Would You Switch from an iPhone to the Palm Pre?

By Gary Ng on March 9th, 2009 183

When Palm announced at CES and demonstrated their upcoming smartphone, the Pre, many people were excited to see some “real” competition come our way. By now, we all know that despite many attempts from manufacturers such as RIM and HTC, the iPhone is still the phone to beat.

Palm Is Ready to Take the Cake from Apple

What peaked my interest though and compelled me to bring up this question was when I read this bold and confident statement by Palm’s CEO, Roger McNamee, in his interview with Bloomberg from last week:

“You know the beautiful thing: June 29, 2009, is the two- year anniversary of the first shipment of the iPhone,” McNamee said today in an interview in San Francisco. “Not one of those people will still be using an iPhone a month later.”

All I have to say to Mr. McNamee is don’t count your chicks before the eggs hatch! Palm has not sold one Pre yet, and to have the confidence to announce that the whole lot of iPhone users will switch over to the Pre is a bit cocky and “pre”-mature at this point in time. ;)

Let’s get one thing very clear: the Pre will definitely sell a lot of phones. As for switching over every single iPhone user, that is highly unlikely. First of all, we do not know if the phone will be available outside the USA at this in time. Will the Palm Pre be available in Canada? We don’t know.

Also, most users that do have iPhones in the USA and Canada are tied down to contracts with their local carriers (yours truly included). Here’s some more Palm speak from McNamee:

“Think about it — If you bought the first iPhone, you bought it because you wanted the coolest product on the market,” said McNamee, 52. “Your two-year contract has just expired. Look around. Tell me what they’re going to buy.”

What is this guy thinking when he says this stuff? It’s like he’s setting the company up for disaster if the Pre fails and Palm ends up going bankrupt. Let’s remember that Palm’s cash reserves are a couple hundred million, while Apple has about 28 billion. Palm can try to borrow to keep pushing the Pre, but when you’re up against a giant like Apple, it’s going to be an uphill battle.

Are Americans Ready to Spend More than the Cost of an iPhone 3G for a Pre?

Don’t forget the United States (and the world) is going through some tough economic times and people aren’t spending like they used to. Sure, the Pre is going to be a mighty smartphone, but at the end of the day if you’re jobless, what’s more important–a new phone or putting dinner on the table? Don’t forget that 651,000 jobs were slashed in February in the USA!

Apple tends to surprise us with updates and new products when we least expect them. Yes, the Pre will get the hype and attention it deserves, but I can only imagine the return of Jobs to announce “one more thing” during the next Apple event and blow us all away with the next generation iPhone. It’s completely possible and we’ve seen it before. I think he has already started cleaning his New Balance runners and pressing his black turtleneck and jeans.

I’m all for healthy competition as it only benefits the consumer. If it wasn’t for the iPhone we wouldn’t even have upcoming devices like the Pre. RIM has failed to dent overall iPhone sales with the Bold and the Storm (I played with a Storm recently and it was extremely PAINFUL to use). We all know deep down inside that all Blackberry users really crave an iPhone anyways, right? ;)

So to get back to my original question: Would you switch to the Palm Pre? Yes/No? Why/Why not?

My answer to the above would be NO. Why? Well, I think the Pre has yet to prove anything, aside from create some pretty positive hype. Until I actually test one in my hands and it wins me over (this is how the first gen iPhone won me over when I got hands on with one inside the Alderwood Apple Store), I will continue to use my iPhone 3G. Also, I am not a fan of physical QWERTY keyboards. They are slow and hard to use if you have fat fingers! Touchscreens are the way of the future folks! ;)

[Bloomberg]

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of iPhoneinCanada.ca. Follow @iPhoneinCanada and on Google+. Click here to save 20% OFF at ZAGG.com with coupon 'iphoneinca'!

