Has anyone else noticed the shift in attitude around here?

gweempose · 11-05-2009, 10:00 AM

I've noticed that the whole tone has changed on this forum recently. Sadly, it appears that people are starting to abandon their faith in the Pre, as well as the future of WebOS. Heck, some of our most devoted posters have jumped ship to other devices. My guess is that enough time has gone by where people have started to get very frustrated. Initially, it was easy to defend Palm since the OS was so new, but even some of the die hard fanboys are starting to get annoyed by a perceived lack of forward progress in WebOS development. It also doesn't help that a bevy of cool new smartphones from other manufacturers are starting to hit market. The fact of the matter is that the Pre is no longer the new, hip device that it once once.

If it seems like this is an anti-Pre post, that was not my intention. In fact, I'm quite happy with the device and plan on keeping it for a long time. I simply wanted to get a discussion going about this shift in attitude. In my eyes, it signals that Palm is in big trouble. What do you guys think?

johnston23 · 11-05-2009, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by gweempose

I've noticed that the whole tone has changed on this forum recently. Sadly, it appears that people are starting to abandon their faith in the Pre, as well as the future of WebOS. Heck, some of our most devoted posters have jumped ship to other devices. My guess is that enough time has gone by where people have started to get very frustrated. Initially, it was easy to defend Palm since the OS was so new, but even some of the die hard fanboys are starting to get annoyed by a perceived lack of forward progress in WebOS development. It also doesn't help that a bevy of cool new smartphones from other manufacturers are starting to hit market. The fact of the matter is that the Pre is no longer the new, hip device that it once once.

If it seems like this is an anti-Pre post, that was not my intention. In fact, I'm quite happy with the device and plan on keeping it for a long time. I simply wanted to get a discussion going about this shift in attitude. In my eyes, it signals that Palm is in big trouble. What do you guys think?

Plam has not been a major player in the market for a long time, jumping ship for the next latest and greatest after 4 months is silly. It will take a while to determine if palm will stay competitive or not. The Pixi looks like a decent device but no wifi will stop buyers. The next few web os phones will tell the real story. If Palm can keep the development of good devices coming they will keep a portion of the smartphone market. I will keep my Pre for the 2 years to meet my contract and then re-evaluate what is on the market and what works for me, right now the pre works great and I really like the phone and the os.

AldoJr · 11-05-2009, 10:53 AM

I think i am one of them who jumped ship eh. Think of this as the calm before the storm. I don't think there has been a shift of attitude but more of the fact is there is not much to talk about like in june and july. No updates and well merh. Webos is new and we just need to wait just like every OS that has ever been released for updates,updates and more updates.

EDIT: http://phandroid.com/2009/11/05/shou...s-for-android/
This is what android fans are saying.

zeejay · 11-05-2009, 12:07 PM

No shift here....i luv my Pre =)

ho0lee0h · 11-05-2009, 01:14 PM

I just joined this forum yesterday.

My contract ends December 1st and I'm strongly considering the Palm Pre. I'm ONLY hesitant after reading about the faulty hardware. I really don't want to get one and then deal with a lemon. Second option is the HTC Hero... I can't afford Verizon's monthly bill. Sprint is $56/mth through work :]

On top of that, a TON of articles are coming up saying that Palm has flatout FAILED. It doesn't make sense to me. How has Palm failed? Gizmodo wrote an article about how Android has already consumed the WebOS now that the 2.0 update is out. Techdirt is saying that Palm needs to drop WebOS and create Android phones. There's more negative portrayal of Palm out there and it's a little overwhelming.

I think right now I'm waiting for November 15th to see what happens. Hopefully this is all in my head.

chris · 11-05-2009, 01:23 PM

I think Palm's history lends itself to discussion about their future. The tech blogs are filled with sudden drops in their stock price and why Android could kill off Palm. Those types of posts are in vogue. Believe me, the grass is no greener over in the Android camp, despite what you read.

I am glad to see less people calling out members for being trolls if they mention anything negative about the Pre or mention the iPhone. I like good debate and discussion revolving various platforms. There is no perfect phone or platform. I switch phones often, not one is perfect.

fwarchol · 11-05-2009, 01:23 PM

I feel it gweem. I love my Pre because it has exactly what I need. Personally, I could care less about games on my phone or a ton of apps for that matter. I too will have it for a long time. Remember, people who come to this site are just a small fraction (and I mean small) of Pre owners and I would guarantee that those who do not come to this site still love their Pre. I am a little disappointed though that alot of members have seemed to jump ship.....but most are probably those that crave the newest, latest and greatest at every given moment, and there's nothing wrong with that. I'm good for my two years.........when the time comes, I'll make another decision!

chris · 11-05-2009, 01:24 PM

FWIW, there were a handful of articles predicting the demise of Android not too long ago.

preforme · 11-05-2009, 01:33 PM

No shift here either. I am 66 years old and I got my first smart phone in 2007. It was a Treo 755 (Sprint). I knew the day that they announced a "new Palm" phone (Pre) that I would get one. I was able to get one 12 days post Pre launch. I know there are things that the Pre can't do that other phones, even the Treo 755 can do. I don't care. I like the Pre. I readily accept what some people call limitations, faults, or whatever, and just wait for Palm to release an App for whatever it is. I knew everything the pre could do and everything the Pre couldn't do the day they released the specs and I still bought one. What the Pre can do is what is important to me and what it doesn't do isn't.

I realize a lot of people need more in a phone than what the Pre does, and many people use their devices for business. But they should NOT have bought something without the capabilities they require, and then complain about the Pre and Palm. If the Pre, or any other device, doesn't do what you want, DON'T BUY IT. Go buy whatever device that does do what you want or keep what you already had. If the Pre was the same today as it was on release day, I myself, would still be happy. And nomatter what the Pre will ever do, some people will never stop complaining.

There will always be new devices being released. And there will always be new devices being developed to replace what is already released. Sadly to say, there will always be someone complaining about a company, a device, and a service provider, and lack of apps regardless of the phone's capability. People should research before buying. Buy what they need. And be happy with what you have.

So to answer your question, yes, there is probably a shift of a number of people away from the Pre. And next year, there will be a shift away from whatever device is then popular. That is the nature of how technology affects the public. Is Palm in trouble? I doubt the Pre is any cause of that, if in fact they are. Only time will tell.

PapaNoHair · 11-05-2009, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by fwarchol

I feel it gweem. I love my Pre because it has exactly what I need. Personally, I could care less about games on my phone or a ton of apps for that matter. I too will have it for a long time. Remember, people who come to this site are just a small fraction (and I mean small) of Pre owners and I would guarantee that those who do not come to this site still love their Pre. I am a little disappointed though that alot of members have seemed to jump ship.....but most are probably those that crave the newest, latest and greatest at every given moment, and there's nothing wrong with that. I'm good for my two years.........when the time comes, I'll make another decision!

You are right - there are those, as you describe above, who jump ship because they crave the newest, latest........but there are other reasons. At the end of my year I am considering leaving the Pre (although I love it) not because of what is new but because of what is old no longer works on the Pre. I came to the Pre expecting it to carry apps it used to have (remember the initial broadcast where all the Pre's partners were listed behind the speakers?) but I don't see them. Because of Palm's delicate financial situation they are liable to fall out of the market any day - if that happens what happens to me? I think a willingness to wait a year shows loyalty to Palm and a desire to give them a chance to get it right. In other words - I am more concerned about Palm possibly leaving me.