Palm Black Friday Handheld and Smartphone Discounts

Posted By: Kris Keilhack Wednesday, November 26, 2008 4:14:34 PM

In a welcome reprieve from the usual policy of a handful of pre-selected discounted products, Palm is offering users some flexibility for their annual Black Friday sale. Effective immediately, Palm is offering two different automatic discounts for users to purchase whatever they desire. Users can take $50 off any purchase between $150 and $299.99 and $100 off any order of $300 or more. We've combed through Palm's online store to find the best deals and uses of this discount, which is currently ongoing and expires December 1st 2008. Full details about the sale can be found here.

By far the best deals for the $50 discount would be a Palm TX (Slightly over $200 after discount if the order is padded to $300+) or perhaps the older and less capable Tungsten E2 ($150 after discount) handheld. For the remaining PDA faithful, this Palm sale may very likely be one of the final chances to pick up a brand-new, factory-sealed Palm OS handheld with warranty and from a reputable seller. To date, the Palm TX remains Palm's only current Palm OS device with WiFi wireless networking and its only product overall with a 320x480 screen resolution (review here).

Another good use for the $100 discount would seemingly be one of Palm's newer unlocked GSM smartphones such as new Treo Pro ($450 after discount) or one of the various flavors of the Palm Centro ($200 after discount for the unlocked GSM version). The Sprint's Treo 800w is another option.

Users currently unable to extend their wireless contracts for a discount on a carrier-subsidized new device should consider purchasing a CDMA Centro. The $100 discount makes even the traditionally cost-prohibitive CDMA devices realistic upgrade propositions. Verizon's version of the "old" 64MB Centro, the recent recipient of a new ROM update, is now only $250 after discount and the refreshed 128mb Sprint Centro is only $300 after discount…and best of all, this discount involves no contract extension with your wireless provider. You can see Ryan's first look at the olive green 128mb Centro here.

For prospective purchasers needing a cheap filler item to get over the $300 threshold, a spare pack of genuine spare Palm styli is always a wise choice. In fact, Palm has a special holiday sale on a multi-colored 5-pack of Centro styli for just $9.99 or a two-pack of metal Treo Pro styli for the same price. A pack of screen protectors is also another cheap but handy item to use as padding to reach the $300 threshold and Palm's Crystal Clear screen protectors are available in a 2-pack for all 320x320 Treos for just $4.99. I actually have one of these installed on my 755p at the moment and find it just as effective and "clear" as the pricey Brando and PDAir screen protectors I used in years past. Centro users might want to also consider Palm's transparent Air Case, on sale for just $9.99 or Palm's no-frills Centro Desktop Hotsync Cradle for $12.99.

Of course, you could just purchase an assortment of accessories for your new smartphone from Palm's online store and still take advantage of the discount offer. Palm's two most recent GPS Navigator packages just received their EOL notification but are still available at closeout prices. Palm's TomTom Navigator 6-based GPS Car Kit for the Treo 680 and 700p is available now for just $69.99 and last year's newer Garmin Mobile XT package with a Bluetooth GPS receiver is available for a limited-time Thanksgiving pricing of $137.99. Of the two, the newer Garmin Mobile XT package seems to be a much wiser purchase due to its inclusion of a microSD memory card, newer bundled map data, official Centro support, and a major recent update (September '08) from Garmin.

To give holiday shoppers another incentive to shop their online store, Palm's usual free shipping promotion on any order over $49 is still valid.

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With Hard Case + TX...

zire102001 @ 11/27/2008 2:33:00 AM #

I just bought a TX and hard case - with the 100 dollar off coupon, the hard case discount or accessories discount and the BETA20 discount code (works on already sale items) - and lastly the over 49 dollar FREE shipping discount, My order came over with tax for CA residents to 226 dollars and some change.. :)

Man that's like over half half the total of what it normally would be, I suggest anyone looking for a TX and hard case buy from palm.com, itta be cheaper than amazon and others have to offer - even ebay.. ;)

Microsoft owns the world, But I'm a Linux/Ubuntu User.

RE: With Hard Case + TX...

joad @ 11/28/2008 12:20:10 AM #

When Microsoft Live was running the 30% cashback on Ebay "buy it now" purchases, I was very tempted to pickup a "new in box" TX for about $130 net AR.

But then I realized I probably don't need one, even with an extra Zodiac around I never charged it enough to provide evidence I use it much. Since I was in the market for an MP3 player, bought an 8GB ipod Touch instead, about $170 net AR. The OS is lousier than Palm, but it does have some interesting apps and is somewhat usable for net browsing. Oh yeah - it has 802.11 "G" - because this is nearly 2010....

Paying my annual PDA update tax to Palm since 1997.

Last Chance?

PacManFoo @ 11/27/2008 5:27:10 AM #

For the remaining PDA faithful, this Palm sale may very likely be one of the final chances to pick up a brand-new, factory-sealed Palm OS handheld with warranty and from a reputable seller.

Did you recycle this line from last year?

Last year was better, Palm TX + Wireless Keyboard for $199.

The last known classic PDA user.

RE: Last Chance?

zire102001 @ 11/27/2008 12:41:32 PM #

ah! I see - too bad I missed out on that sale :( - 199 dollar TX and wireless keyboard and a case..crud..:(

Microsoft owns the world, But I'm a Linux/Ubuntu User.

RE: Last Chance?

Gekko @ 11/27/2008 1:08:03 PM #

please don't buy a pda.

RE: Last Chance?