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  • Andrew

    You might be able to use Outlook Express thats included with Microsoft Word/Excel,etc. I used to use that to sync my blackberry and now my iphone before switching to a mac. I don’t remember if you can set up events like that but I would be surprised if you couldn’t.

  • Andrew

    You might be able to use Outlook Express thats included with Microsoft Word/Excel,etc. I used to use that to sync my blackberry and now my iphone before switching to a mac. I don’t remember if you can set up events like that but I would be surprised if you couldn’t.

  • Andrew

    You might be able to use Outlook Express thats included with Microsoft Word/Excel,etc. I used to use that to sync my blackberry and now my iphone before switching to a mac. I don’t remember if you can set up events like that but I would be surprised if you couldn’t.

  • Andrew

    You might be able to use Outlook Express thats included with Microsoft Word/Excel,etc. I used to use that to sync my blackberry and now my iphone before switching to a mac. I don’t remember if you can set up events like that but I would be surprised if you couldn’t.

  • Andrew

    You might be able to use Outlook Express thats included with Microsoft Word/Excel,etc. I used to use that to sync my blackberry and now my iphone before switching to a mac. I don’t remember if you can set up events like that but I would be surprised if you couldn’t.

  • bringer666

    I’m sorry Andrew but I’m using Vista on my laptop and it does not come with Outlook Express. Vista has changed to something called “Windows Calendar” but iTunes does not sync with it. It will sync with full Outlook but that only comes in the Office suite and is too expensive for me.

  • bringer666

    I’m sorry Andrew but I’m using Vista on my laptop and it does not come with Outlook Express. Vista has changed to something called “Windows Calendar” but iTunes does not sync with it. It will sync with full Outlook but that only comes in the Office suite and is too expensive for me.

  • bringer666

    I’m sorry Andrew but I’m using Vista on my laptop and it does not come with Outlook Express. Vista has changed to something called “Windows Calendar” but iTunes does not sync with it. It will sync with full Outlook but that only comes in the Office suite and is too expensive for me.

  • bringer666

    I’m sorry Andrew but I’m using Vista on my laptop and it does not come with Outlook Express. Vista has changed to something called “Windows Calendar” but iTunes does not sync with it. It will sync with full Outlook but that only comes in the Office suite and is too expensive for me.

  • bringer666

    I’m sorry Andrew but I’m using Vista on my laptop and it does not come with Outlook Express. Vista has changed to something called “Windows Calendar” but iTunes does not sync with it. It will sync with full Outlook but that only comes in the Office suite and is too expensive for me.

  • RyanG

    NOOOOOOO. A larger phone with a smaller screen? A physical QWERTY? An interface/OS that hasn’t been tested as much as that on the iPhone? No App store/itunes reliability? A company that was near bankrupt a number of years ago? Sure the device looks really nice but all these questions tell me that it just can’t compete on a level that the iPhone does.

  • RyanG

    NOOOOOOO. A larger phone with a smaller screen? A physical QWERTY? An interface/OS that hasn’t been tested as much as that on the iPhone? No App store/itunes reliability? A company that was near bankrupt a number of years ago? Sure the device looks really nice but all these questions tell me that it just can’t compete on a level that the iPhone does.

  • RyanG

    NOOOOOOO. A larger phone with a smaller screen? A physical QWERTY? An interface/OS that hasn’t been tested as much as that on the iPhone? No App store/itunes reliability? A company that was near bankrupt a number of years ago? Sure the device looks really nice but all these questions tell me that it just can’t compete on a level that the iPhone does.

  • RyanG

    NOOOOOOO. A larger phone with a smaller screen? A physical QWERTY? An interface/OS that hasn’t been tested as much as that on the iPhone? No App store/itunes reliability? A company that was near bankrupt a number of years ago? Sure the device looks really nice but all these questions tell me that it just can’t compete on a level that the iPhone does.

