How Does the Palm Pre
Stack Up Against the iPhone 3G?

For the average consumer, advances in technology usually mean one thing:  lower prices, thanks to the hand-me-down nature of software and gadgetry.  That axiom holds up in the case of the new iPhone 3G S, the "3.0" version of the iPhone which comes with hundreds of new features and a slimmed down price:  $199 for the 16 gigabyte version.  But how does it stack up against the other technology already on the market, and a tough competitor known as the Palm Pre?  Let's take a look.

Pricing

While the original iPhone came out on the market for some $500, the iPhone 3G S is down to $199 (note:  that's for the 16GB version.  The 32 GB version is $299 after rebate).  If this price looks eerily familiar, that's because Palm Inc.'s Palm Pre is already $199 after their mail-in-rebate.

Previous iPhone users will already recognize the AT&T billing plan, which hasn't changed for the next-generation iPhone.  Palm Pre's carrier is Sprint, providing a plan many people view as more valuable.  (Click here for more direct comparisons between the iPhone and the Palm Pre.)

Features

While the prices may not look too different, the latest shots in this personal gadgetry war were fired when Apple announced the new iPhone features:  some 100 new options include cut-an-paste capabilities, enhanced search through Spotlight, and the ability to buy or rent movies directly through your iPhone.

Upgrades to video recording also put the iPhone 3G S ahead of the Palm Pre in that department, allowing users to not only record but edit their videos with a few touches.  The Palm Pre allows recording but doesn't provide much in terms of video recording or editing.

Conclusions

The individual customer will have to make a decision about which gadget is best for his or her mobile phone needs, but the iPhone's latest release definitely keeps the phone wars raging.  Some features - like the LED light on the Palm Pre - are only available on one gadget or the other.  The customer's preference will be apparent after the release date for the iPhone 3G s, June 19th.