Palm Pre to Launch June 6th Priced at $199.99

[bigjohn]

so it's really $299 + $70 for the cool charger

how is that a good idea Palm?

also Sprint can run as many commercials and change their logo as often as they like, I don't know anyone who has had a good Sprint experience

 

[Warbrain]

Sprint has always had problems since they are on the 1900mhz band. It is part of the reason why most in HoFo are excited about AT&T moving 3G to the 850Mhz band. Better building penetration.

And my iPhone in downtown Chicago works amazingly great. Signal all the time, fast speeds...

 

[blindzero]

I know that Apple took the market by storm, but I think that is just because they are apple and their marketing. I think the bar wasn't really set by apple as much as it was made visible to the average consumer.

That said, I don't think its an excuse for Apple.

So soon you forget how unfriendly most phones were before the iPhone (and many still are). It's not that "smart" phones weren't visible to the average consumer- they were simply unusable for the average consumer.

App store set the standard as well. Downloading on a phone was an utter mess before.

I'm excited for the Pre. I know a couple people on Sprint and I'm gonna push them to buy the thing so I can play with it.

 

[kironin]

I'm excited to see the Pre finally coming out. I would consider it if it wasn't on Sprint.

Exactly.

 

[dwright1974]

I'm all for competition but I really don't understand why people were getting so excited about the pre. It seems like it is technically an equal of the iPhone without the beautiful design and Apple experience. So I won't be wanting one of these instead of an iPhone.

Fair play to anyone who does want/buy one.

For me the ace-card in the Pre is 'Synergy'.

I have 'stuff' like calendars and email all over the place:

- I have my Exchange email and calendar for work

- I have a Yahoo! and Mobile Me email and calendar

- I have a 30 boxes calendar (which I don't know who will intergrate with Pre)

- I have my friends birthdays/contacts in Facebook (don't laugh, it can be useful sometimes).

At the moment, it is a 'bit' inconvenient about having to switch between email accounts. It's a down-right pain that I can choose to have my Exchange (work) calendar or Mobile Me (or other personal) calendar syncing to my iPhone.

If Apple could Synergise(!) the data I have in 'the cloud' then I would be happy.

Personally, I can't wait for the Pre to come to Blighty ... but I want to see it and hear from the early adoptors (Thanks America!) - I could be a switcher.

I like my iPhone but there are some things it could do a lot better!

Just my 2p's (or 0.03c) worth!

- D

EDIT: A lot of people are commenting on the $70 price for the Touchstone. As I am sure many will say - if you don't want it, don't buy it. What would people be saying if the price breakdown of the Pre including a 'packaged' Touchstone included the $70 figure then what would people be saying!?

 

[blindzero]

This is all very true. Whenever the media is going to mention the iPhone, they're likely going to mention the Pre too. The average customer will then go to the cellphone stores, will compare prices, and the Pre may win this battle as Sprint has better priced plans. I think this phone will be great for Sprint. It may not gain them customers, but it will likely stop their subscriber hemorrhage.

I agree. Palm is wising up. Competition is gooood.

Unless I'm missing something, the plans aren't that much better though...I don't see them rocking the boat much on that front. The phone's gotta be great out of the gate. There's already a rumor AT&T will be dropping their data rate soon so...

 

[stainlessliquid]

i like how engaget says " poor apple " .. what i think they meant to say is poor palm.. they will have 2 days of excitment then will be SHUT DOWN .. by new iphone and iphone OS after wwdc people will be saying pre who?

Have you not been paying attention to what iphone OS "3.0" is? Its the same damn thing but with search and copy and paste. Hooray for progress. The new iPhone isnt going to have the slightest effect on the Pre's hype except among apple fanboys.

 

[vipergts2207]

The calling plan is certainly cheaper. The unlimited texts on the iPhone would make the price jump to $90/month.

 

[Unspoken Demise]

Have you not been paying attention to what iphone OS "3.0" is? Its the same damn thing but with search and copy and paste. The new iPhone isnt going to have the slightest effect on the Pre's hype except among apple fanboys.

Landscape keyboard is a big thing for me, and for a lot of texters. Not just Apple fanboys. Also the battery percentage indicator is pretty nifty.

 

[dejo]

Have you not been paying attention to what iphone OS "3.0" is? Its the same damn thing but with search and copy and paste.

Um, there's a lot more to it than that.

 

[Warbrain]

Have you not been paying attention to what iphone OS "3.0" is? Its the same damn thing but with search and copy and paste. Hooray for progress. The new iPhone isnt going to have the slightest effect on the Pre's hype except among apple fanboys.

Have you even used it? It's going to be a whole new experience, Palm fanboy.

 

[zelet]

I'm an Apple fanboy. I've used the Pre. The Pre is better than the iPhone. The browser is faster than the iPhone's on Wifi and on network - plus Sprint's network has faster data rates.

The Pre's interface is as clean and elegant as the iPhones while maintaining the ability to have multiple apps open. The battery life thing is bull because I used it for two days and the battery lasted all day plus some even when I was working with multiple apps.

The Pre is going to force Apple to be better because, right now, the Pre is better than the iPhone. It's also going to force AT&T to cut their ridiculously high prices. Apple will compete and probably produce a product that beats the Pre. That's awesome. That's competition and it makes it better for everybody.

 

[stainlessliquid]

Have you even used it? It's going to be a whole new experience, Palm fanboy.

Whole new experience? you gotta be freakin kidding me.

