I am doing this review because several people have asked me to write one. Before I begin this review, let me list the PDA’s I’ve owned over the years, so you have an idea what I am comparing it to:

Pilot 1000
Pilot 5000
Palm Pilot Personal
Handspring Visor
Handsping Prisim
REX6000
Clie NR70V
Clie NX70
Clie NX73
Clie NX80

One Windows CE handheld, one PPC Ipaq. (Don’t remember model #s)
For at least 2 weeks I used Visor Edge and Clie SJ22 as well.

Now that you have my background experience, here is my review:

Verizon is usually the last company to release phones, best service, worst selection, and when I found out that they were finally releasing a decent Palm Phone, the Treo 600, I ordered mine the first available day. At this point I was using a Motorola v60p (Push-to-talk) and my Clie NX80. I was happy with both products, but it was a bit annoying to carry around both. When the original NR-70v came out I used every feature…as the newer ones came out I noticed I used less and less of the features and noticed it was slowly becoming a waste…and weighing down my pocket.

I ordered the Treo blind (I never saw it in person) and I figured if I didn’t like it, I would return it.

The box includes the Treo, a slip-case, stylus, charger, usb sync cable, CD, and booklets. It was unusual that for a PDA this expensive ($499 retail) it did not include a cradle. 

The Treo itself is a nice size and weight, much better then my Clie. At the time of this review I didn’t have my Clie so I took the picture next to a deck of cards. Although bigger then my cell phone, its small enough to carry everywhere without a problem.

It acts as a normal PDA and your address book becomes attached to the cell phone app, which took some getting used to. The camera is a simple VGA, and it doesnt take pictures very well. I personally didn’t care, but some of you might.

Moving from the Clie I noticed a lot of missing apps.
1. No backup app
2. No memory card file app (like Filez)
3. No movie player
4. No Mp3 player
5. Etc.

The unit is not high-res and there is no Graffiti section and by default you cannot write on the screen. Input is solely based on the keyboard (which is excellent) and the stylus, which is limited.

Most of the apps designed for the Treo 600 are designed around one hand use with the center rocker…and it works well. I almost never need to use the stylus. The keyboard feels great and i’ve learned to type quickly. One app that I added was KeyCaps600 which allows you to push and hold a letter to make it Capital or push a letter twice for its Number…very helpful.

For some reason, while your on the phone the screen stays on, another app that I added was TreoGuard which allows you (among other things) to turn the screen off when your in a call (to save battery).

As far as battery goes…i’ve been able to go several days without charging and I use my PDA and my phone more then the average user. Although it does not have a removable battery, I don’t see how 1 days worth of use will kill the phone unless your on the express network.

The express network is Verizon’s data plan. I pay $45 a month (extra) to use the express network as much as I want. The express network is used for MMS and browsing the web. Speeds are up to 144kbps. You can also connect the Treo and use it as a wireless modem (up to 144kbps) for your notebook. You can have the express network on all the time and have it check for e-mail constantly, but that will wear down your battery. You can get programs to turn on and off the express network for you and check your mail. Verizon includes software for this, but its slow and annoying, I would go 3rd party if needed. The web browser included is Blazer which is good, I think I liked Netfront better.

The one thing the Treo is really lacking is BT. Even though PalmOne just released a BT SD card, it will not work with the Treo, and as i’ve heard, none will due to power limitations.

To me, the Treo combines some great features and is very easy to use. I know now I will never buy another PDA that is not a phone as well. I gave up the high-res screen (and large screen) but it was well worth it.

Erik

Pictures:

Great review, Erik.  I have toyed with the idea of a smart phone to compliment the TR.  I am just not sure how much I would really use it.  The only way to find out is to buy it.  However, $400-500 is an expensive experiment.

love my treo 600..

once the 650 becomes available i’m sure it’ll bring the price down some..it might suit your budget then..

great review btw!

Thanks. I am looking at the new one as well, but only if Verizon offers it, I refuse to change carriers.

Erik

why does verizon wait so long to get the 600 when the 650 seems to be so close.  strange. 

thanks for the review

to make more money of course. they get you to buy the treo 600 then a few months later they make the 650 available..with more features/1.3mp/bt/hi-res..its hard not to upgrade..   i could sell models 1 to 10…i’m going to make sure models 2 doesn’t come out until 1 is mostly/completely sold out..does that make any sense..? :ph34r:

yeah i hear what your saying but why does sprint and tmobile seems to get the goods.  i am a verizon customer for years and while their service is good thats about it.  they dont even know what bluetooth is.  it just surprises me atleast in the smartphone category that they lag so much and botch launches (i.e. kyo 7135)

wabbitt

what about this one, from Sony, P910:

hey, is that one next to TR???

thought about it..then i thought of all the things i could purchase with 1000 dollars..i then changed my mind..plus i’m too used to the palm os interface…

KZ2030: A coworker got a Verizon Treo 600 last week. I’d say in terms of technology and form factor, the P910 is a bit ahead. It’s slightly deeper (especially if you keep the flip on), but not quite as wide as the Treo. The SE also has a bigger, higher res screen, BT, better browsers and better multimedia to offset the Treo’s much better thumbboard. This is definitely up for debate, but I feel Symbian is much better than Palm OS. The place where the Treo 600 is way ahead of the P910 is software. If you need software for something, it’s available for Palm, often with a freeware program available. UIQ isn’t exactly a desert, but it’s nowhere near as popular. No hobbyists, just payware.

If you’re on anything other than GSM, like Palm or need Palm Desktop for whatever reason, the Treo is the way to go, but despite my rather lukewarm review of the P900 a few months ago, I’ve really grown to like it.

should really compare the 910 to the 650.. 

Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. The Treo 650 is a specs sheet and a bunch of pics at the moment. The P910 is basically what I have in my pocket minus the thumbboard and more RAM (actually since I don’t use the flip it’s just the RAM). It’s also out in limited quantites at the moment.

Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. The Treo 650 is a specs sheet and a bunch of pics at the moment. The P910 is basically what I have in my pocket minus the thumbboard and more RAM (actually since I don’t use the flip it’s just the RAM). It’s also out in limited quantites at the moment.

I don’t need to know what you have in your pocket… :?

Yeah, the specs for the 650 are still not finalized as we all know things change before they come out.

Erik

what about Sony Erricson S700; does anyone use one? 

There are a few previews out there by people who have preproduction models. I don’t think it qualifies as a smart phone though.