Complaints Palm Pre

Even though there was a lot of hype leading up to its release, there was also no shortage of complaints about Palm Pre right after the phone was launched in June 2009. Still, it represented a monumental step forward for Palm, a company that had been struggling to recapture its former prominence in the smartphone and PDA market.

When the Palm Pre was initially revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, many industry pundits and analysts said that it could be the first real "iPhone killer." Palm had worked very hard on developing the new webOS, abandoning the dated Palm OS that the company had been using up until that time.

The main features of the Palm Pre sounded very appealing. The overall aesthetic was classy and svelte, just like the iPhone, but it also addressed some concerns that people had about the iPhone. For instance, Palm included a full QWERTY keyboard for the Pre. Even so, no phone is perfect and the complaints about Palm Pre quickly rose to the surface.

Many have said that the iPhone is the device that really introduced smartphones to the average consumer, since smartphones were largely catering to the corporate and business markets up until that point. The Palm Pre continued with this trend toward consumer-minded smartphones, but it was not without its shortcomings.

Some of the more common complaints on Palm Pre include the following.

• Poorly designed keyboard: While it was good to see the inclusion of a physical keyboard on the Palm Pre, it wasn't quite as perfect as people had hoped. The rubber-like feel of the keys on the Pre is similar to the Palm Centro; not everyone liked this. Further still, the top row of keys can be uncomfortable to use due to its proximity to the lower edge of the top slider. In this way, users of the BlackBerry Bold and other similar products were not pleased with this execution.

• No touchscreen keyboard: In order to access the full QWERTY keyboard, users must use the hardware keyboard that slides out of the bottom. One of the hottest cell phone trends is the inclusion of a touchscreen. The Palm Pre has one, but there is no virtual keyboard to be found.

• Touchstone not included: Along with the Palm Pre, Palm also showcased its inductive-based Touchstone charger at CES. This is a wireless charging system for the cell phone, but it is not included as part of the regular retail package. Instead, it is an optional accessory that must be purchased separately.

• Lack of video recording: Although there is a camera on board for taking still photos, the camera cannot record video clips like so many other smartphones and feature phones.

• Missing LED indicator: Most smartphones come with some sort of light to indicate that a message has been received or that the battery is low. The Palm Pre does not have this, so users must turn on the screen to check the status.

• Inability to tether: Among the complaints about Palm Pre, this one really only applies to power users. Tethering is when the phone is used as a cellular modem for a notebook computer, getting that laptop connected to the Internet. The Pre does not have native support for this functionality.

• Restricted bluetooth: The Bluetooth on the phone can only be used for audio devices like headsets. It cannot be used for file transfers and contact submissions.

Although it has only been a short while since the original Palm Pre was released, many enthusiasts are anxiously awaiting the release of the next Palm Pre or its suitable successor.

This is a first-generation device for Palm, so it's understandable that they are experiencing some complaints on the Palm Pre. Hopefully, many of these concerns will be addressed in a future device.

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