Treo's Big Come Back? (1/3)
Palm Treo 800w with Windows Mobile Professional 6.1
INTRODUCTION
It's been a year and a
half since Palm released the Treo 750. The landscape
of mobile phones has changed quite a bit since then.
Everyone is clamoring for touch screen devices with
animated flashy finger-friendly interfaces. Luckily Palm is immune
to the popular reality distortion field of the time
and has released a new Windows Mobile device that
actually implements some useful innovations that
build on Windows Mobile's strengths without
sacrificing usability and efficiency. I was honestly
and unexpectedly surprised to see how genuinely
impressive Palm's Treo 800w turned out to be. Read
on to find out exactly what's so great about Palm's
latest Windows Mobile smartphone!
(all images link to higher resolution)
WHAT'S HOT
As you may already know, the best
thing about owning a Windows Mobile Palm Treo as
opposed to any other Windows Mobile device is the
software customizations that Palm has integrated
with the operating system (see page 2 for more about
these enhancements), however it seems that with the
800w, Palm has also done some major optimizations to
Windows Mobile itself.
The Treo 800w's hardware design is similar to the Palm Centro design. In terms of the specifications, it's got Bluetooth 2.0, 802.11b/g WiFi, +TI OMAP CPU, 256MB ROM, 128MB RAM, Windows Mobile Pro 6.1, a 1.9MP camera, 320x320px 2.375" 64K (190ppi) color screen, 1150 mAh battery, MicroSD slot, and CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rev A.
Device |
Size (inches) |
Weight (grams | ounces) |
4.74" x 2.63" x 0.43"
|
157 | 5.53 |
|
4.33" x 2.09" x 0.59"
|
117 | 4.12 |
|
4.66" x 2.48" x 0.47"
|
130 | 4.58 |
|
4.56" x 2.33" x 0.67"
|
188 | 6.63 |
|
4.64" x 2.36" x 0.48"
|
129 | 4.55 |
|
3.96" x 2.34" x 0.67"
|
133 | 4.76 |
|
4.68" x 2.44" x 0.67"
|
188 | 6.63 |
|
4.58" x 2.42" x 0.47"
|
120 | 4.20 |
|
4.56" x 2.33" x 0.65"
|
178 | 6.28 |
|
3.92" x 2.41" x 0.60"
|
137 | 4.83 |
|
4.24" x 2.09" x 0.53"
|
117 | 4.12 |
|
4.17" x 2.00" x 0.85"
|
151 | 5.34 |
|
4.41" x 2.24" x 0.49"
|
122 | 4.30 |
|
4.57" x 1.70" x 0.64"
|
140 | 4.94 |
|
4.88" x 2.44" x 0.53"
|
130 | 4.56 |
|
4.21" x 2.20" x 0.55"
|
120 | 4.20 |
|
4.53" x 2.47" x 0.47"
|
146 | 5.15 |
|
4.63" x 2.19" x 0.67"
|
158 | 5.57 |
|
4.35" x 2.07" x 0.67"
|
158 | 5.57 |
|
4.56" x 2.41" x 0.51"
|
125 | 4.41 |
|
4.44" x 2.36" x 0.55"
|
133 | 4.69 |
|
4.01" x 1.98" x 0.55"
|
124 | 4.37 |
|
8.28" x 4.67" x 1.08"
|
640 | 22.5 |
|
4.48" x 2.52" x 0.59"
|
154 | 5.43 |
|
4.17" x 2.38" x 0.68"
|
147 | 5.18 |
|
4.01" x 2.00" x 0.71"
|
165 | 5.82 |
|
4.41" x 2.24" x 0.49"
|
122 | 4.30 |
|
4.41" x 2.28" x 0.73"
|
140 | 4.94 |
|
4.61" x 2.51" x 0.78"
|
183 | 6.45 |
|
4.40" x 2.40" x 0.50"
|
123 | 4.34 |
|
4.01" x 2.00" x 0.45"
|
110 | 3.88 |
|
4.56" x 2.36" x 0.70" |
200 | 7.05 |
|
4.60" x 2.30" x 0.50" |
110 | 3.88 |
|
4.30" x 2.40" x 0.60" |
120 | 4.23 |
|
4.20" x 2.30" x 0.60" |
136 | 4.79 |
|
3.70" x 2.30" x 0.60" |
126 | 4.44 |
|
4.48" x 2.39" x 0.51" |
116 | 4.09 |
|
4.60" x 2.60" x 0.50"
|
134 | 4.70
|
|
4.40" x 2.32" x 0.75" |
190 | 6.70 |
|
4.10" x 2.10" x 0.60" |
150 | 5.30 |
|
4.01" x 1.97" x 0.78" |
110 | 3.88 |
|
4.40" x 2.32" x 0.75" |
190 | 6.70 |
|
4.40" x 2.50" x 0.50"
|
120 | 4.20
|
The above video shows how quickly launching programs is with hardware keyboard shortcuts. We also show the beautiful speed enhancements added to the Treo's version of Internet Explorer. We're not even talking about internet speeds. The Treo's interface for navigating the operating system makes for much-increased usability and performance.
