CNET Prizefight has Pre over iPhone for speed

Posted By on July 9, 2009

Interesting CNET “Prizefight” pitting the Palm Pre against the Apple iPhone 3G and iPhone 3Gs … the Pre was slow to boot, but did a pretty good job of real world web browsing and emailing a photo.

I don’t mind the Sprint 3G speeds, but after a month of using the Palm Pre have been disappointed in the ‘s-l-o-w’ launching of applications. It was really disappointing when sitting with a friend and watching him productively use his Android phone. I have to say, I was impress enough to have been envious.

Comments

  • http://bilikfamily.com/ Scott

    So, when PalmOS Treo/Centro apps are in memory, would you say that they launched faster than apps do on the WebOS Pre? (going off of your recollection)
    I should time how long it would take me to take a picture and send it to Flickr via my 3G service here in the boonies.
    I should also benchmark how long it takes to load that page they were using in Blazer and OperaMini. What was that, the NYTimes home page? I’d bet OperaMini flies (when it doesn’t crash on me ;-P )

  • http://bilikfamily.com/ Scott

    So, when PalmOS Treo/Centro apps are in memory, would you say that they launched faster than apps do on the WebOS Pre? (going off of your recollection)
    I should time how long it would take me to take a picture and send it to Flickr via my 3G service here in the boonies.
    I should also benchmark how long it takes to load that page they were using in Blazer and OperaMini. What was that, the NYTimes home page? I’d bet OperaMini flies (when it doesn’t crash on me ;-P )

  • http://www.myarchive.us RichC

    I would say yes for the most part running the apps on the Treo and Centro seems faster to me than the Pre — launching that is. I particularly notice the speed of the SMS messaging, ‘contact manager’ and ‘calendar.’ I’m back to using “a” quad-band Palm Centro while in Europe for the next couple of weeks and have been porting my data over to it … and realized how much I miss the Palm OS apps and ability to “quickly” use the phone.

    Don’t get me wrong, the web experience is great on the Pre (minus video for the most part) and email is second to none. I do appreciate the improved camera, but having to wait a second or two for the phone dialer is a pain. Example: Starting from a fresh wallpaper screen, it takes me 5-10 seconds to dial a call from the contact manager. If I use speed dial (without sliding open the keyboard) it take me 4 strokes and about 5-6 seconds to make a call. (power on, unlock, launch phone app, hold down virtual number key for speeddial).

    Launching regular apps “not” already in cards:
    Phone: 1 -2 seconds
    Calendar: 7 seconds
    Contact Manager: 5 seconds
    Contact Manager from Universal search: 5 seconds depending on typing (and size of database)
    Email: 4 seconds
    Camera (not from launch bar): 6 seconds
    Photos stored: 9 seconds
    Tweed (twitter app): 12 second including data pulled on wifi connection
    Web browser: 7 seconds – ready for url or bookmark

  • http://www.myarchive.us RichC

    I would say yes for the most part running the apps on the Treo and Centro seems faster to me than the Pre — launching that is. I particularly notice the speed of the SMS messaging, ‘contact manager’ and ‘calendar.’ I’m back to using “a” quad-band Palm Centro while in Europe for the next couple of weeks and have been porting my data over to it … and realized how much I miss the Palm OS apps and ability to “quickly” use the phone.

    Don’t get me wrong, the web experience is great on the Pre (minus video for the most part) and email is second to none. I do appreciate the improved camera, but having to wait a second or two for the phone dialer is a pain. Example: Starting from a fresh wallpaper screen, it takes me 5-10 seconds to dial a call from the contact manager. If I use speed dial (without sliding open the keyboard) it take me 4 strokes and about 5-6 seconds to make a call. (power on, unlock, launch phone app, hold down virtual number key for speeddial).

    Launching regular apps “not” already in cards:
    Phone: 1 -2 seconds
    Calendar: 7 seconds
    Contact Manager: 5 seconds
    Contact Manager from Universal search: 5 seconds depending on typing (and size of database)
    Email: 4 seconds
    Camera (not from launch bar): 6 seconds
    Photos stored: 9 seconds
    Tweed (twitter app): 12 second including data pulled on wifi connection
    Web browser: 7 seconds – ready for url or bookmark

  • lucas

    I’ve noticed the centro is faster.. It might be the animation on the palm though. I’d rather disable animation if it’ll be a lot faster.

    Also, I think that Prizefight was bogus. They had the iphone and Palm pre tied in multitasking. Should I say more?

  • lucas

    I’ve noticed the centro is faster.. It might be the animation on the palm though. I’d rather disable animation if it’ll be a lot faster.

    Also, I think that Prizefight was bogus. They had the iphone and Palm pre tied in multitasking. Should I say more?

Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.