iPhone 3GS vs Palm Pre: Prizefight at CNET 36
by Derek Kessler
Thu, 23 Jul 2009 5:34 pm EDT
Thu, 23 Jul 2009 5:34 pm EDT
For being a third generation device and operating system, you’d think Apple’s iPhone 3GS would be able to manage greater than a 0.06 winning margin over the 1.0 Palm Pre and webOS in CNET's prizefight, eh?
It’ll certainly be interesting to run this comparison again in a year or so - with time to mature, Apple could end up with a big Palm problem on their hands. Multiple weboOS devices on multiple carriers will add a whole new angle to this contest. Of course, you know who we at PreCentral think is the winner (hint: it's not the iPhone).
Thanks to Informed and Louis for the tip!
36 Comments
After seeing the IPhone side by side with the Pre for that long you really realize how great the visual design of the Pre really is.
I think they could have forked over a few more points on the multi-tasking section to the Pre but overall I think that was a pretty fair comparison.
Sorry for the lengthy comment, but credit has not been given were it was due in my opinion.
I think this prize fight was bias towards the iphone. Here we have 2 phones, 1 in its 3rd gen and 1 in its 1st. That should have given the Pre a few extra points, why because it
They don't mention that although the iPhone has better battery life, you can change out the battery on the Pre.
I also think that the choppiness of SprintTV is a Sprint issue, not a Pre issue.
I think once the Pre gets the powersaving features working better and video, along with more apps in the app store, I think it'll be no contest.
I knew that AT&T's service was blah, but didn't know it was that bad. Plus, while tempted by the larger memory sizes of the iPhone, I couldn't help but feel that the Pre is so much more comfortable to hold. The iPhone continues to be boxy...thin...but boxy.
Nice that all the lame apple fangirls haven't flooded this place yet.. anytime now!
I can accept most of the (admittedly subjective) assessments by the CNET reviewers and people in general. However, I take some exception to the criticism about the Pre screen size. I truly believe the iPhone has simply become the defacto standard and anything smaller (or bigger) is looked at unfavorably. I like the size of the Pre and the slightly smaller screen (but same resolution!) is a plus for me. I don't think games will suffer on this screen.
1.1 is available right now!! Go to updates app
Befor I knew of the Pre (I knew about it by one of my employees by chance while I was looking at a new carier and a new phone, thanks Tim!) I was a big fan of the iPhone and I was willing to give up my HTC Touch for it. Thank god I did not! I love the Pre, and the main strength for me is the multitasking, I was driving on the highway and had the navigation system and started to get emails, texts and phone calls, if it was the HTC Touch or any other phone I would have paniced, not with a Pre in my hand! I think the Pre will become a beast once the App Catalog has some beef to it. Would not trade my Pre for any other phone.
It's an 87 MB update! Hopefully lots of new things!
yeah, why is precentral getting beat by engadget on the 1.1 update? what is up with that?
Hey what about the plan cost??? That should have been talked about in the "PrizeFight"
Sprint Everything Plan = $99.99/Month
AT&T Nation Unlimited, Data Plan for iPhone, iPhone Text Messaging Unlimited & AT&T Navigator for iPhone =$159.98/Month
Over the course of a year AT&T would cost you $1919.76 (plus tax)
Sprint Plan would cost $1,199.88
Sprint is a savings of $719.88!!! per year
Shouldn't Cnet have done a round 6 and compared monthly costs??? I think that would have tipped the fight to Palm Pre
Thoughts anyone??
The most impressive thing that I find about this... "prizefight" is that they had to break it down to hundredths of a point, calling it "the closest prizefight in CNET history"
So we should be REALLY excited about our Pre's because basically, in it's first generation, right out of the box - EVEN BEFORE this latest 1.1.0 update, the Palm Pre has managed to do what NO OTHER CELLPHONE has done, when compared to the iPhone.
The iPhone is on its THIRD generation and could not even pull a FULL POINT ahead of the Pre - and that says a lot!
No tether... false
Java support sooner!
Video to come in the first Gen
SDK already released and Homebrews second to none.
Summary:
Very Excited!
Just downloaded the update. DEFINITELY zippier! Keep the updates coming Palm!
This wasn't a comparison of what can be added. You don't have multi-tasking natively with the iPhone if you have to add an app and then HACK that! Most users won't know or understand what a hack is let alone know how to do it. This "feature" for iPhone would be a subtraction of points IMO. Go back to the iForums please.
What is "weboOS" in the second paragraph?
I actually of the luxury of owning and using a Pre and iPhone 3Gs. I admit that when it comes to computers, I'm a Apple fanboy, and felt that way about the iPhone. Most of my problems are with At&T. But, when I saw the Pre and what is was going to be like, it actually saved Sprint the loss of an account. I loved what I saw the Pre was going to be able to do (looking at it before release). After, we went to a Sprint store and my wife played with it. This was during the release week, we left and I asked my wife what she thought, "oh I want one so bad". She had been using a Blackberry and had always been a little jealous of my 1st gen iPhone except for internet. I admit I was envious of Sprint's 3G speeds. She said she wanted it and I did to. Well, as I said I have them both. I try to swipe the bottom of my iPhone to make it work like my Pre. All in all, I think it was a good fight CNET did. I agree with those here who point out the is the 3rd Gen iPhone and 1st Gen Pre. Also, the iPhone had very few Apps when it started also. I think they were right about battery life, but if you let the battery totally die, once (better if you do it twice) it improves it significantly. I have said it before, the Pre is not the iPhone killer, but that is okay, the iPhone is also a great phone, but honestly, the Pre is the first worthy and true competitor the iPhone as seen. If I had to give one up, it would be extremely hard to choose, but the Pre would win on the basis of economics i.e. cheaper plan. It could win hands down with more Apps, and better battery life. As to those who comment about the plastic on the Pre, the iPhone is now plastic since the 3G. Keyboard, I am actually more accurate with the Pre than the iPhone but I think the whole keyboard thing is a matter of preference. My wife had the 8830 and switched to the Pre with very little problems.