Mossberg Chimes in on the Treo 600

Posted By: Ryan Thursday, September 18, 2003 11:32:41 AM

Wall Street Journal personal technology journalist Walt Mossberg, has been using the Treo 600 for a few weeks and has posted his review. The Treo 600, was just launched in Europe yesterday and will be available from US carriers by the end of October.

In his review, Mossberg claims that Sprint will begin offering the new model ny mid-October for around $500 ~ $550 USD. Europeans can expect availability next month from Orange.

Handspring Treo 600 Review ~ Click for largerHe praises the Treo 600 for it's ease of use, exceptionally bright screen, faster performance and much better battery life. The only drawbacks he found was the low resolution screen and it is a little thicker and heavier than the original Treo.

I've been carrying a Sprint Treo 600 around for a couple of weeks and I love it. It's a great phone, an excellent mobile e-mail terminal and a full-fledged Palm-compatible PDA. I prefer it to any RIM BlackBerry model I have tested, and it blows away any of the PDA/phones based on Microsoft's Pocket PC operating system.

Thanks to Bill Koslosky, M.D. for the tip!

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Mossberg bias..

beebjunk @ 9/18/2003 12:27:29 PM #
Has he EVER not loved a Handspring device? Interesting to see he comments on the thickness though.

Adam Yap
-------------
The Australian Palm User Group
http://www.auspug.org/
RE: Mossberg bias..
TTrules @ 9/18/2003 1:19:27 PM #
Must...have....

One Palm to rule them all!

-Sniffer

RE: Mossberg bias..
kevdo @ 9/18/2003 1:23:21 PM #
>Has he EVER not loved a Handspring device?

Yeah, Handspring has a long history of "lousy" products. He's the "only" guy who ever likes their stuff.

-Kevin Crossman

RE: Mossberg bias..
a3 @ 9/18/2003 1:29:10 PM #
Wait a sec. I think his previous experience may not be used to reduce the credit that this small gadget has.
I never wanted a PDA-Phone hybrid until I saw the Treo 600!
Anyway I am eager to see a pic showing this phone side by side with any PPC hybrid like the Hitachinstein launched a couple of weeks ago.

____________________________________________
Former Tapwave's Helix fan, now a T|T3 fan.
RE: Comparison pics
nrosser @ 9/18/2003 1:54:52 PM #
Go here for some pics that compare the Hibachi brick to the Treo:

http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/cebit_america_2003/

RE: Mossberg bias..
nrosser @ 9/18/2003 1:57:05 PM #
well those pics don't compare directly, but close enough. I think there ARE some pics somewhere that have both units next to one another...

RE: Mossberg bias..
hkklife @ 9/18/2003 2:06:46 PM #
As pleasantly surprised as I am with the Treo 600 in its current form, I'd personally still hold out a bit longer until they do a hardware refresh of this thing.

If they can cram a 320*320 screen (unlikely), a better camera w/ flash or assist light (somewhat likely) and a better battery (quite likely) into it without adding any more weight, then it'll be _the_ hybrid unit to have (for the time being, of course).

I personally feel this is the sleekest Handspring since the Edge-I always felt the original Treo design looked really clunky and fragile. Of course, all major criticisms are reserved until I actually get to play with one of these things in a store...



Wishlist...
Marshall Flinkman @ 9/18/2003 2:13:25 PM #
I'd like to see them add Bluetooth (which, according to Treocentral, has been worked out but they may or may not go for) and EDGE (faster data on the GSM module).

RE: Mossberg bias..
Altema @ 9/18/2003 2:41:29 PM #
"well those pics don't compare directly, but close enough. I think there ARE some pics somewhere that have both units next to one another..."

Side by sides would be good, but I was shocked at the Hitachi... the thing is HUGE. They must have cut a deal with Burger King to borrow their slogan "It takes two hands to handle a..."

What is it? A combination PDA/CellPhone/Clipboard?

RE: Mossberg bias..
orol @ 9/18/2003 5:07:38 PM #
// Side by sides would be good, but I was shocked at the Hitachi... the thing is HUGE. They must have cut a deal with Burger King to borrow their slogan "It takes two hands to handle a..." //

this was gooood :-) and true, gee hitachi is HUGE
even NZ90 would look like super slim PDA next to this brick
but back to the topic: I'd love treo, I'd even buy it immediately (orange is eventually my operator ;-) BUT hires is a must, I saw the pictures on PDA france, it's horrible, I mean I couldn't go back to low res ..
no way



RE: Mossberg bias..
a3 @ 9/18/2003 5:16:36 PM #
Just one thing:
If you have 320x320 res in a 10x10 square and you have a 160x160 res in a 5x5 square which has the hi res (also called higher density resolution)?

I suppose you can see that both have the same density. That is what I think happens with the Treo. It is 160x160 but Hi res.

