Just tried both the Droids, is it just me that I like Palm Pre's multi tasking better

[wolf2009]

Preface - I have a LG Dare on Verizon. When I bought this device, i didn't really have a choice. Family was on verizon, and everybody was upgrading.

Coming from Moto Razr, I thought this was the best possible device at the time as i didn't have any knowledge about cell phones. Only competitor was the Samsung Omnia. But I took the LG Dare for a good camera and cheaper price.

NOW - I have a Palm Pre to use at work. And as I sell cell phones, so I am in the know about most of the phones.

I have been using the Palm Pre for the last 3 months, and it has truly been a revelation for me as to what a phone can do. It's also my first Smartphone.

I love being able to multi task using the cards, flicking my finger to go back, pinch and zoom and also the speed of the fine is not great always, but it is managable.

TODAY - I went to the verizon store and tried both the DROIDs.

The Moto Droid - No multi touch zoom, big killer for me.

couldn't figure out the multi tasking thing on that phone if it offers any. not sure if i like the multi home screen concept, somehow cards concept from the pre seems better.

Keyboard seemed too plain for using by looking at the phone, but it was more usable in real life than i had thought.

The HTC Droid Eris- This one looked better with the interface with HTC Sense UI ? Has multi touch zoom which is a plus. but the phone seemed slow to use. there was a constant lag whenever you did something like pinch and zoom for example.

TOMM - I got a Motorola Cliq at work today, so will start using that tomm and get to know the Android platform better. I already like the keyboad on this phone better than the DROID.

So i'm still not impressed with a phone on verizon. I will probably wait until my 2 year contract is up next year for getting a new phone or maybe a new carrier.

I will update this post as I play more with the Cliq and the Pre and let you know which one i like better. Hopefully we will get the Pixi soon.

 

[lokiju]

It's easy to like what you're familiar with more than something that's so different.

I'd probably be safe to assume that if you have had a Android deceive all this time and went and played with a Palm Pre today you'd have similar things to list that you don't like.

Just a normal thing most people do IMO.

I have an iPhone and found myself trying to figure out where everything was on Android when I went to the store and played with the Moto Droid last week, but I have no doubts that given enough time, it'd be smooth sailing.

 

[Deeko]

I had a Pre for a little bit - yes, the multitasking is very easy on the Pre. To switch apps in Android, you hold the home key and get a list of what's running. There's also 3rd party apps like AppSwipe that make this a little bit simpler/more powerful.

The card system in the Pre and the Android desktops are different concepts. The desktop is, well, a desktop - and IMO the widgitized Android desktop is unrivaled right now.

Both have strengths and weaknesses. The Pre has better multitasking, Android has better desktop & app support, along with a bit more robust notification system. I personally don't understand the big draw the pinch zooming. Even when I had the Pre, I didn't use it - I used double-tap, which Android does have.

 

[zerocool84]

Yes the Pre's multi-tasking is better imo but both are great. It's awesome to have a cellphone that does true multi-tasking. I could never downgrade to another phone that doesn't.

 

[Slick5150]

Agreed. The Pre is definitely better on the multi-tasking. They nailed exactly how it should work on a phone in my opinion.

The WebOS 1.3.1 update should be hitting very soon (The Pixi comes out Sunday with it preloaded on it) and its rumored to have some pretty big speed boosts (apps opening up faster, etc..) which should make the Pre even better.

I like the Droid's hardware better, but I really like WebOS.

 

[wolf2009]

The WebOS 1.3.1 update should be hitting very soon (The Pixi comes out Sunday with it preloaded on it) and its rumored to have some pretty big speed boosts (apps opening up faster, etc..) which should make the Pre even better.

if that's true that would be awesome.

 

[Slick5150]

if that's true that would be awesome.

Well, sure enough, I spoke too soon on that. The speed boosts aren't in 1.3.1, but they are coming at some point. Palm hired the guys from ajaxian.com back in September to lead their development team, and they've stated that improving the UI latency is a huge priority for them, and its coming (and explained how through some gobbledy beloved patriot that I flew straight over my head, but they know what they're talking about and that's all that I care about)

1.3.1 will still have some nice feature updates though (finally getting Yahoo IM integrated into the OS for starters)

 

[wolf2009]

I hope WebOS does not die out and there is an improved version of Pre by end of year next year, when my current contract expires.

 

[boomhower]

Well, sure enough, I spoke too soon on that. The speed boosts aren't in 1.3.1, but they are coming at some point. Palm hired the guys from ajaxian.com back in September to lead their development team, and they've stated that improving the UI latency is a huge priority for them, and its coming (and explained how through some gobbledy beloved patriot that I flew straight over my head, but they know what they're talking about and that's all that I care about)

1.3.1 will still have some nice feature updates though (finally getting Yahoo IM integrated into the OS for starters)

I think there are going to be some speed improvements with the 1.3.1 update but not as dramatic as it will be when they finally fire up the GPU. If you look at the latest Pixi videos it is running at least as fast if not a touch faster than the Pre with lesser hardware. I think we will see an improvement but they need to get the GPU coming sooner than later.

I hope WebOS does not die out and there is an improved version of Pre by end of year next year, when my current contract expires.

You and me both. I really can't see going to another OS. I am in absolute love with WebOS but the hardware blows. I really like the portrait form factor but I really want a larger screen and to do that I think they are going to have to move to landscape. Hopefully they will do yearly updates on the phone, I need to put that Premier membership to work!

 

[wolf2009]

I think there are going to be some speed improvements with the 1.3.1 update but not as dramatic as it will be when they finally fire up the GPU. If you look at the latest Pixi videos it is running at least as fast if not a touch faster than the Pre with lesser hardware. I think we will see an improvement but they need to get the GPU coming sooner than later.


You and me both. I really can't see going to another OS. I am in absolute love with WebOS but the hardware blows. I really like the portrait form factor but I really want a larger screen and to do that I think they are going to have to move to landscape. Hopefully they will do yearly updates on the phone, I need to put that Premier membership to work!

What GPU ?

I would like bigger screen too. Think HTC HD2 4.3".

What premier membership ?

 

[Slick5150]

The Pre has a GPU, but it isn't really being utilized right now. They're implenting an OpenGL framework that will allow the OS (and apps obviously) to better access it and use its resources to speed everything up.

Its coming, but its just not here yet.

 

[her209]

The Pre has a GPU, but it isn't really being utilized right now. They're implenting an OpenGL framework that will allow the OS (and apps obviously) to better access it and use its resources to speed everything up.

Its coming, but its just not here yet.

That will be f'n sweet.

 

[boomhower]

The GPU currently isn't being used at all, it just sits there doing nothing but adding cost and eating battery power. It is just a part of the chipset they wanted for the CPU, they can't get them separated.

 

[shortylickens]

I love my Droid but I have to say I miss having dedicated Call and End buttons. Overall I like the HTC design better, but I'm not unhappy.

 

[Deeko]

I love my Droid but I have to say I miss having dedicated Call and End buttons. Overall I like the HTC design better, but I'm not unhappy.

That hasn't bothered me as much as I'd expected. And the touch-sensitive buttons on the front are both good and bad. The good is that I can't accidentally press them in my pocket if I forget to lock the phone. The bad is that I have a habit of touching them accidentally while I'm typing on the keyboard. I suppose that's a habit I can break...

 

[Slick5150]

FYI - For those Pre owners that haven't noticed yet, 1.3.1 came out on Saturday, so click your update buttons.

Yahoo is now properly integrated into the phone for IM/Contact purposes.. Things do seem a little peppier overall (no major speed boosts yet) as well.