 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home >> Handheld & PDA Reviews: Palm Centro Smartphone, Black (Sprint) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
User Submitted Palm Centro Smartphone, Black (Sprint) Reviews (cont...)Date: 2007-12-05 Smallest Palm device ever...maybe too small... I've been a fan of the Palm OS for, well, as long as I can remember. Some criticize how Windows Mobile seems to update more frequently, or make things look way cooler or whatever...does the LOOK of the program you use matter THAT much in the REAL World?? Nope. Sure it'd be nice if Palm made regular upgrades in their software, but to be totally honest, the system is ridiculously simple to use and since it needs so little in the way of upgrades, I guess it makes sense to leave well enough alone. But again, I know many who find Palm old, outdated or just not sophisticated enough and so have decided to go with Windows Mobile instead, which is fine...go with what works for you. Let's get down to business: The Centro is smaller than previous Palm devices, namely the phenomenally popular Treo line, which virtually invented the smartphone industry. I have gone all over the 'net looking for comparisons so I would have a good idea of how to compare the Centro to say the Treo 755p and I MUST say that looking at photos simply cannot do it justice. On the surface, the Centro looks only slightly smaller than the 755p...but I ASSURE you in reality, it is much smaller...maybe too small. Let me explain: the smartphone field is becoming more and more convoluted as more models become available almost daily, from the new Blackjack 2, to newer, sleeker Blackberry's or even the Moto Q...all have nice features and programs unique that make them great for specific uses, but I submit that the full Qwerty keyboard is one of the main reasons why these phones are so convenient. I do NOT have big fingers, and yet I found the Centro's keyboard VERY difficult to type on. I never thought I'd say it, but it's just too dang small to use with any kind of ease, provided you have normal to large fingers. I would imagine my 15 year old daughter would be able to text at lightning speed, but without handling this Palm device IN PERSON, you just may be making a rather expensive mistake. Other than that, I was most impressed with the overall functionality of the Centro. One thing I DO miss from the 755p model is the rubberized coating which made it fit so wonderfully in my hands, without it, the Centro lacks a certain comfort in use that otherwise may be perfect depending on who you are. While the Centro isn't as thin as several other models available, it was definitely thin enough. I've become rather used to my Treo 650 for quite some time, so even the 755p fit well in my eyes, but the Centro was downright tiny. It boasts pretty much all the bells & whistles that made the previous Treo's so popular, and it pulls all that off in a smaller package. It even comes with Google Maps built in! Now THAT is a nifty feature. What I wish more than anything is for Palm to make the Centro and Treo 755p available to more wireless carriers than they currently do, although I certainly won't be holding my breath for that to happen. In short, if you are a fan of the Palm OS like I am, the Centro is definitely worth a look...but I cannot emphasize enough to get that look in PERSON rather than in photos. If you have trouble using a Qwerty keyboard on the regular Treo's, the Centro will only compound that issue I promise you -- otherwise, kudos to Palm for a great upgrade and nice packaging. Date: 2007-11-22 It's pretty neat Here's what I like and don't like: LIKE -It's really small, just a little bigger than my old flip phone. -The internet is fast on it -It's cheap DON'T LIKE -Instant email and web access makes me more OCD -It doesn't look quite as hip as the iphone I was pleasantly surprised with the Centro, given that I bought it without seeing it in person, and the last PDA I had was several years old. But it's pretty sweet. Keyboard is big enough for my medium-sized hands, and I bought a thin silicone skin to make it grip better and protect it. Now I have all the essentials in one small device-- instant email, web, phone (duh), PDA, google maps, camera (won't ever use), minimal video camera (also won't ever use). Best part is, 8gb microsdhc cards are coming out now, so this will hold my entire mp3 collection. It doesn't come with a 3.5 headphone jack though, so you have to buy a little 2.5-3.5 adapter to connect to its 2.5. The phone is inexpensive, but as far as I know is also the smallest full QWERTY smartphone out there. So it's the only thing I would get anyway, since the Blackberry requires an expensive monthly plan and SureType makes me nervous. Overall, good stuff. Especially for the price. If this phone was with AT&T, it would be selling like hotcakes. Hold on, what do I know about the cell phone business? Nothing I guess. But it's cool. Trust me. Date: 2007-11-12 I love it.... I have been a user of the Palm platform for years. I tried the Windows mobile based platform on a few PDA/phones but found them to be very resource hoggish and they ate up my battery life. I eventually ventured back to the Palm OS for reliability. As far as the phone, I have had the Treo 600 and the Treo 650, and loved them both. The Treo 650 was a definite improvement on the problems the Treo 600 had. I loved everything about the phone except the size. I couldn't throw it in my pocket while at the ball field or the beach. That seemed the only drawback. Battery life was fantastic and I used the Treo for everything. My provider was Cingular/AT&T, and really didn't have any issues for nearly 15 years until Cingular messed with my data plan and said I did it. I am a very high power user when it comes to the data on my PDA, and somehow my plan was changed from the $39.99 unlimited plan to a different plan that cost me $1,154 in one month. Needless to say I said farewell to a company that was not interested in helping a customer of nearly fifteen years. Then came the Centro. I really didn't want to venture towards Sprint because of the horror stories of their service through the years. But guess what? I have had nothing but great things to say about the service through Sprint (as good or better than Cingular where I live) and the reception on my Centro is better than ANY phone I have ever owned with any carrier. It has all the same features of the Treo 650 plus more (ie. Google maps and other free third party software), and yes, the only thing you really give up is some battery life, but that is a welcome trade off for a phone I can throw in my pocket. I was switching my sim card from a Razr to the Treo 650 and back as needed, and it got to be a pain to keep data synced in both devices. Now I don't need to worry about it. Even though the price is very attractive for the first time PDA/phone buyer, I am telling you that this phone is every bit as good as my old Treo 650. Every bit so. I love this phone! Date: 2007-10-27 Wonderful Product This is my first Smartphone, and being that I'm not using this for business reasons, I am extremely pleased with this little gem. It's much smaller than most of the other phones I considered, its interface is one I'm comfortable with as a old school Palm OS user, and its sleek look will prevent me from hiding it in my purse all the time. Some have said it may appeal more to women than men--this may or may not be true, depending on your taste. I highly recommend this phone for first-time Smartphone buyers. Date: 2007-10-26 awesome phone I have had the phone about 2 weeks now and i must say i am pretty satisfied. Palm OS is very easy to use and this is my first palm, i was a previous blackberry owner. call quality seems to be very good, and i love the chat style text messages. using the web is very easy and fast. my only complaint comes when i am texting..and no its not about the querty keyboard because yeah its a lil cramped but it doesnt bother me, but its the bottom where you charge your phone, they got the piece sticking out on the bottom and it can be a lil discomforting if you text a lot. also it would be nice if the phone had multi-tasking, but but other than that, its been a great phone. everybody whos seen it has loved it and wants one. they cant believe how small and good lookin the phone is, yet it has a qwerty keyboard and touch screen! its a great price on the phone, and not to mention sprint has the best data plans of any carrier out. i would recommend this phone to anyone.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ©2004 SimplyHandhelds, All rights reserved. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