____________________________________________
Former Tapwave's Helix fan, now a T|T3 fan.

RE: Mossberg bias..
hkklife @ 9/18/2003 5:48:59 PM #
Right, but it's the backwards compatability I'm worried about with games and image viewers and stuff designed to be OS5-native or enhanced. So far, every OS5 unit has either had Sony's VG or Palm's 320 320 high res. We already have the T|W throwing a curveball with high-res but under OS4, so now what the flipside of that--low-res under OS5?

It's not that I find anything inherently _wrong_ with an OS5 device utilizing a low-res screen but it's just that for the past year + developers and consumers alike have had "OS5=high res or better" pounded into their collective skulls.

RE: Mossberg bias..
patrickl @ 9/18/2003 6:02:28 PM #
I scaled the pic with the Hitachi to size with the one with the Treo 600.

http://palm.laweb.nl/Treo600v****achi.jpg

RE: Mossberg bias..
patrickl @ 9/18/2003 6:04:13 PM #
ok the censor script cought me (don't put an "s" in front of Hitachi) :

http://palm.laweb.nl/Treo600_Hitachi.jpg

RE: Mossberg bias..
kevdo @ 9/18/2003 7:57:47 PM #
>It is 160x160 but Hi res.

For Palm OS devices, 160x160 does not mean hi-res -- even on tinier screens such as the Fossil watch.

-Kevin Crossman

RE: Mossberg bias..
bcombee @ 9/19/2003 5:36:48 AM #
Actually, for the last year, developers that pay attention to PalmSource have had "check for the feature" pounded into their head. They aren't writing code that says "if OS >= 5, hi-res!", they're writing code that say "if hi-res available, hi-res!". The Treo 600's API clearly indicates that it has a standard density screen, so correctly written code should "just work".

--
Ben Combee, CodeWarrior for Palm OS technical lead
Programming help at www.palmoswerks.com
RE: Mossberg bias..
hkklife @ 9/19/2003 11:19:26 AM #
Thanks for the explanation, Ben!

Do you anticipate any problems with the vast majority of games released/updated for OS5 in the past year or so with the Treo 600?

RE: Mossberg bias..
bcombee @ 9/20/2003 4:42:56 PM #
Many won't run if they are designed for 320x320 mode. Some may start but only show the top quarter of the screen. I expect most to be updated soon if they have any issues with the device; in my testing, the device wouldn't actually return an error if you tried to go into 320x320 mode, but if you then asked it what mode it was in, it would correctly return 160x160.

The apps which had low-density support that I tried all worked correctly, using low-density. The Palm OS APIs are designed to make it easy to use the right mode.

--
Ben Combee, CodeWarrior for Palm OS technical lead
Programming help at www.palmoswerks.com

RE: Mossberg bias..& seeing Hitachi G-1000 next to Treo 600
Tech Diva @ 10/16/2003 11:00:39 PM #
Here's a URL with a pic comparison of the Hitachi G-1000 next to the Treao 600 (and a few other comparison pix) http://pdaphonehome.com/forums/portal.php


Good luck with your search...I'm on the prowl too!


Tech Diva

Yeah, but...

pdantic @ 9/18/2003 1:36:37 PM #
Hmmmm...Mossberg's got a point on the Pocket PC Phones, but he obviously hasn't tried any of the Windows Mobile Smartphones that will be hitting the market this fall... I've been using a Smartphone (HTC Tanager) for three months now and love it despite the fact that it has no keyboard. If some manufacturer has a Smartphone in the works with an integrated keyboard, Palm/Handspring could have some real competition.

RE: Yeah, but...
fool faughter @ 9/18/2003 2:13:17 PM #
No keyboard, no sale

RE: Yeah, but...
gfunkmagic @ 9/18/2003 3:19:51 PM #
HAHA! Foo Faughter!!! I'm sure your namesake appreciates the flattery! LOL!

Visit http://goodthatway.com/
-better living through better technology.
RE: Yeah, but...
mikecane @ 9/18/2003 4:35:22 PM #
I cannot wait for the eventual lawsuit against Microsoft and the carrier(s) offering that "Smartphone" for a customer's inability to access 911 in an emergency because the phone took two minutes to boot from being switched off. (And for those of you who don't know, there *are* places where you are *required* to turn off your cellphone. Once off, it's also easy to forget to turn it back on.) Carriers should reject that thing for that legal liability issue alone.

RE: Yeah, but...
Tango @ 9/19/2003 9:46:46 AM #
Is Treo 600 use Wavecom GSM module?

Tango

No Cover.....

hoxbox @ 9/18/2003 3:55:41 PM #
I'd be on this like white on rice if it came with a cover, since I know I'm going to want to thrown it in my briefcase and not have the screen scratched out.... Oh well there's always Kyocera 7135.
RE: No Cover.....
bcombee @ 9/19/2003 5:39:21 AM #
The Sprint Treo 600 I've used came with a nice fabric and elastic pouch that holds the phone and covers the screen while allowing access to the headset jack on the bottom.

