Palm Centro Review

Team Digit

Palm OS Comes To The Masses
The Palm Centro is the latest Palm with their Palm OS, unlike the other models that we’ve tested in the recent past that were based on Microsoft’s Windows Mobile.

The initial reaction to the phone is that it seems like a very casual hip-looking phone. It’s not the most compact of phones we’ve seen but its pretty decent for a phone that comes with a fully usable keypad.

The build quality is a little shabby. While holding it one hand, you can feel the back cover squeeze from the pressure. The stylus supplied with the phone is very light. It won’t break, but it bends while using and it doesn’t have a great feel. The keys on the keypad are really small, but are reasonable for typing. There is no virtual keyboard, should you want to use it to type.

The interface is a little confusing if you’re used to Windows Mobile and Symbian phones. Closing programs and switching to other programs is hectic as well. The SMS and messaging interface looks great—so does the phone dialler itself. The software itself is fast and reacts well. The design—colours and fonts used in the interface doesn’t match up to fancy Symbian and Windows Mobile applications and it looks pretty outdated.

Reception is good and so is the voice quality, but the sound is really flat and a fair bit different from other phones. The 1.3-MP camera is nothing extraordinary, but is decent for occasional urgent photos.

Finally, it comes down to the price of the phone and that’s where the Palm Centro has a chance. The phone has an MRP of Rs 13,990. For a similar price, you can easily get Windows Mobile phones with larger screens. In the Centro, you get a proper phone with a proper keypad, a compact but great screen and for a bit of the geek factor—Palm OS, which is still uncommon in India.

Specifications:
320 x 320 65k colour touch screen, MicroSD slot, 1.3 MP camera, Bluetooth, IR, Supports GPRS, GSM, EDGE and CSD.
Dimensions: 10.72 x 5.36 x 1.86cm, Weight: 116gms

Contact : Palm Inc.
Phone : 011-41725228/9
E-mail : myil.nathar@palm.com
Web site : www.palm.com
Price : Rs 13,990