Free Stuff! Verizon Service and Palm Pre Plus Giveaway

My Life List

Update: The Giveaway is closed, thank you all so much for reading and commenting. The winner announcement is over here.

Hello. Would you like a free Palm Pre Plus, and $300 worth of Verizon Wireless service? Yeah you would. Let’s discuss that further.

As you know, I’ve been partnering with Verizon this month to knock a few things off my Mighty List, and as part of the campaign, I’ve been using a Palm Pre Plus.

The idea was to see if the phone would be useful to me, and to find out whether Verizon would be better than my iPhone service provider. Of course, my iPhone service doesn’t work at my desk and garbles half my phone calls, so I’m a little angry about that. Angry in a “hurl my phone against the wall” kinda way. But I can be demanding when I’m paying through the nose for something that doesn’t work. We’ll discuss that more later.

For now, let’s talk about that giveaway. Verizon is offering a $600 Palm Pre Plus for free. It looks like this:

The winner will also get $300 of free service from Verizon, which looks like this:

Well, technically cellular service is invisible. It’s more something you sense in your soul when you don’t feel like hucking your phone out the window during a conference call. So in that way, Verizon is sort of like inner peace, but with less yoga involved.

I’m not required to review the Palm, and frankly I didn’t plan to, but a few of you said you were pondering new phone purchases and asked me what I thought. So here’s the stuff I liked:

Making calls. Primarily, I enjoy using my Palm as a telephone that will call people when I dial their numbers — people with whom I can have complete conversations until we mutually decide it is time to hang up. I carried both my iPhone and Palm with me while friends got used to my new number, and I can’t tell you how many times I called friends on the iPhone so they’d recognize my number, and then had to immediately call back on the Palm so they could hear what I was saying.

Dropping it in soup. So. Right after I activated my Palm, I kind of dropped it in soup. I was freaking out, thinking I’d have to admit I’m a terrible phone parent and ask for another phone. But then I just dried it off with my napkin and it kept on working. I did have to scrape some dried soup out of the charger port with a safety pin, but otherwise it didn’t even cough. Nice.

Taking photos. The phone takes killer photos, you guys. Here’s what a snapshot looks like straight out of the phone with no Photoshop intervention:

See what I mean? (Bryan took that, by the way. Thanks, B!)

Also, it has a flash! On the phone! Which means you can use it just like a regular point and shoot without having to lug around another gadget.

Making videos. You can record video on your phone. Do you hear me? We are living in the future, y’all:

Typing. I know not everyone agrees, but I like the tactile feedback of buttons when I’m typing. Some people find the buttons too small, but I didn’t have that problem. In fact, I actually used my phone to send email for the first time in my life because the email is so well integrated and it’s so easy to type.

Applying lipstick. Yeah. The phone has a compact on the back:


(Photo from the Palm Info Center, which has a detailed review if you’re looking for one.)

When I first saw it, I was irritated. Like, “Oh, I’m a girl! I want a girl phone that helps with my lipgloss.” Then I used that stupid mirror three times before I even activated the phone. My makeup has been flawless for the last month. Curse you, user testers and your uncanny insight into my demographically predictable needs!

Downsides? Because I use the camera and video constantly, I run the battery down pretty fast, which can be frustrating. So you might want some sort of battery backup if you’re not religious about charging your phone every night. Also, I tend to be an early adopter of mobile applications, and betas aren’t always available on the Palm. I realize that may not be a problem for… most of the world, but there it is.

All in all, this is a good phone on a great service. I actually think it’s a smart choice for bloggers because the camera and video are superior and it’s much easier to type, so you can do mobile updates easily.

The Giveaway

If you’d like a Palm Pre Plus for yourself, not to mention a lot of free service from Verizon Wireless, please leave a comment below promising that you will not use your new phone to text while driving, and that you will not drop it in soup within 24 hours of receipt.

Now for the fine print: You must be 18 or over to enter and live in the U.S. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Comments will be open until Wednesday morning March 31, 2009 at 11 a.m. PST. I’ll choose winners randomly using Random.org, and will announce later that day. Good luck! My fingers are crossed for you.

Published

1,047 thoughts on “Free Stuff! Verizon Service and Palm Pre Plus Giveaway”

  1. I promise not to use my phone to text while driving. I am also SUPER excited to have a phone thats battery lasts longer than 5 minutes! Also, totally want to come to San Fran (I am from AZ) and blow bubbles of the Golden Gate bridge with you. There are already 5-6 of us and two toddlers that would love to join in on the fun!

