[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Five Reasons the Palm Pre Won't Prevail here

[oldmanwoerle]

This author has completely missed the point. let me go point by point...
5. Calling Palm a startup is completely rediculous, just because there has been change in leadership doesn't mean that there aren't still developers there that know how to build a good product. There in lies the true test.
4.This reaks of apple fan bois. Anyways, disregarding multitasking as something consumers don't won't is just wrong. I have a palm 680 and would love to be able to multi-task on that. I use multiple programs at once quite frequently and can't tell you how nice it would be to not have to reload every time someone calls or I want to check my emails.
3. Not a lot of experience with developers? Palm has developers creating applications for their OS when Apple was taking a huge dive to the brink of bankruptcy. The only thing Apple has done is market theirs better.
2. A keyboard is not an undoing, if you really want a touchscreen keyboard, I guarentee someone will make an app for it within one week. Unlike apple Palm doesn't try to limit you, but give you options.
1. First valid point, but if the pre sells better then expected, it won't be an issue. Developers will make apps for the pre, especially is palm treats them better then apple does. Which is not difficult to do.

[DirkBelig]

Why is it that unless someone has a 110% certain chance of taking Apple off the board entirely, writers like Coursey believe no one should even try to compete with the Cupertino Goliath? It's a mentality straight out of Highlander, "There can be only ONE!!! And iPhone is The One!"
Anyone remember a videogame console maker called Nintendo? They were huge, selling tons of systems before gradually becoming more and more irrelevant; trapped by the cartridge format while an upstart named Sony came along with a disc-based system and ate their lunch. Things looked bleak.
Sony advanced to become the 800 megaton gorilla of gaming. Their 2nd console sold over 100 million units and handily swatted away competitive offerings from Microsoft and Nintendo that were arguably technically superior. Life was good for Sony and very, very bad for Nintendo.
Then something happened: Sony got extremely arrogant on their lofty perch. They told their customers that they didn't need features that were considered standard, like rumble, and made needlessly complex hardware that was difficult to code for and extremely expensive due to their desire to cram a hi-def movie format down gamers throats.
Nintendo responded with an inexpensive console which was technically inferior to its competitors, but gave it a radical new controller and priced it low enough that it took over TWO YEARS before people stopped having to camp out for them. Where is once-mighty Sony? In third place, with more consoles being sold as Blu-ray players that can also play games than as industry-leading game console. Their hubris took them from first to worst almost overnight.
I'm not predicting that Palm will be able to knock Apple off the top of the medal stand, but am reminding everyone that no one is entitled to supremacy and there's plenty of money to be made at #2 from people who don't want the tired same-old just because it's the most popular thing around. Just as people love TV shows that get canceled while never watching a moment of "American Idol", there are plenty who are hungering for something NEW and not more of the same.

[perliedom]

Man I could not have said better than above. There is plenty of opportunity for an innovative new Smart Phone that will deliver to customers an experience like when brought that first TiVo home. It shows the potential to not change the way you manage your daily activities but evolve them.

[swagg]

Man, all this is coming from an iPhone user.. cmon dude, youre bashing, only because you have that iPhone, and I bet you bashed the iPhone b4 you got that.. and i bet you mainly bashed the fact that it DIDNT have any hard buttons.. Thats just like telling how you feel the Phillidelphia Eagles are going to do in the season when you are a Dallas Cowboys fan.. Come with some good facts and not opinions before you post this bogus information. The 1st generation iPhone was not all that great, and what did they do? They updated it. What will happen to the pre?? it will get updated.. and why is the ablility to have multiple apps running become important within time?? it is important right now! and as far as multitaksing, show me the other smartphones that take all the info you have selected for it to take off of the internet and always have it updating information no matter what they change as far as phone numbers or email adresses, to PHYSICAL address changes it all updates wirelessly and with a simple notification. and, while being able to take all the chat records and keep them in sync (from your facebook to gmail chat, to your txt mesaages).. and yes, some phones can have multiple browsers open.. But when you have to close out to go to your txt messaging, or weather, or a phone call, you lose your place.. now i understand it remembers what website youre on, but, when you go back they have to repoad the web page.. pre, lol does not. it will all be able to run in the background.. now that is multi tasking.. and if you show me the phone that does that, and even without fear of droping and losing a tracker ball, or while being able to drive or just simply walk down the side walk and be able to type without having to devote all of your attention to a flat screen to type, i will reconcider my opinions.. we can even go deeper if you want... iTunes? why would you have a device that can only hook up to itunes? what PC user would purchase such a proprietary device, when the palm pre can be plugged into the computer as a flash drive which allows a drag and drop feature with a huge database of readable file types, including all apple (quicktime) file types as well, so you dont have to convert anything to a certain file type.

