Don’t Count Palm Treo Out Yet: New (And Cheap) Palm Treo Centro Provides Intertesting Contast To iPhone-Mania
By now a bunch of reviewers have chimed in about Palm’s new smartphone, the Centro. The least expensive smartphone yet, the Centro is basically a smaller version of Palm’s Treo and boasts the same features in a smaller, lighter-weight package—all for $99. Some reviewers, like the folks at crave.net, find the design sub-par, the feel a bit cheap and the keyboard too cramped. The Gadgeteer and New York Times reviewer David Pogue also mentioned the small keyboard but think it’s not a problem, the look cute, and the smaller dimensions a big plus. And since Centro’s got all the features of a Treo and runs on Palm OS, you can use Palm-compatible add-on programs . All of this, plus the great price for those folks who can't wor won't afford the iPhone, make Centro a fabulous choice for those looking to make the jump from cell to smartphone or for those on a budget, which is the audience Palm seems to be aiming for. (With advertising copy like “Whether you're keeping up with friends on MySpace or looking up directions to that new bistro, the touchscreen and keyboard make getting around the web easy and fun,” its sort of hard not to see them aiming for the uber-hip Facebook crowd.) They’ve got a 90-day exclusivity with Sprint and you can pre-order on their website. Just make sure you pick up some extra Centro accessories over at Gomadic at the same time so you’re fully stocked when your new toy arrives.
In fact, Gomadic's new QuadCharge has made quite the impression over at Treo Central in an interview by Harv Laser. Whether you have the 270, 500, or 600, Gomadic can provide accories or charge one or all of them at the same time.