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Thu, 02 Jul 2009 Palm Pre owners highlight 'horrible build quality,' loose-fitting cases, dead pixels

Is Palm going to have to recall the Pre asks users?

Nancy Gohring

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According to reports some Palm Pre owners in the US are complaining about poor hardware quality of the phones, with at least one person saying that he's already had to return four devices.

One common problem is way that some devices slide open loosely, while others complain of dead pixels on the screens or loose-fitting cases that let in dust and outside light, dulling the screen.

On the PreCentral forum, a user going by the name Sivan says that he has returned four Pres for various problems with the hardware. His current device has a dead pixel, but he's decided that problem is minor enough to live with.

One person said he and his girlfriend bought Pres and while he's had no problems, she had to return hers because it was overheating and the power button would stick.

Another writer said he has a Centro, Treo Pro and Pre. "The Treo Pro is hands down better built. My Pre has 4 stuck pixels, a creaky battery cover, and overall just doesn't feel like a quality product. I do not have any wobble, blotches, and twisting problems, however," he wrote.

Amid the complainers, however, are sympathetic people who say their phones feel solid and work just fine.

"I love my Pre. I have had zero problems with it. And I use the phone constantly, sliding the keyboard in and out countless times per day..." wrote JonR88.

Palm did not reply to a request for comment. PreCentral isn't affiliated with the vendor.

Palm has staked its future on the Pre and the new WebOS software it runs on. It has struggled in its transition from a company that sells primarily PDAs to one that sells smartphones. The Pre launched earlier this month amid rumours of shortages due to trouble Palm had in the manufacturing process.

There's no official word on when the Palm Pre with become available in the UK.

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Comments received


ZodTTD said on Thu, 02 Jul 2009

My Palm Pre has none of those issues. My only complaint would be the keyboard being tiny.

metaD said on Thu, 02 Jul 2009

Ditto ZodTTD posting. Pre is an awesome phone. Seeing this report on a Mac site makes me ponder.

pb said on Thu, 02 Jul 2009

So metaD, why are you on a Mac site?

David said on Thu, 02 Jul 2009

Name any mobile device solds in the hundreds of thousands that does not have some reported failures/problems, iPhone over heating anyone?

Bob Caygeon said on Thu, 02 Jul 2009

Like many products & services you'll will only really hear about them when a vocal minority start having issues.
Like the Pre guys here, I've had no issues with either of my iPhones (original & 3G). Come to thing of it I've had no issues with any of the iPods I've bought or MobileMe and the other thing that went wrong with my G4 Powerbook in 6 years was the lid switch not putting it to sleep when I closed it, that was fixed under first year warranty.

Herbert said on Thu, 02 Jul 2009

"iPhone over heating anyone?"

Yup - it overheats quite a few on here, who then post FUD.

Ascylto said on Thu, 02 Jul 2009

I would be astonished if phone or other device owners didn't include some who were dissatisfied considering the manufacturing and huge numbers. The key, as always, is the aftercare service. My iPhones (1 and 3g) have both been fault-free and any faulty equipment (Mac and non-Mac) has been quickly and painlessly sorted by my local Apple Store.

I'm sorry if some folk find it hard to get fixes/replacements but I do wonders sometimes if it has anything to do with attitude.

I happen to like Apple stuff but I welcome the Palm Pre ... it's good competition in a market which had to be woken up by the iPhone.

@pd said on Thu, 02 Jul 2009

"So metaD, why are you on a Mac site?" I know this idea is crazy but you can own a Mac and have an iPhone!!

I own a Mac but would not touch an iPhone.

Josh said on Thu, 02 Jul 2009

I'm on my second Pre. First one the camera didn't work properly and the GPS unit was bad. This one the slider has gotten very loose and "clicks" then I touch the screen, and it's only been a few weeks. The screen also is starting to twist. The only other person I know with a Pre is also on his second one because of the "gap". His first "replacement" had the gap out of the box so he didn't take it and went to a different store. So far that one seems alright, but he just swapped it out 3 days ago. There are definitely build quality issues.

omv0 said on Sat, 04 Jul 2009

I just bought a palm pre today... There are some dead pixels clustered together just left to the middle. Will take it back tomorrow morning for a new one.. hopefully without more problems....

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