There's
never a dull moment when Palm investor Roger McNamee
sits down for an interview, and his latest chat with Fox Business is no exception -- in addition to saying that the
Pre launch was a "dream come true," he more or less implied that all future Palm devices will have hardware keyboards: "Our goal is to address all of those people who say I cannot have a real life without a keyboard -- I can't live doing one thing at a time." Yeah, it's not much, but taken in context it seems like he's saying that keyboards and multitasking will be Palm's major differentiators against the iPhone. That's not to say he thinks the Pre is destined to kill Cupertino's baby -- in addition to calling Apple "the most successful company in the history of Silicon Valley," McNamee also reiterated Palm's characterization of the iPhone as primarily a consumer-centric media phone: "If what you care about most is listening to music or playing back videos, the iPhone is probably the right phone for you." That's a pretty slickly-delivered backhanded compliment, if you ask us -- although from El Rog we'd expect nothing less. Check the whole interview after the break -- it's a good one.
[Via
Everything Pre]
posted June 9th 2009 11:08AM
My beef with this is his claim that 80% of the phone out there are dumbphones, and people are moving to smartphones because they aren't anymore expensive than dumbphones.... I can put whatever dumbphone (and many smartphones) on my SERO account, but not with this phone. How is this not more expensive in the long run? How is forcing people who want an iPhone to pay $100+/month not more expensive than a dumbphone that can go on whatever plan you wish?
Why do people let companies fool them into thinking these phones are just as cheap, because the initial purchase of the phone is lower now? WAKE UP!!
If you want a dumb phone with data access on sprint now you're going to pay the same price for the plan as a Pre. Stop throwing SERO into the argument. It was a deal given a while ago to "friends and family" of employees. If I were to go to sprint and buy any dumb phone and want internet and text on it, I'd be paying the same price as I would monthly for a Pre, so yes his argument is completely valid. I switched out of SERO for a plan that's costing me only $15 more for my 3 lines combined, and I get more because now I have access to BIS if I want, and Sprint Navigation.
I'm mentioning SERO because that's in the position that I'm in, and I just got a Touch Pro last month that works just fine on my SERO plan. What I am saying is that people can still buy a dumbphone and get on any plan they want, but to get these hyped smartphones, your choice of plans dwindles down to a select few. For customers who have a dumbphone that only need better calendar management, or whatever smartphone feature, that couldn't previously afford a $300+ phone, now might be able to get a sub-$100-200 phone (within the dumbphone range), but have to bump up there plan because unlimited data is required. To me, that's more expensive.
Sprint has every right to require specific plans on specific devices. Whether someone has a smartphone or dumbphone, these days most have some sort of data and/or messaging package on their account. Since most already have data and/or messaging features, the monthly cost for upgrading from a dumbphone to smartphone really isn't going to be much different.
The only real exceptions are those who don't have or use data or messaging features. Yes, they will pay more per month, totally justified since they would likely be using the Pre's features (otherwise why upgrade in the first place?). Of course, the other exception are those who got lucky with the SERO plans and now, going forward, are no longer able to get everything for comparitively nothing IF they want the new new devices.
What's the problem?
"Venomizer @ Jun 9th 2009 1:58PM
I like how apple fanboys continue their crusade to define success by what apple has done.
Yes, the Pre didn't beat Apple's 1 million sales in 72 hrs but then again, the Pre doesn't have the ravenous following Apple products have from the tweens who want to look cool. "
Its obvious you are just a teenager but try to understand this. Most of the millions of Mac users around the world don't give a shit about who makes their Macs, don't know who Steve Jobs is, and don't care. They just know they are getting a high quality product with excellent support instead of the POS plastic Windows machines they have been using for years that have been nothing but frustration. Same with most iPhone users.
Get back to us when your balls drop and you gain some maturity.
Why don't YOU gain some maturity and appreciate Windows for its capabilities and Mac for its own, instead of being a whiny fanboi?
Could she seems less interested but act more like she really is?
@yao
But its not. Comparing the X-Box and the NES is actually comparing across several changes in technology. the pure evolution of hardware that has occurred since the NES makes comparing the X-Box and NES ludicrous. However, the iPhone and Pre are at the same stage in technology, the only variable being how each company decides to use current technology.
