I always viewed the Pre series as the CDMA answer to the iPhone with their slick looking software and smooth, minimal design language, you'd get the Pre if you couldn't get the iPhone, that's what I did at least, it was fairly competitive against the 3GS. Now that the two largest wireless carriers sell the iPhone along with a profusion of Android devices where does Palm fit in? Palm had three problems during the launch of the original Pre, hardware(really not that bad at the time), advertising and Sprint.
They're still going to have the same three problems.
-hardware: I cannot even conceive HPalm delivering hardware the same build quality of the Phone 4 or as powerful as the new line of Android devices, especially if they keep the shoddy slider and keyboard. The new Palm device, I fear will AT BEST be on par with what's currently/about to be on the market, it won't be better, it won't stick out.
-advertising: WebOS 2.0 may have some great improvements under the hood, but for the most part, it looks the same, how do you convince a consumer to go out and get something that they've either consciously rejected for 1.5 years or tried out and got rid of. WebOS, I fear has left a bad taste in consumers mouths, you can only release so many marketing campaigns for the same failed product.
-Sprint: Now that Att and Verizon both have top tier Android and Apple phones, Palms best shot at an exclusive carrier(who else with give them any attention?) is Sprint, again, and we all know how that worked out the first time, of course they still should release on one or both of the big two, but they won't have the setup they had with the pre plus of Verizon(though, it was up against the Droid).
WebOS, is sort of like Windows phone 7 except they have less devices on a old operating system, I do not see a path for success( >20% market share) and most likely will not be replacing my Pre plus with a new Palm device.
Discussion about
Your move, Palm.
HP/Palm actually does have an event slated for early February, where we might see something that was exciting like the original Pre was back at CES a couple years ago. As for Sprint, I would hope HP makes a device that AT&T and Verizon actually want on their carriers. Then, we won't have to deal with that Sprint nonsense again.
From what i hear they are slated to launch a tablet(atleast according to @scobleizer's chat with their VP before CES)but they could very will pull a fast one & unveil the phone we're all looking out for.The last few FCC filings resemble a slate-like phone hopefully with better internals & a higher screen resolutions.Or they could be holding it off until MWC
Yes, I'm aware of the event the day after the Verizon iPhone launch. I'm saying I don't think they're capable of designing something that's truly compelling in light of the iPhone, the new wave of Android devices and WP7. I don't see what they could announce to sway users and developers as the market is just too saturated in my opnion.
