Palm now happy to take your $549 for a Treo Pro preorder

Great news for Palm fans, Treo fans, Windows Mobile fans, and anyone who lives out in the sticks: the Treo Pro is now officially available for preorder. Palm's US site now lists the Treo Pro in glossy black "obsidian" for the expected $549 with shipping anticipated in two to three weeks. We'll admit, there's something vaguely sexy about an unlocked smartphone with North American 3G -- no matter how ancient the platform might be. Any chance this'll be upgradeable to Nova, Palm?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Hellaphunt @ Sep 9th 2008 3:24PM]

I'm not sure why you think people care to know what your alternative is...

[bundle @ Sep 9th 2008 3:25PM]

It look pretty good, but after the disappointment I experienced with the 755 I can't say that buying a Palm product anytime soon.

[CraigJ @ Sep 9th 2008 3:27PM]

I thought $500+ for a cell phone was ridiculous?

[pozzitron @ Sep 9th 2008 3:28PM]

Not for a "smartphone".

[Big John @ Sep 9th 2008 3:30PM]

It's ridiculous in this particular case because it's horribly overpriced for what amounts to old technology.

For a smartphone, it's not all that bad if you're used to the world of RIM and HTC. Apple is trying to change the game with the iPhone subsidy and hopefully it'll trickle to other manufactures as well.

[bundle @ Sep 9th 2008 3:36PM]

It depends what you're using it for. If its business use, then yes I think the price can be justified. And secondly this device is unlocked which gives you the opportunity to use it on any GSM network that you choose.

[pozzitron @ Sep 9th 2008 3:38PM]

Maybe is not and "iSmartphone" but still a smartphone.

[Homeboy @ Sep 9th 2008 3:40PM]

Every single high end phone on the market costs the same. Whether you pay the full cost for the phone upfront or sign up for a 2 year contract the money you'll be paying at the end will equal or exceed the true price for phone which tend to be of the region of €/$500-800 for phones like the iPhone, N96, HTC Touch and Treo Pro.

[Abuzar Baloach @ Sep 9th 2008 4:03PM]

It's way more of a smartphone than the iPhone is and you know it. The amount of apps available for the WinMo platform really is impressive.

[OneLove @ Sep 9th 2008 4:11PM]

If you buy a any phone for $400+ its definitely smarter than you.

[Big John @ Sep 9th 2008 3:29PM]

He's been shilling Apple products around lately, I'm iSurprised he didn't type "i love" as "iLove" based on his other habits.

[bsharitt @ Sep 9th 2008 3:29PM]

It look like a nice phone until you get to the Windows mobile part.

I'm looking to get a new smart phone around the beginning for 2009, and if the new OS is good, a Treo might be a contender, but at the moment, I'm only expecting Android devices to really be an option.

[Edward @ Sep 9th 2008 3:48PM]

$549 isn't a bad un-subsidized price. In theory you could buy an iphone (or other smartphone) take the SIM card and put it on ebay for $549 if not more.

[Chuck @ Sep 9th 2008 3:45PM]

Palm supposedly does a really good job of streamlining the Window Mobile experience. I know with the Treo Pro they've included the HTC Task Manager.

I can't speak from experience, but that's what I've heard.

[pozzitron @ Sep 9th 2008 3:46PM]

I would be excited about Android I could run it on my N95, but so far all i have seen is a shaddy video that may or may not be true. Only time will tell.

[NickDG @ Sep 9th 2008 3:30PM]

I like the keyboard on my Centro, even though it's cramped. The rubberized keys give good feel.

The Treo Pro has a bigger, more spaced out keyboard, so it should be even better.

[pozzitron @ Sep 9th 2008 3:31PM]

I guess everyone is used to it since he is not low ranked.

[Chuck @ Sep 9th 2008 3:44PM]

"no matter how ancient the platform might be"

This is running Windows Mobile 6. Not Palm OS.

Maybe I misunderstood, but it seems to me you've gotten it mixed up again.

[Chris Ziegler @ Sep 9th 2008 3:45PM]

Yep, you misunderstood.

[Kao @ Sep 9th 2008 3:49PM]

I guess it doesn't matter, they'll bash windows mobile as well.

[Christian Walters @ Sep 9th 2008 6:03PM]

I tell you, it amazes me how an editor can keep getting low ranked in article after article, it does my heart good.

