It’s being advertised as “the first 3G smartphone smart enough for mom.” And if you’re the lucky winner of our random drawing, a new Palm Pre Plus can be yours just for being a fan of Manic Mommies.
We’re participating in a Palm Pre Plus campaign run by our friends at The Motherhood.com. To facilitate our review of the device (and a fun giveaway for our podcast listeners) Verizon sent us two Palm Pre Plus phones: one to test out and one to give away. I’ve been using the device for the past week and must confess I’ve been comparing it to my iPhone at every turn. I am pretty loyal to my iPhone—Kristin even more loyal to hers—so I was doubtful that I’d be wowed by the device. I have to say though, I was pleasantly surprised.
Here’s what I like about this device:
- Size. It’s smaller than a deck of cards and although thicker than an iPhone, it can fit in the pocket of a jacket or a pair of slacks. It might fit into the pocket of your jeans if you wear ‘em baggy.
- Set up was a cinch! I had the phone out of the box and activated in a matter of minutes.
- Incredibly simple integration with Gmail and Google calendar. This is one more reason to have a Google account. It seems as if almost any device you buy these days has Gmail, Facebook and Twitter built in. Really, go Google or go home.
- Full QWERTY keyboard. If there’s one thing about the iPhone I hate, it’s typing on it. I find the keyboard on the Pre so much easier to use, probably because I have small hands and fingers. Big fingers may have more trouble with the tiny keys.
- Mirror on the back. Call me vain, but I’ve always thought if I can check everything else on my iPhone, why not my lipstick?
- App catalog. Sure, the Palm Pre Plus does not have anywhere near the number of available iPhone apps, but it does have a few handy games to keep you or the kids occupied. I recommend tic-tac-toe and the memory game.
- Mobile Hotspot. I haven’t tried this out yet myself, but there is an add-on app that turns the Palm Pre Plus into a WiFi hot spot for up to five devices. Of course, there is an additional monthly charge for this feature.
My one main complaint about the Palm Pre Plus is the number of gestures required to switch between applications. There are several swipe points on the screen (which is stunning, btw). Sometimes you swipe sideways along the bottom. Sometimes you swipe down from the upper right corner, other times you swipe up in the middle. At times I couldn’t figure out how to simply make a phone call.
That left me wondering, “Is this mom smart enough for this smartphone?”
The Palm Pre Plus is exclusive to Verizon and sells for $150 with a two-year contract and $100 mail-in rebate.
To enter our giveaway, leave a comment below telling us how you use your phone or smartphone. Are you spending time texting, answering work email, scheduling car pools, taking pictures and posting them to Facebook or are you someone who actually makes phone calls with it?
We will pick one grand prize winner and three runners up to receive a Verzion Wireless giftcard.
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213 Responses to Giveaway: Palm Pre Plus
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I have the free flip phone that came with our plan. I’m a crazy working mom, and live far away from family and friends. So, I use the phone to stay in touch, both with calls and texting. I have just discovered that my phone actually has a camera function. But it’s so old that when people ask to see pictures of the kiddos, I’m embarassed to show them on my old phone. That is probably because my loving husband and co-workeres are constantly making fun of my out dated phone.
I would also love to have a phone with internet access. I’m always borrowing my husbands iPhone, but haven’t wanted to spend the money on my own. Thanks for the chance to win the drawing!
Also, thanks for making my long commute bearable! We all appreciate the work you put into the podcast!
PIck ME Pick ME!!! I hope to be the winner….what are we supposed to do in order to enter the drawing??
Aside from using my phone as a phone….I would not be able to function without the calendar where I organize my work and home life. I have so many appointments I just can’t keep it all straight. I also use my phone as a camera, to listen to my favorite podcasts when my ipod is on the fritz and have used the map function a few times when in a new city and um lost…
I use my ipod touch for emails for work, but am disappointed at the lack of free wi-fi I can find. Don’t want to do the iphone b/c of the bad reception in my area with AT&T. I’m currently on Verizon, so this would be perfect!