    Like

  2. I have never texted while driving and never shall. I don’t even like texting as a general rule, though I might be more inclined to try it if I had a phone that was geared for it and this one is beginning to intrigue me. But definitely no texting while driving, ever.

    Like

  7. Random number generator: pick me.

    Real person: if you knew how seriously jacked up my birthday was this year… I found that Mr. Mason and I share the same bday, and I would almost be willing to wager my right hand that his day was a bajillion times better than mine. My dang Blackberry (a hand-me-down from my mother-in-law who would have a heart attack if she knew her son gave me the phone instead of keeping it for himself) charger port is all of the sudden extremely picky as to what angle and how hard I have the charger plugged in… It seriously took me about 2 hours to charge the blasted thing while holding it between my knees once I found the sweet spot and holding it in my hand while typing everything one handed and catching the phone and all. In short, it sucks. A new phone with a non-iPhone service carrier would rock. Not quite make up for my ruined 30th birthday this year, but it’d still be nice. :o)

    Like

  8. Random number generator: pick me.

    Real person: if you knew how seriously jacked up my birthday was this year… I found that Mr. Mason and I share the same bday, and I would almost be willing to wager my right hand that his day was a bajillion times better than mine. My dang Blackberry (a hand-me-down from my mother-in-law who would have a heart attack if she knew her son gave me the phone instead of keeping it for himself) charger port is all of the sudden extremely picky as to what angle and how hard I have the charger plugged in… It seriously took me about 2 hours to charge the blasted thing while holding it between my knees once I found the sweet spot and would have to alternate between my knees and holding it in my left hand while typing everything one handed and catching the phone and all. In short, it sucks. A new phone with a non-iPhone service carrier would rock. Not quite make up for my ruined 30th birthday this year, but it’d still be nice. :o)

    Like

  10. Um, that sounds incredibly awesome. And I would never, ever text while driving. Honestly, I can just barely text while sitting at my desk and using every ounce of will ad concentration I have. That damn tv commercial where the kid is texting with mittens on… sheesh.

    Like

  11. Oh, I really hope I win! I’m constantly pressing the mute button with my (round Scottish) cheeks with my current cheap-o phone, which is problematic for my clients. Did I mention I’m a counselor?

    Like

  12. so i’m old-school and my current phone serves 2 functions: 1) phone 2) watch. oh and sometimes 3) alarm clock.
    i still want a phone primarily for calling and actually talking to people (vs texting), but it seems like the palm pre plus would still be a good option:
    1) i’d love a phone w/ a good camera so that i don’t have to lug around my digicam
    2) i could definitely use the mirror to help me put my contact back in my eye
    3) i used to have a separate palm tx but got tired of lugging around yet another device. i guess it’s time to transition to a smartphone. (but i won’t text while driving. i won’t text in general actually)

    Like

  13. Definitely will not text while driving! I rarely eat soup (I need to remedy that soon), but I won’t drop my new phone in the soup!

    I’m loving your posts on the Palm Pre. I’m a Verizon gal through and through – have waited impatiently for the iPhone, but am really thinking about a Palm Pre. LOVE the photos you are getting with it!

    Like

  15. I will not use my new phone to text while driving, and I will not drop it in soup within 24 hours of receipt. Awesome.

    Like

  16. I pinky swear promise not to text or send email while driving. And I will wait at least 35 hours to eat soup, after receiving it. Because I am clumsy. And I sometimes have bad luck and am capable of ruining a good gift by dropping it in my soup.

    Thanks for the opportunity, Maggie!

    Like

  20. I will neither text while driving nor eat soup! Ok, I don’t like soup, so that’s not much of a hardship.

    Like

  24. I promise to never text while driving. I don’t even understand how that is possible!! I also will avoid dropping the phone in any liquid be it soup or otherwise….

    Like

  25. Oh, that looks like a lovely phone. I promise not to text while driving (easy to do, since I don’t know how to text). And I don’t talk on the phone while food is around, so the soup thing isn’t a problem either. It would be great to win since the display on my old phone has given up the ghost. I can’t tell who is calling or check my voicemail and I also can’t reset the alarm anymore and it is still set on 6:30, dang it.

    Happy Wednesday.