  • RyanG

    NOOOOOOO. A larger phone with a smaller screen? A physical QWERTY? An interface/OS that hasn’t been tested as much as that on the iPhone? No App store/itunes reliability? A company that was near bankrupt a number of years ago? Sure the device looks really nice but all these questions tell me that it just can’t compete on a level that the iPhone does.

  • RyanG

    NOOOOOOO. A larger phone with a smaller screen? A physical QWERTY? An interface/OS that hasn’t been tested as much as that on the iPhone? No App store/itunes reliability? A company that was near bankrupt a number of years ago? Sure the device looks really nice but all these questions tell me that it just can’t compete on a level that the iPhone does.

  • Sly

    I have used 2 Palm PIMs and have found them to be substandard in every way except it’s solidity. Functionality wise it was a nightmare. Integration with my Mac was a nightmare. Palm was never much help once the devices were bought. I had perchased a wifi card to my last device that wouldn’t work and got NO help whatsoever from Palm. So NO NIET NEIN I will NOT be buying into another nightmare.
    P. S. I love my iPone and WILL be getting an upgrade when possible.

    Sly

  • Sly

    I have used 2 Palm PIMs and have found them to be substandard in every way except it’s solidity. Functionality wise it was a nightmare. Integration with my Mac was a nightmare. Palm was never much help once the devices were bought. I had perchased a wifi card to my last device that wouldn’t work and got NO help whatsoever from Palm. So NO NIET NEIN I will NOT be buying into another nightmare.
    P. S. I love my iPone and WILL be getting an upgrade when possible.

    Sly

  • Sly

    I have used 2 Palm PIMs and have found them to be substandard in every way except it’s solidity. Functionality wise it was a nightmare. Integration with my Mac was a nightmare. Palm was never much help once the devices were bought. I had perchased a wifi card to my last device that wouldn’t work and got NO help whatsoever from Palm. So NO NIET NEIN I will NOT be buying into another nightmare.
    P. S. I love my iPone and WILL be getting an upgrade when possible.

    Sly

  • Sly

    I have used 2 Palm PIMs and have found them to be substandard in every way except it’s solidity. Functionality wise it was a nightmare. Integration with my Mac was a nightmare. Palm was never much help once the devices were bought. I had perchased a wifi card to my last device that wouldn’t work and got NO help whatsoever from Palm. So NO NIET NEIN I will NOT be buying into another nightmare.
    P. S. I love my iPone and WILL be getting an upgrade when possible.

    Sly

  • Sly

    I have used 2 Palm PIMs and have found them to be substandard in every way except it’s solidity. Functionality wise it was a nightmare. Integration with my Mac was a nightmare. Palm was never much help once the devices were bought. I had perchased a wifi card to my last device that wouldn’t work and got NO help whatsoever from Palm. So NO NIET NEIN I will NOT be buying into another nightmare.
    P. S. I love my iPone and WILL be getting an upgrade when possible.

    Sly

  • Sly

    I have used 2 Palm PIMs and have found them to be substandard in every way except it’s solidity. Functionality wise it was a nightmare. Integration with my Mac was a nightmare. Palm was never much help once the devices were bought. I had perchased a wifi card to my last device that wouldn’t work and got NO help whatsoever from Palm. So NO NIET NEIN I will NOT be buying into another nightmare.
    P. S. I love my iPone and WILL be getting an upgrade when possible.

    Sly

  • Phoenix

    I’ll keep my iPhone 3G…..til the next iPhone comes out.
    iPhone OS 3.0 is adding about 100 new functions. Cut, Copy, Paste…MMS, Push Notifications, Spotlight Search, Landscape Keyboard in Mail, Messages and Notes, ability to send more than 1 pic, ect ect.
    Still no apps running in the background (would run down the battery too fast anyway).

    A step in the right direction for Apple….finally.
    I’m sure the Pre will be a nice phone and some people will like it for it’s keyboard. Maybe a iPhone with a slideout keyboard would be something Apple should consider on the future (I don’t want one myself though! I love the Virtual one). Or the ability to use a Bluetooth Keyboard would make some people happier.

