650 vs 700 Treo

[skibum1]

Hi all, very new here and I need your help. Looking to buy a Treo, first time. I am familiar with Palm, own a Tungsten. I checked out the new 700 and have no clue. Should I just stick with the 650? Looking for just a good phone, contact manager and access to email accounts when I am out of the office. Should I spend the extra $100 and just get the 700 however?

[Christopher]

If you are familiar with the Palm OS and want to stick with that, don't get the new 700W. It runs Windows Mobile. You can either wait for the Palm versions of the 700 coming out later this year, or get a great deal on a 650 now. If you're interested, there's a review of the new 700W by a long-time 650 user here: http://blog.treonauts.com/2006/01/tr...w_the_t_1.html

[dj1809]

Watch out... the 700w only has 240x240 screen resolution compared to the 320x320 resolution of the 650. This could be a dealbreaker if you plan on watching videos on your Treo.

[JunkByPalm]

Hopefully the 700 on W will be better.
At least they said they managed to fix the ear piece, it's rediculous on 650 how bad the sound is....
I was reading about all these problem before I got my 650 2 weeks ago because my old Palm PDA phone died Samsung I300. But probably was not a good choice and I should have waited for 700 from Verizon.
Mine is on Sprint

[chris]

Looking for just a good phone, contact manager and access to email accounts when I am out of the office.

While the points made here with respect to Videos and your familiarity with the Palm OS are valid, I'd venture to say the Treo 700w is great smartphone based upon what you're needs. I love the contact manager, the email is super fast due to the EV-DO and I've found the quality of phone calls to great on the 700w.

Sure, it's 240x240, but the screen looks great while in various apps. The 650's screen is high res, but the Contacts application does not take advantage of it. If you look at your list of 650 contacts, there is not color or hi-rez to speak of. I really enjoy the Contacts app in Windows Mobile 5. When you click on a contact, it gives you the option to:
Call Home
Call Work
Send a Text Message
Send an Email

Conversely in the Palm OS, you can select a phone # or enter the the contact. Once you're in the contact, there aren't any options other than viewing the contact.

There is a lack of 3rd party software support for the 700w, but I'm sure that will change.

I think either way, you'll be making a good choice. There are times when I'd much rather have my Palm Treo 650 and times when I enjoy the features in Windows Mobile 5. At the end of the day, it's a personal choice. I'd suggest venturing down to your local Verizon dealer and spending an hour fiddling with both.

-Chris

[plunker]

Hopefully the 700 on W will be better.
At least they said they managed to fix the ear piece, it's rediculous on 650 how bad the sound is....
I was reading about all these problem before I got my 650 2 weeks ago because my old Palm PDA phone died Samsung I300. But probably was not a good choice and I should have waited for 700 from Verizon.
Mine is on Sprint

You might have a bad phone. Mine is the clearest cell phone I have had with sprint.

[skibum1]

You guys are great, very helpful with this. I guess it really appears that more people obviously have more experience with the 650 on what it can or cannot do. Jury still isnt out on the 700. It does appear that the 700 takes more steps to achieve something where the 650 is easier to operate. Again, I'm not that concerned with speed, I'm more focused on ease of use, making phone calls, managing a busy schedule, bringing up contact info and the mere fact that I am already familiar with Palm. When I was in Verizon checking out the 700 I couldnt figure anything out on it and surprisingly neither could the salesperson in the store. Amazing. All the other bells and whistles for me are, well, bells and whistles that just arent that important for now. I think I'm picking up the 650 today. Thanks again.

[kdallen]

I think I'm picking up the 650 today. Thanks again.

Congratulations in advance on your new purchase!

[chris]

It does appear that the 700 takes more steps to achieve something where the 650 is easier to operate.

I'd say that's a correct assessment based upon my use.

Again, I'm not that concerned with speed, I'm more focused on ease of use, making phone calls, managing a busy schedule, bringing up contact info and the mere fact that I am already familiar with Palm.

The 700w is very easy to use, but it's different. Given your familiarity with Palm and possible ownership of 3rd party apps, the 650 might be your best choice.

When I was in Verizon checking out the 700 I couldnt figure anything out on it and surprisingly neither could the salesperson in the store.

I'm not sure they've figured out the 650 and they've had that for 7-8 months.:tongue:

Just one note, when you're in the Verizon store, take a look at Contacts on the 700w. I think it is very well done. Once you access a specific contact, there is a list of "smartphone" things you can do with that contact -- and it's in laymans terms.
Call Work
Call Home
Send a Text Message
Send an Email

In contrast, once you enter a record on the 650, there really isn't much you can do with it.

Either way, 700w or 650, I'm sure you'll be happy with your purchase.

Good luck and congrats on your new Treo!

-Chris

[skibum1]

Well as I thought (and do appreciate), some more questions have just popped up on these two phones. You mentioned on the 700, how you can go into a contact screen, bring up the contact and then choose if you want to call, email etc. that contact. Can you do the same with the 650 or no? I guess what I'm asking is as for making phone calls, I assume that both phones give you a list of contacts to bring up and call. For me, being in sales, I will have a "Business List" of contacts and a "Personal List" (friends, family, etc) to contact, just like on my Palm Pilot. I'd like to have the ability to go into these "lists" I set up and be able to very simply go in and call. Is this even possible? I mean if your telling me that with the 700 I can go into these lists and either call or email them (provided an email acct is set up for each of them in the phone right?) that would be fantastic. I cant do this with the 650? And what was this I read somewhere how if you have the 700 and another call comes in while on the phone, you can press a button and have a messege sent back to the person saying I'm on the phone?! Thats even better. Does the 650 offer this? I know, I'm stupid. Probably should even be in this forum. Sorry.