I've been debating this whole issue about whether I stay with my 3G or get the Pre. Here's the calculus, which definitely, thus far, favors the iPhone:
Favors iPhone:
1. Storage- 16 gig (or 32 rumored on new) versus 8 on Pre- Just music and contacts take up 5.4 gig on present iPhone- leaves very little room on Pre for apps, data, etc. since it only has about 7 available.
2. Touchscreen- when wanting to type on screen this is available on iPhone. Not available on Pre. (I know- someone will make an app for the Pre to do this- but this is not something that is sure to happen, or if so, when). Pulling out the keyboard every time I want to type a web address without an option to just do so onscreen seems annoying.
3. Visual voicemail- Great on iPhone- apparently not available on Pre. This is a nice feature.
4. Use of phone/email and/or web at same time- Can do on iPhone. Cannot do on Pre- on the CDMA Pre can't be on phone and surfing at same time.
5. Ability to expand coverage footprint- Sprint is in poor financial condition and lacks the resources presently to invest in its networks that AT&T and Verizon possess. While it is going into WIMAX, it will be a long time (and Pre can't use anyway).
6. App Availability- Lots of apps available now, plus worldwide presence of iPhone draws lots of new apps.
7. Rural coverage- Far better with AT&T (but see Favors Pre item below).
8. Mac Syncing- Ability to sync natively with Mac without using cloud (however, see Unclear item below).
9. Proven Nature of Device- Pre is a 1.0 device (and still at this point vaporware until we get to see it in real life), iPhone now in 3.0 testing- Will the Pre work great on 1.0 or be full of bugs? I have the iPhone 3.0 beta and it works great.
10. Grief from wife- If I line up for the Pre I'll get the same grief I got when lining up for the iPhone about why I waste our money on new toys.
11. 1900 MHz coverage of Sprint does not penetrate as well into buildings- Much of AT&T's network is in the lower cellular band when much more easily goes into buildings.
12. Apple has the cash to continue to grow the line and innovate- Palm on life support. I know, some will say Apple has not really innovated.
13. Use of phone while on usb charging- Can do on iPhone- can't on Pre (but see Unclear).
Favors Pre:
1. Multi-tasking.
2. Qwerty slide-out keyboard- it would be nice to have.
3. Rural coverage- Poor with Sprint, but get to roam on Verizon/ALLTEL who have very good rural coverage, especially here in the Southeast.
4. 3G roaming- when out of Sprint market, can 3G roam on Verizon/ALLTEL- most of Verizon's network is now 3G, even in rural areas. A big plus.
5. Boredom- Ready for New Geek Toy- I am getting bored with iPhone- new need toy. Pre would be it.
6. Grief from wife- The grief passes fast.
7. Wireless induction charging- This would be nice, especially when it is available in the car.
8. Sprint and Pre are the underdogs- Underdogs usually work hard to prove they are better.
9. Wireless plans cheaper on Pre (but there are rumored AT&T pricing cuts coming).
Unclear:
1. Mac syncing- Sprint tells me Pre won't sync to the Mac- but will be Mark Sync available. Probably not a big deal- I sync through Exchange Server anyway.
2. iTunes music- how will I import them to Pre?
3. Will Palm survive to support the Pre and update?- Will Palm be around several years from now? Unless the Pre is a huge success they are on life support now. Even with a Pre success they are in such a deep financial hole they are a hobbled company.
4. Lots of legacy Palm Apps- But How Long to Update to Run on Pre Natively Without Emulation?
5. Sound level and quality on Pre versus iPhone- The iPhone's sound quality on the phone is good, but the sound level is way too low. Unknown what the Pre's output level and quality will be.
6. Video capability- iPhone rumored to have it in new iPhone in June, Palm says it is not in the Pre, but hints it will be coming.
7. Phone quality of Pre- unknown.
8. Music store for Pre- how good it is as compared to iTunes?
9. Music syncing- How will I sync it with my computer music since Mac is not supported?
Reasons Given for Pre that Aren't Good Reasons:
1. Sprint is going 4G- meaningless because the Pre can't handle 4G (at least that we know).
2. Sprint has much faster 3G and a better network in general than AT&T- I hear this claim a lot. In my experience so far, AT&T's network in many places (and here in Carolinas) has been great. Plus I routinely get 1.3 to 1.7 speeds on downloads on AT&T on iPhone. AT&T is rapidly expanding its 3G coverage. Hardly ever have dropped calls on AT&T. Others in other markets might have a different experience, so I could see how this item could be different for them.
