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"What is everyone complaining about?"
5.0 starson by Tekkie79Pros: Display, Keyboard, Software, EDGE, Reception, E-Mail
Cons: Lockups, Size, Ringers, Carrier/Palm Support
Summary: All that, and then some!! No Regrets!!
I'm not going to re-state what everyone else has said, so I'll refer to the things I like the most, the least, and defend some false issues. Keep in mind, this is the 10th phone I've had in a year (I'm VERY picky). I've been searching for the perfect phone and this is the closest out there.
In Defense -
Everyone constantly complains about things like quadband, battery life, no megapix camera, no universal translator, no WI-FI, no Voice Recorder, Carrier/Palm support and hold times, price, etc.. etc.. I can go on and on. A-lot of people just have seriousally unrealistic expectations. The phone is for PIM and phone calls. This is a total luxary item. Show me a product which can do IT ALL VERY WELL?!?! It doesn't exist, but in my experience the 650 comes the closest I think.
Favs -
1) Browser - Who needs a PC? It's that good!
2) Voice Connect - Had to buy it, but it is well worth it!!
3) Apps - Gobs and gobs of apps
4) Camera - Takes great PICS and you can Zoom and move the pic view around.
5) EDGE - I constantly us it as a wireless modem with PDANet (recommended)
6) Touch Screen - Need I say more?
7) Keyboard - Feels nice, easy to use
8) Reception - This thing works in places my other phones didn't
Hates -
1) Speakerphone could be better, but is OK
2) Have to reset it every few days, but is WAY more reliable than a Windows mobile device
3) Size - It is big, but it is also a PDA..I'll get over it
4) No native Graffiti App - I just got a freeware app called Graffiti Anywhere. The device supports Graffiti by default, just no app is installed.
5) Ringers - They mostly suck. I haven't figured out how to get others on there yet.
6) Call Quality - Sometimes the calls sound tinny. Not quite as good as Ericsson or Motorola but better then most.
To defend the battery life, as soon as I turned off bluetooth and IR receive (when I didn't need it) the phone could go 2-3 days without having to charge. I also installed a freeware app called KB Lights Off which automatically turns the keyboard light off and on depending on if I'm using it or not. The phone also feels a little different when talking, but I'll get used to it.
If you don't believe me, try doing half the things you can do on this phone on a Windows Mobile, Symbian or standard cell phone. The Windows devices are SLOW and constantly crash. The Symbian devices have rare and expensive software. You can forget about everything on a standard cell phone. Try it!!
- 7 replies to this review
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I agree with most of what tekkie79 has said,but disagree about the keyboard. I have small fingers, but still have a hard time pressing the buttons to type or dial a number. I haven't figured out yet if there is a way to pull up alpha characters on the touch screen for typing when in the calendar application. I also own a Palm T-3 which has features on the PDA that the Treo 650 doesn't have. I purchased the Treo to eliminate the need for carrying two devices, but so far still carry the T-3 since I'm more confident with it.
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...You wont ever have to restart it and plus it works great! No third party apps for e-mail either.
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I to searched for the ideal smartphone, the Treo 650 is My huckleberry. I'm waiting for Sprint to come out with a Windows/Palm version of 700 or 750 with WiFi, and I would like to use the Power Vison functionality that Sprint has, but until that day comes, the Treo 650 is My Huckleberry. Love it<br><br>Turk
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hey my biggest fear was i do alot of ebay and bellsouth.net emailing... does the palm load to ebay and are u able to sign on ? cause i couldn't with a friends, and thats why i was waiting for the cingular 8125<br>could let me know if it works? <br>, dmilinare@Bellsouth.net
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With your "hate" list that long, how can you list this phone as perfect. I wonder how long you have had the phone. Please re-rate after 6 months.
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I love this thing. One i find a stereo headphone with the small jack i will be in pig heaven. I have reduced several devices down to this one. I can now carry my wallet and my TREO 650 and leave the bag at home with the:<br>Otis player for my Audible books and small storage of a few songs in MP3 format, <br>TREO 90 for a PIM;<br>Seimens phone for wireless phone;<br>USB card reader writer for SD and MM stored files from my PC.<br><br>After loading a graffiti progaram (trying out 3, prefer the Mobile Write so far) I am back in the Palm convenience writing interface I have known so many years.<br><br>I got a case for it. Today I found a small fanny pack made for an IPOD or MP3 player that has space for money and credit cards and keys. I can not leave home with my TREO 650 and leave my whole pocketbook.<br>I can IR my diabetes reading to the TREO and upload to my desktop just like I did with my TREO 90. <br><br>if they even put a diabetes meter in a TREO smartphone I will buy one and eliminate the one device it did not replace for me.<br>Lots of software available and most of my old PALM software for my TREO/PALM installed.
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You can easily use this phone as an MP3 player (pTunes), DVD player (mmplayer & pocket DVD studio), voice-memo recorder (mvoice), laptop modem for cruising the internet (pdaNet) and more by adding small apps you can buy online. And once you have MP3s installed you can use mRing to play them as ringtones - assigning to groups or individuals any song. With a 1GB SD card, this is a KILLER piece of equipment
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