Palm's CEO announces the reason why he thinks Palm aren't selling enough phones. Well here's my reason. The Palm Pre is not a compelling purchase. I liked the look of it at launch and was considering getting one (dare I say it, replacing my iPhone). But several reviews and a lacklustre launch across Europe convinced me otherwise. This review from Gizmodo convinced me that the build quality was not what I was looking for. I don't mind sliders (and the thought of a good physical keyboard was attractive) and I'd liked the HTC built Palm Treo Pro's keyboard. But cutting cheese with the sharp 'chin' of the Pre was not the kind of Swiss-Army knife functionality I was looking for in a smartphone.
I am one of those people who will be prepared to buy an off-contract, SIM free, unlocked phone (or pay as you go). This was always the way I'd planned to do with a Pre. But Palm, in their wisdom, decided to copy Apple and make getting hold of a Pre unlocked a really difficult job. Even by the time when O2 launched the Pre in the UK (my current carrier) I'd lost interest (and it's not a level playing field on their website between iPhone and Palm Pre). Then Palm announced the Pre Plus. But, again, the reviews were not compelling enough - especially when you're an iPhone 3G user. So I eventually spent my pennies on a 3GS, rather than wait it out for a Pre Plus to materialise.
A whole lot of iPhone purchases have been made by reference. I got the iPod Touch when it launched and had one before the European launch having bought one in the US. The iPod Touch OS was compelling enough for me to know I'd want an iPhone. And I showed it to friends. No-one was unimpressed. OK, so perhaps @the_ape wasn't. So if no one has got a Pre to show and demo in the wild then the viral factor will never kick in. Can I just state that I have NEVER seen a Palm Pre in the flesh, so to speak.
webOS 1.4 launches today. Does anyone care?
Posted via email from gazcoop