I mostly make calls and text with my phone but would love a smart phone….I am always needing a phone#, recipe or address of something. Kids are always on the go as is husband and having a “computer” in my purse would make my life SOOO much easier.
Great job ladies – seems like I dont remember life before you. Keep up the great work!
I haven’t entered the Smart Phone realm as of yet; maybe this will be the changing event. I use my little flip phone to make phone calls on the run, respond to text messages (sort of like a verbose pager) and take pictures of my daughter to wow my friends and family. It’s so integrated in my life these days I wonder how my mom functioned working in a world without a cell phone.
I use my phone for EVERYTHING! I can’t believe how dependent I am on it all of a sudden! I check my personal e-mails, business e-mails, facebook and currently am addicted to words with friends!
I would love to win the Palm Pre. I had a Palm 650 for a long time with the most basic plan. I loved the qwerty keyboard and the easy functionality of the calendar. When it broke (and since we were broke), I got a GoPhone. I have friends who text all the time, but I have warned them off of me because of cost and how hard it is to text from a phone keypad (it feels like the rotary phone of texting). My husband gave me an iTouch which is great fun when there is WiFi, but I’m with you Erin, the keyboard on the iPhone/touch is annoying. And the calendar on the iTouch will only allow one calendar downloaded from Google. So, if I want to check my husband’s schedule, I need to go online and if I input anything on Google calendar for the kids, I have to put it on my calendar (a bonus for my husband!). We miss out on candid, random pictures because my cheapie phone’s pics aren’t worth anything. So, unless I have my SLR with me, we’re not capturing the moment. It’s a shame because my friend’s babysitter takes amazing pictures of the kids with her phone and my family’s philosophy growing up is that if it wasn’t captured on film, it didn’t really happen. I’d love to try the new Palm Pre though I would probably get addicted!
No whammies, No whammies Pick me, Pick me! I NEED a new phone! All I have is a flip phone but I need more! Thanks
After I very comical incident that took place when my son was first learning how to answer the home phone I now use Motorola Pink edition Razor for all of my mommy business. It’s the number everyone on the PTA has if they need to get ahold of me, the number all the parents of the girls in my Girl Scout troop use when they need to ask me a question or inform me of anything, and very soon it will be the number used when conducting my Pampered Chef business! Oh and about that comical incident involving my son… thankfully the DJ that I was trying to book for that years school spring fling is a parent himself and he knows me from past school events we have hired him for. Nothing makes for a better laugh like a 4 year old telling the person mommy can’t come to the phone because she is going poop and it’s really stinky, then asking the person if they can smell it too!
I’m so old-fashioned, I only use my phone to make phone calls! I’ve tried texting but it’s such a pain on a regular phone without a keyboard that I don’t do it unless I have to. But I’d love to catch up with technology before my daughter (now 9) passes me . . . Thanks for the chance to enter this giveaway! And also for keeping me up to date on technology–all I know about Twitter I learned from you gals.
I had one of the original smartphones but it was so outdated and not working right so I switched back to a regular phone. I use my phone to make calls, text to keep up with my kids on the go, keep track of appointments, birthdays and general to do lists, all using the reminder feature or otherwise my calendar would be useless. I miss having the full features of my smartphone. I keep having to toggle back and forth with the IPod touch to get all the features.
Thanks for the giveway to make some Mom happy and thanks for the many laughs I have listening to your podcast. I’m always excited when a new one uploads.
I have the same ol’ flip phone I’ve had for almost 4 years- the most it does is take pics. I would lover to be able to do all those awesome things with my phone!!!
all of the above avtually … spending time texting, answering work email, scheduling car pools, taking pictures and posting them to Facebook and someone who actually makes phone calls !!!
Sounds like a nice phone/mobile device. I have a simple Samsung phone with Verizon I use for phone calls – but the reception is terrible! And then I have my blackberry with work email, personal email, twitter and facebook. Plus I find Google maps to be a great feature when I can’t figure out my directions. Thanks for the opportunity!
I use it for my calendar, email, facebook, Twitter and blogging. I use my smartphone for everything. I can’t remember life without a smartphone.
