A Week with the Palm Pre

It’s now been a full week with the Palm Pre, and thus it’s time to report on initial experiences with the device. I’m coming from an HTC Touch Pro on the Sprint network, and so it’s it’s been most relevant for me to consider how the Pre compares to this device. I’ll probably never leave Sprint given over 10 years of great service (from both the network and customer service), and...

A Day in the Life of a Palm Pre Battery

So, here’s the scoop: battery life on the Pre leaves a lot to be desired. In fact, it’s really pretty lousy. The jury remains out on whether the Pre’s poor battery life is the result of the always-connected nature of WebOS, the device’s relatively powerful hardware, or firmware/software issues yet to be resolved. Or, as is likely the case, it could be a combination of all three. Regardless,...

Accessories Review: Palm Leather Side Case and Touchstone Charger

Here’s a quick review of the two accessories I impulse-purchased with my Pre. Starting with the least interesting: 1. Leather Side Case: Palm’s first of two leather cases for the Pre is pretty standard stuff. It’s of decent quality, with a tight fit and a lining that theoretically wipes the screen as the Pre is inserted and removed. The case has a strap for aiding in extracting the Pre, which is...

Palm Pre, Day 3

During my first full day with the Pre, I spent a great deal of time making mental note of the features that are missing (scroll bars in long lists, numerous configuration items, even smilies in SMS and IM) while still remaining intrigued with the WebOS experience. The result was both exhilaration at finally owning a smartphone with some intelligence to its design, and frustration at instances where the Pre seemed...

Happy Palm Pre Day!

Well, today’s the day. The Pre was officially released this morning, and I’m guessing that most folks who really, really wanted one weren’t disappointed. My Sprint corporate store in Thousand Oaks, CA had 40 Pre on hand, of which they set aside three for replacements. I showed up at around 6:10 am for an 8:00 am opening, and the last Pre ticket was handed out at around 7:30 am. I didn’t pay...