First and foremost, I was not asked by Palm to write this review. I'm doing it as a good-will gesture to everyone considering the switch to a Palm Pre. Now on to the review:
I have owned a Palm product since 2001. The Pre is my 3rd device. I scoffed at the Blackberry and iPhone pressure knowing that my Palm product was doing its job just fine thank you. Thus I moved from a Palm Treo to the Palm Pre.
AND THIS IS WHERE MY HEAD EXPLODED!
Date storage:
All your data is stored virtually. There is no desktop software, as with the Treo and previous Palm devices. And this is where I got tripped up.
The nice guy who sold me my Pre told me to open up a Palm Profile. This would allow me to have a back up of my data and if my Pre was ever stolen, I could go in and hit delete and all the data on the device would go BLAMMO. Gone. Cool.
BUT...
He nor any of the Palm material I read said that once you did this, it would NOT sync with Google Calendar. I did discover that the handbook does say once you put all your info on the Palm Profile that it can't be accessed from an online account. But I still think it's a pretty confusing method of tranferring data from the deskstop to the Pre.
Calendar:
The calendar on my Palm is pulled from Google calendar. I chose it because it was an easy way for my husband & I to keep track of each other's calendars without calling each other 2-3 times a day, which we have done before. Google also now has a way for you to add sub-calendars to your main calendar, so the husband doesn't have to see all my work appointments, just things I want him to see like evening events. Nifty, eh? Oh yeah, he got a Pre too, so it works awesome for us.
Now the key to migrating from a Treo to a Pre AND having all your old data show up on the Pre AND Google Calendar is to NOT put your data on the Palm Profile.* When you are prompted, choose Google Calendar. If you put it on the Palm Profile, it stays on the Pre and doesn't go anywhere else - including the other calendar options I'm not using.
You might not want your events from 2002 to be on Google Calendar, but if you're like me, you just might schedule things in advance that you might want to keep and not have to duplicate later on.
But after I finally got my calendar all figured out, it's awesome. As I said it's awesome to have the husband's calendar at my fingertips as well as a few other friends calendars I subscribe to. Oh yes, I have geeky friends.
Email:
The email system is great. I have my Gmail and Yahoo mail set up and I can read either account separately or together. Yes, I can read Gmail and Yahoo together and reply and the Pre is smart enough to know which email account to use. Ah, technology...making multi-tasking even more efficient.
The best part, for me, is the delete function. All you need to do is sling the email (while in the inbox or folder) to the right and BAM! it's deleted.
I do think that because the email is sync'd to my Yahoo and Gmail account and it's not really downloading email as it did on the Treo, that it's slower. There are times when I'm faster than the system, delete an email and then it shows up again in a few minutes. Patience is key.
You can set up the email to alert you whenever an email arrives, every few minutes or whatever you want. I have it set up for manual check. I'll get to why in a few...
Tasks:
In some sense the tasks have been improved and in another not so much. Tasks do not sync to Google tasks, which is a downer, but I can live with it.
You can now set up tasks for say work and then a list underneath with due dates. Which is freaking awesome! Now I have tasks for work, personal, writing and my volunteer stuff.
The thing that I'm still trying to figure out is how to view only the tasks that are due or overdue. The manual and help keep telling me how, but it's not working.
Music/Sound:
My husband has finally stopped telling me that he's going to buy me an iPod. The sound is excellent! AND when you have a song on the Pre, you can also use it as a ringtone without any transfer or whatnot we've had to do before. No more buying ringtones!!
Web browser:
I'd say it's ok. I'm not happy that mobile sites look like crap, but I guess the point is to use the real site instead. But when I'm reading news sites, I have to enlarge the text big time and then scroll thru all the graphics. Another aspect I'm still trying to get use to.
That said, some sites do look great. Facebook is not one of them. But I do have access to more sites than on the Treo. Win some, lose some.
Apps:
The app store is still tiny. The winners so far is Tweed (for twitter) that allows me to RT with one click, search for keywords & hashtags and gives me access to DMs too. It's better than Twitter! Also the Pandora and NYTimes apps are awesome.
Operation system:
So far so good. I'm still getting use to having to click everything with my fingers. Thank the goddess for the pull out keyboard. I don't know how iPhone peeps do it. I really miss the stylus when trying to copy & paste things into emails. Which makes the RT on Tweed even more sweet.
Battery life:
This is the big downer. BUT it can be managed if you know what to look for.
