Palm Pre drops to $100 at Best Buy [U]
updated 05:40 pm EDT, Sun July 26, 2009
Palm Pre 100 at Best Buy
(Updated with Best Buy response) Best Buy this weekend quietly cut the price of the Palm Pre to $100 when paired with a two-year contract. The discount slashes the multi-touch smartphone's cost in half and comes less than two months after the phone was released. No explanation has been given for the move, including whether or not the new price is permanent or a temporary sale.
For now, the $100 price appears a belated reaction to the $99 iPhone 3G, which is unofficially credited with fueling Apple's record spring quarter. The Pre has some advantages over the older iPhone, such as a 3-megapixel camera and a faster processor, but has the same 8GB of storage and has had little success competing at the same price as the 16GB iPhone 3GS. Some, though not all, analysts believe demand has cooled down for the Pre in part because its up-front price has limited its appeal to converts from other carriers or smartphone platforms.
Sprint and Radio Shack continue to sell the Pre at its regular $200 price.
Update: A Best Buy spokesperson says the price was an "error" and is being changed, although Electronista has received reports from those who bought the phone at its lower price or matched prices for a recent purchase. [via PreCentral]
New price
07/26, 07:25pm (1 reply) reply
I'm betting dollars to donuts that this is the new, permanent price for the Pre. As long as the $99 iPhone 3G is out there, it's going to be a no-brainer for most folks to choose the 3G over the Pre.
The Pre may have some technical advantages over the iPhone 3G (background apps, physical keyboard), but it has a long way to go to gain the mindshare of the iPhone. Beyond geeks, no one cares about background apps, and most folks like the iPhone virtual keyboard after a day of usage.
leamanc
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2003
It Ain't That Great
07/26, 09:03pm (1 reply) reply
One of my student workers got a Pre when it came out. I looked at it and remained unimpressed.
After Apple sues their a** off for hooking into iTunes, the company won't have much money left.
Mr. Strat
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2002
I think this is just
07/26, 11:04pm reply
a temporary price to boost sales a bit. Surely the Pre hasn't run out of steam in such a short time after all those people were raving about the interface and all. It may be no iPhone, but it must be as good as a BlackBerry or Nokia smartphone. I wonder if Palm was able to sell a million of those Pres by now. That wouldn't be too bad.
Damn right that only some tech-head geeks are going to care about background processing. To most users, that stuff doesn't even exist in their minds since they're usually only doing one thing at a time. Especially for people that are smartphone owners for the first time.
iphonerulez
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Joined: Nov 2008
100 BUCKS!!!
07/27, 12:41am reply
If that's a Mistake, then fine. If that's a NEW Price, then Palm & $PRINT better get ready to give back a $100 Credit like Apple did in the beginning when they did the same sneaky price drop shortly after the iPhone had come out too.
ScottG
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2005
throw the Pre out
07/27, 02:03am reply
with the garbage, just like that photo demonstrates. (fire that art director!)
climacs
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2001
useless
07/27, 10:22am reply
Palm Pre has gotten pretty poor reviews. One reviewer used it to cut cheese, because one of the parts is extremely sharp.
dliup
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2006
Re: 100 bucks
07/27, 01:41pm reply
If that's a Mistake, then fine. If that's a NEW Price, then Palm & $PRINT better get ready to give back a $100 Credit like Apple did in the beginning when they did the same sneaky price drop shortly after the iPhone had come out too.
Apple gave the money back because early iPhone buyers were a bunch of whiners thinking that, since Apple's computers never drop in price quickly, neither should their 'investment'.
And Apple only gave back $100 of the $200 drop, so Palm would only have to give back $50.
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Sync
07/27, 05:35pm reply
I wouldn't buy one at any price unless Palm committed to including some reliable sync software with it.
CreepDogg
Grizzled Veteran
Joined: Jun 2001