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Palm Centro

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By John Chan
Mar 10, 2008

As PDA-phones continue to progress with features like HSDPA and Wi-Fi, Palm OS devices for GSM networks remain stuck in the past with just 2.5G and no other integrated wireless functions except Bluetooth. It's no surprise then that Palm has had to adjust the way it brands its devices. The new Centro is positioned more for fun than work, and isn't part of the Treo line of devices which has traditionally had a business/work association.

Design

Targeted at the younger crowd, it's obvious the Centro can't remain the same size as the Treo devices. It is smaller and lighter than the Treo 680 with dimensions of 107.2 x 53.5 x 18.6mm and a weight of 124g. The only color available now for this region is the white version with gray numeric keys.

The chassis of the Centro has a plasticky feel to it and does get slippery if you have greasy palms. We preferred the texture of its silver parts, but those are found only in a few areas including the buttons on the front, around the camera lens at the rear and along the sides. The design is appropriate for its target audience and we won't be surprised if Palm also releases the other colors for the Centro in Asia in time to come.

Given its size, a compromise is made on the usability of its QWERTY keypad. It has the same layout as the Treo 680 but the keys are cramped and have a more rubbery feel to them. This makes it hard to type if you have larger thumbs. It is possible to get used to this, though we'd highly recommend trying it out at a store before deciding to buy one.

Though only 2.25 inches diagonally, the screen on the Centro boasts the same 320 x 320 resolution found on the other Palm OS Treos. This makes everything look extremely sharp, though those with nearsightedness may find text displayed a tad small. Elsewhere, this PDA-phone has an IR port on the right side, volume control and a shortcut key on the left. I/O ports are all on the base including a sync/charge connector and a 2.5mm audio jack. As with the Treo devices, a ringer switch is found on the top so you can quickly switch to silent mode and back when needed.

On the back of the Centro is its 1.3-megapixel camera and self-portrait mirror. Getting to the SIM card and microSD slots requires you to remove the battery casing. In the case of the SIM card slot, you even have to remove the stylus. A small inconvenience if you are one of those who frequently switch SIM cards. The stylus itself has to be one of the worst ones we have seen. Being plastic, Palm was able to make it of a matching color to the device, but it also meant it was way too light and flimsy. It's a good thing the Palm OS interface and QWERTY keypad mean you don't really have to tap the screen to get things done.

 
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User Discussion

g4net: Right said, this also holds me back.
vikasmadnani: I fail to understand why Palm Company still does not consider giving wi-fi in its phone. ITS REALLY VERY ...

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