Rating  - Dated software but a solid phone nonetheless
If you're wedded to the Palm platform, this is a good choice, providing your familiar applications in a compact package with a 3G phone.
I hadn't used a Palm since my Pilot went kaput in the 90s. What I found with the Centro was scary on the one hand: they haven't updated the software in a decade! OK, there are some color accents and obviously the phone, web, and email functions are new as is the operator-loaded crapware. On the other hand, the original software was OK and fairly easy to use. I've also enjoyed loading old freeware games to play, written in the Palm's heyday and still available on the web.
I mainly use the phone, email, and web features (the newer software). The phone is fine. For email, I use the built-in VersaMail. IMAP access to my work ISP and gmail works well. VersaMail is suitable for basic stuff like checking mail and replying. The keyboard (vs Graffiti) is convenient but slow if you use only one finger to peck instead of two thumbs (a bit hard with the small kb). The web browser is passable, being hampered mainly by the small screen. It allows you to turn off css. Without doing turning it off, sites, such as Wikipedia, render really poorly. There's no user-agent spoofing, so sites know you're coming from a mobile. Some dish up a mobile optimized-version of their site which can either be good or craptastic (e.g., ebay).
I enter little to the calendar and address book directly, instead syncing data with these applications via Entourage on the Mac. It took me a long time to figure out if the address book is hooked into email. (It is: you can access the address book from email but you can't email from the address book.) It's definitely hooked into the phone. Syncing with the Mac isn't perfect. Too little time has been spent by Palm in this area. The Palm Desktop app on the Mac is clearly ancient. I think it may actually be an OS9 app (keeping with the 90s theme). Unfortunately, integration and synchronization with Entourage or Mac's native apps isn't on par with Outlook integration on Windows.
I have the Sprint version of this phone. 3G speeds are great. I've topped 1Mbps on a PC tethered to the handset and haven't had speed issues with the built in browser and email client. Voice quality is great, too.
The first popular touch-screen PDA, the original Palm was well designed--well enough to make the Centro a decent smartphone despite relying on a lot of ancient apps. Because of its decent (albeit creaky and certainly not flashy) software, low cost, and small size, the phone is well worth considering if you're a long-time Palm user or a newcomer.
Rating  - Don't waste your $$
This phone is well suited for a high school girl. Anyone expecting something comparable to HTC tilt or any 3G internet speed (not included on the unlocked GSM phone that palm sells) needs to look elsewhere. I made the mistake of buying this, the shortcomings are more then the strengths restrictive and expensive stereo blue tooth support (be prepared to spend min $100 for that functionality $20 software from softick (audio gateway) and $80 Samsung sbh700) and the device is sensitive, a good bump will crack the digitizer (perhaps I was spoiled by mu old Nokia 6126 or Motorola mpx-200 both of which had taken unreasonable amounts of abuse with out any problems). My friends 800W has 3G and the internet just flies on his phone, I swapped sim cards with him, and my phone crawled. Not having any built in Wi-Fy support also puts this device a step behind the competition.
Rating - Worst Palm Phone EVER
My Centro actually worked well..provided I did not use any of the features that are part of the phone. Once I downloaded my nursing software, from an authorized Palm O/S dealer, the phone would begin locking up. Continuously. I even tried putting on a different palm based program to ensure that it was not my nursing software causing the problem and yet again the phone began to lock up..and yes, i was saving to my 2gb hard drive that I purchased extra. I went through 4 phones and finally contacted the manufacturer. They told me that I should not download my nursing software to the phone that this was most likely causing the problem. I was also told not to use email programs such as AOL or AIM because these have also been known to cause problems. WHAT?? No email. This is one of its main features right??? So I used the analogy that it was like purchasing a bike and then telling yourself...I cannot ride it because the tires will not work if they are used. As you can tell, I am more than frustrated. Now I am upgrading to a Treo 755 in hopes that this will relieve my problems. BUYER BEWARE....CENTRO STINKS!
Rating  - Great little phone
A truly perfect phone (for what it is.)
I needed a 'smarter' phone and I certainly didn't want to be like the droves of people flocking to the IPhone. I can find my own 'style' thank you, I don't need a phone to 'define' me - (really you should hear some of these people go on about it...)
Anyway, it performs all the business apps I need, has a nice little built in audio player, and through the wonders of the PALM OS, has freeware for almost anything (medical, e-books, GPS, etc) as far as the eye can see.
I can spend my idle time switching between playing emulators of my favorite old NES, SNES, or Genesis games (at full FPS speed - in as good of quality as the old consoles did it)and when not doing that I can watch DVD's I transcoded into MP4's on the 320x320 screen. My average DVD only takes about 350-400mb, so you can fit quite a few on a 2 or 4gb card.
Further, I like that I am able to buy/download whatever applications I would like without having to sidestep the limitations built into my phone or void all warranty and possibly 'brick' it like the Apple.
Overall quite a nice little phone. The keyboard takes a few days to get used to, but once you realize its a nail press and not a finger press, you are fine.
I liked it so much I bought a 2nd one for the wife. She is not a power user of the aplications or OS, but loves that she can watch a full length movie or play SNES games while she waits for something/someone. The simple platform/interface didn't intimidate her like some of the Windows Mobile products did.
5 Stars.
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Customer Reviews for AT&T,Centro,805931035417,B0016P7BBE, |
