Despite sporting the latest 2.0 version of Palm's webOS software, the Palm Pre 2 could beat the Sinclair X-1 to the title of this month's least-wanted sequel. The Pre 2 has been met with withering indifference by British networks, failing to make it on to a single carrier so far.
Statements from all the major UK networks indicate that it's a No and a huge flashing X to the latest Palm mobile, according to tech blog Pocket Lint.
The first Palm Pre dropped with great fanfare a mere year ago, exclusively on O2, and the network also sells the Palm Pre Plus and the Palm Pixi Plus. But, like the other networks, O2 has no plans to sell the Pre 2.
Palm told us "users are expecting" to see the Pre 2 on UK networks this year, but it had nothing to say about where and when it might happen. The Pre 2 is for sale on the Palm website SIM-free, for £399.
In our review, we liked the Pre 2's whizzy, intuitive user interface -- but we didn't think it was a vast improvement over the Pre and the Pre Plus.
The Pre 2 is the first Palm phone to come out since the company was bought by HP, which has major plans for webOS. We're likely to see the software powering tablets and even touchscreen printers next year.
Palm promises the Pre 2 will benefit from a huge advertising push early next year, along with other new webOS products, in the hope we'll consider picking up a phone, a tablet and a printer that can communicate seamlessly. As keen as we are to commit the occasional snapshot or email to paper, we're doubtful that the charms of a printer could persuade us to choose a smart phone based on the same OS.
Are you gutted that the Palm Pre 2 won't be available on contract, or do you not give a hoot? Hello? Is anyone even reading this? Let us know in the comments.
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Anonymous 16 November, 2010 12:41
I loved the original Pre, but dont think this handset is a big enough improvement to justify £400. Sorry HPalm
Anonymous 16 November, 2010 13:42
I had the original Pre on o2, still do - looking forward to a replacement in fact very soon! Thats the issue, the original hardware was not that great (unless you really look after it). The thing is, no other phone does what the Pre does with maultitaksing and synergy (some close, but WebOS is still technically better).
Also, I have apps for the Pre, which will work on the Pre 2, so given the option I would opt for a Pre 2, with all that extra memory, better camera and better build *hopefully). The problem as I see it is, that most o2 customers in the UK will be locked in for another year yet before they can get a new FREE handset, so most are unlikely to jump. As much as I'd like a new Pre 2, I can't justify the full whack of £399. Also rumour has it the Pre Plus & Pre original will get the WebOS2 software in an update, the most compelling reason to get a PRE 2. So no, not upgrading yet (although I want to!).
The other point is that HP have started selling this unlocked right away, therefore carriers probably see this as an exclusivity issue - what HOP need to do is advertise this baby like it's the better that the iPhone, together with Slate etc - perhaps we will see this yet. The mobile phone industry, as far as smartphones are concerned is based on hype first, then product!
Anonymous 16 November, 2010 14:20
I had the original Palm Pre and absolutely loved it. More so for WebOs than the build quality of the hardware which was very average.
If it wasn't for o2's awful customer service then I'd probably still be using it now.
Anonymous 16 November, 2010 14:39
I'm gutted, palm really are different from the current crop of os's which all look the same. It's a real shame uk operators have opted not to offer it. I believe there's a genuine demand for palm, I guess it now depends on how they market in the new year. We tend to respond to advertisers, like apple, htc, nokia advertise and people jump. C'mon palm, u have a phone and os, now get the marketing right!
Anonymous 16 November, 2010 14:49
Had the Pre and have the Pre plus. Love them both, but locked in until April. It was obvious to me when the Pre launched that O2 had outbid Orange for it in order to kill competition for the iPhone. It is a much better product except for the app store lagging behind the over-hyped iPhone (as a result of the hype). Palm is notoriously bad at marketing, but in this case, they were killed, deliberately. I am not surprised that they wouldn't go to O2 again. Desperate to upgrade and given that my O2 deal hasn't worked out to be a subsidy (based on the idea that I would spend an extra £12.77 on calls, texts and data per month), I am likely to buy the phone in April and go with a sim-only deal from a better carrier.
