Version: 2008

Comments on: First impressions: Palm Pre

Palm made quite a splash at CES 2009 with the unveiling of its new Palm Web OS and Palm Pre smartphone. We give you our first impressions of the device and how it will impact Palm and Sprint.

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by March 29, 2009 4:43 PM PDT
looks like palm is back, just a couple of perhaps minor that need attention for it to be a super great phone ie. auto-focus camera, and although from the demo it looks the OS runs smoothly just make sure it does when the product is launched.... they may not have a lot of time but i think these minor improvements can be made within a short period.....
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by Paul Kirtley April 18, 2009 6:07 PM PDT
I've always wanted an iPhone, but I've never been keen on leaving Sprint, so news of the Palm Pre is welcome. I wish it was here now. Question: Will the Pre be able to play full-length movies as you can on an iPhone? This is a great thing to have to stuck in an airport.
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by anabnna84 May 3, 2009 11:27 AM PDT
I have read a lot of the comments left on here and everyone's entitled to their own opinion. Here's mine. I've been with Sprint for 5 years. Their coverage in some areas is spotty but then again I'm not in those areas all the time. Their customer service is something to be desired but then again who's customer service reps are truly helpful and nice? We're all human. We all have our days. I had the Palm 700wx for 2 years and loved it for the most part. There are a few things I wish it had had but didn't. Then again can we always get everything we want? When I renewed my contract last November, I made the jump to Blackberry thinking it was something special. I am now regretting that but what can ya do? I have to admit that Sprint has the best prices in the industry. I spend like 89.99 a month for 900 mins, nights starting at 7, unlimited messaging of any kind and unlimited data. For $10 more I can get unlimited minutes but then I won't be able to use my company discount. I usually don't use my entire 900 as it is. (I wish they had adopted the rollover thing that AT&T did. C'est la vie.) If I were to go to AT&T for all of that it would cost me well over $100 even with a company discount. I also like how Sprint has come out with its Premier customer program. It allows me to resign a new 2-year contract after the 1st year of my current contract is up, and still gives me $150 off towards a new phone. I'm glad I won't be stuck with this Blackberry for 2 years.

As for AT&T, my parent's original cellphone provider was bought out by AT&T. They live in the sticks (the Northwoods of Wisconsin) and they get decent reception but my dad travels for his job and there are many spots where he doesn't get reception or gets dropped calls. So for this mere fact, my parents are moving to Verizon because they provide coverage for wherever my dad travels.

As for the iPhone, I never got on that bus. Its just another phone that didn't fit my needs. Plus I like having an actual keyboard that isn't on the screen. I don't like how easy it is to mistype something. I don't like the Storm because you have to push so hard in order to type or do anything on that screen.

I'm excited that Sprint is making this leap to catch up and hopefully hold its own next to the competition. I can only hope that they rebuild the company internally.

Having said all of that and 30 minutes later, I can't wait for November when I can resign a new 2-year contract and get the Pre. Hopefully by November they'll have worked out some of the intial kinks that any new product has. I just wish that Sprint would release it already and put a price to go with it.
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by drapester May 18, 2009 2:41 PM PDT
I just created a petition for the Palm Pre to be offered on Verizon Wireless. Anyone care to sign?

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/palm-pre-for-verizon

Please pass it on! Thank you.
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by smkrmk May 25, 2009 2:14 PM PDT
I've been a Sprint customer for years and I agree with the comments about their lousy customer service. it seems that you get more incorrect information and bad follow-up than any other company in almost any service business. I only stick with them because i have an old grandfathered plan that I cannot duplicate anywhere else. When I learned about the Pre, I also found out that I had to "upgrade" my plan to one of the current "data plans" which would raise my shared pan bu about $90.00 per month versus what I'm paying now. The ironic part is that I have previously added a data plan and text messaging to my plan, but that still doesn't qualify me to get a Pre without changing plans. SPRINT USERS WITH OLD PLANS BEWARE OF THIS GOTCHA before you consider the new Pre! (By the way, this same gotcha is also tied the the Samsung Instinct which I wanted to get for my daughter.) Is there any wonder why Sprint lags behind ATT and Verizon when they try to screw their existing customer base?
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by LEOMARCA May 26, 2009 6:58 PM PDT
i just want to know if the Pre on Sprint will have a simcard ?
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by erpmlap May 28, 2009 8:09 AM PDT
I like Palm products and its great to see them back with this amazing device. Unfortunately, if and when it comes to the UK it looks like we have to buy from Cellnet(O2) which is the main reason why many I know have not purchased iPhones. I think Palm should allow this product to be purchased without a network contract as well. I think they will get a lot of WM users without the network trap.
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by mrquique June 2, 2009 3:16 AM PDT
This phone look amazing, too bad power users like me need a stronger platform like Windows Mobile to be able to run custom applications . That's why I opt for the Treo Pro. But for beginners and Mac users (accustom to simplicity) should be a lot of fun.
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by peterwhite June 2, 2009 9:36 AM PDT
Sprint's remote customer service is horrible. I don't want to sound racist but the Filipinos do not address the specic issue you have and sound as though they will be whipped for not providing details on any and all ongoing promotions. Plus, they have issues with password verification due to their own inability to understand our accents.