I use it to prove my husband wrong. Imdb, wikipedia and google referee many disagreements in this household!
I’m a tech junkie. I can’t live without my computer, iPOD, digital camera, Facebook,etc… In our house, we are always looking at the next gadget to buy. When my birthday rolled around last month, I decided I was going to get a new phone. That’s when I realized my phone was almost five years old. My husband had gotten four new phones to my one! We went to the store on my birthday to pick out a new phone. I was going to get the Droid. I went up the to counter to buy it and the saleswomen says, you know if you wait three months you can get $200 off the phone with your contract renewal. I can’t pass up a bargain, so I put back the phone.
This phone would be great for me. I work in a lab and need a light phone that I can slip into my lab coat pocket and not hinder my movements. Plus, it would be great to check email and surf the web since we don’t have internet connections at work.
I use my iPhone for everything! I have color coded goggle family calendar, mint.com for finances, and just discovered evernote. I want more battery life and the ability to hang the phone from my neck and/or surgically attach it to my hand so I don’t have to dig in the bottom of my purse for it!
Ah, the Crackberry…..can’t live with it, can’t live without it. I do actually use it as a phone but oddly enough….it’s my husband I talk to most and I live with the guy. Shameful secret? When I see work calls coming through, I usually send them to voicemail. I do love my smart phone though because it allows me to stay connected to work when I need to have a more flexible schedule, such as leaving work early for kids doctor’s appointments, practices, etc. While it’s a bummer to always feel connected, it does allow me freedoms the old “cell phones” did not. Alas….the love hate of the “crackberry”.
Well, I would need to take a class on how to use it, but I would love it, I know! I use my cell phone to keep in touch with friends and family and can only DREAM of being able to keep up on emails and facebook while waiting for kids at school and activities. DREAM.
Sounds great…my phone seems to be on it’s last ring, so this would be so exciting. I love to use my phone to stay in touch with friends and family either by texting, making calls or e-mailing…also love to check facebook and keep on top of the news!
Ooooooh how I want this! I too have the free flip phone, so this would be a huge, much welcomed step up. I would finally be able to text my friends back. More importantly I would be able to check my etsy shop 500 thousand times a day to see if I made sales or need to answer any emails. Having that capability would be a huge relief for me when I’m away from home.
Thanks for the great giveaway!
I have an IPhone AND a Blackberry. This seems like it’s both in one. I’d like to try it out.
My phone isn’t a smartphone…I am not up to the times. However I do use the camera on it and I do a lot of texting…and yes I still do use it for phonecalls. I am a verizon customer and this Palm Pre Plus looks amazing. I have told myself that my next phone will be a smartphone and this sounds FABULOUS thanks for sharing and for the chance to win!
I have a very antique virgin mobile phone and my kids really enjoy making fun of me because it has a little antenna you can pull up on it but it still works although the vibrate could be considered noise pollution…
I use my phone to text and I can actually send a message that my kids can understand and to let them know if i am having a probelm or will be home late
my husband enjoys trying to get a hold of me bacause with out fail it has run out of battery life whenever he NEEDS ME, which usually is for something stupid but he feels is sooo important…
thanks I would love to update
Not much actually telephone calls from my phone. I use the email feature a lot, as well as the calendar, and with my BlackBerry I use BBIM for work contacts. My smartphone allows me to stay in touch everywhere, which is a blessing and a curse. More importantly it is the most organized my family/work calendars have been. I use google for family, microsoft for work, which sync together and with my phone. I can easily ensure nothing conflicts when scheduling in a new doctors appointment ect.
I currently use a very basic phone with a pre-paid system. As my kids get older and I get busier, I am realizing how much I could really use a smart phone, and I have really started to shop around for one that I could really use to my benefit. This sounds like a great phone, and, boy, would I love to try it!!
I’m a single mom of three active kids ranging from 17 to 7. I am a Realtor by day and a student by night plus I have a side home party business. I used to have the Palm Treo but have switched to the Blackberry although I miss the Palm. I couldn’t live without my email or calendar on my phone. I have to set reminders for everything or I’m in trouble…did I mention I have adult ADD..lol..fun stuff!! I keep everything in my phone…I can facebook from it too..that has been fun connecting with old high school friends. Hey..Moms need fun too!!