Anonymous 16 November, 2010 15:59
You really can't beat the Palm Pre - and no matter what the hype and stupid magazine comparisons (that don't understand the product) say, there are stacks of good apps available.
The Apps and the phone's OS get regularly updated and issues put forward by the users actually get addressed - no other OS gets this kind of service.
Palm didn't have the money to support a huge marketing campaign and certainly couldn't match Apple for their advertising budget. O2 had overstocked the iphone3 so didn't want to push the palm...and then iphone4 came out - so the Palm didn't get a look in with O2.
Problem is that we want to see what WebOS2 is really like first, and this will be available for free upgrade on the Palm Pre on Dec6th. If this ticks all the boxes, then the Pre2 offers a processor, memory, camera and apparently build quality upgrade over a Pre/Pre plus for a sim-free £399.
So most of us will probably wait for our contracts to expire - whilst still enjoying WebOS2 - no real rush is there!
My question is: Sim free - will I still get full use of all my phone's features if it wasn't purchased through O2?
Anonymous 16 November, 2010 19:21
all i need to say is get rebel sim if o2 is no good and expensive. Works great in my palm pixi and doesn't void waranty because it doesn't actually unlock your phone, but tricks it in to allowing your phone to use say a three sim card. Webos is much better than the other OSes. Hopefully with HP they can get the marketing right and go in with phones 4u which is carrier independent. All i need now is a dual sim adapter so i can use three and vodafone.
Anonymous 16 November, 2010 19:39
I've just purchased a Palm Pre 2 (sim-free) - I wanted a decent and open operating system, and Android doesn't cut the mustard for me. I don't upgrade often, and I don't get 'free' phones on contracts - if I can afford the phone outright, I'm not going to sign for a loan from a service provider - because as with all loans they charge interest. It's amazing how many people are under the impression they've gotten a free iPhone on a £40/month 2 year contract.
So if anything, I'm pleased that less moneylenders will profit from the Pre 2, but unfortunately that also means Palm/HP will shift less stock, and I suppose that might spell the end for their mobile phone outfit. I'm a developer and Linux enthusiast, so I'm hoping to contribute to their app store when I have some available time - if enough people do the same it might resolve their third-party software woes.
Anonymous 17 November, 2010 07:31
Lets face it, with first place going to the iPhone, anything else is taking 2nd place onwards. However the Palm is one of the least attractive handsets going and with a £400 price tag its too close price wise to the iPhone price to appear attractive alternative.
Anonymous 17 November, 2010 07:52
I went through three of the Palm Pre's on 02, First one the call quality died after 6 months, Second wouldnt even set up and the third - the call quality died after less than 1 month.
Gave up on it because the Boss (company phone) kept going mad he couldnt get hold of me. Iphone 4 now. Its a shame the pre had potential just not (imho) the quality to back it up
Anonymous 17 November, 2010 07:55
If the OS is as good as people seem to think then there is definitely room on the market. A proper advertising campaign is what is needed. If an OS as lacking as Android can become such a hit then it should be easy for one that everyone says is so good.
Anonymous 17 November, 2010 08:07
The comment at 731h confuses me. 1st place for what? Hype? Usability?
Then "least attractive"? Physically? Economically?
I've had iPhone owners marvel at my phone's function and form. The difference is that for most iPhone users, it's their first smart phone. The Pre is the choice of people who had been using smartphones for the 10 years prior to its release. Do you remember the popular reaction when people found out what apps could do for the iPhone in 2008? The Treo was doing that in 2004. The mad rush of smart phone naives to the iPhone is not proof of anything but market dominance.
Anonymous 17 November, 2010 09:59
The card system cant be beat, what makes the Palm pre, is that the fact it is an underground more exclusive (elusive ? ) handset.