  • Phoenix

    I’ll keep my iPhone 3G…..til the next iPhone comes out.
    iPhone OS 3.0 is adding about 100 new functions. Cut, Copy, Paste…MMS, Push Notifications, Spotlight Search, Landscape Keyboard in Mail, Messages and Notes, ability to send more than 1 pic, ect ect.
    Still no apps running in the background (would run down the battery too fast anyway).

    A step in the right direction for Apple….finally.
    I’m sure the Pre will be a nice phone and some people will like it for it’s keyboard. Maybe a iPhone with a slideout keyboard would be something Apple should consider on the future (I don’t want one myself though! I love the Virtual one). Or the ability to use a Bluetooth Keyboard would make some people happier.

  • Phoenix

    I’ll keep my iPhone 3G…..til the next iPhone comes out.
    iPhone OS 3.0 is adding about 100 new functions. Cut, Copy, Paste…MMS, Push Notifications, Spotlight Search, Landscape Keyboard in Mail, Messages and Notes, ability to send more than 1 pic, ect ect.
    Still no apps running in the background (would run down the battery too fast anyway).

    A step in the right direction for Apple….finally.
    I’m sure the Pre will be a nice phone and some people will like it for it’s keyboard. Maybe a iPhone with a slideout keyboard would be something Apple should consider on the future (I don’t want one myself though! I love the Virtual one). Or the ability to use a Bluetooth Keyboard would make some people happier.

  • Phoenix

    I’ll keep my iPhone 3G…..til the next iPhone comes out.
    iPhone OS 3.0 is adding about 100 new functions. Cut, Copy, Paste…MMS, Push Notifications, Spotlight Search, Landscape Keyboard in Mail, Messages and Notes, ability to send more than 1 pic, ect ect.
    Still no apps running in the background (would run down the battery too fast anyway).

    A step in the right direction for Apple….finally.
    I’m sure the Pre will be a nice phone and some people will like it for it’s keyboard. Maybe a iPhone with a slideout keyboard would be something Apple should consider on the future (I don’t want one myself though! I love the Virtual one). Or the ability to use a Bluetooth Keyboard would make some people happier.

  • Glac

    I’ve been using a combination of a Palm and cell phone for a number of years. (First a Palm IIIxe then a T5.) It’s been cumbersome, for sure, to carry two devices, but there hasn’t been an all in one device that has quite what I need. Even the mighty iPhone is just a flashy gadget that I don’t need to spend cash on. The Treo line would probably have done okay, for me, but I would have sorely missed the large screen of the T5. (Heck, a whole Treo is smaller than the T5′s screen!)

    I kept wondering… why hasn’t Palm come out with something ‘like’ the iPhone? I’d buy that. So now the Pre comes out and I’m just waiting to find out who will carry it here in Canada.

    This doesn’t answer the question of, would I switch as I never went with the iPhone anyways. However, I will, most likely, end up with a Pre and finally start carrying one less gadget.

    I have, however, enjoyed reading some of the comments that have come from this question. The more interesting responses came from those people who were not Mac Fanboys. (We know that Mac Fanboys will never switch to anything that’s not Apple regardless of the scenerio in front of them.)

  • Glac

    I’ve been using a combination of a Palm and cell phone for a number of years. (First a Palm IIIxe then a T5.) It’s been cumbersome, for sure, to carry two devices, but there hasn’t been an all in one device that has quite what I need. Even the mighty iPhone is just a flashy gadget that I don’t need to spend cash on. The Treo line would probably have done okay, for me, but I would have sorely missed the large screen of the T5. (Heck, a whole Treo is smaller than the T5′s screen!)

    I kept wondering… why hasn’t Palm come out with something ‘like’ the iPhone? I’d buy that. So now the Pre comes out and I’m just waiting to find out who will carry it here in Canada.