[CCDN @ Sep 9th 2008 3:44PM]

Seems pricey

[Tpat @ Sep 9th 2008 3:45PM]

you're on of those...."not that theres anything wrong with it"-Seinfeld

[Vance @ Sep 9th 2008 3:45PM]

Yes, please to the NOVA implementation!!!

Actually, by the time Nova comes out next year (from what they say), there will be a next generation of this form factor. Where the Centro kept Palm from going under for good, the Pro should get it back into the race, and hopefully Nova can make it a true competitor again!

[doubleu606 @ Sep 9th 2008 3:45PM]

There is nothing Palm about the Treo Pro since it's made by HTC amirite? Minus whale be called HTC Treo Pro, and I will start saving my pennies today!

[Chuck @ Sep 9th 2008 3:58PM]

No you're not right. In fact, you couldn't be farther from the truth.

I could give you a long list of examples in which hardware designed, engineered, and marketed by one company is manufactured by another. Fortunately my fellow readers have pointed that out several hundred times already.

[Josh @ Sep 9th 2008 3:58PM]

So, why would anyone ask if this would be upgradable to NOVA, since it's a WM 6.1 device???

[Mike @ Sep 9th 2008 4:07PM]

Cool

[tom @ Sep 9th 2008 4:08PM]

iPhone doesn't even have a real keyboard! Typing on that virtual keyboard is a nightmare.

[Christian Walters @ Sep 9th 2008 4:17PM]

@iEirk, yah, sure is hard to type on the keyboard that has been ranked hands down THE best phone keyboard EVER by multiple sources....your soft keyboard is SOOOO much better than a real tactile one!

[Stan Winsome @ Sep 9th 2008 4:17PM]

Does that come with the 10-rock that the folks who think anyone will pay that price must be smoking?

[dave @ Sep 9th 2008 4:27PM]

design: mostly good, except palm's smartphones have JUNK KEYBOARDS! i have a blackberry 8830, and a lot of people don't like the 8800 series because of its keyboard, but i find it's ten times better than that of any centro or treo.

[Chad @ Sep 9th 2008 4:43PM]

Windows Mobile may lack slickness in the UI, but I love the expandability of it. Have a Treo 800w that I can do everything an iPhone can do plus some (like binding my 3G connection to the Wifi to turn my phone into a wireless hotspot), tethering the phone as a modem, etc. I won't argue that that UI on the iPhone is better, but Palm does do some nice things to make Windows Mobile more useable.

[Mobile Phone Diva @ Sep 9th 2008 5:42PM]

How the hell is WM 6.1 an ancient platform???

[tom @ Sep 9th 2008 5:51PM]

iErik,
Empty talk is nothing, what is your WPM on iPhone?

[Hellaphunt @ Sep 9th 2008 6:02PM]

"it's apple, nuff said :)"

You do the Apple community great justice in your intuitive opinion. I hope you're not Christian also: "The Big Bang? Get outta here! It was the dad of Jesus, nuff said :)"

[curtisrutland @ Sep 9th 2008 6:28PM]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Everybody above that line was trolled successfully.

This person has multiple accounts for nothing but pissing you off. Why respond? Haven't you all heard the rule "Don't feed the troll?" Well, quit feeding it! Nobody else reply to this poster, now or ever.

[phanbouy @ Sep 9th 2008 6:41PM]

if i reply to agree with curtis does that put me in a catch-22?

[Ynot @ Sep 9th 2008 6:49PM]

All I can say is this if the iPhone were capable of being on another network, that isn't shit in my area like AT&T, I'd buy one in a heartbeat simply for ease of use and compatibility with my machines. I'd also like to dump my iPod and have just one device. Currently my Treo, with Verizon, runs great and might be hard to give up with all the apps I've gotten to know, it's also fully compatible with all of my Macs (Palm OS), maybe not as easy as the iPhone, but my only alternative. The Missing Sync really helps here. I also like the video capabilities that I use for spur of the moment clips of my toddlers. As far as price I've not payed more than $150 for any of the 3 Treo's that I've purchased through Verizon online. I'm sure in time deals will be popping up on this one.

[Unbangyourmom @ Sep 10th 2008 9:00AM]

I've been a fan of palm ever since the III to handspring to clie. But they all actually had palm os. This is still just a pretty thick, slightly modified treo from the old days with the still tiny azz screen. I was a little excited when this was announced, but at $550, looks like i'm going to go for an HTC Touch something for half that when my contract runs out in 2 months.

[Anthony @ Sep 10th 2008 2:33PM]

Us Brits getting ripped off as usual.
It's available to preorder here as well, but for £400