Palm Pre finds fan off the grid
By Donald Melanson 
posted June 29th 2009 4:42PM
posted June 29th 2009 4:42PM
Alright, so you've no doubt seen plenty of Palm Pre reviews by this point (even if there's only one you really need), but we're guessing you haven't seen one quite like this one from PreCentral forum user Michael Bunker, who has been using the phone completely off the grid for the past three weeks (if you don't count the cell service, that is). Among other things, Bunker found that the Pre was particularly helpful for selling cows over the internet, keeping watch on any oncoming tornadoes, checking for the cheapest gas prices in the nearby towns, and catching up on the odd TV show (since he doesn't have an actual TV). Of course, he does also have a few complaints about the phone, including the familiar refrain of hoping to "see some more apps." Hit up the link below for the full review.
[Via PreCentral.net]
[Via PreCentral.net]
sup longhorn
Say hello to ya mother for me.
If he had a rope on the Pre and hung it as a necklace, that picture would be awesome as a farmer dude showing his bling.
saw'em off!
@ sentax
That's not even remotely funny.
remember when we thought longhorn was gonna be cool?
"Palm Pre, where's the bee..."
Oh, there it is.
lol wat longhorn
He looks friendly.
o come on! even THAT guy has a pre and i don't?! curse you contracts!!!!
cause "a ham sandwich" don need no phone.
I am THIS close to deciding to pay ATT an ETF.
Give them more money, that'll show them!
off the grid and molesting cows.
Don't have a cow man.
Sorry had to do it.
Bob Marley has spoketh!
I happened to fall off the sprint grid while in kansas city last weekend...two blocks from the sprint center. My pre went into roam mode and jumped to full signal strength on another cdma network. Ridiculous.
If you can see the Sprint World Headquarters, you will not have a signal. It's a running joke in OP.
i bet it was US Cellular
Doesn't "off the grid" imply "no electricity"? How the shit does he charge it? By chipping flint on his touchstone?
Read his review.
He has a personal solar array.
Well now that is impressive.
Getting gas for your vehicle means you're on the grid.
Now if it was converted to biodiesel to run on McDonald's french fry oil, that would be acceptable.
'Off the grid' isn't exactly what I'd call using a cell phone...
Off the grid in the conventional (and this) context means not being connected to a commercial electricity supplier.
Is it really off the grid if you are charging a cell phone?
Solar charger?
Palm should hire him as spokesman in rural areas.
"I'm an oil man." What I thought of when I pictured that. :-)
Just in case anyone wants to relive a fantastic speech from a fantastic movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76-WevEAyWg
Yeah that looks about right. I'll keep my iPhone and be associated with that crowd.
Don't forget to buy lotion.
yes, and we'll happily allow you to stay with the iDrones. Bye now.
You and this guy have more in common than you think. He's among cows and you're among sheep.
"Steve @ Jun 29th 2009 4:52PM
Yeah that looks about right. I'll keep my iPhone and be associated with that crowd."
Ugh, what a gross comment. Steve, you truly are lame and you give Apple a bad name.
GO PRE!
Steve, your comment is lame, this is a great story. Its about using a tool to achieve work results and improve your access to information that assists your life.
Sure I use an iPhone (no Pre where I live) but we should all want more of this regardless of device because its stuff like this that will make our devices more useful.
I am not sure about being off the grid though, sounds like the dude is fairly gridded, perhaps it just means no mains power which is somewhat overkill for charging a phone anyway.
This guy is awesome.
Thanks
too bad he's a homophobe
What, are you a homophobephobe?
hahha no just wanted to point out this guys part of something a lil more radical than what we all here are being led on.
Castro?
I'm not sure thats true off the grid, but whatever. I'm sure some would find internet and tv watching not in the true spirit. But if off the grid is truely off the electric grid then i guess he suffices.
"The Grid" specifically refers to the power grid. I don't know of any other grid? The Tron Grid? The waffle grid? What are you talking about?
uhmm... what did you think "off the grid" meant>?
No electric lines running from the electric company to your house=off the (electric) grid. geez.
Usually accomplished with solar panels and deep storage batteries, with a diesel generator to occasionally fill the gaps when higher power usage is required. Often solar heaters are used to heat water (since sun->solar panel->stoarge battery->hot water heater is not very efficient use of power, and solar panels cost more then a house...)
"The Grid" has expanded in vernacular to include anything that ties people to community. Mobile phone network, internet, etc...
I've heard many people say that they were going to be "off the grid" by turning off their cellphone.
Words and phrases can have multiple meanings. It can mean both "off the electric grid" and "out of contact". This is why context is important.
Does anyone else think "Seth Green" when they think Amish?
I do.
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/3672d8ff6e/sex-drive-with-seth-green-from-thathouse
Weird. That dude's personal site is blocked by Sonicwall: "Cult/Occult".
http://www.torproject.org/
One of the really appealing aspects of Palm's Pre and WebOS, is that it isn't dependent on a host computer for backups and for firmware updates. My iPhone is a great device, but without a host computer, it's crippled. It was designed to be dependent on iTunes, and it integrates quite nicely, but you have to have a host machine. It'd be great if "The Cloud" could host it.