Palm Pre… Not so impressed
So, today was the day, June 6, Palm Pre launch day. Wow! What a total let down. No lines. No one knew what I was talking about when I asked if they had checked out the Palm Pre. How do you have an iPhone-killer that no one even knows about. Yes, I know that it [the pre] does have buzz, but I think that it may only be gadget industry self-made buzz. I can tell you, it definitely isn’t the kind of buzz that existed the weeks leading up to the iPhone release. I feel a little wierd about how I thought that this thing was bigger than it actually is. I listen to a lot of gadget news (Engadget, ARS, Gizmoda, GTGD, DL.TV, Tekzilla, etc.) and I think that I am a victim of self-created news. You know, when the news creates a huge deal about something that really does need to be blown up that big, but by over hyping it, they get more ratings. I think that my beloved, gadget news blogs and podcasts have dupped me on this one.
Anyway, I got to my local Sprint store. There was one guy playing with the single display unit. There was another guy next to him checking out the simple flip phones. The guy checking out the Pre, finished up (in only a few minutes - not a good sign). I asked the other guy, “are you waiting to check out the Pre. He was like, huh? no.” I thought, hmmmm, how could someone be in the market for a new phone, at a Sprint store not know about the Pre? This isn’t a good sign.
What I thought of the phone:
- The shape is not right. I think that it’s too short.
- The keyboard’s keys are only OK. Too small.
- The speaker is pretty good. Better than my iPod Touch.
- The camera is only OK. The auto flash is nice.
- The OS has too many different ways to navigate. Not like the simplisity and consistency of the iPhone. Also, some of the buttons are a little too small. Not as bad as Windows Mobile, though.
- Weight is not right. I feel like it should be just a little heavier.
- I am not sold on the flipping through applications. I feel like it’s back to my Treo 700wx with Windows Mobile where I have a bunch of applications running that I am not still using.
Well, I didn’t play with it for too long. It wasn’t that exciting for some reason. I still remember the first time I played with the iPhone. I was like, wow, this is a completely new way to interact with a computer/phone. I just didn’t feel the same when I picked up the Pre.
Can’t wait to hear what people think in a few weeks. As you really need a few weeks with a phone to really know anything.