The first week my husband's Pre was hot to the touch. We thought it was a bad battery, but apparently he had everything on - GPS (I never have this one, I'm paranoid), instant emails, etc. I would like to think I'm a semi-power user. I can make it from 7 am to 5 pm without having to recharge, but then I do have to recharge when I get home or in the car. So for the time being I'm bringing my charger to work and plugging in so I'm not using battery power. I do believe I'll buy a spare charger for work soon. I was waiting to make sure I was in for the long haul with this baby.
Camera:
AWESOME.
I did lose the 2x zoom from the Treo, but I gained a flash. Also the pics are super crisp. I have no idea what the pixel count is, all I know is that it takes great pics....if I'm not moving.
What else to tell you about??
I haven't used every feature of the Pre, but I feel that after 3 weeks I've used it enough to know that I love it. Not head over heels, but I love it.
If you want to know about other features, just leave a comment and I'll reply.
Thanks for reading!!
*If you did put all your calendar stuff on the Palm Profile, you need to do a partial wipe of the Pre AND wipe the Palm Profile clean. I can't remember how to do it, but call customer service and they will help. When you sync back up, you may have duplicates in your calendar & contacts, but it was worth the price to finally get my calendar all set up the way I wanted.
Review: Palm Pre
Viva Las Vegas!
I'm off to Las Vegas with Senor Feminista to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary!
I'll leave you with my usual list of what I've written elsewhere:
Awearness blog:
- And Tango goes to the Pride Parade
- From Pin-up to Role Model?
- How Will We Remember Michael Jackson?
- What is Justice?
- What does the future hold for feminism?
- Why Letterman and Palin Owe Us All an Apology
- Are Women's Clubs Discriminatory?
- Obama Will Support Marriage Equality Once Congress Gets Around to It
- Betsy Ross Behind Bars
Bitch blog:
- Featured Mom Blog: This Woman's Work
- And Tango goes to the Pride Parade
- Belated Father's Day post
- Family road trip...To the NOW Conference
- How my dad made me the feminist I am
- Cartoons and the commercialization of childhood
And a reminder that I do have some scheduled posts at both Awearness and Bitch, so you won't have to miss me!
Wish us luck at the slots.
Ack!
I have no idea why my template keeps messing up everyone. I'm going to try to find a new template for this baby because well, it's pissing me off. I changed the font so you can read it, but if the template bug fixes itself, you won't be able to read it again. ack!!
And if you are a blog designer...leave a comment. I may need to speak to you soon.
Thanks for reading folks!
EVENT: Children and Suicide
I can't make this event, but if you, please report back! Can't wait to see the film. You should also note that Kevin Roy of ABC7 is hosting this event. He won an Emmy a few years ago for a segment on his own trial with the suicide of his mother. Should be a great event.
Host Chicago Premiere of the HBO Documentary Film
“BOY INTERRUPTED” on June 26
Filmmaker Dana Perry will attend and participate in Panel Discussion
What: In the wake of recent suicide deaths involving children and teens in Cook County, HBO and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), will host a preview screening of the HBO Documentary Film “BOY INTERRUPTED” with special guest, filmmaker Dana Perry.
The screening will take place the night before the AFSP’s National Out of Darkness Overnight walk, an 18-mile walk from sunset to sunrise to raise funds and awareness for suicide prevention, education and research programs.
Where: Swissôtel Chicago – 323 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL
When: Friday, June 26, 2009
5:00 p.m. – Reception – Zurich ABC
6:00 p.m. – Screening – Zurich D
Who: Panel Discussion to follow with:
Dana Perry – Filmmaker and mother of Evan Perry, subject in film
Paula Clayton M.D. – Medical Director, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Moderated by: Kevin Roy – Weekend Anchor, ABC 7
Details: “BOY INTERRUPTED” tells the heartbreaking story of Evan Perry, a 15-year- old boy who took his own life after a lifelong struggle with bipolar disorder. An official selection of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, the documentary recounts Evan’s life and death in the words of his parents, filmmakers Hart and Dana Perry, and others who knew him. Illustrating how one family deals with generations of loss and grief, this moving film illuminates the stigma associated with mental illness and suicide among children.
“BOY INTERRUPTED” premieres on HBO on August 3.
Video and more information at: www.hbo.com
Girls just wanna have a nap!
I'm not one for all the LOLCats stuff, but me thinks I need one to describe today. Whooooweee!
The day started off by being named one of the top Latina/os to know in Chicago. Quite an honor, especially since I get to share it with the husband.
Then I had an op-ed published at NPR.com on Sonia Sotomayor's decision to quit a women's group:
As a vocal feminist, my opinions are often antagonistically questioned at parties and backyard barbecues. What is it about wanting to support women and women's rights that makes others, especially men, so uncomfortable? I find myself asking this same question in light of U.S. Supreme Court justice nominee Sonia Sotomayor's recent decision to leave a women's networking club.