apps, why wouldnt there be anyone to develope apps? do you not read about the Pre? there are several apps that are going to be released. hell, the iPhone didnt even have apps at all when it came out.. it was all third party, and to use them, you had to risk bricking you phone up by having to confuse the internal computer..

real keys, if i wanted real keys, i would not go for the blackberry, because where is the touchscreen?? when i get done typing i want to reach up and just touch my send button... using the blackberry in refrence to the keyboard is yet irrelevant info also..

i will say though where iPhone did suprise me was when I waited 6 hours in line for a 1st generation iPhone, (yes i am a previous iphone owner) and when i walked in, i saw a huge supply of them, i was impressed to see that they were going to be able to sell without any shortages.. though updating your iphone through a cord, only to have everything erased for the 1st 3 updates was a huge drag, i got tired of it and took it back, for them to say they wont give me a refund, (though i had it for about 4 months after the rebate they gave early buyers) i simply said they sold me defected products, i was given immediate refunds, including a refund on my protective sleeve..

all in all, im sorry for the poor grammar and spelling, it just gets to me when one device user bashes another when they have only watched youtube videos, and by not going out and researching the device in and out..

please if anyone disagrees, please correct me, or if i am wrong on anything let me know.. I sure would like to be told im wrong, maybe my opinion would change.

[DirkBelig]

How's this for good timing: http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=18947
"Palm Pre: Five reasons to expect a homerun"
5. Palm knows how to build an ecosystem.
4. The carriers want an iPhone competitor.
3. The webOS will be a strong development platform.
2. Touchscreen + Qwerty.
1. It is the first true multi-tasking smartphone.
FIGHT!!!

[cpostelwait]

two words why palm pre will kill the iphone: real keyboard. Unless someone improves the virtual keyboard experience, the real buttons will win. oh yeah, and multi tasking. so pretty much what dirk said.

[oneAwake]

Is anyone hurt because they didn't get a review unit? This is ridiculous! The 1st generation iphone didn't have developers warming up to it until a year after it's release. 60% of the developers who have been designing software for the iphone have already signed up for Palms SDK.
Message was edited by: smax013

[tony1975]

The author of this article should replace all the text with one word "iPhone"...

[iStink]

How is it PCWorld can stun me with one great article, then post mindless idiotic abortion of thought like this right after!?
I wish everyone would stop writing stuff like this. WHY IT WILL FAIL. WHY IT WILL ROCK. WHY IT WILL TASTE LIKE STRAWBERRIES AND NOT RASPBERRIES!
I mean seriously, the "points" made here are ill to none and aren't realistic.

[FrostyTS]

I must be losing my mind...because I swear I responded to this EXACT same story on another news site earlier today...

[Scoobie10]

Was the author under a deadline? I mean really... he doesn't seem to understand anyting about Palm. Looks like he Googled some Palm info, got some buzz words and started pulling points our of his backside.

I'll give you point #1, cash is short and that will certainly bring with it some limitations. But 2-5? Really.... you're going to try and make it sound like Palm is a startup with no industry connection what so ever? Really? All those sites that sold thousands of apps for the old Palm OS and you don't think they have any developers waiting to write for WebOS? Heard of DevCamp? How many apps did the iPhone have on day one?

