PalmPre: Apple challenger

The surprise star of CES 2009 consumer technology trade show came from an unlikely source. But is the Pre enough to challenge Apple? It's no simple job marrying hardware and software together seamlessly, but it helps if you can develop both yourself. And there aren't many companies that can; Apple being one, and Palm another. The Pre uses the company's new Web OS and its own hardware to produce a product that caused spontaneous applause at CES 2009. Aside from an incredibly slick interface and control system, there are stacks of glee-inducing new features too. As for the challenge to the iPhone, early indications are that it'll have slightly different, but potentially equal, strengths. Fingers crossed. ·