    Like

  26. I would love to have this remarkable piece of technology and promise not to text while driving, or drop the phone in soup, or eat soup while driving and texting.

    Thank you.

    Like

  27. Oh why not. I can barely text because I have an ancient Virgin Mobile phone that makes it kind of a challenge. So, won’t text while driving, won’t drop it in the soup b/c I won’t allow phones at the table, mainly b/c I’m jealous of my husband’s iphone.

    Like

  28. Having dropped 3 calls since yesterday, I would love to try this! And I promise no texting while near the steering wheel or soup.

    Like

  29. Oh yeah, count me in! Love the pics and video you are getting with this one. I’m already with Verizon so why not jazz up the package? Then I can throw my old one in the soup!

    Like

  32. I won’t text when I drive – I live in NYC, so no car! I’ll try my hardest about the soup, but I make no promises. Thanks!

    Like

  33. Wow. This thing looks fantastic! I promise not to text while driving and I’m not a big soup eater, so we’re safe there. Thanks for running the giveaway!

    Like

  34. Cross my heart, no texting while driving. Seriously though, I really need a new phone. I always text while eating and my current phone has many food-related blemishes. *Please don’t take my texting while eating as a predisposition to text while engaging in other activities!

    Like

  35. Ah! Want! Ive been coveting this phone since my boss got one and made me program it.

    “KAT IS THAT A MIRROR WHAT THE CRAP”
    “Yes sir. yes it is… CAN I HAVE IT?!”
    “…no.”

    (I promise not to drop it in soups!)

    Like

  36. I do not drive, so I won’t text while driving, I promise. (I might text from the bus.) I solemnly pledge that I’ll keep it out of the soup for at least 24 hours.

    I just dumped my AT&T phone late this winter, and after two blissfully cell-phone-free months, I’m starting to wonder if I don’t miss it a little. (Spoiler alert: I do. A little.)

    Like

  37. Me! Me! Me! My iPhone stopped working last summer. I “replaced” it with a Samsung that didn’t do squat. I now have no internet on my phone and feel like I’m way way way back in the dark ages.

    I never text and drive and I would never ever put a phone in soup. As a final plug, I once owned a Treo and loved the Palm OS. I’d be thrilled to convert back!

    Like

  38. Would love a new phone! I never text or talk on my phone while driving so no problem there and I hate soup! (just kidding, love soup)

    Like

  39. I SO want one! I’m trying to wean off the blackberry and the pictures!! The pictures are amazing. I’m addicted to taking pictures with my phone. Plus I’d love to switch to Verizon service. My service which rhymes with Splint SUCKS.

    Like

  40. I promise not to text while driving, I even promise not to sext while driving and putting on lipstick. No soup for me. Verizon rules.

    Like

  41. I never win anything, but if I should win this – I promise not to text while driving or send the Palm Pre swimming in my chicken noodle soup.

    I’m with you 100% on the iPhone. After 4 frustrating months with mine, I went and got a Blackberry from Verizon. Love Verizon – Blackberry Storm, not so much.

    But my friends Dawn and Jennifer both rave about the Pre!

    Like

  42. I NEVER text while driving. It’s illegal here in NJ! And I will wait until the 25th hour to drop my phone in the soup!

    Like

  43. I just upgraded my Verizon phone in Feb. It was between the Palm Pre and the Motorola Droid. I went to the store to play with both. The guy actually talked me out of the (cheaper) Palm and talked me into the (more expensive) Droid.
    Now, don’t get me wrong, the Droid is pretty cool and all, but, for starters, making an actual phone call on the thing is a HUGE PITA! You have to slide this, then tap that, then tap something else, then go here, and geezus I just wanted to redial home! I love that I can access Facebook and Twitter and other web sites from the Droid, and I like the texting. And since I text primarily, I probably shouldn’t complain so much about the calling part of the phone, but I paid a good penny for this thing, it’d be nice if I didn’t have to block out time in my day to dial a number on it.
    I’m kinda stuck with it though for at least a year, or longer, so a new (free) Palm Pre Plus would be AWESOME

    Like

  46. I promise I will not use the new phone to text while driving, and that I will not drop it in soup within 24 hours of receipt. I will take some awesome pictures, however.

    Like

  47. no texting while driving. might have to keep it in my pocket or in a drawer for the first 24 hrs so i don’t drop it. 😉

    Like

Comments are closed.