    This doesn’t answer the question of, would I switch as I never went with the iPhone anyways. However, I will, most likely, end up with a Pre and finally start carrying one less gadget.

    I have, however, enjoyed reading some of the comments that have come from this question. The more interesting responses came from those people who were not Mac Fanboys. (We know that Mac Fanboys will never switch to anything that’s not Apple regardless of the scenerio in front of them.)

  • Glac

    I’ve been using a combination of a Palm and cell phone for a number of years. (First a Palm IIIxe then a T5.) It’s been cumbersome, for sure, to carry two devices, but there hasn’t been an all in one device that has quite what I need. Even the mighty iPhone is just a flashy gadget that I don’t need to spend cash on. The Treo line would probably have done okay, for me, but I would have sorely missed the large screen of the T5. (Heck, a whole Treo is smaller than the T5′s screen!)

    I kept wondering… why hasn’t Palm come out with something ‘like’ the iPhone? I’d buy that. So now the Pre comes out and I’m just waiting to find out who will carry it here in Canada.

    This doesn’t answer the question of, would I switch as I never went with the iPhone anyways. However, I will, most likely, end up with a Pre and finally start carrying one less gadget.

    I have, however, enjoyed reading some of the comments that have come from this question. The more interesting responses came from those people who were not Mac Fanboys. (We know that Mac Fanboys will never switch to anything that’s not Apple regardless of the scenerio in front of them.)

  • Glac

    I’ve been using a combination of a Palm and cell phone for a number of years. (First a Palm IIIxe then a T5.) It’s been cumbersome, for sure, to carry two devices, but there hasn’t been an all in one device that has quite what I need. Even the mighty iPhone is just a flashy gadget that I don’t need to spend cash on. The Treo line would probably have done okay, for me, but I would have sorely missed the large screen of the T5. (Heck, a whole Treo is smaller than the T5′s screen!)

    I kept wondering… why hasn’t Palm come out with something ‘like’ the iPhone? I’d buy that. So now the Pre comes out and I’m just waiting to find out who will carry it here in Canada.

    This doesn’t answer the question of, would I switch as I never went with the iPhone anyways. However, I will, most likely, end up with a Pre and finally start carrying one less gadget.

    I have, however, enjoyed reading some of the comments that have come from this question. The more interesting responses came from those people who were not Mac Fanboys. (We know that Mac Fanboys will never switch to anything that’s not Apple regardless of the scenerio in front of them.)

  • Santoku

    In our household, my wifes son has an iPhone 3G, and all the kids have iPod Touch’s, so I am quite familiar with how they feel, look and work. While I have seemingly been salivating for an iPhone since they were available in Canada, I have been reluctant to give up my “ancient” Palm Treo 650, and am certainly considering the Pre as my next smartphone.

    Here is why. I despise iTunes software with a passion, and resent having to use it in order to syncronize the device with the computer. Considering how sleek and quick most Apple software usually is, I find iTunes to be slow and bloated. I also use Microsoft Outlook for most of my contacts and calendar entries and have heard mixed reviews about iTunes syncronization compatibility. Microsoft Office compatibility is a priority for me. As well, certain corporate and government IT systems do not necessarily want to allow iTunes software to run in those environments unless iPhones themselves have been adopted as the standard.

    Secondly, I do value a QWERTY keyboard that I can access with one hand when I so choose rather than being forced to only deal with the on-screen virtual keyboard. While my fingers are not dainty, I find I am quite a bit more accurate with the Treo keyboard than I am on the iPhone or Touch on-screen keyboard. I also like the tactile feel of an actual keypad. While the Treo is dated, I like the ready one-handed access to both the screen and the keypad. I see the Pre offering the best of both worlds in this regard.

    Both will be adequate phones. The iPhone will likely never be eclipsed as far as multimedia and games, however I think that the Pre will surpass the iPhone in business and organizational capacities. As such, for anything beyond personal use and enjoyment, I think that the Pre may be the way to go.

