Palm WebOS, Pre and Pixi – Where Are We Now?
by Joseph Berthiaume on March 23, 2010 12:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Mobile
Pre Plus and Pixi Plus – Still Ticking
Palm struck a deal recently to make its WebOS smartphones available on the Verizon network, which is #1 in the US, at least in terms of coverage area and subscribers. I’ve alluded several times to these new devices, known as Pre Plus and Pixi Plus. Each is a slight evolution from their Sprint-exclusive cohorts. In addition to the new and improved center button and enabled WiFi, there appears to be more available RAM, which should further help with the performance issues (though, as we are learning with WebOS updates – performance seems to be heavily based in software optimizations). Also, both the Plus devices ship by default with the TouchStone - compatible back cover, so they have that going for them too, which is nice.
Rumor has it that the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus are soon coming to the AT&T networks as well. Go go gadget universal availability!
I can haz WebOS – which phone plz!
So now we come to an interesting question: you’ve fallen in love with WebOS, and are lusting after a phone based on it, but don’t know which one to buy? Both the Pre and Pixi (and their respective Plus versions) have pros and cons and the answer also depends on what you’re coming from. If you’re upgrading from a simple non-smartphone, either is going to feel like you’ve stepped into the 21st century. If you are going to be viewing a lot of media and browsing the web, you probably want the extra real estate the Pre’s screen provides, as well as the WiFi (assuming you’re on Sprint, if you’re on Verizon it’s moot, so congrats). If you’re used to having a phone that feels more indestructible, you’re going to prefer the Pixi. I’ve been using both phones for a few months and it’s a very hard decision for me. Most of the time I say Pre – it’s just a little more powerful with its WiFi and larger screen. But then there’s those times where I pick up the Pixi and it just feels so good in the hand, and the keyboard…oh the keyboard.
One of the big items to consider when choosing between these two phones is the browser. As I’ve mentioned, Pre has a significantly larger display, and you’d probably think that because of that, the web browsing experience would be more enjoyable.
For the individual, it might also come down to price. Both phones have seen major price cuts recently, and if you shop around, depending on the usual deals and terms, you can pick up a Pixi or Pixi Plus for close to 0$. At the same time though, the Pre is around 80$ depending on your situation. Granted we’re not talking about huge quantities of money, but free is still free. Well, after mail in rebate it is. So there’s that.
In a perfect world, Palm is going to find a way to marry some of the features of both form factors and assemble a next generation WebOS phone, one that truly will be a complete competitor to the iPhone. Either majorly up the build quality of the Pre’s slider, and import Pixi’s superior keyboard, or up the Pixi’s screen size to some happy medium between the two, and boost her internals so performance is never an issue. Rumors are already starting to filter through the forums of a new device coming down the road.
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johnsonx - Tuesday, March 23, 2010 - link
I think the general view has been that Android 1.x wasn't bad, but that it took Android 2.x before you could really call it an iPhone competitor.deputc26 - Tuesday, March 23, 2010 - link
Where's the Android handset reviews? unlaunched WM7S-covered iPhone-covered, WebOs-Covered..... Something is missing....mendeh - Monday, April 5, 2010 - link
I am not sure what happened behind the scenes but I think it is clear to me that Palm's troubles are directly attributable to launching after the Droid on Verizon.Essentially iPhone, WebOS and Android staked out their carriers early and Verizon was left with really only Blackberry and Windows Mobile devices. This left a lot of customers without a "modern" OS, and created a major opportunity for either Palm or Google. Whoever was going to launch on Verizon and tap into that huge customer base that really wanted an iPhone but would never switch to AT&T would blow up over night. I think that if Palm had launched the Pre on Verizon before the Droid things would be a lot different today. Back in the 1.5/1.6 days on T-Mobile, Android was in similar position as Palm. It had yet to reach a critical mass. As soon as the Droid launched on Verizon though we witnessed the rebirth of Android and what we now know as the 2 horse race between Google and Apple.
I really do think WebOS is dead and it is kind of a shame. I also think that some of this is Palm's fault because the Pixi is just a complete waste. They would have been much better served to create a 2nd device with a bigger screen and essentially the same form factor as the Droid. Trying to go low-end with the Pixi when the Pre is already selling for practically the same price was just not smart.
tedsc - Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - link
The Pre came out well after the iPhone and aspired to meet the hardware spec... I think webOS is very interesting but I cannot for the life of me figure out why Palm is putting such a great OS on such a mediocre hardware platform.I am currently in the market for an upgrade over my Tilt and while their are many interesting choices of OS and hardware, their are certain standards that seem to baseline the discussion:
1. >= 1ghz processor
2. >= 800x400 resolution
it is only a matter of time until a slider keyboard Android or Meego phone comes out on either a moorestown or snapdragon platform. So you have to ask yourself if the OS is compelling enough to endure hardware that is so passed it's prime?
I really hope Palm is picked up by a company like HTC or LG that is already pushing the hardware envelope and needs an elegant OS to really compete with Apple.
avionicspro - Friday, July 16, 2010 - link
I am a tech guy and regularly try and use new gadgets. That said, this phone is terrible ! It drops more calls than I can even begin to tell you about. I just received my warranty exchange because the original phone kept rebooting, locking up and the headset would squeal when plugged in.I'm looking forward to getting my contract renewed next month, putting this one back in the box and forgetting about it all together.