Comments on: Hype Watch: Pre's UK Launch To Outdo iPhone?

Insist as they might that the Pre and the iPhone can co-exist peacefully, it seems Palm are never going to be able to avoid their new darling being labeled an "iPhone killer", irrespective of the concept's actual merit. The latest fuel for the fire comes from the UK branch of market research firm TNS, who interviewed 1000 UK adults in order to guage their smartphone purchasing intentions. Apparently, 26 percent of those surveyed said that they would either "definitely or probably buy the Palm Pre when it is launched ".

By contrast, a similar survey in the run-up to the iPhone's UK debut in 2007 saw only 16 percent respond in a similar fashion. Amongst existing O2 customers the figure is slightly higher: 27 percent are hoping to pick up a Pre. Surely a welcome result for Palm, although you'd have to caution against the same kind of inflated expectations for the Pre on Sprint in the US that have apparently turned out good-but-not-great sales.

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Pre UK Launch

Amroth @ 10/12/2009 9:26:48 AM # M Q
Imagine what the Pre Launch USA would have been like on Verizon....Anyone for BOGO Palms?
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Interesting Statistic

jca666us @ 10/12/2009 2:26:13 PM # M Q
26 percent of those surveyed said that they would either "definitely or probably buy the Palm Pre when it is launched.

Definitely or Probably? There's a decisive bunch!

RE: Interesting Statistic
SeldomVisitor @ 10/13/2009 3:11:04 AM # Q
That "study" (paid for by whom?) is just a set up for failure - as noted by many commentators elsewhere, it is rather unlikely that 26% of ANY group even knows about the Pre in the UK.

RE: Interesting Statistic
bhartman34 @ 10/13/2009 11:25:00 AM # Q
SeldomVisitor wrote:
That "study" (paid for by whom?) is just a set up for failure - as noted by many commentators elsewhere, it is rather unlikely that 26% of ANY group even knows about the Pre in the UK.

Actually, it's a survey, not a study. But I share your skepticism, nonetheless, even though it's for a different reason.

My biggest problem is that we don't know what the selection criteria for the survey was, or what precise question they were asked. (Phrasing is important.) And the other thing is, there's no direct comparison to the original iPhone. There are too many variables involved -- even if the percentages are accurate -- to draw the conclusion that the Pre "beat" the original iPhone in any significant way in demand.

RE: Interesting Statistic
bhartman34 @ 10/13/2009 1:49:37 PM # Q
jca666us wrote:
26 percent of those surveyed said that they would either "definitely or probably buy the Palm Pre when it is launched.

Definitely or Probably? There's a decisive bunch!

I could be wrong here, but I think the "definitely" and "probably" responses came from different groups. :)

That does beg the question, though: What happens if you either discount or halve the "probably" group? I suspect you'd get a very different picture. The comparison on its face isn't even that fair, since they seem to be comparing the number to only those who said they'd definitely get an iPhone in 2007. And the iPhone was a much more expensive phone at the time, as I recall.

I'm not trying to be a killjoy or anything. I'm just saying the expectations have to be reasonable. The way this survey was conducted doesn't lead to reasonable expectations.

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Sexy Pre

surfmaniac @ 10/13/2009 12:28:13 PM # Q
Europeans never cottoned to the Treo because of it's ungainly 'brick' appearance... IPhone is becoming common there and Pre should do fine since it conforms to more of a European aesthetic.
RE: Sexy Pre
jca666us @ 10/13/2009 4:30:09 PM # M Q
"European aesthetic" - Chunky and possessing a poor build quality?

:)

RE: Sexy Pre
bhartman34 @ 10/13/2009 8:02:57 PM # Q
jca666us wrote:
"European aesthetic" - Chunky and possessing a poor build quality?

:)

I think it means "smooth and curved", rather than the iPhone's sharp, flat look. (I'm not saying the sharp, flat look is bad. It's just a different aesthetic.)

As far as build quality goes, maybe it's because I have one of the Pres built in late July, but I've never seen any of the problems that some of the early adopters reported. The only thing I'd complain about (a little bit, at least) is the USB port on the phone. On mine, the hole in the case for the port is noticeably bigger than the port itself, so I have to wiggle the plug to get it in sometimes. Not something I enjoy about the phone, but not something I'd rate up there with the Oreo effect or dead pixels, either.


RE: Sexy Pre
surfmaniac @ 10/14/2009 12:14:59 PM # Q
'Poor build quality?' Build quality (as you put it) is great on mine... and the aesthetic is miles from the Treo... very nice little unit that fits well in the hand.
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Pre UK Launch

Amroth @ 10/14/2009 6:55:38 AM # M Q
Imagine what the Pre Launch USA would have been like on Verizon....Anyone for BOGO Palms?
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