Are you really going to tell me that the keyboard will be the undoing of the Pre because YOU picked up the iPhone touchscreen keyboard pretty fast? Really?

In your title "Five Reasons the Palm Pre Won't Prevail", prevail over what/who?? Oh wait, I get it, you got to use the word "PREvail" in a clever way.
Did you do any research and learn that the iPhone is NOT what Palm is aiming at? Have you heard the phrase "Going for the fat middle" as stated by Palm's CEO? Do you understand what that phrase even means?

What does it say to you that every comment thus far thinks your article is a joke?

I expect much more from a leader like PC World. This is mindless drivel in hopes of getting some readership.

Very, very poor work.

~Ken

[LeKaEfka]

Cool you can not edit... love it! ;-)

on topic:
It all starts with the magic sentence: 'Here's reality check on why the Pre is the "next big thing" in only a limited way.'
That implies knowing everything, and is therefore pathetic in itself.
But we can continue:
5.: Starts with speculations right away, negative of course. But one can be grateful. Almost all the reasons NOT to start a business are there. Encouraging in these times...
4.: Yes, no one needs multitasking on Smartphones unless a specific company tells the world now the time has come…(and forces all devs. to rebuilt everything if they want to utilize it, because this will change their OS from the core) ironically, all current implementations are much less efficiently to use than the way of quick app. switching Palm had already implemented in Garnet.
The only missing thing with respect to multitasking on Smartphones is, finally, a way the user benefits from it. Let’s see how good it will be in WebOS. I won’t predict. Never had a pre in my hands (as the writer of this Biz Feed…).
3.: ‘A huge applications and music store is a big driver of the iPhone's success.’ Ok, rewind. Apple launches the iPhone with an intact infrastructure in terms of applications… oh wait, no! They didn’t! Well, the pre will be shipped with an app store from day one. And music infrastructure… well, Amazon is not that big, that’s for sure…And the ability the exchange the music with everyone and each computer, no user wants this, that’s sure as well.
2.: Well, yes, that’s the future. You simply carry two devices!. Easy! Oh, wait again, that’s the annoying reality! Time for a change. Finally!
By the way, why is the iPhone always praised for it’s simplicity? My feature phone some 6yrs ago comparably somple and easy to use was as well. And offered a like feature set… coincidence?
Yes the keyboard, back to topic, well, I’d rather have the choice, but I will not put a sw keyboard on my pre. By the way, Resco’s keyboard for WinMo is superior to the iPhone’s for me, less errors and more straightforward to use.
So, bottom-line, if you have experienced both sides, there is no longer anything to discuss. And it is surely is no reason for the pre to fail. It is no real contribution to the success or failure of any phone.
1.: Best for the last. Congratulation a valid point. But why ‘or worse, convince developers to build Pre applications?’ Because that’s already the past? Devs. are already well attracted to the WebOS? It seems so. And, as welcome as competition is, I personally need approximately 0 different fart apps. And as long as the quality of a Smartphone ecosystem applicationwise is measured in numbers of apps. What else conclusion is there to expect?

Nice writeup. Why was it published? What is the intention? Reasons behind? Sanity behind?

[montex]

I own an iPhone. But I wish Palm good luck with it's new Pre. While it is possible that the Pre will be popular and outstrip the iPhone in sales, I doubt it. I think it is more likely that this battle will be just like all the former "iPod-killers" that came to market and quickly faded into obscurity. Debate the merits of multi-tasking, physical keyboards or carriers. Just like the debate over not having FM radio on the iPod was a deal killer.
I don't think Palm has a chance, but I'll be happy to see them rewarded for a fantastic, well made product. But until that happens... I know where I'll be next week when Apple intros the newest iPhone.

[FrostyTS]

The more of these articles I read the more annoyed I get...

The only people who really seem to care that this "might" be an iPhone killer, are people who own an iPhone.

There is plenty of room for many types of smart phones in the market.

