Experts predict that the iPhone will help break the smartphone market out into the mainstream - but despite Steve Jobs' claim that Apple's handset is five years ahead of its competitors, there are already plenty of interesting options available. Last week we looked at the Blackberry Pearl and this week it's the turn of Palm's flagship.
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The blurb Palm is one of the companies with a lot to lose as the smartphone market starts to expand rapidly. In the past it was one of the biggest players in the PDA market, but it's already faced a pretty tough time over the last few years as Nokia, Blackberry and others take it outside.
The Treo 750 is an attempt to bring the Treo brand - beloved of many hardcore biz-tech nerds - into a wider circulation and get some cash in the door. The company is attempting to appeal to more new users through its interface, using Windows Mobile instead of Palm OS to get things done.
The stats This candybar model runs Windows Mobile 5.0, and has wide-ranging network support - GPRS and 3G as well as EDGE for US customers. 128MB on board memory, with Mini SD slot for memory upgrades. Two inch 240 x 240 pixel screen, Bluetooth, 1.3 megapixel camera and full Qwerty keyboard. Weighs in at 154 grams.
The test Using the Treo was a doddle; setting up email accounts and using documents was easy and relatively intuitive. Browsing over 3G was a speedy and relatively enjoyable experience, and the touchscreen (although small) was responsive and well-defined. The software didn't crash once in the weeks I used it, and most applications worked smoothly.
However, there were weaknesses. I found the reception quality patchy (I was using Vodafone, normally no problem) and sometimes when it lost connectivity completely I had to manually bring it back into the world rather than just let it get back on the network. Windows on board means that Mac support - traditionally terrible on Palm anyway - is now almost non-existent. And such a powerful device was let down a little by the lack of Wi-Fi connectivity.
The most irritating thing, however, was the keyboard. I much prefer the Qwerty layout to the Blackberry's "two letters per key" system, but the Treo's keys were just too small and too close together, which lost it points and meant I had to use the touchscreen keypad. What it gains from being in candybar format it loses from trying to squeeze too much into the small body.
Thumbs up Smooth, quick, generally well-designed and with the benefit of running Windows - Palm fans should be able to move on easily.
Thumbs down Keyboard too tight for big hands, and a few behavioural tics mean it's not for everyone. Not as weighty as other comparable smartphones, however.
