If you are looking for a great value smartphone, and ideally have an unlimited data-plan and EDGE coverage (although normal GPRS speeds is fine on many occasions), then you can't go wrong with this baby.
This smartphone basically gives you mobile internet ready to go. I use mine to check emails, send and receive attachments, browse the web now with tons of popular mobile-formatted websites its even better and faster. I use it to shop on amazon uk, check news and weather on the bbc, and check my bank statements.
Texting is one of the best with a full-qwerty individual lettered buttons, with the view formatted like instant messaging chat.
Phone is loud and clear, loudspeaker is very good indeed and simple to activate.
Tons of available software on it, some useful ones (bought separately) are: CallBlock (filters or blocks calls and SMS), and CallRec which can automatically record phone calls in the background!
It comes with googlemaps as standard which now includes "my location", which pinpoints you on the map to the closest possible cell tower. Facebook application which works great, you can even upload photos and videos to it.
It has many great features that make it easy to use like the hardware ringer on/off switch on the top. Touchscreen is great, but it is possible to use the phone without ever touching it if you prefer!
All the basic PDA functions like task/memo/calendar/contacts have been with Palm for absolutely years and are easy and fast to use and access.
It also serves as a great media phone, with expandable micro-SD cards (up to 4gb compatibility), pocket tunes will play your MP3s and playlists. It only has a 2.5mm headphone jack, but Palm sell some really nice in-ear ones that will plug straight in. There's some great software you can add so you can play your movies etc.
It comes with a travel charger for any country. Also software to sync it to Mac or Windows. Only downside is it is not compatible with 64-bit Vista or XP, unless you do the Bluetooth only syching work-around (which is what I do, and works great as long as you don't sync the media files which would take ages!).
There is now also a White Centro sim-free released from Palm on their website that you can now buy, although they are selling it for £199, you may be able to find it cheaper, but hopefully eXpansys will get them in stock and knock the price down.
Overall:
This is a well and truly tried and tested OS, that is very swift and easy in operation. I have used a few smartphones, but Palm has the one that truly works well in everyday life.... More
Swapped from a treo 680 and it's an improvement in every way, I can't recommend it highly enough! Beware though the OEM version of pocket tunes can't support OGG playback shame on them
I recently switch from a treo 600 to an ordanary Phone from Motorola. I was a bad choice. My life went caotic after a week. So now I´m back with Palm and the Centro. It´s a realy good phone AND a computer. And it´s a bargin. All of the small programs that I can use! A favorite is the complete musicstudio Bhajis Loops at the cost of a Lunch. The lack of wifi can I live without. Surfing, even on the iPhone, can´t match the real thing on my Macbook. So for some years the Centro will be a nice companion. And the keyboard has the smallest buttons I have seen but they work realy well. I you don´t have hands like toiletlids, It will make you write novells.
Regars Plastic Helmet... More
He tenido todos los teléfonos inteligentes de Palm (Treo 600, Treo 650, Treo 680 y Treo 750) y ninguno me había gustado tanto cómo el Centro. Su tamaño, su velocidad, su sistema operativo tan fácil, su teclado completo y la función de reconocimiento de voz que trae por defecto hace al Palm Centro mi favorito. Recomendado 100%.... More
Power users will want to look at the Palm OS and Windows Mobile Treos or other competing power user smartphones, but for those who don't need everything but the kitchen sink, the Centro is worth a look.
Launched in the US late last year, the Palm Centro caught most people by surprise. With its long awaited update to Palm OS not due until 2009, few expected it to see a new smartphone powered by the current creaky Palm OS Garnet, but that’s just what the Centro was – and it’s now available in the UK.
The Centro’s design will certainly be familiar to the old crowd. Palm has essentially squeezed the Treo 500V into a more bijou form, making it highly pocketable considering it harbours a full QWERTY.