Cost of ownership

http://www.prethinking.com/home/2009/6/10/total-cost-of-ownership-iphone-3g-s-vs-palm-pre-vs-android-g.html

Mobile Speed Test

My speed test today at a restaurant with the Pre...not bad.

Complaints and ringtone vol fix

I don't want to seem like a tool for palm so I figured I'd post some complaints.
Here are a couple of things that I don't like about the Pre:

• Battery life is ok for me so far but I haven't had a normal day of usage yet so we'll see.
• I can't hear the phone ringing. 1. I'm not used to the new ringtone (yes I know I can move my old 24 ringtone over) and 2. The ringtones have a very low db. (see below for a fix)
  
• I still find myself getting lost in the phone
• I have a tendency to grab it and try to use it upside down. (anyone else?)
  

For those with battery life issues, I hear they are working on a fix in an upcoming software update.

If anyone else thinks the ringtones are too low here is a link I found for a fix. Basically it is a little program that allows you to adjust the volume levels. Here's a link to it: http://mp3gain.sourceforge.net/download.php . You'll need to plug it in and view the /ringtones (they are mp3's) and then adjust them accordingly. There is Windows, Mac and Linux versions. If you need step by step instructions you can go here: http://forums.precentral.net/palm-pre/183703-workaround-increase-pre-ringer-volume.html#post1650085

My youngest hasn't been feeling well since she came on on Sunday so I really have not had a
great chance to play with it much. I plan on doing a speed test today and reporting back what I get.

41% battery life left since 10:30 am. I'm not sure if this phone would last heavy duty users all day. Though, I think if I turned off wifi it would help.

Here are some pics that I took and uploaded via twitpic. FYI, there is no app yet but if you go to your twitpic account there is a unique email address that you can send to. So I just take the pic and email it to that email addy.

Pic I took from my car today while driving. (I didn't email till I got home...do not email and drive!)
http://twitpic.com/6vn25

Pic of our fat cat TimTim
http://twitpic.com/6u24y

Pic of my 8 year olds art work.
http://twitpic.com/6si4l

I took my Pre into the wild today. I didn't take it off the touchstone till about 10:30 am and I didn't talk on the phone part a lot today. I used IM, web, Where, text, Tweed and bluetooth. When I got home at 6:30 my battery was at 54%. That's not too bad but I'd like to test it out on a regular day for me, which today was not.

I find myself using both hands with the Pre. When DH holds it, he only uses one hand. I'm still not proficient with the gestures and wish I was. I might actually have to get the pamphlet out. *gasp* I do generally use two hands but if I'm driving and using the phone I am able use one hand. I don't text or im while driving but using the phone etc.

I find myself getting lost in the Pre. For example, I was looking for facebook and thought it was an app. Then I figured I'd just go to the web and there it was. Almost certainly, it is me and not the Pre.

I've uploaded some pics from the Pre. I think it takes a nice quality picture. The screen is really nice and I am able to see it in the sunlight as well.

My youngest is not feeling well so I need to cut this short. I'll keep updating as I learn more. You can comment or email or twitter etc if you have specific questions.

Testing mobile setup for blogging on the go

Taking my Pre into the wild today

I've had a chance to use my Pre a little bit. Keep in mind that I refused to pay AT&T's exorbitant data fee so on my old windows mobile phone I only had voice and limited text. I'm guessing that part of my learning curve is more in relation to that rather than the Pre itself.

Here are some initial thoughts:

• I prefer a firm key rather than a rubbery key. These are usable though.
• I'm having trouble with the ringer settings not being loud enough.
• Pandora works like a champ!
• I need an app that will allow me to upload to twitpic instead of via email ---> twitpic
• Screen is beautiful
• Keyboard is very usable
• Camera takes a nice pic
• Touchstone charger is nice albeit I feel a bit lazy using it. (how hard it is to plug it in?)
  

I've been asked about battery life and I can't say yet. I'm taking it into the wild today and will report back.

I really think this phone is for everyone, ie not geared to a specific group of people. I counted the people in line yesterday and it was almost 50/50 as far as men vs women. Most people seemed around my age which was mid 30's. There was a couple of teenage girls, a guy in a business suit etc. Myspace is for the teens, facebook and google for the 30's and exchange for the business peeps.

We'll see how it goes. It is a really pretty phone.

Palm Pre!

I found out about the Pre in Jan along with everyone else. I wanted a Pre. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Apple but I do not love their virtual keyboard or soft keyboard whatever it is called. I really wanted an iPhone but I cannot type on it. I would go play at the Apple store and just couldn't get the hang of it.

Do you ever get the "need" to buy a technology device of some sort? Like you can't stop yourself? I got that about a month ago and told my hubby not to buy me an anniversary present, that I'd buy myself one. (I know...but it was my way of letting myself spend a chunck of change.) I bought an iTouch 32 gb. I really enjoy it and the aps but really still can't type on the thing.

Going back to the Pre. Slide out keyboard. YES! But now I have to wait. UGH. I'm not a patient person and I'm not good at waiting.

Dropped my kids off at my mom's for safekeeping on Friday so I could get up early on Sat. Planned to get up whenever and head to Sprint. DH (Dear Hubby) asked if I didn't think there would be long lines? Well crap...now I have to set the clock and get up freaking EARLY! So we did. Got there at 7:45 and I was #13 in line with only 35 available. Whew!

Walked out the door at 9:23 Pre in hand. Sprint employee (who shall remain nameless only because I can't remember his name) told me not to turn it on until my old AT&T phone was disconnected. Crap!

Waiting, waiting, waiting. I have the damed freaking phone in my hand and I can't use it. I'll plug it in to charge. We'll go to breakfast. Got yelled at by hubby because I kept calling his phone to see if my old phone was still working. waiting waiting waiting. We'll go to a closeout store to waste time while we wait for AT&T to disconnect me. Apparently they are not letting me go easily since I've been with them for almost 20 years. (Yes, I was with them when bag phones existed on a plan that was $10 for emergency use only).

Finally on our way home from the closeout store DH suggests I call Sprint. Turns out Nameless Sprint Employee used my husbands name on the port request and AT&T denied it! WHAT??????? Put the right info in and within a few minutes I could use my Pre.

I'll post my thoughts later once I've had a chance to use it.

Struggle from Windows to Mac

My wonderful husband gifted me with an iMac for Christmas this year. I have struggled with the switch over and once I find the right tools to do something, when I go to do it again I have forgotten what I used before.

My goal here is to chronical my struggle and my triumphs so that I can come back here and see how I did something. Maybe if I keep up with it, someone else along the way will be helped as well.