Besides the overall speed enhancements, you've also got some great improvements in phone call usability and, finally, there are now some huge improvements in GPS Navigation software integration. Also, did I mention acquiring a GPS fix takes between 0 and 20 seconds? The 20 second time is usually from a cold-boot indoors. Outdoors, you're likely to get a GPS fix in Live Search (for example) as soon as you press the "Center on GPS" command. See page 2 for more information about the GPS navigation integration.
WHAT'S IN
THE BOX
The Treo 800w comes with; a microUSB sync cable
(not the same as previous Treo devices), microUSB AC adapter, stereo headphones, software CD,
Basics Guide, Email Setup guide, SprintSpeed
pamphlet, and quick start guide.
This is what's in the box.
You also get free setup assistance from Palm. The sticker on the screen when you open the box has a phone number that you can call right away if you don't have a clue where to start.
THE DEVICE
The device feels good in your hand with its soft-touch slate-blue body.
All of the important navigational and action buttons are easily accessible with minimal finger movement. However, unlike previous Treo's, the buttons are very flat and difficult to feel with your fingers. This is a shame as previous Palm devices were so great at this tactile navigational interface. The end call button also acts as the power button. Holding down this button will toggle the phone power (not the device power). Pressing it once will bring you to the Today Screen, pressing it again will put the device in suspend mode. I have not found any way of shutting the device off completely short of removing the battery.
The keyboard is as small as you would expect a Treo keyboard to be. My thumb can cover up half the entire keyboard, so I really wish it could have been a bit wider. The keys have rounded edges and a soft-touch finish. They're not as soft as the Motorola Q9, but much better than the Samsung Ace. The button depression feedback can also be quite subtle, so you may not know if you've properly pressed a key each time. This image also shows a better view of the softkey hardware buttons surrounding the "Treo" branding just on the edge of the screen bevel. They wrap the corner of the bevel which makes them somewhat easier to feel for and press without having to touch the screen.
On the left side, there are volume up/down buttons and a customizable button that only functions with a Press & Hold.
At the bottom, you'll see a microUSB jack. This replaces the stereo headphone jack, the proprietary sync plug, and the proprietary power plug of previous Treo models.
The right side includes a microSD slot under a little flap as well as an Infrared port. You can also see the stylus silo on the right side of the device.
The top end of the Treo 800w has a convenient mute switch that quickly switches the device's audio off and turns on vibrate mode. You'll also see the WiFi on/off button. I think it would have been nicer as a switch. The current interface requires you to hold down the WiFi button for a couple seconds in order to turn it on or off.
Here you see a closer view of the microSD slot beneath the shiny plastic flap.
On the back is the 2 Megapixel camera, along with the reflection mirror, the external speaker, external antenna connector, battery cover, and branding logos. All of the slate blue areas you see on the device are made of a rubbery "soft touch" material very similar to that which was introduced with the HTC Prophet (i-mate JAMin).
Behind the battery cover is the 1150mAh battery. The stylus is almost the full length of the device, which makes it quite easy to handle, however it's made of very cheap bendable plastic. It feels like I could easily snap it in half with one hand. Generally you'll be leaving this in its slot though since the Treo's hardware buttons are far more usable.
If you turn on the Screensaver mode option, when the device goes into suspend mode either automatically or manually, the screen powers down yet still displays a subtle time, date, and notification icons image that changes its position every once in a while. It's not backlit and touching the screen does nothing, but this feature is extremely useful since now you can see the date/time as well as whether you have any messages waiting without even turning the phone on. Very very nice touch. I wish all Windows Mobile phones had this option.
Here you'll see from left to right, the i-mate JAMin, HTC TyTN II, Palm Treo 800w, Blackberry 8820, and HTC Touch Diamond.
Here you can see a comparison of the thickness. From top to bottom you see the HTC Touch Diamond, Palm Treo 800w, i-mate JAMin, HTC TyTN II, and Blackberry 8820.
On page 2, we'll cover the many software enhancements that Palm has made to the Treo 800w.
