Palm Pre finds fan off the grid

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]

[udon man @ Jun 29th 2009 4:46PM]

sup longhorn

[BlurMagic @ Jun 29th 2009 5:01PM]

Say hello to ya mother for me.

[Sentax @ Jun 29th 2009 5:03PM]

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.

[Maddy @ Jun 29th 2009 5:06PM]

saw'em off!

[BlurMagic @ Jun 29th 2009 5:07PM]

@ sentax

That's not even remotely funny.

[bolezhinkov @ Jun 29th 2009 8:58PM]

remember when we thought longhorn was gonna be cool?

[Sisyphus @ Jun 29th 2009 4:46PM]

"Palm Pre, where's the bee..."

Oh, there it is.

[udon man @ Jun 29th 2009 4:46PM]

lol wat longhorn

[Templarian @ Jun 29th 2009 4:48PM]

He looks friendly.

[a ham sandwich @ Jun 29th 2009 4:49PM]

o come on! even THAT guy has a pre and i don't?! curse you contracts!!!!

[OneLove @ Jun 29th 2009 5:04PM]

cause "a ham sandwich" don need no phone.

[joe23521 @ Jun 29th 2009 5:17PM]

I am THIS close to deciding to pay ATT an ETF.

[ethana2 @ Jun 29th 2009 5:30PM]

Give them more money, that'll show them!

[OneLove @ Jun 29th 2009 4:49PM]

off the grid and molesting cows.

[Monkey with glasses @ Jun 29th 2009 4:52PM]

Don't have a cow man.

Sorry had to do it.

[Someperson @ Jun 29th 2009 5:09PM]

Bob Marley has spoketh!

[jdame95 @ Jun 29th 2009 4:50PM]

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.

[dangerdoc @ Jun 30th 2009 4:15PM]

If you can see the Sprint World Headquarters, you will not have a signal. It's a running joke in OP.

[Cody @ Jun 29th 2009 10:40PM]

i bet it was US Cellular

[bandigolo @ Jun 29th 2009 4:51PM]

Doesn't "off the grid" imply "no electricity"? How the shit does he charge it? By chipping flint on his touchstone?

[Sisyphus @ Jun 29th 2009 4:53PM]

Read his review.

He has a personal solar array.

[bandigolo @ Jun 29th 2009 4:57PM]

Well now that is impressive.

[Shenanigans @ Jun 29th 2009 5:24PM]

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.

[loosely_coupled @ Jun 29th 2009 5:58PM]

'Off the grid' isn't exactly what I'd call using a cell phone...

[bryon @ Jun 29th 2009 11:47PM]

Off the grid in the conventional (and this) context means not being connected to a commercial electricity supplier.

[Justin Paulson @ Jun 29th 2009 4:51PM]

Is it really off the grid if you are charging a cell phone?

[Jonathan @ Jun 29th 2009 5:00PM]

Solar charger?

[Monkey with glasses @ Jun 29th 2009 4:51PM]

Palm should hire him as spokesman in rural areas.

[Chris Are @ Jun 29th 2009 5:00PM]

"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

[Steve @ Jun 29th 2009 4:52PM]

Yeah that looks about right. I'll keep my iPhone and be associated with that crowd.

[Sisyphus @ Jun 29th 2009 4:53PM]

Don't forget to buy lotion.

[Dayne @ Jun 29th 2009 5:09PM]

yes, and we'll happily allow you to stay with the iDrones. Bye now.

[joe23521 @ Jun 29th 2009 5:20PM]

You and this guy have more in common than you think. He's among cows and you're among sheep.

[John Cruz @ Jun 29th 2009 5:25PM]

"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!

[Cy Starkman @ Jun 29th 2009 11:39PM]

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.

[Dayne @ Jun 29th 2009 4:54PM]

This guy is awesome.

[Steve @ Jun 29th 2009 8:55PM]

Thanks

[lphybred @ Jun 29th 2009 5:05PM]

too bad he's a homophobe

[ED @ Jun 29th 2009 7:24PM]

What, are you a homophobephobe?

[lphybred @ Jun 30th 2009 2:53PM]

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.

[BigD145 @ Jun 29th 2009 5:02PM]

Castro?

[Carl @ Jun 29th 2009 5:05PM]

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.

[timepilot84 @ Jun 29th 2009 5:20PM]

"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?

[tmarks11 @ Jun 29th 2009 5:21PM]

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...)

[Sisyphus @ Jun 29th 2009 5:22PM]

"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.

[James @ Jun 29th 2009 6:13PM]

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.

[BlurMagic @ Jun 29th 2009 5:06PM]

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

[timepilot84 @ Jun 29th 2009 5:14PM]

Weird. That dude's personal site is blocked by Sonicwall: "Cult/Occult".

[ethana2 @ Jun 29th 2009 5:32PM]

http://www.torproject.org/

[timepilot84 @ Jun 29th 2009 5:20PM]

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.