To buy or not to buy.... please help!!

[pal]

Hi guys, I have a Tungsten T5 but I rarely use it 'cos it's a real pain (for me at least) to carry the PDA + cell phone. Anyway I love the Treo 650 and I'm seriously considering purchasing one even though it's a bit pricey ($600) in my neck of the woods. I've read some reviews on cnet.com and a lot of users have complained of:

- System spontaneously rebooting and phone turned off
- Very low speaker volume, difficulty to hear and to be heard
- QWERTY keyboard too small to type

I'd really love to buy this gadget but these recurrent commentaries are putting me off. Are these true? Or maybe those reviewers are doing things wrong?

How's your personal experience? Should I buy one? (tough question I know)

BTW it's a CDMA version and I don't plan to receive email in it, just a bit of web surfing. (In case this info is useful for an advice)

Thanks a lot,

[emdub]

I've just bought one and in a week I've managed to classify it as the best phone I've ever had (I've had quite a few, I usually change phones every 6 months).

I haven't had any issues with it that I didn't have with my old palm device, which aren't really issues, just quirks. No reboots or phone off'd or anything of the sort.

I didn't really complain about speaker volume... but decided to install an app called volumecare anyway since everybody raved on about it. Honestly I was ok before volumecare and I haven't boosted the volumes too much. Basically it allows you to boost every speaker and microphone on the phone to tottaly ridiculous volumes!

My thumbs are big and I manage the keyboard ok. Ofcourse it's quicker on a full size keyboard on my computer, but then it wouldn't be so portable, would it? :-)

I'd say go for it. I did and haven't regreted it. I love having a 2 in 1 THAT WORKS! My Qtek (iMate) never worked as well.

[coppertop]

It's worth it.

Check with your cell phone carrier and see if an upgrade will knock the price down.

The keyboard is small but manageable. I wish it came loaded with grafitti but I have learned to live without it.

Get VolumeCare to resolve the speaker volume issues and is well worth the $14.

There are occassions where the Treo will soft reset on its own but I have found this is due to corrupt files. My guess (and its only a guess) this is due to the small memory allocation. My experience with this problem were with files associated to text messages or versa mail settings (nothing critical). Once the files are deleted, the problem is solved.

Still with all these issues, the Treo is the best PDA/Phone combo out there. I like the looks of the HP but I've heard more nightmares about it than I have about the Treo. Blackberry's are too limited.

[Antoine of MMM]

You have a T5 and considering a 650; ah I am in the same boat, though my pracitce device has been a 600 for a while. I would say go for it as you will grow quite used to having lighter pockets, and even lighter if you get a BT headset.

For me personally, if I can get a GSM 650 for under $300 used withuot getting a new contract, then I will get one. Else I will have to wait and see if another Treo will come out that will better suit my needs (Drive mode and 256MB of RAM are needs after having a T5 ya know )