Got opinions? Become a Real Reviewer (and get a new phone courtesy of Palm)

Are your Facebook updates all about your experience with your phone? Do you know what "FP" means? (And are your blog comments a bit more substantive than that?) If you can tweet your opinions about Palm phones in 140 characters or less, we want to hear from you. (Heck, now that all of Shakespeare's plays have been condensed for Twitter, it should be a piece of cake to tweet your nuanced thoughts about your favorite phone features.)

We're looking for a few "Real Reviewers" to share their opinions about Palm phones across the blogosphere, social networks and beyond. If you're selected as a Real Reviewer, we'll provide you with a current-model phone and data-plan service for six months. We'll expect you to regularly share your thoughts about your experiences with your phone on whatever blogs and social networks you frequent (but you're already doing that, right?). We might even invite you to guest blog about your experiences right here on Palm's blog or host a discussion board on our Facebook page.

What's the catch? There's really just one: be yourself. Whether you're a fanboy or a skeptic, we want to hear from you.

Ready to become a Real Reviewer? Apply here by answering a few questions about yourself. We're looking for a mix of Palm veterans and newcomers, from all walks of life. (There are a couple of restrictions, though: You must be a U.S. resident and at least 18 years old.)

If you're interested, apply now -- we'll notify selected Real Reviewers on May 8.

Jon Zilber

Comments

[Chia]

Yipee! I've been jonesin' for a Pre for quite a while. I'm tired of talking about it...I'm ready to use it!

[justjill3]

Pleeeze, I happen to like Pres. Obama. Would HATE to have to go low and clip him. And, being a girly, I am SOOOO sure that would hurt.

But, if my arm comes up holding the Pre . . . the pain will have been worth it.

Don't you DARE snatch it! Maaaaa!

[Michael Potts]

Well, just applied. Perhaps I can finally rid myself of the 1st-gen-iphone-with-a-busted-screen-and-no-cell-service and my blackberry-thats-on-loan-and-he-wants-it-back.
No seriously, This would fit in quite well with all my other palm devices. I can start to use all my purchased licenses for the old palm games! Tungsten T FTW

[Gabe Lozano]

Here's my hat in the ring. Thx.

[gage006]

Oh man, please let me get selected. I tweet about the Pre like mad and I'm so frustrated with my Blackberry and how ancient it feels in this new iPhone/Android world.

[Eric]

I've already got a few friends to wait for the Pre rather than getting an iPhone after showing them that my 6yr old Palm device can do *almost everything the iPhone can and a lot of things that the iPhone can't (#1 feature - jailbreaking not required to install cool apps)

[Mitchell Hislop]

Just filled out the survey. As a fulltime student, a communications director for a campaign, an online marketing director, and only 20 years old, I am always looking for the newest, hottest device that can help me manage my increasingly busy life.
I hope that I get chosen to play with the Palm Pre, as it seems like a device that could change how I work from my mobile.

[Jonathan Ezor]

Jon,

As you already knew, this is just what I had in mind, so I hope I get picked! One suggestion (which I also tweeted just now): the questionnaire keeps using the word "phone," but I do all those things with my non-phone T|X (although I answered as if it were a phone). Any way of asking about "phone/PDA" instead? Thanks! {ProfJonathan}

[Jonathan Ezor]

By the way, for those that are asking about US residents only, it may also have to do with the different prize promotion laws in different countries. Complying with all of them can be a real pain.

For an extreme example of what the rules to a worldwide contest can look like, you can see Sun Microsystems' Java Cup International rules from 1995:

http://tinyurl.com/caffmt (links to the Archive.org version of the page) {ProfJonathan}

[jess]

Oh heavens, give us the release date! Seriously.

[Todd Mitchell]

I applaud Palm for taking this very courageous step forward. Asking the public for candid feedback is a double edged sword. Sprint learned this with their Ambassador Program and Nokia did the same with their Pilot program. Both of those companies have better products and services because of the feedback provided through their respective programs.