SeldomVisitor @ 11/27/2008 1:21:23 PM #

I have, for the longest time, thought that PDAs should absolutely be separated from the rest of the world. I have wished, for the longest time, that Palm was developing a whole set of diverse devices that simply communicated with one another in a seamless autonomous way.

Alas, with the latest words out of Elevation Partners it appears that Palm once again is simply phone-centric with a SINGLE device. Sniff.

RE: Last Chance?

hkklife @ 11/27/2008 2:03:27 PM #

No, SV, Palm are not "once again" phone-centric with a single device. They are phone-centric with zero devices (assuming you are referring to Nova).

Palm has been phone-centric for at least 3+ years now (since the launch of their final 2 PDAs which were basically necessary to get the "Palm" branding back in the spotlight more than anything else).

Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p

RE: Last Chance?

SeldomVisitor @ 11/27/2008 2:06:41 PM #

Granted, Palm never said anything and my hopes were simply so much groundless wishing, however the latest words out of SOMETHING Palm-related has dashed the hopes of a diverse set of devices completely...unless Palm somehow makes their CURRENT devices as I had wished for so many years.

RE: Last Chance?

joad @ 11/28/2008 12:24:39 AM #

I often wonder what would have happened to Palm if Handspring hadn't designed and sold them the Treo. Really, what else would Palm have going for it now?

And look at what Palm has DONE with the Treo in the 5 years since. Nearly every other phone maker has had time to create a "me too" design, while Palm basically ventured off into WinceMob, stagnating the technology, then dumbing it down into the Centro line while flipping the bird at their Enterprise-focused clients by killing off the Treo.

Paying my annual PDA update tax to Palm since 1997.

Top 10 Smartphones for Holiday Gifts

Gekko @ 11/27/2008 5:33:58 PM #

Top 10 Smartphones for Holiday Gifts
Gary Krakow
11/27/08 - 07:59 AM EST

Probably the hottest category in electronics this holiday season is the smartphone - currently popularized by iPhones, BlackBerries, Palm Centros and others.

I'm constantly asked which one is best. My answer is always the same: That depends. Most smartphones include very similar features like a video/still camera, Internet access, music file/video playback, instant messaging and Bluetooth, with some also including Wi-Fi and GPS. Sometimes the differences depend on which design you prefer to carry in your pocket.

http://www.thestreet.com/story/10450064/4/top-10-smartphones-for-holiday-gifts.html

RE: Top 10 Smartphones for Holiday Gifts

joad @ 11/28/2008 12:26:14 AM #

Interesting. The "Treo" isn't even mentioned - Palm's "entry level" giveaway Centro toy is the only one being compared to Blackberries and iPhones.

Palm, R.I.P.

Paying my annual PDA update tax to Palm since 1997.

RE: Top 10 Smartphones for Holiday Gifts

SeldomVisitor @ 11/28/2008 4:04:04 AM #

The Treo Pro WAS in there yesterday...ya sure it's not there now?

However...this is "Tray-Oh" KRAKOW doing the review so ANYTHING in that article is totally suspect, IMHO...

Palm® Wireless Headset Series 3

Gekko @ 11/27/2008 5:36:16 PM #

50% off....i wonder if it will be lower tomorrow.

Palm® Wireless Headset Series 3
$34.99

tempting........but not quite sold

http://store.palm.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2882314&cp=3325111&parentPage=family&catsId=3325111

RE: Palm® Wireless Headset Series 3

hkklife @ 11/27/2008 5:59:58 PM #

Go ahead and get it already and give us a little mini-review/writeup on how it performs with your Centro!

If you wait around too long, Palm'll go under and/or have sold off all of their excess inventory.

Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p

RE: Palm® Wireless Headset Series 3

Gekko @ 11/27/2008 6:15:33 PM #

but i hate wasting money on junk.

RE: Palm® Wireless Headset Series 3

PacManFoo @ 11/27/2008 6:21:55 PM #

You bought a Centro didn't you ;)

The last known classic PDA user.

RE: Palm® Wireless Headset Series 3

Gekko @ 11/27/2008 6:41:33 PM #

but Uncle Krakow likes it -

Palm Centro: ($50-$100, various carriers). The "baby" Palm is an absolute winner. It is small, cheap and does nearly everything that all the "big guys" can do. The QWERTY keyboard is small but amazingly easy to use. This is a great product that came at the right time for Palm and for needy smartphone users everywhere. Don't be fooled by the small price - this handset is a little powerhouse.

RE: Palm® Wireless Headset Series 3

joad @ 11/28/2008 12:27:45 AM #

Don't bother trying to keep a bluetooth headset paired with your Palm device. They've had years, and it's decidedly a losing proposition.

Paying my annual PDA update tax to Palm since 1997.

RE: Palm® Wireless Headset Series 3

rpa @ 11/29/2008 4:49:19 PM #

Gekko: agree with your comment on the Centro. Only thing I wish it had was wifi but can't have everything.

RE: Palm® Wireless Headset Series 3

joad @ 11/30/2008 11:19:29 AM #

^^ If the Centro's tiny battery had to deal with WiFi too, you'd barely make it out of the charger before needing to recharge. Check out the battery life that 1150mAh battery is getting on the 800w.

Time for Palm to finally reevaluate making "slimness" more important than battery life. Although Seidio and other third party companies are sure to enjoy the needless business for their "extended" batteries, it's ridiculous to release "smart" phones that aren't smart enough to make it past lunchtime without a recharge to their tiny batteries. Improve the technology or increase the size, nobody likes carrying around "spare" charged phone batteries in their pockets just to be sure their phone will have enough juice to make it through the business day.

Paying my annual PDA update tax to Palm since 1997.