Mobile deathmatch: Palm Pre vs. iPhone, side by side

Which mobile device can do the most for you? See what each can do -- or not -- in this comparison

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    Visual deathmatch: Palm Pre vs. iPhone

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    Mobile main screens

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    Working with e-mail

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    Working with mail folders

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    Working with calendars

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    Working with contacts

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    Using copy and paste

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    Working with universal search

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    Managing mobile apps

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    Running multiple apps

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    Adding new apps

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    Navigating with maps

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    Managing bookmarks

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    Using mobile-optimized content

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    See another slideshow: 21 jailbreak iPhone apps

Working with e-mail

Both the iPhone (left) and Palm Pre (right) display e-mail messages in lists. On the iPhone, account lists are separated, meaning you must navigate from one e-mail account to another to view all your messages. The Pre, however, stacks account lists, allowing you to hide or show each list, so all of your e-mail is available in one place. Only the iPhone lets you search messages -- a major omission on the Pre. Tapping the top of the Mail app jumps the iPhone to the top of your message list; the Pre has no equivalent shortcut. The iPhone also lets you select multiple (including nonadjacent) messages for deletion or moving to a folder, while the Pre can't multiple-select. Both the iPhone and Pre use horizontal swipes to delete individual messages, though the iPhone makes you click the Delete button that appears, while the Pre simply deletes the message, making it easy to delete messages by accident.

Get the full details: Read our in-depth comparison feature to find out what's behind our conclusions.
Dive deep into mobile 2.0: Download InfoWorld's 20-page PDF special report to get our editors' and contributors' insights on choosing and using next-gen mobile devices.

SLIDE 3 OF 15
July 06, 2009
oybobby 21-Jul-09 1:49am

I enjoyed the substance of your iPhone/Pre comparison, if not the format.

But I am dumbfounded why and how you would write the article without considering, or even mentioning, the exclusive carriers that come with the devices.

The differences between key aspects of the respective carriers, and therefore the level of service they provide, are significant and, at least for the foreseeable future, need to be considered as important "features" of the phones. I would even say it is among their most important features.

Maybe I missed it elsewhere, but I found no mention of AT&T, Sprint, or the rumored addition of Verizon to either platform.

Regards,
Maurice

babushnik 10-Jul-09 12:47pm

They highlight multitasking on the Pre by leaving the iPhone completely out, but they do not do the same for features the iPhone has that the Pre does not. For instance, how about highlighting the 3-d gaming on the iPhone and leave out the Pre that does not have that?

Also, the iPhone CAN multitask, but not as well as perhaps the Pre. I can listen to my iPod while surfing the internet , etc. And there is some multitasking that the iPhone can do that the Pre cannot. For instance, with the Pre you cannot watch streaming content AND get a phone call using just the cellular network. Also, while on just the cellular network you cannot talk on the phone while using the map application. The Pre simply cannot do more than one data-requiring task at the same time while on just the cellular network.

Nice comparison overall though. I agree with the findings.

Colin_Sutton 7-Jul-09 5:07am
1 reply

How do they compare as a phone?
:-)

i have both 9-Aug-09 1:35pm

The Pre is much better. But I will miss the iPhone.

MobileAdmin 6-Jul-09 6:37am
1 reply

It should be noted that EAS enforcement does not presently work with the Pre. Palm is working on the issue but no ETA is set on when this will be corrected.

So for any enterprise that cares about security I would recommend not allowing the Pre until this is corrected as you have no password timeout, enforcement as well remote wipe capabilities in the event a Pre is lost / stolen.

i have both 9-Aug-09 1:36pm

All you have to do is sign into your Palm account, and remote swipe the phone.

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