 

[polaris20]

You obviously have not been on the Sprint network in the last 5 years. It runs circles around AT&T's subpar, amateur network.

You obviously love to speak in absolutes, and think that what service applies to you applies to everyone in the country.

It does not. Sprint most definitely sucks in Chicagoland.

 

[pmjoe]

This continues to look like a great device, but Palm's crappy sync support with the Mac was why I moved on to my iPhone, and I see no signs of improvement with the Pre. Moving my music, podcasts, photos, video, contacts and calendar back and forth are just a no-brainer, no config necessary on the iPhone.

For that matter, the Pre's cloud-centric approach sounds like exactly not what I'm looking for. I get into far too many places where there is no connectivity, and I really want to see how Palm's support for that pans out.

 

[invertedNormal]

I'm not exactly sure, so don't quote me on this. I believe the reason for rebates is so that the retailer makes the same amount of money. Basically, you would buy the Palm Pre from Best Buy for $299. Then you would fill out a rebate form, mail it in and Palm would send you a check for $100.



That probably has something to do with it too.

my theory is they collect the "rebate" money reserved for the consumer in a savings account for a long enough period to earn interest on it, and when enough time has accumulated (calculated in advance) and they've earned enough to cover their losses, you get your refund...

just a theory, and logical i think.

 

[zelet]

This continues to look like a great device, but Palm's crappy sync support with the Mac was why I moved on to my iPhone, and I see no signs of improvement with the Pre. Moving my music, podcasts, photos, video, contacts and calendar back and forth are just a no-brainer, no config necessary on the iPhone.

For that matter, the Pre's cloud-centric approach sounds like exactly not what I'm looking for. I get into far too many places where there is no connectivity, and I really want to see how Palm's support for that pans out.

It stores the data locally but syncs with Google, Exchange, and Facebook plus the API allows for other companies to produce sync ability. The Pre combines all your data logically while keeping the data separate on the respective services. So you don't get a bunch of crap from Facebook mixed in with your Exchange contacts. So you see them together but sync them separately.

Palm will also provide a free service for backing up your device over the air so if you are on the road and your phone blows up you enter your username/password and your phone is restored.

 

[GutBomb]

Landscape keyboard is a big thing for me, and for a lot of texters. Not just Apple fanboys. Also the battery percentage indicator is pretty nifty.

The battery percentage indicator is just a leftover from a former jailbreak. It's not enabled in phones that never had it installed at one point in time from a jailbreak.

 

[Unspoken Demise]

The battery percentage indicator is just a leftover from a former jailbreak. It's not enabled in phones that never had it installed at one point in time from a jailbreak.

So youre saying the person that reported it in the beta had a jailbroken phone? And anyone who has never had a jailbroken phone using the beta wont have it?

 

[Warbrain]

Whole new experience? you gotta be freakin kidding me.

Again, have you used it? I use it daily and, yes, it's a whole new experience from 2.0.

You obviously love to speak in absolutes, and think that what service applies to you applies to everyone in the country.

It does not. Sprint most definitely sucks in Chicagoland.

Sprint and Verizon are godawful in Chicago. at&t, while having ****** service in some spots, is the best in Chicago. T-Mobile...don't even need to discuss that. Worst provider ever.

 

[michaelvoigt]

so it's really $299 + $70 for the cool charger

how is that a good idea Palm?

also Sprint can run as many commercials and change their logo as often as they like, I don't know anyone who has had a good Sprint experience

Agreed! .... I had to battle with Sprint every month over my bill. Sprint is hands down the cheapest phone service, but that has some associated negative elements.

Overall, I'm much happier with AT&T. Sprint was not a good fit.

 

[zelet]

Agreed! .... I had to battle with Sprint every month over my bill. Sprint is hands down the cheapest phone service, but that has some associated negative elements.

Overall, I'm much happier with AT&T. Sprint was not a good fit.

I've had Sprint for years now and they truely sucked for a long time but in the last 2 years they have improved markedly. Hold times are shorter and they almost always fix your issue with the first call. On top of that I haven't had any billing issues for at least 3 years.

 

[KindredMAC]

There are only 2 things that can hurt Apple right now:
#1- AT&T. Their pricing is what can compromise the iPhone's success. The move to the more expensive 3G plan and lack of texting being standard was a bone headed move for a cell phone such as Apple's.

#2- Lack of innovation in the iPhone. When you listen to all the rumors that are popping up for the next gen iPhone, there is nothing really new on the hardware front. The iPhone OS can only get you so far before people start looking at a phone that is pretty much the exact same thing as 2 years ago. Every other phone company has brought out newer sleeker items in the same time frame but Apple has sat on their concept as being better with only a minimalistic view on the change to the back of the iPhone.

I hope the Pre does extremely well.... for if it does that just means Apple will be forced to come up with something that will REALLY knock everyone's socks off.

 

[Eyedn]

I believe Engadget was being sarcastic. Come one after being on these forums you haven't learned to read sarcasm?

Sorry what is "Sarcasm"..?

 

[KindredMAC]

so it's really $299 + $70 for the cool charger

how is that a good idea Palm?

also Sprint can run as many commercials and change their logo as often as they like, I don't know anyone who has had a good Sprint experience

And how was it a good idea for Apple to take the regular dock out of the 3G iPhone package? I had to go to Best Buy to pick up a 3G iPhone dock for my wife that cost me $35 extra. I didn't have to buy an extra dock when I bought my 1st gen iPhone.... it was in the box.