The app catalog is quirky, and has apps that would never surface in the App Store. A Snes emulator for free.No need for a bloaty itunes desktop app, seamless integration with your online life, a usable keyboard ! !! ( dont know why some reviewers/critics pan this - it will forever be better than touching a flat surface), small form factor, wireless charging, great web browser, proper linux O/S with great community behind it,
Moved from a Pre to Pre plus, which i believe is a design classic now which is hard to improve on, so its good to hear the 1ghz processor and changes under the hood, with minimal cosmetic alterations.
Unfortunately doesnt make marketing sense, HP really do need to be more aggressive against the Apple & Google religions, Even MS making some inroads with the 7 phone, almost reinventing themselves like Windows Mobile never existed.
Pre 2 really is just a test bed for the hardware of a tablet. If they can bring that device at a good price, on a decent contract!
Now where is my Web 2.0 update and flash support !!
Anonymous 17 November, 2010 14:51
The Palm Pre is a great phone, for the reasons stated - cards metaphor in the UI and the fact that it is different to the other Nokia, Samsung, HTC Android iPhone clones. They have made something different and that is truly commendable. Also they have the most honest multitasking solution - i.e. they DON'T hide your apps like iPhone and Android does ( Android is the worst here - its so hard to know what you have running and with Android you can forget about trying to kill an app without entering a "Windows 98" list type of experience...)
I guess due to the fact it has a slide out keyboard HP/Palm's main competition is Blackberry and they beat them hands down. I would like to see a full touch HP phone with virtual keyboard down the line at some point.
So , yeah, i think its shame that Palm Pre 2 could be neglected - it certainly doesn't deserve it.
Lemonsanver
p.s. CNET - let me login with my Google open ID!
Anonymous 17 November, 2010 16:43
I agree with Anonymous at 08.07 - the Treo was a great smartphone in its day - add WiFi and 3G and it would still be a nicely useable machine today. At that point, there were clearly still engineers at Palm with the intuitive grasp of how to make handhelds, from the days of the standalone devices.
Haven't tried the Pre as I didn't fancy going to O2 - it seemed bizarre that Palm went with an exclusive deal when gaining maximum exposure would have seemed in their interests with a whole new OS.
Anonymous 18 November, 2010 23:44
I remember when the Palm Pre was first announced, at the time it was the only true alternative to the iPhone. The months rolled away and finally after an eternity it was available and immediately crushed by the sheer Android momentum.
Now a new Palm Pre released amid a continuous flurry of smartphone fire from the big three dragons; Microsoft, Google and Apple?
Nope, not for me - Palm should have seized the day when they had the chance, if they had I would have been the proud owner of a Palm Pre now but time and HTC Sense waits for no one.
Anonymous 10 January, 2011 17:07
I think this is a load of bullcrap and im reallly pisssed off that i cant upgrade to palm pre 2 on o2 >:( GREAT.
Anonymous 12 January, 2011 13:52
The competition the i(rritating)Phone gets the better
I would consider this if it was available on contract but instead I'm awaiting the Nokia E7
(I use phones for business more than pleasure and don't buy for gimmicks)
Anonymous 5 March, 2011 10:15
I love my palm pre! Sorry but its the best phone going - although I never got my SNES working on it everythin else is class! I like to be original and not follow hype of the Iphone/BBs... Really wish I can get the palm pre 2!
Anonymous 16 March, 2011 21:38
I have been a fan of Palm for many years, going back to the Vx in the late ninties. Webos with synergy is fantastic, bringing together my email, contacts and calendar, and the whole config is backed up to Palm. The main downside for me is the hardware which doesn't take too kindly to the odd drop, and mine has developed a problem with call quality. Contracts aren't my thing, I prefer to buy the handset and take a max 12 month sim only contract which always works out cheaper. Will probably skip the Pre 2 but looking forward to the upcoming TouchPad and Pre 3, as long as HP allow their new Palm division to continue the webos development.