Treo 700w Cons

[TedJones]

First, I love the form factor of the Treo 700w. It is the perfect size and feel in the hand. The keyboard is much more usable than the sliding ones on other Pocket PC phones (like the Samsung SCH-i730). Also, the phone works great, better and louder, it seems, than the Treo 650. Finally, combining some of the Treo traits with Windows Mobile make it more one-hand usable than other Pocket PCs.

However, I have some issues that may make me return the unit. I don't know how many of these are OS instead of the hardware.

Memory - It is a big problem as Possman said early on. After a soft reset it only has 14.86MB free for programs. This is not enough. Some programs that ran fine on other Pocket PCs run like dogs on the Treo. With a couple of applications running, it is really bad.

Also, the memory allocation cannot be adjusted by the user. I sure would like to assign some of that 49MB free storage memory to programs.

Soft Reset Button - I've never considered having to do a soft reset on a Pocket PC a bad thing - it quickly clears out memory, drivers, etc. and takes just a few seconds, probably faster than going into Settings->System->Memory->Running Programs and stopping unused apps.

Unfortunately, you have to remove the battery cover to do this on the Treo. So, the memory problem become even greater.

Screen Size - I don't mind the screen size, but many Pocket PC apps are not ready for it. Some allow you to scroll to the bottom or to the right to reach all parts of the screen. Others, such as many of the Microsoft Entertainment Pack (old version) do not. Apps with buttons at the bottom or left of their screens may not be very usable.

EV Radio Stays On - The wireless connection stays on when not needed. This may not be a big problem with an unlimited data plan, but I also think it affects application speed.

[futbolman]

Could not aggree with you more on those issues Ted. I'm moving over from an I730 and had tried the 650 before that. Though I loved the form factor of the 650 (as you mentioned) I hated the fact that it took 3rd party S/W to run all the windows apps I use for work, not to mention inability to multi-task.

As for a couple of the cons you mentioned;
There is a battery cover with reset hole available for the 650 & I suspect there will be one for the 700 as well.

The data connection can be manually turned off by tapping on the icon at the top of the screen.

Seriously thinking about the XV6700. Anyone compared the 2 devices yet?

[globaloffice]

Seriously thinking about the XV6700. Anyone compared the 2 devices yet?

I haven't held a fully enabled 6700, but my impressions:

Treo hands down feels like it's more quality constructed.
6700 keyboard is incredibly easy to use. Unit in landscape with keyboard is like a miniature desktop.
Treo form factor much less bulky. I envision problems with the slide on the 6700.

I can't judge voice quality as the 6700 wasn't activated, but it's usability to me surpasses the Treo from the PDA aspect and I'm on the fence also. If I had to do a short comparison it would be that the 6700 is much more a PDA with phone functionality than the Treo's Phone with PDA functionality and the Treo seems the better constructed from a quality standpoint of the two.

Hope that helps.

-Roger

[Janak Parekh]

Also, the memory allocation cannot be adjusted by the user. I sure would like to assign some of that 49MB free storage memory to programs.
It can't be adjusted because the storage space is no longer RAM -- it's ROM. And yes, that 32MB seems to be a big downside. My suggestion to you would be to consider using a task manager and to aggressively close programs to mitigate.

Unfortunately, you have to remove the battery cover to do this on the Treo. So, the memory problem become even greater.
There are software resetters as well. Some task managers may have a Soft Reset option; if not, there are standalone items that you can launch.

EV Radio Stays On - The wireless connection stays on when not needed. This may not be a big problem with an unlimited data plan, but I also think it affects application speed.
I doubt it. Most Pocket PC Phones today support persistent data connections, and I don't notice a difference in speed. Unless you're using an app that frequently does stuff while the connection is on, I'm pretty sure it's a dormant connection most of the time.

I haven't played with an XV6700 yet myself (using a Universal right now), but I do like the idea of the larger thumbboard.

--janak

[Rod3]

Magic Button will both close programs and perform a soft reset. It's free; you might want to look at it. Has a small footprint, too.

[futbolman]

I think I have subtly fallen in love...yes the low memory is still an issue for all the 3rd party apps I like to run, but a little better memory management seems to take care of that problem (along with memmaid) and I got an email from ppc techs that they're looking into a memory upgrade for this device as they have done with other ppc's. Migrating over from my i730 I really have not looked back since, the form factor I have to say is absolutely the best. I went down to the Verizon store a few days ago and played with the XV6700 and basically it is the i730 with a camera with keyboard sliding out from the side instead of bottom. For me this still is too cumbersome since it still does not allow for true one handed operation as the treo does.

Bottom line: Beauty truly is in the eyes of the beholder..... :mrgreen:

[globaloffice]

Magic Button will both close programs and perform a soft reset. It's free; you might want to look at it. Has a small footprint, too.

Has some issues with stopping apps if you have Verizons's push email running tho..

-Roger

[Rod3]

Has some issues with stopping apps if you have Verizons's push email running tho..

-Roger

Odd; I haven't had any problems.......yet. :wink:

[merlin]

I just joined Verizon and bought the XV6700 and I think it's a great device for what it can do (Wi-Fi, sliding keyboard). But i've been using it for a week now and I'm returning it for the Treo 700W.

Here's why:

1. The sliding keyboard is nice but cumbersome and there is a delay for the landscape mode to switch.
2. The screen is totally unreadable in sunlight.
3. The speakerphone and sound quality is bad.
4. Requires 2 hands to type.

I went back to the Verizon store and spent almost an hour playing with the Treo 700W and I found it to be much easier and faster to use:

1.I can make a phone call quicker.
2. I can put the cursor in the search bar to type in the first letters of a person's name.
3. I like the directional pad much better than the joystick on the XV6700.
4. The sound is better.
5. Better one handed operation overall.


With Verizon's high speed network I don't see myself using the Wi-Fi as much as I thought.

Just my thoughts. Let me know what you think.

For closing apps Pocket Plus has always been great:
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/pocketplus/?en

[possmann]

For the first crack at this I think the 700w is flippin' great./ I did run into my first "memory" issue - while browing web sites I was prompted to close unused applications to free up memory - ah well... Let's hope the next treo increases that.

Screen resolution would be cool too - but I am not complaining otherwise. It has easily replaced my pocketpc device and my phone. For me, this is the first solid and firm step in the right direction to merge those two devieces together.

Woo Hoo!

[merlin]

Hi possmann,

How does the Treo 700W look in the sunlight/outdoors?

For the memory issue, how many programs were running?
And can this be avoided by using an SD card for more memory?

thanks,

[possmann]

outdoors - no problems
SD card - probably a bit - if the applicaiton allows it to be stored and run from there I would imagine
How many applications? I have no clue - was in a bar so I really wasn't that "aware" that I should have recorded that information :wink: