Everything Centro

Overall rating		4.2
Phone		5.0
Usability		3.0
Features		4.0
Design		3.0
Software Bundle		5.0
Value		5.0

While the Palm Centro probably will not win any smartphone beauty contests, the true beauty of the device lies in its size and feature-set. Palm has repacked their "smartphone experience" in a truly pocketable device. When the Treo is working late, the Centro is at happy hour and that's exactly where Palm hopes it's next generation of customers lie. While the Centro certainly evokes memories of the Treo, the new form factor is a distinct departure. If you are an existing Treo owner, the trade-off is simple. The Centro offers a similar experience in bite-size format, but expect some minor frustrations with the keyboard during extended typing sessions. If this is your first smartphone, you'll find the full QWERTY keyboard to be a major upgrade from a 12-key cellphone and the small form factor to be an extremely palatable solution. While some Treo accessories will work, existing Treo owners and new Palm users should expect to add costs for various accessories including case, replacement stylus and microSD memory expansion card. With a robust software package, new pocketable design and aggressive price point of $99.95, Palm's Centro smartphone represents an excellent value for first time smartphone buyers.

Read my full comprehensive Palm Centro review.