And then of course still dealing with the blow back from discussing that Palin supporters were in attendance at the NOW Conference and what that might mean for the organization and feminism itself.
All of this then gets me off of my very tight writing schedule. I have much more to say, but not here! Off to the Bitch blog...
The day after...
Thanks to everyone who has linked here about the NOW conference, even those of you who I don't agree with. I think it is a healthy thing to have a debate over issues.
I do want to make one thing very clear - I do not think that Terry O'Neill is a Palin supporter. I have no idea. There have been comments flying in the blogosphere and Twitter that the Palin people were a rumor. I took pics of at least one of them. One of the women I took a pic of has a blog that has ripped Kim Gandy for having NOW support Barack Obama.
Now some might say, "Hey we're Clinton supporters!" But if you truly supported Hillary Clinton and what she stands for, I can't see how or why you would trash Barack Obama or vote for McCain. Furthermore, I don't see how trashing Kim Gandy and Ellie Smeal is productive. They came together VERY early in the primary race to endorse Clinton. Again, far earlier than I would have preferred. I wanted to see the endorsement taken to the conference or even announced at the conference so that Clinton would come to our conference.
More soon.
Sunday at NOW 2009
This isn't a live blogged post.
The election is over and Terry O'Neill is the next President of NOW.
Terry was a VP when I was on the board. I respected her leadership style and her as a feminist. I am excited to see what she brings to our organization in this time of change. I say that not as a diss to her or her slate. I say that because we can all see around us that things are changing. We need to continue to move forward in order to get anything done.
The Sarah Palin supporters swung this election. The election was certainly close enough - less than 10 votes separated the two slates. Then again, if Latifa's supporters had been able to bring just a handful of additional supporters, we'd have an entirely different picture to discuss. The Palin people out organized us, plain and simple.
There are things I won't say here. I know far too many people are reading this and that this is my professional blog not just a personal blog. But I will say that I feel like Chicken Little in some respects. If only...
I haven't seen Latifa this morning, but I did see Janice. She looks good.
Someone asked me how long it would take to implement the internet changes that were promised from both sides. Terry's slate promised a site where every chapter could be hosted on the NOW website - something that sounds like an idea that was floated years ago and was quickly squashed - and I think that sounds like at least one year to be launched.
Some have asked why Palin supporters weren't allowed to speak during the plenary yesterday. Plain and simple, during a plenary isn't a time to vent anyone's grievances. There is a way to do that. Interrupting an invited guest's talk is not the place nor is it a way to gain respect from people who you might win over. The disrespect was overwhelming to people who were somewhat sympathetic.
One of the grievances I heard about was how to address the inclusion of pro-life feminists in NOW. *big ass sigh* If pro-life feminists want to be in NOW, I welcome them. Yes, I welcome them. I welcome them and say, "Join NOW. Join us in our fight to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Join us in pushing for single-payer health insurance so that women don't worry that even if they wanted to be a mom, they couldn't afford to take their baby to well-baby appointments or the immunizations. Join us in winning paid family leave so women can recover from birth and bond with their newborns. Join us crafting a system where college students can be moms and students with affordable infant care on campus. Join us on making choice a real choice. You don't have to escort at clinics, you just need to help us make everything else better."
As a student of feminist history I can't help but think of all the other times when the movement was at a cross-roads, especially when it was pitted as an "old regime versus new generation" battle. We go thru these periods, we battle each other and even with all our bruises, we end up going forward anyway. Our battles may set us back a few years and cost us valuable time, but I also feel that debate is necessary for a healthy movement.
The 2009 election report is as follows:
* 404 total ballots
* 72 ballots not used (meaning ballots printed but not used)
* 1 ballot voided
* 203 votes needed to elect slate
* 198 for NOW is the Times slate
* 206 for Feminist Leadership NOW slate
Now that the results are in, I need to sneak out of here and pack up to head home and celebrate Father's Day with the family.
Thanks to everyone who followed my reports, tweets and even Facebook updates. I'll get around to following people back on Twitter this week. If there are additional questions about this weekend, don't hesitate to ask.
Round-up of my live-blogging from the weekend:
Live blog: 2009 NOW Natl Conference - Plenary V
Live blog: 2009 NOW Natl Conference - Political Institute
Live blog: 2009 NOW Natl Conference - Candidate Speeches
Live blog: 2009 NOW Natl Conference - Friday Plenary II