--
Ben Combee, CodeWarrior for Palm OS technical lead
Programming help at www.palmoswerks.com
RE: No Cover.....
mikecane @ 9/19/2003 5:29:07 PM #
Why not just throw a WriteRight or such on it and let *that* get scratched?

I hate cellphones

mikecane @ 9/18/2003 4:37:28 PM #
But *this* might be the thing that makes me actually want one. We'll see...

RE: Can't wait
chinchorrero @ 9/18/2003 6:25:45 PM #
I want one.

"Life is Too Short"
RE: I hate cellphones
fool faughter @ 9/18/2003 9:04:46 PM #
Cane, were you not the one that predicted this product early in the year. To me this looks like it is going to be a mega success. What do you think crystal ball man ?

RE: I hate cellphones
mikecane @ 9/19/2003 5:31:58 PM #
*Pricing* is everything.

The economy s*cks.

Two drawbacks

rluxemburg @ 9/20/2003 1:28:40 PM #
1) No screen protection. One of the best things about the prior Treo design was the built-in screen and keyboard protection that a flip unit provides. As with many women, my phone spends a lot of time in a purse. With the new form factor, investing in a case is now mandatory. I like not needing a case for my Treo 180.

2) The price. There's no way in hell I can justify speding $500++ on a PDA/phone. And for that price, a lack of high-resolution screen is a deal killer.

RE: Two drawbacks
mapaman @ 9/20/2003 2:10:49 PM #
Add a THIRD: Multi-tasking (or lack of it).

MS Smartphone has it. Does Treo 600 have it?

Mossberg doesn't mention anything on the subject.

I've had to sit through 30-minute conference calls with my headset attached to my Smartphone. During these calls, I can:
- send an SMS and get a reply to a question raised on the call
- check my calendar for possible dates discussed on the call
- etc.


RE: Two drawbacks
KRamsauer @ 9/20/2003 2:52:01 PM #
Yes. You can do all you mentioned. Note that because of Sprint's limitations on SMS, you cannot send while on the phone, but with the GSM module, this isn't a problem. Indeed on my Treo 180 I was able to carry on an AOL IM session while on the phone. Nifty!

SE P800
PDAJah @ 9/21/2003 2:31:21 PM #
SE P800 Smartphone has:

1. 320*208 resolution
2. BT
3. screen protection (flip)
4. Fantastic Opera web browser
5. Multi tasking
6. Video playback and MP3 out of the box

But the Treo 600 is cheaper!

Jah

RE: Two drawbacks
ozz @ 9/21/2003 8:50:51 PM #
Yeah, but the SEP800 does not have the Palm OS :-(
That a deal killer for me.

_________________________
Lord, help me become the person my dog thinks I am!
RE: Two drawbacks
Mauibro @ 9/22/2003 12:44:56 PM #
Quote:
"SE P800 Smartphone has:
1. 320*208 resolution
2. BT
3. screen protection (flip)
4. Fantastic Opera web browser
5. Multi tasking
6. Video playback and MP3 out of the box"

Have you seen how the 600 is optimized for ease of use?
This emphasizes the core difference between MS, and Palm especially Hawkins. Sure there are things that the p800 has that the 600 doesnt. But it has made the stuff most people do 99 percent of the time WAY quicker.

That is not only compared to the smartphone or ppcs. Its efficiency is revolutionary even compared to any previous palm os device.

PPC users like the pda "on" lots.
Palm users tend to want to get it done and back in the pocket as quickly as possible.
Their relative strengths follow those patterns.
For the fans of the Palm way the treo is a leap forward.


SD capabilities

dean.collins @ 9/21/2003 11:01:49 PM #
Does anyone know if the SD slots are teh type capable of accepting wifi or bluetooth enabled cards?

TIA,
Dean

RE: SD capabilities
pdangel @ 12/17/2003 6:30:46 AM #
Treo 600 SD I/O ready....BUT (see *)
http://www.handspring.com/products/communicators/treo600_features.jhtml
http://www.pdabuyersguide.com/treo_600.htm

*Does Treo 600 support Bluetooth or 802.11 (WiFi)?
http://support.handspring.com/mobilesearch/forms/hsResolutionView.jsp?Resolution Id=9169

SyChip seems to be working on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in a single SD card
http://news.com.com/2100-7351-5119508.html



"There are 2 kind of people my friend....those with wires and those without"

RE: SD capabilities
pdangel @ 12/17/2003 6:33:45 AM #
ooooops sorry, try this

*Does Treo 600 support Bluetooth or 802.11 (WiFi)?
http://support.handspring.com/mobilesearch/forms/hsResolutionView.jsp?ResolutionId=9169



"There are 2 kind of people my friend....those with wires and those without"

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