I use my phone for everything! It’s my Manic Mommy podcast location, I’ve got all my calendards synched upon it, email, Facebook, Lexulous, camera, notepad, I even have a counter on it that I’ve used to keep track of how many times in one car trip my kids said the word “Mama!!” (you don’t want to know!).
Would love to get a chance to have this one – the keyboard and size sound amazing!
I don’t HAVE a smartphone, but I really, really need (ok, want) one. I need something small to carry with me to coordinate all the various events in our lives-rather than jotting it down on a sticky note and hoping it makes it home so I remember to then jot it on the calendar.
I’d love the new Palm Pre! I have had a couple of Palm Treo’s in the past, now have a Samsung Omnia which is fun but there is nothing like a Palm product. I have my schedule, my email, my texts, my groups (Manic Mommies!) and my phone all in one with my smart phone. Everyone should have one! And I’d LOVE a new one!
this sounds perfect! I too have a 4year old flip phone and am ready to move on from using my cell phone as a cell phone… go figure. I have verizon so can use the phone. This would help me to put things in the calendar immediately so I don’t have to fish for the scrap of paper as a reminder of things I’m supposed to remember.
thanks MANIC MOMMIES for all that you do.
I have a dumb phone, not a smart phone.
but if I had a smart phone, I think I would check my personal email more than once a month and play on facebook during my 2 hour each way commmute to work (don’t worry, mostly by train & bus)
everyone i know has a smart phone, but I’m stuck in dumb phone land… poor me!
I have a phone that I rely on because I have an 7 month old and don’t remember the last time I slept through the night..I dont remember anything so I need the phone for the calendar,to do lists and scheduling playdates (ok really for us Moms
Also I will admit, I am addicted to texting!! I dont have a laptop so checking email would be so cool from my phone.
Thanks
I have a a two year old blackberry pearl. It is used for several things: pictures, videos, emails, text messages and phone calls. I don’t bother with the internet because it is slow and the screen is small. This phone looks really cool! I would love to upgrade. I’m looking forward to a better camera to catch all of my daughter’s cute little moments. Being in love with all of the new gadgets, I have missed new phones and computers b/c they just aren’t in the budget. I’m excited to have the chance of winning the phone and playing with all of the terrific features!
OK – I need this phone! I have the most basic phone out there, and yes, I actually make phone calls with it, because that’s about all it can do! Well, it does take pictures and send texts, but I rarely send texts because it doesn’t have a keyboard feature, so it takes FOREVER. I just want to become part of the 21st century!!
Hi
Oh the ways I could use a Palm Pre.. I bwas a Palm Pilot jumnkie in the days before the smartphone. I kept everything on it,I loved downloading all the apps and having a digital calender in my purse. Then came the cell phone. I had both right up to about 6 years ago when my son was in kindergarten and I was on the go all the time with PTO,Cub Scouts,hockey plus all my husbands appts and myu own.I started leaving my palm home and just grabbing my phone:-( I added all the appts on the little calender in my flip phone and added all my contacts..but I still missed my Palm. I really loved it it was attached to me. Well I never quite made it into the smartphone world.
I have been texting alot more and trying to post pictures from my phone to facebook. They are usually okay but I know they could be better. I try and snap a couple every day or so. I have a 1 yr old and a 10 yr old and most of my husbands family lives all over the world. They all keep in touch on facebook.
I looked at a couple Palm phones and would lust after them but would just upgrade to my free phone every couplke years with Verizon and continue on.
Well then my best friend recvd and iTouch for mothers day a couple years ago and I had to have one.So I recvd one this past year for mothers day also. It was the best thing nin the whole world UNTIL i realized it did not have a camera !! Like really. Why would you make it and not put in a camera !!!So after recieving the iTouch I used up all my techno gifts for a while from my husband. I do love my phone and iTouch I just wish they were all in one. Where we live in Upstate NY we only get reliable service with Verizon so that would be no problem for me. It would be a great big yahoo for me to have a way cool phone and be all techno savvy !!!!
