Travel Technology - Treo 750 on Cingular

Anyone pick up a Treo 750 on Cingular? Any opinions?

It's the same form factor as the snazzy 680, but alas I see the following cons

1. Microsoft OS (big con)
2. 240x240 resolution instead of Palm's 320x320 in the same window space - big con
3. poor color depth making the images appear dull and washed out when compared to the Palm 680

Unfortunately, the 680 doesn't support 3G, otherwise it would be a no-brainer...but if I'm not streaming data or doing big downloads is EDGE really that bad? I remember that GPRS had me wanting to hurl my P910a at the wall in frustration - so I think EDGE is considerably faster.

I have to tell you, I'm a WM5 convert after using the Treo 180, 270, 600, 650 and 700p.

For basic PDA tasks, WM5 just works. I had far more issues with PalmOS in recent times. The 600 was, to me, the last truly decent and stable treo.

The resolution isn't a big deal for PDA tasks. And if you can hook up with an Exchange server...doggone, activesync direct push is nice.

I haven't played with the 680, but I've had a 750 around for quite a while and it's a nice device.

Steve

Thank you for the information. I was really concerned about the resolution because for me, this won't really be a PDA - but an internet browsing device, simple game console and a portable video player. Contacts and calendars will be secondary and I won't be importing email accounts into it.

The more I think about it, I am starting to wonder if I really need this device at all - but it's so helpful having a big screen and keyboard for chat and SMS.

is there any reason you dont like the 8525??

http://www.cingular.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-details/?q_list=true&q_phoneName=Cingular+8525&q_sku=sku310005

it has everything the treo has plus
bluetooth 2.0
wi-fi
2.0 megapixel camera.

Just got one yesterday for $175. its beautiful.

was going to get a treo, but this one is getting rave reviews.

The resolution really does suck, WM5 just wasn't made for a resolution that low. Once you take off the top and bottom status bars in an app you barely have anything left.

Like the previous poster said, check out the 8525, awesome device.

Wirelessly posted (HP iPAQ hw6915: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; PPC; 240x240) Opera 8.60 [en])

What about Nokia E-series (Symbian)?

I was hoping that they would come out with something that would also include on screen graffeti pad and wifi and blue tooth. Nothing seems to have that and be a phone and PDA at the same time. I prefer palm software for PDA's as it seems better suited to the screen size.

Wouldn't you be concerned about the fact that the 8525 is not a Motorola. It says simply Cingular on there. What happens when Cingular becomes AT&T. What about warranty? What about service? What about using Palm Products on it? I don't know the answer to these questions, but I am going to sit here and do a bunch of reading now.

The Nokia E61/62 is more of a business device...there is no camera, and that is important as I take alot of spontaneous snapshots as I go.

I looked at the 8525, but it really looks too big and certainly not pocket size. Also, the one big complaint I have about these units is the difficulty in just using the thing as a phone - there is no external dialpad to quickly and easily dial a phone number.

I guess I should list my primary needs...

1) fit-in-pocket size (Treo 680/750 works, but the 700P/wx doesn't)
2) it's a phone first - a pda device a distant second
3) big, high resolution QVGA style screen for web browsing. Besides voice calls, it would be used for web browsing 75% of the time, games/video 10% of the time and PIM functions 15% of the time - onboard email, about 0%
4) touchscreens are better

I'm abit gunshy to pull the trigger on something expensive - too many interesting things are in the 10 month pipeline, including the Treo Sherlock, HTC Libra, and a few very hot models from LG - including an iphone killer.

Truth be told, I was almost ready to pull the trigger on a Moto Q, but after reading more reviews, it seems the device has too many annoying quirks - many of which are attributed to WM5sp. Digging deep into menus and pressing multiple keys to access the same functions my current phone can do in a couple key clicks is going to get frustrating fast. For example, multiple key strokes just to adjust the volume while in a call.

An example of the almost perfect phone for me - the Sony Ericsson M600 with a camera (alas, it doesn't come with one). I had a SE P910a, which was perfect - except the GPRS browsing speed was a deal killer there.

So in a long winded way, that describes my ideal phone - a SE M600 with a camera or a P910 with EVDO/3G. Neither currently exist, and it's frustrating trying to find a runner up.

The Nokia E61/62 is more of a business device...there is no camera, and that is important as I take alot of spontaneous snapshots as I go.

I looked at the 8525, but it really looks too big and certainly not pocket size. Also, the one big complaint I have about these units is the difficulty in just using the thing as a phone - there is no external dialpad to quickly and easily dial a phone number.

I guess I should list my primary needs...