    The ultimate disclaimer to this though is that cell/smart phones are a lot like musical instruments. What feels and sounds good to one person is the worst junk to another. It’s all speculation until you atually pick the thing up and use it for yourself to see if it functions the way you want it too, and if it “resonates” with who you are. Cheers !

  • Santoku

    In our household, my wifes son has an iPhone 3G, and all the kids have iPod Touch’s, so I am quite familiar with how they feel, look and work. While I have seemingly been salivating for an iPhone since they were available in Canada, I have been reluctant to give up my “ancient” Palm Treo 650, and am certainly considering the Pre as my next smartphone.

    Here is why. I despise iTunes software with a passion, and resent having to use it in order to syncronize the device with the computer. Considering how sleek and quick most Apple software usually is, I find iTunes to be slow and bloated. I also use Microsoft Outlook for most of my contacts and calendar entries and have heard mixed reviews about iTunes syncronization compatibility. Microsoft Office compatibility is a priority for me. As well, certain corporate and government IT systems do not necessarily want to allow iTunes software to run in those environments unless iPhones themselves have been adopted as the standard.

    Secondly, I do value a QWERTY keyboard that I can access with one hand when I so choose rather than being forced to only deal with the on-screen virtual keyboard. While my fingers are not dainty, I find I am quite a bit more accurate with the Treo keyboard than I am on the iPhone or Touch on-screen keyboard. I also like the tactile feel of an actual keypad. While the Treo is dated, I like the ready one-handed access to both the screen and the keypad. I see the Pre offering the best of both worlds in this regard.

    Both will be adequate phones. The iPhone will likely never be eclipsed as far as multimedia and games, however I think that the Pre will surpass the iPhone in business and organizational capacities. As such, for anything beyond personal use and enjoyment, I think that the Pre may be the way to go.

    The ultimate disclaimer to this though is that cell/smart phones are a lot like musical instruments. What feels and sounds good to one person is the worst junk to another. It’s all speculation until you atually pick the thing up and use it for yourself to see if it functions the way you want it too, and if it “resonates” with who you are. Cheers !

  • Santoku

    In our household, my wifes son has an iPhone 3G, and all the kids have iPod Touch’s, so I am quite familiar with how they feel, look and work. While I have seemingly been salivating for an iPhone since they were available in Canada, I have been reluctant to give up my “ancient” Palm Treo 650, and am certainly considering the Pre as my next smartphone.

    Here is why. I despise iTunes software with a passion, and resent having to use it in order to syncronize the device with the computer. Considering how sleek and quick most Apple software usually is, I find iTunes to be slow and bloated. I also use Microsoft Outlook for most of my contacts and calendar entries and have heard mixed reviews about iTunes syncronization compatibility. Microsoft Office compatibility is a priority for me. As well, certain corporate and government IT systems do not necessarily want to allow iTunes software to run in those environments unless iPhones themselves have been adopted as the standard.

    Secondly, I do value a QWERTY keyboard that I can access with one hand when I so choose rather than being forced to only deal with the on-screen virtual keyboard. While my fingers are not dainty, I find I am quite a bit more accurate with the Treo keyboard than I am on the iPhone or Touch on-screen keyboard. I also like the tactile feel of an actual keypad. While the Treo is dated, I like the ready one-handed access to both the screen and the keypad. I see the Pre offering the best of both worlds in this regard.

    Both will be adequate phones. The iPhone will likely never be eclipsed as far as multimedia and games, however I think that the Pre will surpass the iPhone in business and organizational capacities. As such, for anything beyond personal use and enjoyment, I think that the Pre may be the way to go.

    The ultimate disclaimer to this though is that cell/smart phones are a lot like musical instruments. What feels and sounds good to one person is the worst junk to another. It’s all speculation until you atually pick the thing up and use it for yourself to see if it functions the way you want it too, and if it “resonates” with who you are. Cheers !

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