Treo 650; is it the Pocket PC Wannabe or the Convergence King?

OK I admit it!  I was actually pretty excited to get the Treo650. I know it may sound a little strange coming from a Windows Mobile die-hard but I was getting so frustrated and bored of using the very limited Blackberry 7100t platform. The Treo650 simply blows away my Blackberry but how does it do against the stronger Windows Mobile platform device? My plan is to just keep a running journal over time about how I feel about the device as I use it over time. I may not be a Palm-OS expert but I am certainly a mobility enthusiast and how can anyone not LOVE the form factor? In my opinion if you want an integrated keyboard it is one of the best form factors combining small size along with a high resolution screen and great phone functionality.

So what is right for you …. Windows Mobile Phone Edition, Blackberry or a Treo?

It isn't really fair to compare the Treo 650 to the Blackberry platform because it is hands down a total winner in that area. The high resolution touch screen, the superior Palm-OS, the thousands of 3rd party apps, the fantastic form factor combining elegance and functionality of a truly powerful converged mobile device makes this a real contender. Can it be the Convergence King of handhelds or just another Pocket PC Wannabe?

Well it can be a tough call to make depending on what you feel is most important to you. If you are looking to simply get email on the run and feel that “push” email is important and you can deal with the limited attachment support plus if you have a thumb muscle that is need of some exercise not to mention an immensely poor phone user experience then go get a Blackberry and spend the large monthly fee to connect to a BES server. Can you tell I am not pleased with my Blackberry experience?

Is "Push" hype?

"Push” means you receive your email on your device anytime your server gets it without any user intervention. I think “push” is a TOTALLY overblown marketing spin that the enterprise has bought into. I don’t ever sit at my desktop just waiting for the moment an email arrives from the server so I can take immediate action on it so why do I want that while I am mobile outside the office? I think that type of a work atmosphere is comparable to taking a phone call in the middle of a meeting that you are leading. Do you want the technology to run you or be your tool? I just feel there are very few times that “push” is actually needed. Of course Microsoft will follow suit and has already announced that they will have a similar feature in a future release of Exchange.

So for me the Blackberry isn’t meeting my needs compared to a Windows Mobile device. Granted I am not your typical user because I expect more productivity and efficiency from my mobile device. I think many people have a “love” for their Blackberry’s because they are comparing it to life without any mobile capabilities as opposed to a PDA converged product like the Treo 650 or a Windows Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition product.

So what about this Palm-OS Treo 650? How does it compare against some real competition like the Pocket PC Phone Edition? I will report on this and more specifics as I use the device full time for a while.

I purchased the Treo 650 that was the unlocked GSM version which at $699 is certainly on the very high side compared to the functionality one gets with a comparable Windows Mobile product. I am using a Samsung i730 which is the closest thing to size and feature set as the Treo 650… plus it is the hottest thing getting ready to come out against the Treo. I will have First Looks article out on the i730 a little later.

  The Treo 650 (left) next to the Samsung i730.

This shows the Treo 650 and Samsung i730 side by side. Although the i730 is slightly thicker, it still good in the hand. The screen resolution of the i730 (240 x 320 pixels) is less than the Treo (320 x 320), however the i730 displayed my webblog in better detail. (Click on the image for a close-up) The Treo is a great form factor but the hidden keyboard of the i730 really gives this a WOW factor. I love the fact that the i730 gives me choices for doing input by using the QWERTY thumb keyboard or directly writing on the touch screen using the powerful handwriting recognition capability, which isn’t available on the Treo.

I have always been jealous of some of the coolest Palm-OS form factors. I really like the look and feel of the Treo in my hand. SWEEEETNESS! I remember when the first 600’s hit how much it reminded me of being jealous for many of the awesome Sony Clie designs wishing how cool it would be if I could have those form factors in a Windows Mobile OS version. As cool as the hardware was the older versions of Palm-OS just didn't hack it for me. Well with the release of the Treo 650 now supporting the Exchange ActiveSync made me turn the corner because now I can get my email and calendar functions directly over the air like a Pocket PC Phone Edition... almost. It is too bad the contacts don't sync too but you know Microsoft had to hold something back from the competition.

Accessories

Fig 2 WriteSHIELD being installed to protect the screen There are a couple of must-have accessories for any of my mobile devices. I was super pleased to find out that my buddies over at Pocket PC Techs have WriteSHIELDS available for the Treo as well as the Lil' Sync™ Retractable Sync-n-Charge Cable. The Treo was supplied with a screen protector in the box but it is the typical cheap disposable version you get at a retail store that doesn't last. I have found the WriteSHIELDS are practically lasts a lifetime under normal use.

The only thing missing is the service they have done on many of my Pocket PC’s of being able to do an internal RAM upgrade to 128MB. Out of the box the Treo doesn’t come with any kind of a protective case or holder. I ordered one from EB Cases that is a belt loop holster style. I prefer the flip top play through style case but I couldn’t find one with magnetic clasps so the holster was the next best thing.

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