I got to spend some time with the Pre at my local Best Buy. Over all, I am impressed with the Pre. The design is very unique and takes a little getting used to. The pictures on the Internet does not do it just, for better or worse.
I have an issue with the app support at launch and that's going to be critical. And with the iPhone 3.0 and iPhone 3G's lower price at $99, G2 and Storm 2 on deck, the Pre will be competing in a very crowded market.
I've provided more notes at Onxo Gadgets and some recommendations on what you should do if you're in the market for a smartphone. Overall, Palm knocked it out of the park but it was going up against last year's smartphones like the Storm and G1.
Palm went to a different direction with WebOS. As it is, Synergy is the center piece of a Pre user's link to e-mails, contacts, and the mobile Internet. Palm stressed integration and ease of use. Google went with the mobile desktop direction. Unless there is a drastic change with Android 2.0, that will remain to be the case. What it'll come down to for Android to prevail is more optimization, new innovative features, and a robust third party support.
Perhaps, Android stands to gain if it can "leave the nest" as it were and Google is willing to let the open source energy flow through it. Certainly, Google will continue to be involved closely.
At the end of the day, the Pre has the edge in integrating information for the user but Android enjoys a thriving app market and strong support from Google.
More Pre impressions at Onxo Gadgets
Note: This is not a simple case of Pre versus G1 or G2. Both Google and Palm are planning to take their mobile platforms, Android and WebOS respectively, beyond the smartphone market. Netbooks and tablets may be the next realms which these two will face off.
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