Re: Adios WebOS

["Robert G. (Doc) Savage" <dsavage@peaknet.net>]

On Mon, 2011-06-20 at 09:19 -0500, Steven Pritchard wrote:
> On Sun, Jun 19, 2011 at 12:47:32PM -0500, Robert G. (Doc) Savage wrote:
> > I missed yesterday's SILUG because I was beating the bushes for solid,
> > reliable planning information about the new HP/Palm Pre3. What I learned
> > was mostly from what I *didn't* hear, and it's very discouraging.
> 
> You should have come to the meeting...  I've been through this lately.
> I could have saved you some time.  :-)
> 
> > It appears that WebOS will be going the way of OS/2. Sprint claims HP
> > hasn't said they'll sell them the Pre3. You won't find the word "Sprint"
> > anywhere on HP's web site. Sprint's sole concern seems to be our
> > two-year contracts and their guaranteed income. If your original Pre
> > fails, they'll replace it from a dwindling supply of refurbs with very
> > poor reliability. Their strategy is to silently wait you out, offer no
> > upgrades, sell you a cheap Android when your patience with the Pre is
> > exhausted, and eventually have them go extinct. If you have a new
> > two-year contract with that Android, Sprint is happy.
> 
> I don't know if it is as bad as all that...  The Pre3 hasn't officially
> been announced on any carrier, although supposedly all of them will be
> GSM/CDMA "world phones".
> 
> That said, the persistent rumor is that initially (sometime next month)
> the Pre3 will come out on AT&T and Verizon, with Sprint *possibly*
> coming later (and sending this email to dan@sprint.com might speed that
> up).  The rumor is further that Sprint will get an exclusive on a webOS
> slab-style keyboard-less phone "in the fall".
> 
> > By the way, since HP's new WebOS-based TouchPad is designed to eat,
> > sleep, work, and play with a Pre3, don't waste your money on one. Its
> > only external access is WiFi, a Bluetooth keyboard, and "bump"
> > connectivity with a Pre3. Like the Pre3, HP's web pages for the TouchPad
> > don't mention a single carrier. It's very sad, but the TouchPad is an
> > instant orphan.
> 
> HP definitely made a mistake not trying to get the Pre3 and the TouchPad
> out simultaneously, but it's not like you have to have a Pre3 to use the
> TouchPad.  In fact, unlike the iPad, you can use a TouchPad without
> having to connect it to a PC running iTunes constantly.  (Of course, you
> can say the same thing about the various Android tablets, and supposedly
> iOS 5 is supposed to make all that better...)
> 
> Still, there is supposed to be an AT&T TouchPad in a month or so,
> although I personally don't really see the appeal of a 3G tablet.  In
> those rare cases where I want an Internet-connected device and I don't
> have wifi, I can tether to my phone.  (And so can you, Doc...  Just go
> into Preware and search for "freetether".)
> 
> > I'm trying to figure out where to go from here. Android sounds tempting,
> > but I'm reading that it's the next Windows for malware. An alarming
> > percentage of cheap Android apps contain stuff like key loggers. Want to
> > check your bank account's web site with an infected Android phone?
> 
> There are some reasonably attractive Android devices on (or coming soon
> to) Sprint, so I've been looking...  The simple fact is that after using
> webOS for a couple of years, Android feels awkward.  I don't *want* to
> switch, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at least considering it.
> Still, now's the wrong time to jump ship...  You should at least wait
> until the TouchPad is out, and the Pre3's release date has been
> officially announced.
> 
> BTW, I feel your pain...  The headphone jack on Pre #4 was failing, and
> it was developing the usual crack from the USB door.  I was going to try
> to tough it out until I could get a different device...  Then it decided
> to crack from the opposite side, badly.  So the replacement device I got
> from Sprint showed up with a less than perfect keyboard and a defective
> ringer switch.  I'm probably going to end up having to ask for Pre #6...
> 
> Steve

Steve,

If you think dan@sprint.com would be receptive -- and responsive -- I'll
forward my post to him.

--Doc


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