Love you guys and really appreciate that you make me laugh everyweek.
Kim in Saratoga Springs NY
I’m road sales rep with two preschoolers…I need to stay in touch with everyone and the smart phone is the way to go. It is time I joined the bandwagon and embraced this new technology before my 3 year old is old enough to teach me how to use it. I’m so glad the manic mommies are so tech saavy because I learn everything I know from you.
I have been texting more and more with my phone. I do not have a smartphone, just a basic, and I would love to win one!
I use my IPhone all the time! At work on my breaks and at lunch I always check my e-mails and I check Facebook and Ravelry (a Knitting website). I also upload podcasts so when I walk, work around the house, or drive, I can listen to those. I am always interested in other “gadgets” so I would love to have something to compare the IPhone to-especially since mine is the original edition! Love your podcast–it always makes me laugh!
would love a new phone my bb has been broken for 2 months!
love your podcsts they are the best
I use to be a complete tech geek that kept up with all the latest technologies when I was a graphic designer, but now I’m going to nursing school and don’t have time for techy stuff anymore and I feel very behind so I’m sure this phone would help bring me up to speed. I do have a cell phone that I use for texting, taking pictures when the moment strikes, alarm clock, calculator. I also use the time zone map frequently to check what time it is where ever my cousin, who is in the military, is in the world. I’d love a phone with lots of features that I’m sure to use. Awesome giveaway. Thanx!
I got my first smartphone just a few months ago. I’m addicted. Definately could not live without the device any more, although I’m not really pleased with my current device.
I use it for all of the following – but my favorite – LISTENING TO MANIC MOMMIES!!! I also use it phone calls, both personal and work. Checking work email & home emails. Keeping up my calendar. I track my calorie count and exercise calories for the day as well as checking food nutritional counts. Connect with facebook, calculator, photos, texting with my girls to stay in touch, and playing games while waiting in the car. SOOO MUCH MORE, but I could type forever on the applications I use.
Thanks Manic Mommies!
I love texting…it gives me a record of when the babysitter said she can come after I forget for the third time. The kids dad and I can text our plans and keep in touch easier than making calls at work…
My current phone has nothing but text and call – no photos even – a few years ago I had a Palm (no phone) with a calendar and phone book and that is the ONE tool I miss the most – ooh, and the games for waiting in line and for when my system goes down and I need to pretend I’m busy.
Thanks for the give away and I hopt it’s me…my phone broke and I got a cheap replacecment…bad idea for a busy mom. Do not spare any expense on toilet paper or organiazation tools.
I use my phone for everything!! I have two boys one who had a great deal of appointments, which means lots of things to remember and lots of time for mommy to sit in a waiting room. Plus my hubby is hard of hearing so texting within the house is much easier than screaming at him just to say hi lol
I would love a Palm Pre! I already use a Palm phone, and would love to upgrade to a “smarter” one. I use it for my calendar, my to do list, it’s my business phone, and I don’t use the web on it right now, but I would love to – to keep up on Facebook, get directions,etc. The PalmPre sounds like exactly what I need!
I need a smart(er). I think it is time to upgrade! I just use my phone as a phone but I would love to have my calendar on there and check e-mail. I need more organization!
I would *love* to move into the new decade with a phone like this! It would be great to be able to have everything technology-based in one piece of equipment. I have an ancient phone that my tween is mortified with whenever I pull it out. I was a stay at home mom in MA that is now getting into the work force. What a great way to help stay connected with my kids and husband and look hip at the office:-). Thanks for the honest review Erin even if I don’t win, my contract is up with my carrier in March and I may just have to purchase one. Maybe with my first paycheck!??
Amazingly enough I use my phone mostly for phone calls. We have gotten rid of our landline since we both have cells to save money. I also text quite a bit and was sending photos but that function has not been working on my phone of late…which is sad because we have a new baby and what better time to send photos to friends and family far away! I would love a new phone, the one I have is the basic package phone. So pick me! =)