Travel Technology - Should I trade a Curve for a Treo 750?

I have a Curve w/ AT&T. Not really liking it.

A Craigslister has offered to trade for a Palm 750. Had the 650 before and didn't mind it. Complaints were that it froze quite often, but otherwise I liked the interface.

Thoughts?

If you don't like the curve and you're comfortable with a Palm go for it! Personally I loved my curve... but I'm loving the iPhone even more. :)

I'm curious to know what you don't like about the curve, because I'm thinking of getting one. This would be my first blackberry device; up til now I've had pocket pc phones (phone/pda combo) and smartphones. But lately it seems that more and more people in my professional circle are using some kind of blackberry, and I'm hearing more and more often, "did you read my email?"

Hmm... this surprises me!

I owned and enjoyed many Treos but recently switched to the Curve (first on AT&T -- yuck!!! -- and most recently on T-mobile).

Overall, I'm *much* happier with the Curve than I ever was with the Treos. Some thoughts...

THNGS I LIKE ABOUT THE CURVE
- Better multitasking
- Reliable pushed e-mail
- Almost never crashes (very different than Treos!)
- Can sync by USB cable or over-the-air
- T-Mobile Curve can make calls over wifi, saving me a *ton* of money while traveling overseas
- Seems way more solidly built than the Treo (particularly the screen)
- Form factor (slim, comfy in hand!)

THINGS I MISS ABOUT THE TREO
- Tons of great software! Way more than for the BB
- Touch screen

I'd be curious to know what you didn't like about the Curve (compared to the Treo)

Things I don't like about the Curve:

- Resets itself in the middle of a convo (don't know if that's a bug w/ my particular device, but it's annoying as hell)
- Airline schedule software (UA and AA) requires a signal for use.
- GUI is just boring...everything is a scrolling list.
- Device menus are confusing (in general).
- Web browser is HORRIBLE.
- "Phone Only" setting is NOT "phone only."

I'm also pissed that I need to have BBerry service for an extra $40 a month, and with the other devices (iPhone, 750, etc.) it's only $20 for the data package.

Also when sync'ing the BB, it seems to reconfigure itself each time.

I do like the styling and slimness. The sound quality is decent, and the speakerphone is loud...but that's about it.

I've got a 750 for work, but I've never had a BB, so I can't offer a comparison.

What I like:
* WinMo interface is familiar (I had an HTC phone for personal use previously)
* GoodLink email works well, syncs fast - I sometimes have e-mail reach my phone before my PC when I'm at the office

What I don't like:
* Battery pig - do some heavy data usage, and you'll suck down the battery in a workday. Fortunately, they sell a standalone battery charger so you can have a spare
* Underpowered - there seems to be a fair amount of lag in some things
* Slow to ring - if I'm looking at the phone, I'll see an incoming call icon, and it'll take 6-7 seconds to see the name pop up and the phone to start vibrating.
* The browser's not great (pocket IE), but you can download Opera.
* No scroll wheel like the BB or BlackJack. It's got side buttons that can be mapped to scroll with a free utility, but it also screws up your ringers.
* Chunky. Twice as thick as a BlackJack with the slim battery. Unless you wear loose pants and have skinny legs, there's no mistaking a Treo in your pocket.

Currently, I have a blackjack as my personal phone, and I prefer it to the Treo as a whole.

Battery life is better on the BB, especially if you've set email up for push sync'ing. App support is better on the Treo.

The GUI may be boring, but it is rock solid compared to my experiences with WinMo. If you're looking for a toy the Treo is probably better. If you're looking for a tool I'd go BB.

And I've never heard of one crashing mid-conversation. Sounds like something is messed up with your particular device. Can you perform a hard reset and/or firmware upgrade to see if that helps?

I've got a 750 for work, but I've never had a BB, so I can't offer a comparison.

What I like:
* WinMo interface is familiar (I had an HTC phone for personal use previously)
* GoodLink email works well, syncs fast - I sometimes have e-mail reach my phone before my PC when I'm at the office

What I don't like:
* Battery pig - do some heavy data usage, and you'll suck down the battery in a workday. Fortunately, they sell a standalone battery charger so you can have a spare
* Underpowered - there seems to be a fair amount of lag in some things
* Slow to ring - if I'm looking at the phone, I'll see an incoming call icon, and it'll take 6-7 seconds to see the name pop up and the phone to start vibrating.
* The browser's not great (pocket IE), but you can download Opera.
* No scroll wheel like the BB or BlackJack. It's got side buttons that can be mapped to scroll with a free utility, but it also screws up your ringers.
* Chunky. Twice as thick as a BlackJack with the slim battery. Unless you wear loose pants and have skinny legs, there's no mistaking a Treo in your pocket.

Currently, I have a blackjack as my personal phone, and I prefer it to the Treo as a whole.


My company just switched me from Palm 755 to BB Pearl. I agree with everything you said above and especially miss the touch screen. It was always updating before my PC but it really was a battery-hog. Had to charge daily. I'm getting used to the BB and find I like the size, battery life gets me a few days between charging and rollerball the most.

Can you perform a hard reset and/or firmware upgrade to see if that helps?

I'll check on this...thx for the tip.

Good thread.
I have an HTC Cavalier... and was looking into the BB Curve... The messaging interface on Windows Mobile 6 is not flexible in that it doesn't allow me to configure rows per email and font size... so with my device, I can only see 4 emails on one screen.

maybe I'll look into the 8820

Things I don't like about the Curve:

- Resets itself in the middle of a convo (don't know if that's a bug w/ my particular device, but it's annoying as hell)
- Web browser is HORRIBLE.

I'm also pissed that I need to have BBerry service for an extra $40 a month, and with the other devices (iPhone, 750, etc.) it's only $20 for the data package.



You can try to upgrade your s/w version to overcome the resetting problem and did you download Opera Mini for your web browser?

Tmobile is only $20/month but I am sure you have a good reason for sticking with ATT :P

My experience:

Palm OS on Palm Device = infrequent reboot
Microsoft OS on Palm Device = frequent reboot

Also I personally would think long & hard about receiving email on a my phone.
I am willing to do almost anything wirelessly except email....nearly everyone I know who does get email on their Treo/BB/whatever typically becomes a slave to the device...thus the term "crackberry" and others...just my opinion