I trust Palm will be going in with an open mind, will take user feedback in stride and incorporate changes that will help make their future devices killer must have devices.

Palm needs a big win. This is just one step to ensure they’ll once again have their day in the sun.

Todd

[Kari]

"RC -- I'll keep an eye out to see if he applies."

I just spit my drink out at my monitor! Too funny!

[Tessa Horehled]

Sounds awesome! I applied. :)

[quran f.]

I just finish my survey. I got my fingers crossed...

[Susan]

As a loyal Sprint subscriber, I would love to help Palm evaluate its Sprint-line of phones. How exciting!

[Kathy T]

Thanks Palm for this offer. No matter who is selected this will be a fantastic opportunity for those choosen.

[Divakitty]

Oh my goodness oh my goodness oh my goodness! Pick me! Pick me!

I had 3 iterations of Palm for about 8 years before I got my current hated, loathed, and despised iPhone.

I've been holding my breath for the Palm Pre! And complaining to everyone (I was going to say anyone who will listen, but really, they've stopped listening for the most part) about all the stupid, STUPID things that the iPhone can't do that any PDA should be able to do!

And I've been giving a great deal of thought to why these things drive me completely batshit crazy, when the hordes who LURV their iPhones don't even notice them.

I would be SUCH an ideal reviewer for this.

**sings** "God I hope I get it! I hope I get it! How many people does he need??"

PS I love RC's idea about a Palm Pre for the Commander in Chief!

[Charles Brown]

This is a great opportunity for some lucky Palm fan to have a great experience. Hope I get selected, the Palm Pre is a must have, actually two.

[Templarian]

Sounds like a nice opportunity. Although it would be funny to get the actual phone before the SDK. Not to say most wouldn't mind.

Also developers always feel free to join us in Freenode IRC #webos

[molly]

I really hope that I get chosen to be a reviewer!!! I have loved the idea of Palm since the original Palm Pilot. Then the Treo came out....had to have it!!! Now I have to have the Pre. I have passed up the Treo Pro waiting for the Pre, hopefully I will get picked :) I think it would be awesome!!

[OptionMaestro]

I just applied... I never win anything but "you miss 100% of the shots you don't take" :)

[Grant]

I sincerely look forward to being able to participate. I've put my Centro through everything being a soldier, it even went on my last tour to Iraq and came back just as functional as it ever was. Couldn't use it as a phone but I did use it for a camera, alarm clock, photo viewer, document viewer, subnet calculator, mathematical calculator, and a thousand other every day things that I had grown so fond of when I was still in the States. I'd love to see how newer Palm devices (read: Pre!) stand up to the same sort of every day gauntlet my Centro runs through.

[Erica Douglass]

Hi Jon,

I'm probably one of the oddballs who doesn't want this just for the free Palm Pre. Rather, I value the experience of having a direct contact at Palm and being able to pass hundreds of other people's comments, as well as my own, back to you.

Having owned basically every Palm OS Treo since the 300, it is super exciting to me to get a line into Palm and be able to talk to you directly about how your phones are working out there in the real world.

I really love my Centro and can't wait for the Pre! Regardless of what happens, I will always be a Palm fan.

-Erica

[ipsi]

Here's another comment from someone outside the US annoyed about the US-only restrictions.

Sure, I can understand the logistics (US has 4 major carriers. If you open it up to the rest of the world, you get dozens. Hundreds, even).

Doesn't mean I'm any less annoyed about it :-P

Anyway, sounds like a very cool idea. Be interested to see what comes out of it.

How much choice will the successful candidates have in terms of what device they use, and what carrier is selected? I'm imagining a lot of sad faces when they get sent a Treo Pro while they were expecting (hoping for) a Palm Pre... :-)

[Stacey]

US Citizens only!!! Doh!
I can't wait to upgrade my Treo 680 for the Palm Pre... I hope Palm are going to share their lovely new device with us soon here in the UK and the rest of Europe.
I hope to that Palm have been looking at what HobbyistSoftware have been doing for the Treo's as I really like the value they have added to my 680.

Waiting, with bated breath.