Chronicles of a Windows Mobile User Gone Palm Pre (1/4)
Palm Pre Review
July 6, 2009
Review by: Adam Z Lein, Senior Editor

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INTRODUCTION
    The Palm Pre is Palm's first device to run WebOS, where most of their latest devices were running Windows Mobile 6.x or the extremely old Palm Garnet OS. The WebOS is based on Linux and includes a very iPhone-like, elegant, attractive and animated user interface. We'll go through the Palm Pre in detail from the perspective of a Windows Mobile user. Read on for more!

WHAT'S HOT
     Ten years ago, Palm was the leader in personal digital assistants with their simple single-task-oriented Palm operating system. In recent years, they often ship Windows Mobile on their high end devices, as well as the very old Palm OS on their low-end devices.  Today, they've got a new operating system for their devices and it's aimed mainly towards the iPhone crowd.

    While Windows Mobile has been around for a decade or so, the Palm WebOS is the third completely new smartphone operating system to be released in the past 3 years. It's very comparable to the iPhone and Google Android operating systems, and just as young. However, it's definitely got some distinct advantages.

The task management is one of the best features in the Palm WebOS

 

WHAT'S IN THE BOX
    The Palm Pre comes with; a Mini-USB sync cable, USB AC adapter, stereo headphones, leather pouch case, and manuals.  There is no software CD for your desktop computer, however the Pre will sync music and videos with iTunes if you have that installed.  Palm also sent us the Touchstone charger, which includes a special battery cover, USB charger, and the touchstone magnetic charging stand.  There's also a nice car charger that you can get. 

Check out our unboxing video.

THE DEVICE
    Let's go through specs. The Pre is running with a TI OMAP 3430 clocking at 600MHz. It has 256MB RAM and 8GB of storage ROM. The screen is 3.1" and is 320x480, making for a pixel density of 186PPI (the iPhone's display is 165PPI, while the Touch Diamond2's display is 292PPI). In terms of wireless radios, it has Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR, WiFi (b & g), and EVDO Rev A running on CDMA. The rear camera is 3.2MP and has a flash. Powering everything is a 1150mAh battery. For even more specs, check out PDAdb.net.

Device
Size (inches)
Weight (grams | ounces)
4.33" x 2.09" x 0.59"
117 | 4.12
4.66" x 2.48" x 0.47"
130 | 4.58
4.56" x 2.33" x 0.67"
188 | 6.63
4.64" x 2.36" x 0.48"
129 | 4.55
3.96" x 2.34" x 0.67"
133 | 4.76
4.68" x 2.44" x 0.67"
188 | 6.63
4.58" x 2.42" x 0.47"
120 | 4.20
4.56" x 2.33" x 0.65"
178 | 6.28
3.92" x 2.41" x 0.60"
137 | 4.83
4.24" x 2.09" x 0.53"
117 | 4.12
4.17" x 2.00" x 0.85"
151 | 5.34
4.41" x 2.24" x 0.49"
122 | 4.30
4.57" x 1.70" x 0.64"
140 | 4.94
4.88" x 2.44" x 0.53"
130 | 4.56
4.21" x 2.20" x 0.55"
120 | 4.20
4.53" x 2.47" x 0.47"
146 | 5.15
4.63" x 2.19" x 0.67"
158 | 5.57
4.35" x 2.07" x 0.67"
158 | 5.57
4.56" x 2.41" x 0.51"
125 | 4.41
4.44" x 2.36" x 0.55"
133 | 4.69
4.01" x 1.98" x 0.55"
124 | 4.37
8.28" x 4.67" x 1.08"
640 | 22.5
4.48" x 2.52" x 0.59"
154 | 5.43
4.17" x 2.38" x 0.68"
147 | 5.18
4.01" x 2.00" x 0.71"
165 | 5.82
4.41" x 2.24" x 0.49"
122 | 4.30
4.41" x 2.28" x 0.73"
140 | 4.94
4.61" x 2.51" x 0.78"
183 | 6.45
4.40" x 2.40" x 0.50"
123 | 4.34
4.01" x 2.00" x 0.45"
110 | 3.88
4.56" x 2.36" x 0.70"
200 | 7.05
4.60" x 2.30" x 0.50"
110 | 3.88
4.30" x 2.40" x 0.60"
120 | 4.23
4.20" x 2.30" x 0.60"
136 | 4.79
3.70" x 2.30" x 0.60"
126 | 4.44
4.48" x 2.39" x 0.51"
116 | 4.09
4.60" x 2.60" x 0.50"
134 | 4.70
4.40" x 2.32" x 0.75"
190 | 6.70
4.10" x 2.10" x 0.60"
150 | 5.30
4.01" x 1.97" x 0.78"
110 | 3.88
4.40" x 2.32" x 0.75"
190 | 6.70
4.40" x 2.50" x 0.50"
120 | 4.20

Here's our hardware tour video.

The screen is very glossy and shiny when it's clean.

 

Fingerprints are no stranger to the Palm Pre's screen. You'll be lucky if you can keep it clean for 20 minutes.

With full brightness on, the screen is still fairly usable outdoors during the day. There is no automatic brightness control.

 

The screen slides up in a slightly curved motion similar to the Sony XPERIA X1. This is the only way you can enter text on the device; there is no on screen keyboard.

 

The keyboard is Treo-small, but the buttons are flatter and a bit more difficult to feel. You'll definitely have to use finger nails to press them unless you have small fingers.

 

On the left side, there are volume up/down buttons

At the bottom, you'll see a small latch for removing the battery cover.

 

The right side has a plastic flap that covers the USB port.

Here's a close up of the USB port. It uses the same connector as the Treo Pro.

 

The top end has the 3.5mm headset jack, a vibrate/audio switch, and a power button.

The Touchstone magnetic charging dock is one of the most innovative parts of the Palm Pre's hardware. All mobile phones should implement this technology!

 

On the back is the 3.2MP camera, LED flash, speaker grill and Palm logo.  This is the Touchstone compatible battery cover, which has a more soft-touch finish than the default.  The default battery cover is very glossy like the screen.

 

Behind the battery cover is the 1150mAh battery. You can also see the connections for the magnetic battery charger.

 

Here you'll see from left to right, the T-Mobile G1, HTC Touch HD, Palm Pre, Palm Treo Pro, and Touch Diamond. 

 

Here you can see a comparison of the thickness. From top to bottom you see the Palm Pre, HTC Touch Diamond, Palm Treo Pro, HTC Touch HD, and T-Mobile G1.

In case you missed it, here is the hardware tour video.

Click onto the next page as we cover the software of the Palm Pre.

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