However, I have rarely been disappointed with in-store support. Wheter at a kiosk or in-store the Sprint representatives and US based call lines have been very effective.

As for service, my family and I have Sprint scattered throughout the US West. Sprint's maps point out their coverage in major cities and up/down the major highways. This works out for me perfectly, I've had a business phone with AT&T and TMobile (international). Once I used the AT&T phone in the woods to check a football score; otherwise isn't getting away from it all one of the reasons we leave the big city and major highways? So coverage map isn't an issue for me at all. I've never EVER dropped a call or had poor reception. Then there's the rate plans for families and 'everything plan' ... for cripes sake, no other carrier can touch this.

If you ask me, Palm is making a mistake by not allowing Sprint to maintain a longer exclusivity. Think about it, it's like the Disney trend of making DVDs available for a limited time - so if you want a legal copy, you run out and buy one. Otherwise, you walk past the aisle and go, hmmm - sounds good but I don't really need one and if I change my mind, it'll still be there next week. Likewise, by making the Pre available on all platforms it lacks the buzz of exclusivity and worse, makes it much more likely that consumers will spend even more time comparing it to carrier options.

I for one am going to buy at least one, maybe the spouse will get one too, and am thrilled with Sprint. BTW I am apparently a premiere account holder too - never realized it until I logged online and read all the hoopla. Just another toss-in, along with my free ringtones and Sprint TV channels. Loyalty pays.
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by L7even June 6, 2009 8:53 AM PDT
Has anyone read Palm's license agreement that you have to accept before you can use the Pre? I'm not sure I like it.
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by abcyesn June 6, 2009 6:15 PM PDT
well guy i am so mad, i want to cry,

Well i was at the sprint store at 840am and finally was able to get in at 930. i got myself a pre. i love the phone. Unfortunately when i got home, after i took the plastic protectorout of the screen i saw that there was a little screen crack, nothing major so i decided to return to the sprint sore, by the time i got there, till now the crack is getting bigger and now he scree is not even functioning at all..i told them about it, but they want me to pay an extra $119 to get the phone fixed, or to contact palm who is being unfair as well
This wasnt my fault, i didnt drop the phone or anything, i am so mad and thy want to charge me more for something i didnt do. On top of that, they dont even have a phone left there, so i am stuck...i really feel bad really really...i dont know what to do. If you got advice, message me at http://www.PalmPreForum.org thanks.
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by abcyesn June 14, 2009 7:13 AM PDT
My name is Brian, and I just got my Pre on Saturday by a stroke of sheer luck... They "Found" 10 extra units in the back room when everywhere else was sold out.

I LOVE this phone, but I'm getting a little tired of hearing about how much better the iPhone is by Apple fans who haven't even touched the Pre.

Yes, the iPhone is nice and all that, but come on.. let us enjoy our phones in peace. There's no need to tell us that our phone sucks when we just laid 3-400 bucks down on the counter for it.

I hang out at http://www.PalmPreForum.org a site made for all Palm Pre owners.
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by lynn_1988 October 6, 2009 6:06 PM PDT
This is the worst phone ever!!!!!!!!!!! NEVER BUY!!!!!!!!!!! 38 days after purchasing new palm pre...sprint sent us a refurb phone. Battery recall...all kinds of problems!!!!!!!!!!! Don't buy!
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by pinkwings7 November 19, 2009 12:21 PM PST
It's not that great of a phone, the smarter the phone the slower it gets. It's slow, the battery dies super fast, sometimes you type letters and you can't see them on the screen. The calls drop a lot.
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