Favors iPhone:
1. Storage- 16 gig (or 32 rumored on new) versus 8 on Pre- Just music and contacts take up 5.4 gig on present iPhone- leaves very little room on Pre for apps, data, etc. since it only has about 7 available.
2. Touchscreen- when wanting to type on screen this is available on iPhone. Not available on Pre. (I know- someone will make an app for the Pre to do this- but this is not something that is sure to happen, or if so, when). Pulling out the keyboard every time I want to type a web address without an option to just do so onscreen seems annoying.
3. Visual voicemail- Great on iPhone- apparently not available on Pre. This is a nice feature.
4. Use of phone/email and/or web at same time- Can do on iPhone. Cannot do on Pre- on the CDMA Pre can't be on phone and surfing at same time.
5. Ability to expand coverage footprint- Sprint is in poor financial condition and lacks the resources presently to invest in its networks that AT&T and Verizon possess. While it is going into WIMAX, it will be a long time (and Pre can't use anyway).
6. App Availability- Lots of apps available now, plus worldwide presence of iPhone draws lots of new apps.
7. Rural coverage- Far better with AT&T (but see Favors Pre item below).
8. Mac Syncing- Ability to sync natively with Mac without using cloud (however, see Unclear item below).
9. Proven Nature of Device- Pre is a 1.0 device (and still at this point vaporware until we get to see it in real life), iPhone now in 3.0 testing- Will the Pre work great on 1.0 or be full of bugs? I have the iPhone 3.0 beta and it works great.
10. Grief from wife- If I line up for the Pre I'll get the same grief I got when lining up for the iPhone about why I waste our money on new toys.
11. 1900 MHz coverage of Sprint does not penetrate as well into buildings- Much of AT&T's network is in the lower cellular band when much more easily goes into buildings.
12. Apple has the cash to continue to grow the line and innovate- Palm on life support. I know, some will say Apple has not really innovated.
13. Use of phone while on usb charging- Can do on iPhone- can't on Pre (but see Unclear).
Favors Pre:
1. Multi-tasking.
2. Qwerty slide-out keyboard- it would be nice to have.
3. Rural coverage- Poor with Sprint, but get to roam on Verizon/ALLTEL who have very good rural coverage, especially here in the Southeast.
4. 3G roaming- when out of Sprint market, can 3G roam on Verizon/ALLTEL- most of Verizon's network is now 3G, even in rural areas. A big plus.
5. Boredom- Ready for New Geek Toy- I am getting bored with iPhone- new need toy. Pre would be it.
6. Grief from wife- The grief passes fast.
7. Wireless induction charging- This would be nice, especially when it is available in the car.
8. Sprint and Pre are the underdogs- Underdogs usually work hard to prove they are better.
9. Wireless plans cheaper on Pre (but there are rumored AT&T pricing cuts coming).
Unclear:
1. Mac syncing- Sprint tells me Pre won't sync to the Mac- but will be Mark Sync available. Probably not a big deal- I sync through Exchange Server anyway.
2. iTunes music- how will I import them to Pre?
3. Will Palm survive to support the Pre and update?- Will Palm be around several years from now? Unless the Pre is a huge success they are on life support now. Even with a Pre success they are in such a deep financial hole they are a hobbled company.
4. Lots of legacy Palm Apps- But How Long to Update to Run on Pre Natively Without Emulation?
5. Sound level and quality on Pre versus iPhone- The iPhone's sound quality on the phone is good, but the sound level is way too low. Unknown what the Pre's output level and quality will be.
6. Video capability- iPhone rumored to have it in new iPhone in June, Palm says it is not in the Pre, but hints it will be coming.
7. Phone quality of Pre- unknown.
8. Music store for Pre- how good it is as compared to iTunes?
9. Music syncing- How will I sync it with my computer music since Mac is not supported?
Reasons Given for Pre that Aren't Good Reasons:
1. Sprint is going 4G- meaningless because the Pre can't handle 4G (at least that we know).
2. Sprint has much faster 3G and a better network in general than AT&T- I hear this claim a lot. In my experience so far, AT&T's network in many places (and here in Carolinas) has been great. Plus I routinely get 1.3 to 1.7 speeds on downloads on AT&T on iPhone. AT&T is rapidly expanding its 3G coverage. Hardly ever have dropped calls on AT&T. Others in other markets might have a different experience, so I could see how this item could be different for them.
$ and brand recognition didn't hurt. There is nothing revolutional with the pre, it is a knockoff (yup, I said it).