STurtle - I agree
You hit the key point.
How well does it run Palm Os apps.
There is a phone out there already........
It works with facebook, google maps, and other web pages. It has video playback and recording capabilities. You can also listen to music at the same time as doing other functions. It has SD expandable memory, it can take decent pictures, oh and it can cut and paste. Even better there are thousands of GOOD and USEFUL applications for it for available for FREE. Included in these are multiple keyring applications that store your passwords in 1024 bit key encryption using known respected protocols. Even better you can cut and paste passwords and info form the secure programs to the memo pad/ internet and other locations. It will send and answer email, and it can open and edit Office documents like word, excel and powerpoint.
Even better this phone is small enough to fit in a small shirt pocket, and costs less $100 even without a contract!!! Oh and ANY program you have you can share with other uses with a simple tap. It also has a great keyboard that is easy to type on, and a on screen keyboard as well.
So what great amazing phone is this? PALM CENTRO!!!!
And yes it is made by PALM, and PALM One.
What most people dont realize is PALM split into a two companies Palm for hardware, and Palm One for the OS. As far as the PRE goes, this is PALM hardware running a new OS (WEBOS) it does not run the palm platform. After the Centro, the Palm One OS is pretty much dead and gone, (unless someone like google buys it and revives it.)
There are still MANY palm holdouts out there, and NO we are not luddites, the main reason you can't get Palm users to switch, is their phone are VERY easy to use and they work great. The Centro has opened up all kinds of great usefulness for this aging OS.
Here is the rub:
The screen is smaller than Pre or Iphwn
There is no WiFi (though I can't say I've ever really missed it or needed it)
No dedicated GPS circuit (though cellular location in google maps is VERY accurate)
It cracks me up to hear a NEW ad from Apple pushing that their phone can now take video, or can now cut and paste, or now uses office apps etc. Centro and other Palms have been offering all these functions FOR YEARS!!!
So here is what I want from a phone (and I'm going to wait and hold my breath until someone up and makes it for me!!):
* Palm Pre like phone with a REAL slide out keyboard. (maybe without the sharp edge)
* A screen that covers the majority of the phone's face (like Ipwn)
* Support for Palm OS native programs
* Reliable way to import all data, and personal settings from current Palm device
* HotSyncing by pushing a simple button, with the option to make multiple different backup versions
* SIP/VoIP (wifi options)
Until then neither the Iphone or Pre is a better phone than my Centro, as its way cheaper, very easy to use and does a lot more. Sure each phone has some features the Centro doesn;t, but none of them are ones I can't live without, and neither of them has all the features that I currently have.
I will not go backwards, why do all these phones seem to suck so bad and cost soo much.
(Someone mentioned the Pre doesn't do video, but someone also mentioned there was no memory expansion, and that I know is incorrect. )
So come on reg, how about a migration article at least from a Treo/Centro to the Palm Pre, or is the naked emperor that we are not supposed be talking about?
And to the Windows users - FAIL!!! I do not want my contacts and calls that easy to steal. I also expect to not reboot my phone - EVER. The only time I have EVER needed to reboot my centro was after loading and running a unsupported third party OLD palm application, and even then I just had to power cycle. To accept using a phone that may crash in the middle of using it is UNACCEPTABLE!!