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Wall Street Journal Review: Treo 700w "neither as easy to use nor as powerful"
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Wall Street Journal Review: Treo 700w "neither as easy to use nor as powerful"
 This Wall Street Journal review of the Treo 700w shows it comes up short in several areas:
My verdict: Despite some nice new features, the Windows Mobile software is still inferior to the Palm software for one-handed use on the go. Its crucial email and phone functions are also weaker. And there's a serious bug in its email software that affects individuals, though not corporate users. So the Treo 700w is neither as easy to use nor as powerful as the Treo 650. In addition, the screen on the 700w offers significantly lower resolution than the screen on the 650, and the new model costs twice as much -- $400 versus $200.
Walt Mossberg, who wrote the review, has an excellent reputation and great influence within the industry, so when he summarizes:
The Treo 700w will appeal to some Windows Mobile fans, and to some corporate IT staffs. But for everyone else, I advise sticking with the Palm-based Treos. you can expect 650 owners to relax, knowing they haven't missed much.
__________________
John Bartley K7AAY | http://celdata.cjb.net | http://kiloseven.blogspot.com
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when did one handed operation become an asset of palm based treos?
As someone put it on another website....are all Treo 650 users amputees, because it seems that it is the only feature they can brag about over the 700w.
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By
Beryl
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01-05-2006, 04:02 PM
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Have you ever tried to look up information or read mail or a text message on your Smartphone while walking through an airport or dragging your laptop case downtown from one office building to another?
It is NOT easy to do with Pocket PCs. This is why one handed operations is important for mobile workers. Voice Command has its place (not my device) but it does not solve this problem.
You can do it all with only one hand with Treos (and other Palm Smartphones) and I've been missing this for about 1 year now.
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By
MEG
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01-05-2006, 04:03 PM
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Jeez John, What's that, a five week break between posts in the General News forum? That's one hell of a vacation! 
Mark |
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By
Xyzzy
on
01-05-2006, 05:29 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by inteller
when did one handed operation become an asset of palm based treos?
As someone put it on another website....are all Treo 650 users amputees, because it seems that it is the only feature they can brag about over the 700w.
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One thing that you don't see about the Treo700w in the articles is that it does include Microsoft Voice Command in the ROM image. MS Voice Command does a lot to improve one handed operation in the car. |
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By
alanb
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01-05-2006, 07:54 PM
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Mossberg may have a good reputaiton in the industry, but I have no idea why. His reviews of PDA Phones have consistantly been full of inaccurate information and his opinions are usually c%$p. (imho)
Alan
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Quote:
Originally posted by Xyzzy
One thing that you don't see about the Treo700w in the articles is that it does include Microsoft Voice Command in the ROM image. MS Voice Command does a lot to improve one handed operation in the car.
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VC in the ROM? thats sweet! I have VC and by assigning it to the record button I can hold it naturally in one hand, hit the button, and be on my way. VC 1.5 recognition is GREATLY improved. it hasn't missed a beat yet! |
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Quote:
Originally posted by Beryl
Have you ever tried to look up information or read mail or a text message on your Smartphone while walking through an airport or dragging your laptop case downtown from one office building to another?
It is NOT easy to do with Pocket PCs. This is why one handed operations is important for mobile workers. Voice Command has its place (not my device) but it does not solve this problem.
You can do it all with only one hand with Treos (and other Palm Smartphones) and I've been missing this for about 1 year now.
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But in trueth? How often do people "REALLY" have to do that? |
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Quote:
Originally posted by cougargt
But in trueth? How often do people "REALLY" have to do that?
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Not often for me. Playing with a PDA while walking is dangerous for both the user and the people around him/her!
FWIW, I switched from the Palm platform to WM several years ago and never looked back. The main things I like about WM is the multitasking ability and MS compatibility of the WM platform.
The Palm OS is obsolete IMO.
CM  |
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The reviewer states eveyone to stick with palm OS there will never be a new palm OS its over with the Access aquisition. So yeah keep your palm OS and your analog TV and your 8 tracks and your LP's and stay in the 20th century.
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By
Xyzzy
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01-06-2006, 10:31 AM
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Quote:
Originally posted by cougargt
But in trueth? How often do people "REALLY" have to do that?
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That's a good point.
According to 2000 US Census, 140M Americans commute an average of 25 minutes per day each way to work. Assuming the same return trip, that extrapolates to 50 minutes per day in the car. Assuming 3 work weeks off a year for vacation, this extrapolates to 5.1 full work weeks spent in the car by the average commuter.
Even the most efficient one handed tactile / gui interface requires the use of your eyes and hands. |
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By
Xyzzy
on
01-06-2006, 10:33 AM
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Quote:
Originally posted by Chudman
Not often for me. Playing with a PDA while walking is dangerous for both the user and the people around him/her!
FWIW, I switched from the Palm platform to WM several years ago and never looked back. The main things I like about WM is the multitasking ability and MS compatibility of the WM platform.
The Palm OS is obsolete IMO.
CM
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Now if only there were software to counteract the bobbing of the device while walking |
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Quote:
Originally posted by MEG
Jeez John, What's that, a five week break between posts in the General News forum? That's one hell of a vacation!
Mark
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Sorry 'bout that, but there've been a few folks in Mississippi who have phones now and a slightly better life. Priorities, priorities. |
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By
MEG
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01-06-2006, 12:10 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by johnbartley
Sorry 'bout that, but there've been a few folks in Mississippi who have phones now and a slightly better life. Priorities, priorities.
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I just wanted you to know that your contibutions to the site are noticed and appreciated.
Mark |
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By
sysmg
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01-10-2006, 04:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by Picasosz
The reviewer states eveyone to stick with palm OS there will never be a new palm OS its over with the Access aquisition. So yeah keep your palm OS and your analog TV and your 8 tracks and your LP's and stay in the 20th century.
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Oh My! You mean I have to get rid of all that stuff! My mom was cleaning up her basement and I just picked up all my old 8 tracks. So I've got all those 20th century artifacts! Do I win anything? 
-Stew |
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.. but of course a Palm user is going to think the Windows Mobile software is inferior! Just like Mac people think Windows sucks. You can't rely on a Mac person to review a Windows product... I myself love 700w the phone because I've used Windows mobile before. I tried the 650 about 6 months ago and thought IT sucked because everything seemed so different than my Windows PC setup. They need a Windows Mobile User to review the phone at the WSJ and witness one hand operation of Windows Mobile itself, that is where the breakthrough is.
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I can't see how there can be Treo 600/650 users that acually still like they're device. The Palm OS has overall been a stable operating system... Then they added a cell-phone radio into it. The bugs run rampant through it. You find yourself resetting your device more than actually using it. You get more issues with the hardware and software on those devices over any other I've heard of. If it's not the head set jack, the touch screen, OS freezing up, random resets, ghost calls to your voicemail from your own phone... It doesn't end
Chris
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Here we go again... everyone has an opinion... some are paid to write them for prestigious publications, others who write for their corporate masters and others who frequently share them in discussions around water coolers. And yet there are others who are influenced by the opinions of others.
It is just one man's opinion. It's not worth getting upset about.
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