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Palm reviewers: The Pre has a puncher's chance

Palm's Pre isn't going to topple the iPhone this weekend, but the device has a puncher's chance to be a threat in the smartphone market, according to a bevy of reviews. Palm's Pre makes its debut for the masses on Monday.
Written by Larry Dignan, Contributor

Palm's Pre isn't going to topple the iPhone this weekend, but the device has a puncher's chance to be a threat in the smartphone market, according to a bevy of reviews. Palm's Pre makes its debut for the masses on Monday.  

Here's the roundup---of the bunch I'd rate Engadget's review best---and the notable takes:

And the eye candy:

Palm Pre screenshots (right)

Hardware bottom right

The key takeaways:

Positives:

  • The WebOS;
  • The Card navigation metaphor;
  • The hardware, which Engadget calls stunning;
  • A sweet camera interface;
  • A strong browser;
  • Integration of all your contacts and messages.

On the fence:

The keyboard: Do you need one?

Negatives:

  • Only a dozen apps;
  • An app store that's in beta (at best);
  • It's a bit chunky;
  • The Pre is only on Sprint;
  • There will be limited supplies.

Overall, Palm's reception has been warm. Now the fun really begins. 
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