EVO vs Palm Pre/Android vs WebOS

[jcole01272]

OK since the bomb got dropped on Pre users yesterday (http://www.webosnation.com/ceos-say-darndest-things-smartphones-are-just-another-connected-device-us) I am now considering andriod for the first time; I was willing to wait until the end of the year for Palm/HP to announce a new phone, but if that is going to be a pipe dream, I guess I need to look to the future. My only decision now seems to be do I switch over to the EVO now, or do I run my Pre in to the ground and make the painful transition away from WebOS when my Pre finally breaks or is no longer available. The two biggest things that would keep me from Android are missing the UI of WebOS, and I can probably get used to a new UI, and the level of customization WebOS offers through patches/hacks. Does anyone know what/if Android has in terms of patches and hacks? Will I be allowed anywhere close to the level of customization I have now?

I have been a loyal Pre user since launch nearly a year ago, but if I have a betamax on my hands, I need to plan ahead.

Any help/advise would be much appreciated!!!!

 

[storino03]

The reason I am switching NOW is because I am fed up with Palm's App Catalog being so small, and most apps are crappy. They are moving at a snail pace with opening up the SDK/PDK and APIs. The mobile world moves fast.

 

[DirkBelig]

There's a hacks/ROMs forum here. Poke around and see what looks interesting. I'm gonna miss gestures, tossing cards, and Preware, but HPalm's announcement yesterday just confirmed my suspicions that no new hardware was in the offing anytime soon. I'd already decided to jump tomorrow - every TMC error in the past couple of weeks has been met with me snarling, "This is why you're being replaced on June 4th, Bub." - but now there is no possibility of regrets. The Pre is an orphan and webOS is going to be used for something else.

Go to YouTube and look up Live Wallpapers. I watched 15 minutes of videos yesterday and got all giddy over what I'm moving to.

 

[LexInHouston]

I have had the EVO pre-ordered since the first day, but I still follow PreCentral because I love webOS and figured I'd be back after a new device was announced. I read this yesterday and was happy and sad at the same time. Glad that I ordered he EVO and will have it tomorrow, but sad that apparently HP has no real interest in the phone business. That would explain why Palm employees are leaving at such a fast pace now.

But related to your post, yes, from what I've read here, the Android developer community is excellent and I'm excited to see what they have to offer in the next few months (and beyond!) for the EVO.

 

[6tr6tr]

Did you hear the new interview with HP's CEO? He said they ARE doing more smartphones but what he meant was they're not doing ONLY smartphones. He just used poor word choice the other interview.

 

[minidreamin]

I'm making the switch because of the hardware issues with the Pre. It's not even been a year yet, and I'm already on my third Pre. I've never had any other phone with so many build problems.

 

[fonefanatic]

Did you hear the new interview with HP's CEO? He said they ARE doing more smartphones but what he meant was they're not doing ONLY smartphones. He just used poor word choice the other interview.

Yea and we all knew he would make another statement about this! But the talk from the begining has been about tablets and other devices. If they do make another phone you will not see it until next year at the earliest. Just my two cents on it anyway. Here I come Evo less than 24 hours now

 

[GolpherZX]

I had the Pre on launch day, and then I went and got a Hero two months ago to test out the Android OS. I'm a huge fan, and was originally back 2 years ago when they announced the open handset alliance. WebOS beat Android to the market on Sprint, so I went with it.

The gestures are the only thing I miss from the WebOS. Android has the facebook integration similar to what the Pre does, but not the same, and I am OK with that. The apps are nice to have.

 

[vhira82]

One year, I went through 9 Pre's Wonderful OS but u can but put a mercedes engine in a POS Pinto and you still have a GD pinto.

 

[mattlreese]

One year, I went through 9 Pre's Wonderful OS but u can but put a mercedes engine in a POS Pinto and you still have a GD pinto.

This is how I feel, great OS but the phone sucks. Palm also has been too slow to adapt their OS as well. No homescreen capability crappy apps.

 

[milominderbinde]

I have a tone of patches on my Pre so it works just the way I want.

Are there any patches or features that former Pre owners are missing?