8525 iPhone centro

So, you’re finally looking at smartphones, but so many choices.  Let’s play the one-question game:  what are you after — high function or fun design?  If “fun design” is you, go try an iPhone.  (Enough said; see earlier posts for more iPhone detraction, even perhaps a retraction.)

If you want/need to get more done and nifty is not as important as can-do, you might look to an 8525 (Tilt is its successor w/precious few improvements) or Centro.  The Palm Blog recently presented a decent review of what a Centro offers versus other smartphones.  At conclusion, it conceded some of “what you don’t get” with a Centro:

1. Built-in Wi-Fi. Current Palm models lack built-in Wi-Fi, though Palm CEO Ed Colligan said last year it would be added to future Palm devices.

2. Built-in GPS. Given how clueless GPS-based driving directions can be, I don’t see this as a terrible loss. Also, Google Maps came preinstalled on my Treo, and it has often served me in a pinch.

3. A Pleasurable Web Browsing Experience. Surfing the Web on my Treo is painful, even using Sprint’s fast EVDO network. If a meaningful mobile Web experience is crucial, your best smart phone choice currently is the iPhone.

4. Style and a Large Screen. I’d love to see a sleek new Palm OS handset that combines a large touch screen with the usual sturdy Palm keyboard.

Now, do you “don’t get” those spec’s with a Tilt (improved 8525)?  No.  Understand?  The Tilt has:

1.  integrated wi-fi;

2.  Telenav GPS Navigator(TM) support

3.  web-browsing with Explorer on 3G network (Opera mini is a free-n-easy add-on for “pleasurable” full internet zoom in/out function); and

4.  style and large screen?  2.8-inch screen (versus Centro’s 2.2) and let’s just leave “style” to the eye of the beholder.

If you think the Kansas Business Attorney is off-base on the 8525, ie. your phone is better, do tell because I doubt it!  I realize there are a few out there which will stream live video to the web.  My 8525 will not handle that (guess whether I need that function), nor does it handle GPS without add-ons (yes, that’s one of the improvements in the Tilt, along with a tilting display and 3.0 vs 2.0 mp camera; see previous “guess whether…” comment).

Your phone is more productive than mine?  Prove it and say on.