Palm Pre Or Apple iPhone – More iPhone WiFi Woes

The iPhone has been one of the best “lust after” devices for a couple of years now. I’ve had my Apple iPhone 2G for over year and have pretty much felt like a “one device” man … although I’ve also kept my Palm Treo, as backup as well. However, I’ve recently begun lusting after the new Palm Pre for a number of reasons, including Apple’s WiFi woes and AT&T’s outrageous “take it or leave it” pricing plans.

A couple of weeks ago I was on a trip to Cabo San Lucas where I could only get WiFi access in the lobby of the hotel. I figured, heck, that’s ok, since I was on vacation anyway. One morning I snuck downstairs to the lobby to check up on work. I smugly walked past others clicking away on their chunky laptops holding my sexy Apple iPhone. To my dismay over the next 20 – 30 minutes I could not get a WiFi connection.

I shifted from one end of the lobby (a big one indeed) to the other, but still could not find a WiFi connection. I even sat next to one of those “silly” laptop owners who was happily working away on her WiFi connected laptop. For the life of me I could not figure out what was going and finally gave up in disgust.

Later in the evening I brought my laptop to the lobby (yes, I always bring it as a backup) and got connected to WiFi in a split second. I didn’t think much of it for the rest of the trip, even as we went to another resort with the same problem.

Finally returning home, I started investigating the forums and discovered that the Apple iPhone WiFi woes began with upgrading to the OS 3.0 operating system. It appears that there is some coding problem, which Apple had been trying to “keep quiet.” Why? I ask you. Fix it!

Now, my partner, recently bought a Palm Pre about 2 months ago. He was so excited about it and told me all of the great benefits of the Pre over the Apple iPhone, including the ability to multi-task AND it’s physical keyboard.

I had been a fan of Palm for many years, including, as I mentioned still owning a Palm Treo 700p. So, owning a Palm Pre was not necessarily out of the question. But, was really making me consider switching back is the vision of my buddy, who traveled to Thailand and Laos, without a problem at all connecting on WiFi with his Palm Pre.

This WiFi problem that Apple still has not corrected is just one of the reasons that I am considering switching to the Palm Pre. The other major reason is AT&T’s outrageous pricing plans. They seem to take the stance that “if you want the Apple iPhone”, you have no choice. But, we now DO have a choice.

You see, AT&T charges a $30 data plan and a minimum $5 for only 200 text messages a month. They recently came out with a t $15 data plan but that is only to use their MUCH slower Edge network, not the 3G network. Sprint, on the other hand, has a $10 unlimited data plan and a $20/month texting for the whole family. If you do the math, you’ll see that AT&T really knows how to gouge people.

If Steve Jobs really wants the Apple iPhone to be the “new PC”, they have got to fix the WiFi problem, open up their closed walls and get AT&T to open their eyes … there’s a new real competitor out there.

About the Author

David Chan shares his first hand experience working on the iPhone, including Apple iPhone wifi woes. The iPhone is a beautiful device to be sure, but Apple clearly missed the mark on a few basic things that should have included in the iPhone and its service. Find out more about how to best use the iPhone at http://everypathnbeyond.com

Garmin zumo 665 Widescreen Motorcyle Navigator $799.99 Take a ride on a new route and explore the open road with the zÅ«mo 665, a motorcycle-friendly navigator with stereo Bluetooth, XM satellite radio, weather, and traffic. Whether you’re on a weekday ride just across town or a weeklong trip to an annual rally with friends, the zÅ«mo 665 is ready to show you the way. Plus, use the zÅ«mo in your car and get double use out of it. Designed B…

Smart Start Module with GPS Tracking compatible with all EPS2 Systems – DEI DSM250 Smart Start Module with GPS Tracking compatible with all EPS2 Systems – DEI DSM250The new DSM250 combines GPS tracking capability with current SmartStart 2.0 features. Know where your vehicle is at all times, keep track of and protect family vehicles, and enjoy a key-less connected lifestyle. Remote start or lock and unlock your vehicle and receive alerts on your smartphone if your vehicle is move…

Rosetta Stone French Level 1-5 Set $499.00 Develop your command of the language. From the simple to the complex, gain the confidence to share your ideas and opinions in your new language. Develop the conversational skills to plan adventures, care for your health and move abroad. Talk about government, work, movies, family, and more. Includes everything you need to learn at home and on the go….

Apple .Mac 5.0 Family Pack [DISCONTINUED PRODUCT/SERVICE] $179.95 Extend your iLife. Only with .Mac Family Pack. With online tools that work seamlessly with iLife and Mac OS X, .Mac makes doing amazing things on the Internet elegantly simple. There’s no better way to take your Mac experience to the Internet. Share photos and movies beautifully–directly from iLife ’08. Web Gallery.A beautiful way to share photos and movies. With ….

Nokia Lumia 710 4G Windows Phone (T-Mobile) $499.99 Capable of running on T-Mobile’s 4G network, the affordable Lumia 710 Windows Phone is as simple as it is smart, delivering high-performance hardware plus Nokia’s best social and Internet experience. It’s powered by the latest Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) operating system, which boasts hundreds of improvements including multitasking, photo and video capture, and threaded conversations that move wit…