I love my wife's Pre and I love my Sprint Service so I wish Palm and Sprint a successful future.
Ahhh Engadgets playing tricks on me. Or My Browser is.
I've been trying to post this for the last ten minutes and hopefully it works this time.
I love my wife's Palm and I love my Sprint Service. The guy was absolutely right in saying that Sprint network is a perfect match for this phone. I thought it was a little BS though when he said that Sprint needed it's leading phone yet in 6 months you can get it on all carriers. In a way I think that is good for Palm and an advantage over the iphone.
I wish Sprint and Palm both good luck though. Spint work on that coverage!!
"If what you care about most is listening to music or playing back videos, the iPhone is probably the right phone for you."
Yes, because if you want a real "enterprise strength" device, get the one who's application environment runs on HTML and javascript. lol. low-level APIs using Obj-C/C++ is just for kiddies!
Look, another kid throwing big programming words around to sound like he knows what the hell he's talking about.
Sorry CS was a little too hard, maybe you ought to try sociology?
So far 30 million people choosing a phone that has iPod touch built into it. Oh n 50,000 apps . Sales in 2 short years .so majority of Americans have chosen iPhone as smartphone of choice in last 2 years. iPhone carries 67% of all all mobil Internet traffic ,.,.think about it again. USA has 320 million people iphone carries 67% of all mobil Internet traffic. How sick is that.!!!!!!!
Americans clearly clearly want a phone with best mobil browser of all times.,I'm sure u agree.
@Ali
Actually, software development is my full-time job, and I never needed a university CS class. But if your attempts at witty insults make you feel better about your life, go right head.
Haha, nice trolling.... I see your a veteran by the way you go for my age. Also, the twisting my words so you can apply your trolling is a nice touch.
First off, i didn't make ignorant generalizations about Mac consumers like you. I stated that what led Apple to their 1 million sales was the cult following it has. YES, a fair amount of the consumers for the iPhone were actually informed people. However, the larger amount were from the iSheep that apple has created with their branding.
Your argument that Mac users are ignorant of whom they are getting their products from proves the fact that they are nothing more than cattle being herded to a brand. Also, the fact that the quality of the product does not justify the price for most consumers proves my point even more.
the only point you have made that i can't argue is the support. I've personally always been able to handle any issues I've had with my Mac, PC, and Linux systems so i can't say i can argue for or against the support. What does the case of a PC have to do with this? Microsoft doesn't even make hardware?
@Venomizer...
"YES, a fair amount of the consumers for the iPhone were actually informed people. However, the larger amount were from the iSheep that apple has created with their branding."
Replace "iPhone" with "Windows", replace "iSheep" with "90% of the os market", replace "apple" with "Microsoft". See, it works both ways!!! I love Mad Libs! Let's play again!
The iPhone (firmware 2.0 and up) supports a variety of corporate enterprise WiFi protocols (PEAP/LEAP, etc.). Not so much with the Pre.
Palm needs to get it shit together before they start making the "more useful" argument.
67% of all mobil Internet traffic is on 1 phone , the iPhone .
Americans have spoken loud n clear in just 2 short years n made iPhone smartphone of choice.330 million Americans 67% of mobil traffic on 1 phone iPhone
Insane!!!!!!
Agree?
Is smartphone sucess measured in sales or based on editors reviews with very low sales which is better,.?from a palm CEO pount of view .
I own iPhone
I've used a pre on n off for 2 days, tubby got one.
I compared it side by side to iPhone browser music video email typing apps games touchscreen responsiveness battery life screen material ipod docks car steering wheel integration home surround sound systems with remote control that iPhone has abundance of .
My decision Is in
Pre blows on so many levels.
Btw tubby returning his pre
Can the pre replace an iPod touch?
Answer to that will determine superiority.
Answer is no.
Listening to music and playing videos is certainly not what I care about most, so... *drinks the kool aid*
"For everyone who didn't get a Pre last weekend, don't worry. No Sprint store will ever sell out again."
-Roger McNamee
Im sorry but i think the 2 best phones with physical keyboard is Sidekick & Tmobile G1.