that phone, but the Pre is obviously light years ahead. I've just come to realize that the UI is more important than the hardware.
There is a software keyboard available. It's definitely hacky, and I only use it to get me out of a jam. I suppose you could probably get used to it if you want, but it's nice to have so you don't have to flip the phone open to type a couple letters.
Recommendations:
Developer mode is a must. Once you put it in developer mode and install Preware you can take it out of developer mode immediately and you won't have to worry about it again. Get the UberKernel Luna mod, which supports temperature monitoring, overclocking and virtual memory compression. There is a program called Govnah that allows you to tweak your kernel settings. I had mine setup to overclock to 800mhz when the screen was on, and underclock to 125mhz when the screen was off. It made the phone significantly faster, and the battery last longer. Also, Compcache makes it so you can have more apps open at once.
The only apps I wish were available for WebOS are Skype and Qik. Other than that, I don't think you'll have a problem finding the apps you're looking for.
Thrax
🐌Austin, TX Icrontian
Comments
While I do like my droid, I could definitely appreciate some of the features that you've mentioned here on the Palm. I get very frustrated with the size of the keyboard for the Droid, just as you became frustrated with it on the Palm. Since I have small hands, it is difficult and annoying for me to navigate quickly on the Droid. It was very obviously made for someone with bigger hands than me.
Yet at the same time, I would like a smooth, glitches free smartphone environment, for all that I wouldn't call myself a user of your caliber or specificity. It frustrates me that there is a lack of a smartphone with the capabilities and apps of an iPhone or Nexus One with a physical keyboard that fits my needs.
Still, were I on the market for a smartphone right now, I'd probably grab the Pre. $50 is a steal!
Yes, absolutely. I would even be as bold to say that the hardware gains on Android phones are a crutch for their glitchy OS. The hardware on the Palm Pre Plus is more than sufficient, and runs more efficiently on the "near-flawless" OS. While it would be nice if the 2nd gen WebOS devices have a better processor, bigger screen and a compass, I think Palm users are more worried about what new software features it will have.
In your last article about the Palm Pre Plus, I thought you were a bit unfair, even though all the criticisms you had of the phone were valid and justified. I just think you focused too much on the negative and didn't really delve into the positive aspects of the phone. There are great reasons why people should get a Palm Pre Plus and they wouldn't know that by reading either of these articles. I think it should also be noted that the major issues you pointed out in the last article have all been addressed. They sacked the company that made the original commercial and have a great new marketing campaign. (It should also be noted that Palm has been leading the industry in social media and internet marketing since the phones were released last June) Then they made immense improvement to their development environment to answer the concerns that app and game developers had. Then they released a major revision to WebOS that filled in all of the gaps between them and other smartphones. Palm has made HUGE strides to improve their franchise since your last article, and I think you did yourself a disservice by not reporting on it.
I really like your style of reporting. You are hard-hitting and you have impossibly high standards that are crucial to the competitive nature of this business. However, people also want to hear about the good stuff. Not trying to be disrespectful, I just think it would be nice if you were a little more balanced.
The first full day saw the battery die at 6:30pm, after some moderate usage -(new phone- gotta play around).
That night I realized wifi was on all day, so I turned it off the next day.
Battery was still at 56% at 6:30 the following day after heavier phone usage.
I really love the OS, really easy to just figure out for me -(googled a few things, like deleting email before opening), but the web experience is not great. I agree with the author that the screen is the problem. No webpage is really readable without resizing, and then the size of the screen becomes the issue. I came from a Samsung Blackjack2 with WM6 and it has the worst browser ever! But, I found it easier to just get a basic webpage and read it..
I will admit, I really like both the device and the OS. It really just works well!
Tonight I overclocked the processor to 800mhz and it's basically like going from an Iphone3G to a GS. What an amazing difference!
Probably just the cost of being an early adopter, but I'm much more impressed by the OS than the hardware.
At this point I'm trying to decide whether to give up on Palm and switch to the HTC Evo when it comes out - or to hold out for Palm because I'm such a sucker for WebOS
Oh, and since I replied before reading the other pages of the review: Excellent, fair review!
Not sure if you've heard of the homebrew scene for WebOS, but it's easily the best thing about the platform. Not only homebrew apps outside the official catalog, but patches to the OS itself.
It turns out that most of WebOS itself is implemented in plain text HTML / JS / CSS - which means that the GNU diff/patch tools used in open source development can be used to wedge new features into the OS.
Here's a huuuuge list of random features hackers (including me) have released:
http://webos-patches.dbsooner.com/?do=browse&webosver=all&category=all
The webOS modding scene is very compelling, particularly with the ease of opening developer mode and whatnot. I'll be writing more on it soon.
How much did you use the mobile hotspot feature?
Overall, what was the experience like on a laptop or netbook?
It's a feature I would love to see on other smartphones, but I know carriers won't eat into their tethering profits so readily.
I love the idea, and I love the current price...
Just when I thought I was out, smartphones and contract wireless pull me back in!
Pre owners, I just have to know one thing. That keyboard, it looks like a bear to type on. I mean I want to text now and again. Is there a software keyboard now that works any better? Whats the typing experience like for anyone here that uses the Pre.
One might say, why the pre and not something else, well, I absolutely dig the WebOS UI, I have played with it and I think its brilliant and fun to use. Love the multi tasking features, but if I can't seem to type on it, I'm not sure what good the phone is?
It appears to be a case where the brilliant software is marred by insufficient hardware?
There's a software keyboard you can download and install from the homebrew community, but I've never tried it. Could be hacky, could be fine.
But, personally, I think the hardware keyboard is fine after over a year of using it. I've got pretty big thumbs, and I have no problems with it. I use my Pre (non-Plus) to Tweet, text, IM, comment in forums, etc.
My wife has the Pixi, and her keyboard is even better. I seem to remember the Pre Plus keyboard being something of a mix between the two, which would probably be an improvement.
I've actually been pretty happy with my Pre, all told. I've got my eye on an HTC EVO, but that's mostly because I want to move on from webOS development to Android and I'm not all that certain about the future of the platform in HP's hands.
I've given everything a look. IPhone, simple, elegant, boring...
Android, powerful, feature rich, kind of clunky...
Windows Mobile HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Palm WebOS, Simple, Elegant, Best UI, meh hardware....
Still, I'm 95% of the way saying that at my core, I'm a Palm kind of guy. I'll trade some screen real estate and get used to a sub par keyboard for WebOS, I just like it too much, using it just feels a little too right for me to walk away from it. Its priced right and I get the wifi hotspot access free?
I just need to buy the damn thing and stop obsessing over it.
There is a software keyboard available. It's definitely hacky, and I only use it to get me out of a jam. I suppose you could probably get used to it if you want, but it's nice to have so you don't have to flip the phone open to type a couple letters.
Recommendations:
Developer mode is a must. Once you put it in developer mode and install Preware you can take it out of developer mode immediately and you won't have to worry about it again. Get the UberKernel Luna mod, which supports temperature monitoring, overclocking and virtual memory compression. There is a program called Govnah that allows you to tweak your kernel settings. I had mine setup to overclock to 800mhz when the screen was on, and underclock to 125mhz when the screen was off. It made the phone significantly faster, and the battery last longer. Also, Compcache makes it so you can have more apps open at once.
The only apps I wish were available for WebOS are Skype and Qik. Other than that, I don't think you'll have a problem finding the apps you're looking for.