Morninpaper

Being a long time Palm user and fan, but newly converted Blackberry man (and happy) I thought I should throw out a few personal thoughts on Palm's new entry and quite possibly life saver, the Palm Pre.

The hot new line-up from HTC couldn't do it, not a single Nokia could even come close, the G1 Android phone couldn't, the Instinct hilariously couldn't, despite all the claims to the contrary, and not even the mighty, mighty Blackberry Storm could come along a knock the iPhone off its well deserved pedalstool.  These are all manufactures with some seriously kick-butt devices that one could argue are in fact better than the iPhone, but they just simply do not have that cult of personality that came built-in to the iPhone through it's maker, and quickly increased tenfold in numbers.  

This is a level that Palm can compete on, if they have the right solution, and folks, it looks like they do.

But let's be honest here, without the iPhone the Palm Pre does not exist.  Just look at the toolbar, sure, it may do more, but it's the iPhone toolbar with the benefit of time and directional planning.  Multitouch, two finger squeeze to make larger or smaller, finger swipes to send pages scrolling where you want them.  Multi tabbing, having as many pages or apps open as you can, and then swiping through to get to the page you want, that's the iPhone, no if's and's or buts' about it.  In fact, given its size, it's really just a iPhone Nano that's been jailbroken and is running great third party apps and great customizing software.   But, there is one thing that makes it jump out of the iPhone package, even a jailbroken iPhone package.

System wide "Cut & Paste."

This is the one true iPhone Achilles heel, and it just might be the one feature that hands the Pre the loaded pistol with a free shot at a defenseless iPhone.  It still baffles the mind that Apple did not and has yet to include something as basic and necessary as "cut & paste."  All the little other things can be said about every other top class smartphone out there.  One can find issue, something lacking or just annoying about all the top tier handsets, but the omission of such a basic feature defies all logic.  In particular when you're talking about a smart device as smart as the iPhone.  

A failing fledgling behind the times company comes out with a shrunken copy cat clothed in a new suit and instantly makes the smartest handset (iPhone) just look stupid.  And when you get right down to it, it's really because of one feature, and one feature alone.  Then add onto it, Palm's cult of personality, a field leveler that no other device manufacture can claim, not even RIM with their legions, and you've got a sun down stage set for a old fashion shoot out.

Now, a good deal of Palm fans that jumped the aging Palm ship for greener pastures in the Apple orchards, have their hands above their eyes, squinting at a new Marshall off in the distance riding into town to take on the fair but controlling Sheriff.  And they're really excited about the prospect.  Of course that Marshall is riding in on a sick horse in need of water and medicine (Sprint), but when they arrive, there will most likely be the very first gun fight the town has seen since the Sheriff rode in and took over.  And all the Sheriff had to do to win the un-relinquished loyalty of the township, was give them the basics, a little bit of cutting and a little bit of pasting.  And let's not forget the ability to see an opportunity for ownership on another carrier.

Palm really has a shot here, they could shoot themselves in the foot if they go with the rumored price point.  But if they play to win, they will have done it the "New" American way.  Re-package a success, call their own, but give the consumer one added newness not offered by the originator.   Just like top forty radio, art and Film.  

Kudos Palm, you stepped up the fight, and I for one just might find myself sitting in your bleachers again.  After all, I'm riding that same sick thirsty horse, and I love a good old fashion high noon gun fight.