Just how bad are the "glitches"?!

[globalkiwi]

I was on the verge of buying a Treo 650 with Cingular (using the United Airlines discount) but just read some of the reviews on Amazon & was given pause. Review after review relate an endless list of problems: poor speaker volume, inexplicable software glitches, random freezing & unprompted re-sets, dropped or missed calls, sync problems, etc., etc. I realize some of these issues may be user-related so I thought I'd ask here - just how bad are the "glitches" with the Treo 650? Is Cingular service acceptable or as intolerable as the Amazon crowd would have me believe (I'd be connecting in the NYC area)?

Some honest advice would be much appreciated!

[Visor]

Originally Posted by globalkiwi

Review after review relate an endless list of problems: poor speaker volume, inexplicable software glitches, random freezing & unprompted re-sets, dropped or missed calls, sync problems, etc., etc. I realize some of these issues may be user-related so I thought I'd ask here - just how bad are the "glitches" with the Treo 650? Is Cingular service acceptable or as intolerable as the Amazon crowd would have me believe (I'd be connecting in the NYC area)?

Hi,

I read most of those type of "reviews" myself but also noted the other very positive ones as well. I, also, looked at the fact that there's a LOT of people that use and love theirs, they're still selling, etc. Initially, I think there were some problems that have been fixed by ROM updates, a new SIM tray for better contact of the SIM, which I read was the cause of a lot of the initial problems.

I looked at the other PDA/phones out there as what I wanted most was not to have to carry two devices anymore. The Treo 650 was my first choice with the Blackberry 7105t being second choice. I like the PocketPCs, too, but they were too big to be a phone. With a 30-day return policy I decided to give the Treo 650 a try and see what I thought myself.

So far (got it Nov. 17th) it's been WAY better than I'd even hoped. Almost daily I'm finding out little neat things about it and ways of using it. It's quickly becoming indispensable to me.

When I first used it as a phone handset the volume was a bit low and I thought a review I read was right. Then it dawned on me that my ear was on the screen and not the speaker! Sheesh. I moved the phone down and the volume was excellent.

I seem to be more tolerant than most, and just for the utility of the thing, I'd have been willing to put up with a few non-fatal glitches, especially since soft resets don't wipe data. So far, the only problem I've had is that the AutoPowerOff resets itself every time I make a call. This started when I added Bluetooth setup. I think I can fix that with a reinstall/relink but, for now, I just reset it to where I want as needed. Not a real problem/hardship.

The speakerphone is great on this thing. I was waiting for my riding (motorcycle) partner to show at a meeting spot and pulled out the Treo to play with to kill time. I saw that he'd called. I was wearing my full faced helmet and decided to see if I could hear the speakerphone while I checked the message without taking the helmet off. I heard it perfectly, I was impressed as I can't always here conversations perfectly with the helmet on.

I decided to call him back using the speakerphone to see how that would work that way, it worked great. Good clean clear conversation on both ends. Definitely made me smile.

Got the Plantronics M2500 Bluetooth headset and was prepared for a lower volume as I'd read that somewhere. I got the opposite. I quickly had to reduce the volume as it was too loud.

I use the unit constantly, it's always with me. I have Cingular and the MediaNet unlimited plan and that's worked real well. I don't surf a lot but I do surf some and it works well. Used an app called Directory Assistant to look up someone's phone number and address, pressed a button and the Treo called them, pressed another and got directions to their house (MapQuest), how cool is that?

Stopped off in a store and saw something a friend had been looking for. They had three models of it in stock. I could have called but decided to go for the effect. I pulled out the Treo and took a snapshot of the items and sent it to him via email.

He called and thanked me and asked "You do that with your Treo? Wow! Now that's something I can use."

There's some Treo powerusers here that can say more than I can. Since I'm a newbie and shared your apprehension I thought I'd reply to you. If I could do it all over I'd not have waited so long. This thing is just too cool not to have.

[kabeyun]

Originally Posted by globalkiwi

I was on the verge of buying a Treo 650 with Cingular (using the United Airlines discount) but just read some of the reviews on Amazon & was given pause. Review after review relate an endless list of problems: poor speaker volume, inexplicable software glitches, random freezing & unprompted re-sets, dropped or missed calls, sync problems, etc., etc. I realize some of these issues may be user-related so I thought I'd ask here - just how bad are the "glitches" with the Treo 650? Is Cingular service acceptable or as intolerable as the Amazon crowd would have me believe (I'd be connecting in the NYC area)?

Some honest advice would be much appreciated!

I really like my Treo. Understand that no gadget is troublefree, let alone perfect. You WILL have an occasional reset, etc., but no more than with anything else out there.
As to your specifics:
- handset volume, if too soft, is fixable with a cheap, terrific app called VolumeCare
- Software glitches are rarely the Treo's fault
- Dropped calls are nearly never the Treo's fault (has your cell phone never dropped a call?)
- Sync problems are also rarely the Treo's fault (except the sporadic Bluetooth sync issue, usually fixable).
You can try another PalmOS smartphone with a hi-res screen, but I don't think you'll find one out there! In that vein, decide how urgent your need is. There are real problems I have with it: no WiFi (not critical, but irritating), no built-in voice memo (but many apps are available), and worst of all, limited Bluetooth functionality which affects a host of tertiary functions including voice dialing from a wireless headset, and the inability to use BT stereo headphones. The new Treo (700p?) will have updated BT, more RAM, possibly WiFi, etc.
Essentially, the issues I have with the Treo 650 are mid- or high-level functional limitations, not the glitches. Go get one.

-K

[Geo]

Hi,
I read you concerns about the glitches...and that got me thinking and wondering....Visor gives a real first person account of his Treo 650 use and how he loves it. I do hope that the glithes are more user related....that way I don't feel so bad if any happen. No glithes yet, bu waiting to see what happens. If some one wants to share their experience of their Treo 650, I am all ears .
Is everyone using their Treos to full (possible) potential? Any of you not using data, not web? Just using it as a phone with an organizer attached?
G.

[Visor]

Originally Posted by Geo

Is everyone using their Treos to full (possible) potential? Any of you not using data, not web? Just using it as a phone with an organizer attached?

Hi Geo,

Full potential? I doubt if even the power users are there yet.

All I originally wanted was a PDA/phone. I had no need for the data access. That is until I tried it. Now I'm really liking that part of the unit as well. Sending quick notes, pictures (didn't want/need the camera originally either), looking-up people/business numbers and addresses, checking the weather, etc. My Treo went form pure functional to cool.