Treo 650 Launches

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/10/25/palmone_treo_650/' target='_blank'>http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/1...lmone_treo_650/</a><br /><br /></div><i>"As anticipated, the 650 is based on a 312MHz Intel XScale processor, almost certainly a PXA270, though PalmOne has not yet confirmed this. The 600 had 144MHz CPU. There's 22-23MB of available user memory, out of a total of 32MB, all of which is Flash, following the pattern laid down by the Tungsten T5. There's an SD IO slot for expansion. The device runs PalmOS 5.4, aka 'Garnet'."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/650.jpg" /><br /><br />The Register has <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/10/25/palmone_treo_650/">a lot more details</a> about the 650 and they mention that it has a 320 x 320 display, Bluetooth, a backlit micro QWERTY keyboard and will be available in quad-band GSM/GPRS and CDMA/1xRTT versions. As we mentioned a few weeks ago, PalmOne has just <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=32972&amp;">licensed the technology from Microsoft</a> to support direct connections to Exchange 2003 mail servers and the new Treo will support this. The 650 will be available "later this year" in the US and sometime in 2005 for everyone else.

[JonnoB]

I like the form factor, but the square resolution - does it have grafitti input?, lack of WiFi, and worst possible OS makes me pass on it.

[TMAN]

I like the form factor, but the square resolution - does it have grafitti input?, lack of WiFi, and worst possible OS makes me pass on it.

You can use the Grafitti Anywhere application if you want to use the Grafitti shorthand.

I purchased the Treo 600 in December. Coming from the WinCE world I thought I would have withdrawals moving to Palm OS. I have owned this device longer than any WinCE device I had. It does what it does well and in an almost perfect form factor. The Treo 650 is certainly on my next to purchase list.

[rmasinag]

I like the formfactor. but I cannot stand the screen size. So it's back to the iMate Jam or IPAQ 6300 for me

[xdev]

wouldnt you guys puchase this in a flash over those symbian devices?(other than p900)
anyway having said that, that benq pocketpc which was delayed would definitely have been a treo killler.

[whydidnt]

It's a definite upgrade, but...

Still no WiFi, and no ability to add via SD card.
Still very limited Memory - 23 MB user - not high end, not even medium - end by today's PDA standards ( I know it's a phone first, but please).
Running OS 5.x so no multi-tasking, and limited categories, no file system in RAM. Whatever happened to OS6?

If any PPCPE addition manufacturer can figure out how to make a device with decent specs that is as small as the 650, it will be game-over for Palm. The i-mate Jam may be that device, but I think the lack of keyboard will hinder it too much.

Typical Palm release from a hardware standpoint. Evolution, not revolution. IMO they never seemed to have realized that technology moves at a much faster pace than when they first released the Pilot.

We rail on MS for not getting OS releases out faster, but how many years has Palm been riding OS5 without any significant improvements. Too many, when you consider they were talking about it as a "bridge" to OS 6 when released.

[Prevost]

If any PPCPE addition manufacturer can figure out how to make a device with decent spets that is as small as the 650, it will be game-over for Palm.
I believe it is too much to say that. Remember there are lots of people that are as loyal to Palm and like it as much as you are a PocketPC fan.

However this brings on a question, since it is obvious that PPC hardware can pack specs like those of the Treo and more inside the devices. Why they don´t do it?

[Vidge]

It's a definite upgrade, but...

Still no WiFi, and no ability to add via SD card.


Actually, there will be drivers released for the 650 to be able to use the Palm Wifi card. The info is over on TreoCentral.

[DaleReeck]

As I strong Pocket PC proponent (I currently have an MDA III), the Treo is surprisingly versatile. They designed a really nice and usable hybrid device in the 600 and with the 650, they fixed a lot of the issues, less WiFi, from the 600. They put a lot of stuff in a very small size with the 650. We won't get a Pocket PC phone as small as the Treo 6xx until next year.

Also don't forget, in the PocketPC world, we didn't get built in WiFi in a Pocket PC phone until only a few months ago with the iPaq 6315. Now we have the MDA III and that's it (I think), at least in the western world. So its not like the Pocket PC world is crawling with WiFi enabled phones.

[whydidnt]

I believe it is too much to say that. Remember there are lots of people that are as loyal to Palm and like it as much as you are a PocketPC fan.

Me being a PokcetPC Fan is a misconception on your part. I use a Clie UX-50 on a regular basis. I am a gadget freak Palm, PockePC, Tv's Remote Controls, you name it, I buy it, but Palm's lack of innovation keeps me from spending my money on their devices - I bet I'm not alone here.

Palm is already losing the European market, as the Treo has been a flop over there, and they have been recycling the same hardware/software for so long, their is no incentive for Palm Loyalists to upgrade.

They have essentially put all their eggs in one basket and as soon as a PPCPE manufacturer realizes why the Treo is popular - FORM FACTOR - they will get lose that one basket, too, IMO.


However this brings on a question, since it is obvious that PPC hardware can pack specs like those of the Treo and more inside the devices. Why they don´t do it?

That is the million dollar question. The MPx maybe that device though.

[whydidnt]

Actually, there will be drivers released for the 650 to be able to use the Palm Wifi card. The info is over on TreoCentral.

Well, that's different that was originally announced so I went looking. Palm is waffling on this, now that they've heard from the user community. However, the current Palm WiFi card will NOT work, as their aren't any working drivers for this device. Palm says they are going to "try" and create the drivers, but it's "complicated".

I for one don't think we'll be seeing a working WiFi card anytime in the near future, if at all. Think about this, if it's 12 months out, won't their be a replacement for the 650 then, so what's the need? Then you have to look at Palms track record for these add on SDIO cards and it quite frankly stinks. I hope I'm wrong, but...

[whydidnt]

Also don't forget, in the PocketPC world, we didn't get built in WiFi in a Pocket PC phone until only a few months ago with the iPaq 6315. Now we have the MDA III and that's it (I think), at least in the western world. So its not like the Pocket PC world is crawling with WiFi enabled phones.

That's very true. However PPCPE users could use a SD WiFi card, something that Treo users still can't do.

The 650 is indeed an awesome design. I just get frustated by what could have been when I look at this PDA. I stand by my words that unless Palm gets moving on some real innovation they are not going to be around for the long haul. IDC numbers released today show they are down to 35% of the worldwide handheld market - which doesn't include all the Treos they sold, but is a significant decline, even from last year.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not celebrating the decline, more disappointed in the apathy Palm has shown toward this trend.

[clanggedin]

According to a conversation I had this evening with a member of T-Mobile's corporate entity, they will not be offering the Treo 650. He also stated that they also sent out a memo notifying the regional managers about this too.

There should be more info on this coming in the next day or so.

[jpaq]

That's great that they licensed the Exchange connectivity technology. Now if I could only get my Axim X30i to sync with the Exchange server while it's also supporting RPC using an SSL Cert..... Very frusterating....