PalmOS Centro, Running on Garnet: Still A Jewel

Many find it in vogue to lambast the PalmOS (Garnet) platform as antiquated and outlived. My take is show me what works as simply, elegantly, and just plain better for what it was intended to do in the workplace and marketplace: namely, be an intuitive platform for syncing Outlook, or the Palm Desktop (and now, even the Cloud on Google, using proven solutions such as Pimlico's Pimlical and Datebook) with Palm's full-fledged PIM (calendar, contacts, tasks, and memos), email, and bevy of excellent, third-party apps and hacks that expand Garnet's limited copy-and-paste buffer and built-in task-switching capabilities. (Try, for example, RNS's Hi-Launcher/sub-launcher utilities and/or other excellent launchers available on that platform.) Amazingly, the Palm Centro (and other Garnet-based devices) allow programs like PocketTunes to run media and music in the backgroud, while others function in the foreground. Even by today's standards, this outpaces a few contemporary, multi-tasking OS's--including Palm's own WebOS-based Pre and Pixi smartphones! Blazer's limited web-browsing features lack the flair of its modern counterparts, but one still can install the superb Opera Mini browser on PalmOS, with Java and, with minimal tweaking, enjoy a full-blown web experience on a truly pocketable device. When I am on the "go," it is nice to choose between two browsing options: Blazer for rendering mobile web information reasonably fast, without Flash and unwanted ads; and Opera Mini for nimbly zooming-in and out of full page websites, using a stylus, without the need to tote a buff cloth for cleaning my device after nearly every use.

While I have owned an Apple iPod Touch for about a year, I prefer it as a compact media player for downloading and viewing recorded television shows and films, listening to music, playing games, etc., mostly when I'm in flight, and find no need to carry a laptop for work that I can otherwise do on my Centro. To date, not all of the titles available on other platforms such as Android, RIM, and Apple, have achieved the maturity and functionality of their equivalents, running on my Palm Centro.

No doubt, the new iPhone 4, with its multitasking, dual-facing cameras, speed, sexy marketing, superior build, and plethora of third-party apps deserves, undeniably, its "hit" status. While I have grown used to typing on the Touch's virtual keyboard, it doesn't offer me the more satisfying, tactile typing experience of Centro's physical keyboard--cramped bubbleboard and all. I make as many (if not, more) mistakes and corrections on my Touch as I do on my Centro.

In short, after a decade of using and accruing data on PalmOS, switching to Windows Mobile, RIM, Apple, even Palm WebOS, now, would be a step backward, yielding fewer applications and capabilities--even if I were to use emulators such as Style-Tap or Classic. I still rely upon a few, rare legacy programs that I use on my Centro, but that's another story. That said, WebOS, Android, Windows Mobile 7, or Apple's mobile MAC OS, may be in the future for me. I have tried Palm's WebOS-based Pre and Pixi at various carriers' outlets, and plan to try them again (or their successors), later, following HP's acquisition of Palm, but only after the platform and hardware have matured, and synergies have been properly optimized.

I offered similar thoughts on a palm platform website, and appreciate the opportunity to do so, again, for my purchase of the Palm Centro on eBay.

review Palm Centro Cell phone

keyboard, color size.Numbers easy to read. Fit easily into my cell phone case. Easy to text on. Camera works great. Everything about this phone is neat. Has a variety of ring tones, has a few games on it. Access to the web. Holds a lot of contacts. Has neat photo save album.

Have found my phone of choice

When my Blackberry died I was in desperate need for a phone fast. Since the BB was only a few months old and babied, but died anyway, I decided not to go that route. Instead I tried a Palm. I couldn't be happier! Should have bought a Palm from the start. Very simple to use, and does more than my Blackberry would. Plus, no extra fees to use a seperate service! The only issue I have is it's easy to bump the touchscreen with my cheekbone while talking, accidently muting the phone or putting people on hold. But it's a small thing for an excellent phone. You can set up TONS of favorite buttons to any application, service or website on the main screen, making it easy to get to anything you need at the touch of a button. Qwerty buttons are small, but they are on all phones. Touchscreen works great. Didn't think I'd like having to pull out a stylus everytime I used it, but it's second nature after only a couple of weeks, and many things are accessable with a finger, or the directional keys. My wife tried it and now she wants one too. When it's time to upgrade I will stick with a Palm, they definately design their phones with the user in mind.

Palm centro phone

i love the phone. period. applications includes a calendar, a note book, contacts, bluetooth capability, qwerty keyboard, touchscreen, texting. has a loud ring. only think i dislike, talk time is only about 2 hours. i bought it as an upgrade from the palm treo which was perfect except for ringer. never could hear the ringer no matter what settings i put it at. kinda prefer the treo. size is larger.

A ok phone.

This phone ive had for a while. The camara sucks, the emails dont update by itself, and its dificult to send a email because of the size capacity. Its a good phone for someone who isnt good with technology or wouldnt use it a lot. screen its pretty small and keys too. the battery life sucks, it dies pretty quick if you use it a lot, and also the pages are worth nothing seen online.