Unapologisingly copy and pasted straight from the source:

1) Palm’s webOS is tremendously usable. The new concepts they introduce—gestures under the screen, cards to represent running apps, searching for contacts and apps from the main screen—are all intuitive and easy to pick up. The look of the UI is also soothing, with largish icons and largish text, fluid animations and rounded corners. It’s definitely a “web” OS in that it takes a lot of cues from web design patterns and motifs.
2) The Pre is a fantastic size and shape and feels natural in both your pocket or your hand. The rounded pebble shape is pleasurable, and the weight is solid without being weighty. That said…
3) When you open up the phone, the story changes dramatically. The edges are too sharp—sharp enough to cut cheese—and the keyboard is tiny and difficult to type on. If Palm had included iPhone/Android-level word correction, basically a system that would basically fix misspellings for you to correct for inaccurate typing, this wouldn’t be a problem.
4) Multitasking is handled elegantly. Palm’s webOS introduces the concept of “cards” as apps, where you can shuffle them around, scroll through your deck and deal them off your phone to close them. It’s great most of the time to be able to swap between emailing and texting and YouTube and your browser without having to close out and lose your spot in each app. Unfortunately, multitasking works the same as it does in your PC in that you have a limited amount of system resources to go around, and using heavy apps will mean you can’t do much else without a significant slowdown—like having your music stutter.
5) There will be various hardware editions with this OS. Unlike the iPhone, where there’s basically only one phone with the iPhone OS every year, Palm’s planning on releasing different phones in different form factors all running the same OS. There’s already been one leaked: the Centro-like Palm Eos that’s heading to AT&T.
6) It works with iTunes. Palm went to the trouble of making the Pre pretend to be an iPod when synced to iTunes, allowing you to transfer your music and video and photos without a problem. Playlists make it over just fine, but song ratings and play counts aren’t supported on the Pre. And your DRM’ed iTunes songs won’t make it over either, but your MP3 and DRM-free ones will.
7) Facebook and Google sync well. Not only does it have push Gmail, there’s something called Synergy that grabs your Facebook and Google contacts and merges them together on your phone. You may not want ALL your Facebook contacts or everyone you’ve ever emailed from your Gmail account to be on your phone, but it’s all or nothing at this point.
It works with your old Palm apps. If you’re an old-school Palm OS user that really needs some random app, like the eBook reader or Epocrates medical software (before their Pre version comes out), this can ease your transition.
9) The screen and multitouch are both high quality. Like I said in the review, the screen is crisp and sharp and clear, and the multitouch seems to track slightly better and quicker than the iPhone.
10) The app catalog is tiny now, but will most likely grow quite fast since the phone is slightly more consumery than Android phones (Android is a little more hardcore-based than this). Although I don’t see an explosion as big as the iTunes App Store, I do think there will be quite a few apps for the phone eventually.
11) BONUS! The Touchstone charger charges really slowly. If you’re looking to charge in a hurry, plug the microUSB charger directly into the Pre. But if you’re just docking it at work and want to keep the screen on standby so you can see emails and texts come in, the Touchstone is a decent solution. It does, however, make your phone quite hot.


8 Comments, Comment or Ping
Theo Smith
You nailed it. The smallish keyboard takes getting used to but it’s a cool phone. This written on my Pre.
Jun 6th, 2009
Ecoteric
People have to be kidding about this sharp edges comment! I’ve been using it since yesterday and I didn’t even notice the sharp edges until I saw the comment on here and on other review. The keyboard damn small, but still damn better than an onscreen!
Jun 6th, 2009
Steve
The Touchstone charger should charge at pretty much the same speed as the plug-in charger. Be sure you are using the AC adapter and cable that CAME WITH the Pre to power the Touchstone, and NOT some other charger cable or adapter!
Jun 6th, 2009
Manny
The Pre gets pretty warm while charging compared to the Centro.
Jun 6th, 2009
Charles
if i buy a Pre without a contract can i access the web and email on wi-fi?
Jun 7th, 2009
Vincent
As a former Palm user, then iPhone user, I have to say the Pre is PREtty amazing. The hardware does feel a little cheap, but it’s nice and light. The keypad has a wierd squishy, glossy feel and some ugly orange color (for my taste) but seems to work well. So far I’m really surprised at how well it all works. Now we just need an emulator that will allow it to run Skype and a bunch of iPhone apps
Jun 7th, 2009
Danielle
i havent had any problems with the keyboard or “sharp” edged. dont feel them at all. as for size of keyboard, works just fine, the feel of each keys is great. lets me type one handed without looking. want the apps quickly and would like to be able to set different tones for email and text. so far only able to change ringers (way easy). push gmail is awesome. battery life on this is same as my treo 800w. way worth the hype!
Jun 7th, 2009
Vanessa
Everything that you said is true but… when you have the phone is it awesome. I can’t put it down to be honest with you. I have a case on it so I don’t feel the sharp edges also the Palm Centro had the same keyboard just as little spaced out on the Pre. I really enjoy my Pre and I wouldn’t change it for anything else. Also would love to record videos!!!
Jun 8th, 2009
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