It's absolutly pointless to argue multi-tasking with any die-hard iPhone user. Why? Because iPhones/Apple don't allow any room for options or free thinking.
"But but but, there's an app for that!" Why yes there is a game, I mean app, as long as it's ok with Apple that it can run on their phone! And who doesn't want their phone to make 47 different fart sounds while checking off your shopping list at the store???
"But but but, we have iTunes, and Apple will never allow Palm Pre to sync with it!" Why, you sure do have an iTunes store! Did you know there are other media providers, and other ways to find/get music on the internet? Or have you played it safe with your fancy easy button?
"But but but, I can put 16 gigs of music on my iPhone!" Awesome! I would go insane listening to music that long let alone trying to find enough music that I liked to fill up the space!

I'm sorry this comes off as harsh, but those of us who are interested in a Palm Pre could care less about how it compares to iPhone.
We know Palm's history, and what the phones are capable of doing...in the real world.

[montex]

You know, mocking people who disagree with you is childish and the least likely way to convince people your argument has merit.

As for the Palm Pre, I've heard a lot about it's features, but very little about it's usability. How does it feel in your hand? Solid and well made or cheap and plasticky? How easy is it to use day to day? Not just for a few minutes in a store, but when you're out shopping and you have your hands full and get an important call while drinking a latte? That's what's important to me - not multi-tasking or control over the apps it runs.

[winnex3]

one word Android

[FrostyTS]

I would agree that mocking people would make me seem childish, but here's the problem with that...I'm not mocking, I'm quoting!

EVERY article I've read on the Pre is littered with this nonsense and people's refusal to acknowledge any facts what-so-ever if the Pre even gets close to a similar function the all-mighty iPhone can do. Any rumor that get's started in a comment, spreads like wildfire as a deal breaking fact.
I just read an article a few minutes ago about how the Pre can gather contacts from Facebook. People are freaking out because they have friends on there that they might not want to call. No one stopped to think they have to set this up in order for it to work, they've all assumed as soon as you power the Pre up it pulls every scrap of info you've ever touched into the phone.

It's incredibly annoying to read through the mindless drivel of my-phone-can-beat-up-your-phone posts when I'm looking for any valid information on the Pre.
If you want to see childish, do a few more searches on news articles for the Pre and read the comments from iPhone users...

Here's the reason why you haven't heard a lot about the Pre's usability. It's not out yet!!!
Everything that is being stated has been opinion except for a select few who have gotten one early to test with.
And even in that case it has been found that some of the people that have written articles stating they had one to test...were less than truthful.

As for multi-tasking, I heard an advertisment this morning for the iPhones and AT&T, that perfectly explains their idea of what it means.

"My husband's office gave him two iPhones, one to surf the internet with and check emails, and one to make calls with."
I almost drove my truck into a concrete pillar because my faith in the human race's future is starting to fail...

[AndyMax]

David, David, David...your bias is showing! I'm sure you were compensated in some form for writing this delusional drivel...but I can't believe it was from PC World!

[BimmerJam]

1. Obviousy you overlooked the fact that there is an app for emulating most of the existing apps on the Garnet O/S. Hence no need to rush for new developers because you have a huge selection already there to download. This kills your "start-up" argument and the lack of developers angle.

2. I already use partial multi- tasking on a treo 755 a lot. closing the loop to get the full ability to switch to all programs will be welcome on any smartphone so that all my tasking becomes swift and being able to do it in a call is sometimes crucial.

3. I text while talking to people no keyboard and it gets slow and cumbersome. Virtual dosen't work unless they can get an interactive on that projects to a flat surface but a standard qwerty is very useful. That'w why there are Nokia, palm and blackberry users who won't give them up for an iphone and its many clones.

4. No itunes and that's a good thing. It's not proprietary not fixed to one device and I can have my music where I want it just like now.

Money is a factor, but look at the time delay to release the device. Seems like they want to be sure that it works before shipping. What a novel concept!! Not going to market until it's ready.

You sound like an apple snob trying to keep any competition down