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- Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 274 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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23 out of 24 people found this review helpful
4.5 stars
"Great Device"
Pros: Broadband Speeds, Video, 1.3Mp Camera, great one-handed operation
Cons: Does not support Dial-Up Networking Profiles in Bluetooth!!
Summary: I'm getting a little tired of seeing all these Palm OS cry-babies complain that this phone isn't any good simply because it uses Microsoft's Windows Mobile OS. Get a clue - It's not Palm OS. Move on!
Windows Mobile 5.0 (actually 5.1.1700) is the version that comes with the latest 700w's, and it is MUCH more refined than previous versions of Windows Mobile, or the Pocket PC OS of the past. It includes many nice enhancements which make this device a real pleasure to use.
I have been using PDA phones since the original Visor Prism with the bulky Visor Phone add-on. I've used the 270 with the flip screen, the 600 and even the 650.
When it was released, I called all over the city looking for one and I actually found one* and bought it on the spot.
This phone is the best PDA phone I have ever used for many reasons. First off, the original Visor Phone interface was an afterthought - so the integration wasn't very good. This one, after many revisions since the 270/300 series finally feels like a very smart phone. They keyboard is laid out logically and with the included "OK" button, you can dismiss any window with one key. You don't have to thumb your screen to death (leading to much frustration on the 600 series) -- just click one easy to reach "OK" button and the window disappears.
The soft menu buttons are welcomed as well since they are easy to reach and big and again saves you having to fiddle with tapping the screen with your thumb or fingernail. Simple well placed buttons on the base of either side of the screen makes this an easy task.
Also, I see a lot of complaints about no WiFi access. I guess I'm just spoiled because I live in a large metropolitan area where EVDO Broadband access is readily available, and the idea of having to go hunt out a WiFi access point to be able to surf the web seems a little like stepping backwards - but that's just me. Broadband Access is plenty fast enough, from anywhere, so I won't miss it.
For those that can't live without WiFi however, there is an optional SDIO WiFi module that you can purchase and pop in the phone to connect to 802.11 networks.
I'm using my 4Gb SD card loaded with video clips and MP3's, as well as large documents, etc. so adding another SD card to the mix doesn't make much sense to me.
As for the low resolution of the screen. I must say I was disappointed at first by the 240x240 res. I owned a Toshiba e805 with a 480x640 screen and loved it (before it was stolen- but that's another story). But when I went into the settings on the Treo 700w, I found that I could reduce the font size to "smallest", and turn on the ClearType font smoothing, and achieve almost as much horizontal "resolution" as the larger screens. I can now read a significant amount of text on the device so the actual resoltuion is a non-issue as well.
MY ONLY COMPLAINT with this phone is that Verizon does not include DUN (Dial-up Networking) as one of the supported Bluetooth profiles!!!!!!!
I gave up my Treo 650 over this shortcoming alone because when I travel with my laptop, having the ability to connect to the Internet THROUGH MY PHONE wirelessly using Bluetooth was a VERY nice feature. I became so accustom to this feature in fact that when the Treo 650 came out and had Bluetooth built in, I rushed out and bought one right away, only to be disappointed that it wasn't supported. I returned it within the 2 week period.
I bought this phone with the hope that Verizon had finally gotten it right -- that they had stopped crippling power users and let us have the tools we need to do our jobs on a daily basis. But sadly, no. They have chosen to disable that profile once again. Hopefully this will backfire on them with Class Action lawsuits like the V710 issue, etc., and they will open it up like Sprint and some Cingular models have done.
As an IT consultant, I had to use my laptop to connect to remote servers using Remote desktop connection while I was traveling. This need meant that I needed a phone with Bluetooth DUN support so I could connect using my laptop and RDC. The great thing about Windows Mobile vs. Palm OS is that Windows Mobile COMES WITH a Remote Desktop Client! I can now connect to my remote servers using my phone and fix little problems without ever having to use my laptop! As a result, I am not going to return this phone like I did the 650 since it will allow me to do the two most critical items for me - email and RDC.
I can honestly say that if this phone had DUN enabled, this would be the PERFECT phone for me, bar none!
NOTE: If you are a Palm OS user that is stuck in the past, stay with the Treo 650 - You just won't "get" the new interface. But if you're looking for a very intelligent mobile phone that also has some very powerful laptop-like features (i.e. Pocket Word, Pocket Excel & Powerpoint), awesome email integration, video both on-demand and live streaming, broadband access, easy one-handed keyboard layout, then this is the phone for you!
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NOTES:
*(If you're looking for one right away and don't want to wait for it to be shipped to you, here is what I did to get mine so early. You need to call the bigger Verizon Wireless stores in the morning and ask to speak with the inventory specialist. Befriend that person and then ask if they have any 700w's showing up on their daily "in-transit" report (a report that shows what's expected to arrive that day). If they do, ask them what time they usually get their shipments, and then arrive around that time and be the first to pick up a new phone).
** Also, even for existing Verizon customers, you can get the phone for $399.95 - just sign up for the unlimited data plan and they will discount your phone an additional $100 off the regular price of $499.95 but you have to be persistent.
- 2 replies to this review
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Based upon your comments and some of the others in CNET; I choose to purchase this device.
I do hope it meets my needs. The only concern I had was the Bluetooth one, do you know if they corrected this in new releases?
Thanks for your input, and putting the reality in the Palm v/s Windows in here. -
txav8r,
if you read this, can you please email me at paulchiu_28@yahoo.com. Being one who actually use the 700w, I'd like to ask you a few things.
Many thanks!
Paul
Where to buy
Palm Treo 700w - gray (Verizon Wireless):
$199.00
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eBay
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$199.00 | Yes |
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