Palm Pre Plus Review — Good Enough to Switch From the Pre?
It came as no surprise when Palm said it would partner with Verizon after Sprint with the Pre and Pixi. How could it be when Verizon’s CEO let the news slip even before the handset debuted on Sprint? Unexpected, however, were the hardware specification bumps. Verizon’s removal of the center button found on Sprint’s version wasn’t a shocker — it’s quite common to see minor or cosmetic tweaks for the same handset on different carriers. But who was counting on double the memory and twice the storage capacity?
PreCentral took an early look at Verizon’s Palm Pre Plus to see if these changes improve upon the original. When it comes to memory and storage, how could things not be better? More is good. In fact, the extra memory makes the phone fly a little faster when opening apps, although in-app use didn’t seem to vary. That extra RAM helps with multitasking, however — 50 apps opened simultaneously in testing, which is nearly a full deck of cards. C’mon Dieter — you couldn’t open two more for the Jokers? ;)
Another huge Verizon differentiation is the Mobile Hotspot option. With it, you gain Mi-Fi-like functionality as the Pre Plus becomes a mobile hotspot for sharing 3G over Wi-Fi. The service tacks on another $40 to the monthly bill, but it’s a sweet option and provides you another 5 GB of monthly data for the phone. I wish more handsets — and carriers — would offer this. At the end of the day, Dieter tackles the question that current Palm Pre owners on Sprint are asking: Is it worth it to switch? For Dieter’s needs, it is, but for people happy with their current Pre on Sprint, probably not. My take — if you’re in a good Sprint coverage area and don’t need the Mobile Hotspot functionality, it’s probably not worth the cost to switch.
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OMG I’m an idiot – How could I not think of 52 cards, a full deck?
The jokers would make 54 though.
…Now I’m trying to think of a ‘stuck in the middle with you’ joke.
OK, we’re even — I’m an idiot for forgetting that the 2 Jokers make it 54 cards. ;) Nice review!
My guess is you weren’t counting cards while playing/winning Black Jack at CES…
With Verizon’s mighty $350 ETF the phone needs to be near perfect before I commit to 2 years. The Pre has one remaining significant weakness: battery life, which will be felt more with the increase in memory. When that’s addressed the commitment might make sense.
It has wifi added, over the Sprint phone. This would make it worth it to change, because you could go without a data plan at all, or a PAYGO like Page Plus. Wifi when you are near it, and 3G when you aren’t.
Regards,
Hans
Hans, if you’re talking about the Palm *Pixi* then yes, the Verizon version has Wi-Fi added. However, the Palm Pre has Wi-Fi in both Sprint’s and Verizon’s version.
My original Pre is great, I just would like more native app development.
Any news on whether Sprint will get an updated RAM version of Pre or any other changes?
I’m happy with my Sprint Pre. Upgrade is inevitable, but not now…
The extra memory is nifty, but not enough to make me switch. I rarely have more than three or four cards open at once, never mind 50!
The tethering is a nice option, but with a little *ahem* hacking, it’s available on the Sprint version with no monthly charge…
Seriously? You were surprised by the memory bump? Isn’t it standard operating procedure for devices to get spec bumps as time moves on?
True, devices usually gain beefier hardware as they are revised from generation to generation. But with phones that simply appear on a new carrier, that’s not always the case.
For example: Palm’s Centro eventually made it to 3 of the 4 largest U.S. carriers. Aside from some different color customizations, not much else changed. In fact, the device debuted on Sprint with 3G — just like the Pre — and when it landed on AT&T months later, Palm had stripped out the 3G functionality.
Your point is a good one, but most people that I know assumed “the Pre is coming to Verizon” meant the same general device with some minor differences. I’d call double the RAM and storage to major differences — same with the Pixi getting Wi-Fi.
Yes I personally use the Mobile Hot spot functionality.
Work for me!
I turn into a mobile hotspot for sharing 3G over Wi-Fi for my wife laptop, my children I pod, PSP, and friends computer at the park last month.
But I purchase a unit ($399.00) from WOW Mobile Services with Unlimited Calls, Unlimited Texting, Unlimited Data (no monthly data cap), and Unlimited Internet.
No extra fee for only $89.95 Monthly service plan flat fee and with Mobile Hotspot capability, which basically lets me use 3G connection and many devices at the same time. I like it because, NO Deposit! -NO Credit Check! – NO Contract! – NO Cancellation Fee! – No Fine Print! And *NO MONTHLY BILL…When You Refer 3 Customers on the same services.
Elliot, 623-925-5634
Wouldn’t the more apt question be,
“Is the Pre Plus good enough to switch from the Droid (Eris) and/or another carrier?”