1) fit-in-pocket size (Treo 680/750 works, but the 700P/wx doesn't)
2) it's a phone first - a pda device a distant second
3) big, high resolution QVGA style screen for web browsing. Besides voice calls, it would be used for web browsing 75% of the time, games/video 10% of the time and PIM functions 15% of the time - onboard email, about 0%
4) touchscreens are better

I'm abit gunshy to pull the trigger on something expensive - too many interesting things are in the 10 month pipeline, including the Treo Sherlock, HTC Libra, and a few very hot models from LG - including an iphone killer.

Truth be told, I was almost ready to pull the trigger on a Moto Q, but after reading more reviews, it seems the device has too many annoying quirks - many of which are attributed to WM5sp. Digging deep into menus and pressing multiple keys to access the same functions my current phone can do in a couple key clicks is going to get frustrating fast. For example, multiple key strokes just to adjust the volume while in a call.

An example of the almost perfect phone for me - the Sony Ericsson M600 with a camera (alas, it doesn't come with one). I had a SE P910a, which was perfect - except the GPRS browsing speed was a deal killer there.

So in a long winded way, that describes my ideal phone - a SE M600 with a camera or a P910 with EVDO/3G. Neither currently exist, and it's frustrating trying to find a runner up.

I have to disagree. the 8525 fits very comfortably in my pocket. i actually have a belt holder for it, and i stopped using it. It did not realize just how small it was. The phone interface is quite easy. to make a call you simply hit the phone button right on the front and a touch screen comes up with large buttons. you do not need a stylus to operate!!! you can also do voice dialing which works very well. Video games! im getting a nes emulator so i can play old school nintendo games on it. They also have sega, and playstation. i can stream media to it. i watch youtube! i can browse virtually any website with ease. 3g and wifi are crazy fast. i am getting a sling box so that i can watch live tv from my cable box. i have a 2gb memory card. it plays any type of media, music, videos... i have a program on it now, that i can link to my home computer and play ANYTHING, music, video, tv(if you have a tv tuner) on my computer. can even access all my documents.

i highly reccommend you go to a store and check it out in person. thats what i did. Hard to get a feel for it looking on line.

There was a article in a past issue of Popular Science covering these items and you can probably find it online. Neither of the above devices did very well.

You should also do a search on Consumer Reports at www.consumerreports.org
They might have some interesting reports to review.

i highly reccommend you go to a store and check it out in person. thats what i did. Hard to get a feel for it looking on line.

I will take your advise and have a look. Sprint had a similar device from HTC which was abit bigger, but alot of people complained how much of a pain it was as a phone so I shy away from those HTC handhelds. I will see it in action and decide.

I'm editing to add that I spent some time reviewing the device at howardforums.com and the issues people are reporting seem fairly universal...Windows Mobile and its plethora of problems and quirks.

I guess that's why I was leaning towards the 680 or the SE examples in my previous post - the OS is not Microsoft and UIQ is a far less buggy and complex interface.

(...) or a P910 with EVDO/3G. Neither currently exist, and it's frustrating trying to find a runner up.

What about SonyEricsson P990i (http://www.sonyericsson.com/spg.jsp?cc=us&lc=en&ver=4000&template=pip1&zone=pp&pid=10336)? ;)

What about SonyEricsson P990i (http://www.sonyericsson.com/spg.jsp?cc=us&lc=en&ver=4000&template=pip1&zone=pp&pid=10336)? ;)

The P990 did not get a warm reception from users because of some hardware bugs (some of which plagued early versions of the M600 as well), and it's not 3G in the US, only EDGE.

Sony Ericsson's recent build quality has been slipping and I think they know it - UIQ was acquired to get the OS quality and features up and I understand SE agreed to focus on build quality and reliability for their handsets. I think people are seeking the functionality and form of the Microsoft OS with the reliability and stability of UIQ or Linux. Although I don't care for the iphone at all, I have to agree that Apple raised the bar in respect to mobile phone OS and it's an opportunity for UIQ to come in and move it further.

A replacement for the M600 is in the works - perhaps with the new UIQ, but definately with WiFi, 3G and a camera. Another key concern with SE products is their focus on the 900 band while ignoring 850 - essentially abandoning a huge segment of the North American market. I am hoping their future GSM offerings, especially at the higher end, will be quad-band. One product, all GSM networks. It's simple and makes sense.

Personally I was quite happy with the P910a - perfect size, functionality and features - except for the painfully slow internet. If it didn't take me 45 minutes to complete OLCI at nwa.com one evening, I might have actually kept it.