Considering switching from m505 to Treo 700p - Treo Forums

womanhattan · 11-17-2006, 08:31 AM

Hi, I have a Palm m505 and I'm very happy with it. But I'm back in the US after 3 years overseas and I need to get a phone. I'm considering buying a Smartphone to solve the problem of having phone numbers stored separately from my PDA database, and fumbling with two gadgets at the same time. But it is difficult to make an informed decision because I don't have a Treo to play around with before making a decision.

I'm not interested in any of these blackberries or sidekicks because they don't have Palm OS and I like my Palm Desktop software for Mac. (I posted Mac-specific questions in Mac forum.)

I found out that T-Mobile doesn't carry Treos anymore. I can get an unlocked Treo 650 for $399, but if anything happens, insurance won't replace it. So I'll probably go with Sprint, which sells 700p.

Questions:

I understand we've lost the writing area of the screen on the Treos and use the keyboard instead--goodbye Graffiti. However, didn't PDA's only become popular when graffiti was introduced over keyboards? Could thumbing it on a QWERTY really be as fast?

-If you run out of batteries, will you lose data that hasn't yet been synced? This is more of an issue when your Palm doubles as a phone.

-Can you create a shortlist of frequently dialed #'s? Accessing a number from my huge Palm database to make a phone call might be more time-consuming than accessing it from a smaller list, as I'm used to doing a cellphone.

-Numbers: Isn't it harder to dial numbers on a Treo than on a normal cell? Because the keys are so small in order to fit the whole alpha keyboard.

-If you're not using the web or email features or anything besides phone, SMS'ing, and Palm Desktop database (contacts/calendar/todo/memopad) is there any difference between 650 and 700P? (I'm still considering T-Mobile because of GSM).

-Are there any other issues you encountered in the transition from plain old Palm handheld to Treo? Good and bad.

Thanks, all advice is appreciated.

haroldo · 11-17-2006, 09:22 AM

I went from m500 to 700p

Quote:

...I understand we've lost the writing area of the screen on the Treos and use the keyboard instead--goodbye Graffiti. However, didn't PDA's only become popular when graffiti was introduced over keyboards? Could thumbing it on a QWERTY really be as fast?

You can get graffiti applications, if you want, but I don't miss graffiti, even though it was convenient. The typewriter isn't that bad.

Quote:

-If you run out of batteries, will you lose data that hasn't yet been synced?

there is a reserve (i think), but do yourself a favor, sync or get NVBACKUP (or any other program) which can backup your data to a SDCARD

Quote:

This is more of an issue when your Palm doubles as a phone.

-Can you create a shortlist of frequently dialed #'s? Accessing a number from my huge Palm database to make a phone call might be more time-consuming than accessing it from a smaller list, as I'm used to doing a cellphone.

Only 26 spots corresponding to the keyboard (a negative IMHO). There is fast access from Contacts. You type T-S-M (and Tom Smith's numbrer will appear (assuming he is the only one with that first name initial / last name combination). This is not as good as having speed dial, but you'll get used to it.

Quote:

-Numbers: Isn't it harder to dial numbers on a Treo than on a normal cell?Because the keys are so small in order to fit the whole alpha keyboard.

It's not that difficult, but it is not as easy as using a phone (IMHO)

Quote:

-If you're not using the web or email features or anything besides phone, SMS'ing, and Palm Desktop database (contacts/calendar/todo/memopad) is there any difference between 650 and 700P? (I'm still considering T-Mobile because of GSM).

no idea

Quote:

-Are there any other issues you encountered in the transition from plain old Palm handheld to Treo? Good and bad.

Treo has stability issues, problems with some user's bluetooth. it is good, but not perfect.
I'm happy with mine, but remember...it's not a phone, it's a palm that can make phone calls.
I'd recommend it, but stay close to the forums!

fondoo · 11-17-2006, 10:10 AM

why not check out verizon? they have the best coverage nationwide.

kdallen · 11-17-2006, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by womanhattan

I understand we've lost the writing area of the screen on the Treos and use the keyboard instead--goodbye Graffiti. However, didn't PDA's only become popular when graffiti was introduced over keyboards? Could thumbing it on a QWERTY really be as fast?

I've never owned an older Palm with graffiti, but many people found the transition easy, as was posted above.

Quote:

Originally Posted by womanhattan

-If you run out of batteries, will you lose data that hasn't yet been synced?

The Treo uses non-volatile flash memory, which means a dead battery doesn't mean losing all your info.

Quote:

Originally Posted by womanhattan

-Can you create a shortlist of frequently dialed #'s? Accessing a number from my huge Palm database to make a phone call might be more time-consuming than accessing it from a smaller list, as I'm used to doing a cellphone.

You can create speed dials on the Treo. Additionally, setting dialing to begin a contact search, or dialing from within contacts, speed things up considerably, like was mentioned above.

Quote:

Originally Posted by womanhattan

-Numbers: Isn't it harder to dial numbers on a Treo than on a normal cell? Because the keys are so small in order to fit the whole alpha keyboard.

I wondered the same thing before my first Treo, but found that you can get used to the alpha numeric keyboard. There's also the keypad on the touchscreen, which has "buttons" bigger than those on most cell phones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by womanhattan

-If you're not using the web or email features or anything besides phone, SMS'ing, and Palm Desktop database (contacts/calendar/todo/memopad) is there any difference between 650 and 700P? (I'm still considering T-Mobile because of GSM).

If you take away the EvDO speeds, the 700p has a slightly better camera but considerably more on-board memory. This may not be a huge issue to some, if they use launchers to run certain apps from their SD cards, but to some of us it's a big plus.

kdallen · 11-17-2006, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by womanhattan

I'm back in the US after 3 years overseas

Out of curiosity, where overseas were you?

womanhattan · 11-19-2006, 09:08 AM

Thanks, I have to confess ignorance on two things: 1) How to separate your quotes from my replies in this forum (as you did) so that I can do the quote and reply format easily. 2) what is an SD Card. Someone else said that the Treo has non-volatile memory and won't lose data and that's good. Most of my database is synced but if I can't enter a phone number without risking losing it before I get a chance to sync it, then the pen is still mightier than the palm! Because with a piece of paper, you don't have to worry about syncing.

What does stability problems mean--is that a bluetooth related problem or a general problem?

When you say the Treo is not a phone but a Palm that makes phone calls does that mean another phone is necessary or just that it's not a very good phone?

If I do decide to get a Treo, I will certainly stay close to these forums as you suggested!

Quote:

Originally Posted by haroldo

I went from m500 to 700p

You can get graffiti applications, if you want, but I don't miss graffiti, even though it was convenient. The typewriter isn't that bad.
there is a reserve (i think), but do yourself a favor, sync or get NVBACKUP (or any other program) which can backup your data to a SDCARD

Only 26 spots corresponding to the keyboard (a negative IMHO). There is fast access from Contacts. You type T-S-M (and Tom Smith's numbrer will appear (assuming he is the only one with that first name initial / last name combination). This is not as good as having speed dial, but you'll get used to it.It's not that difficult, but it is not as easy as using a phone (IMHO)

no idea
Treo has stability issues, problems with some user's bluetooth. it is good, but not perfect.
I'm happy with mine, but remember...it's not a phone, it's a palm that can make phone calls.
I'd recommend it, but stay close to the forums!

womanhattan · 11-19-2006, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fondoo

why not check out verizon? they have the best coverage nationwide.

I would prefer a GSM phone (T-Mobile) but lacking that (because of the Treo issue), Verizon is more expensive than Sprint. Sprint has a plan with unlimited incoming calls with 300 outgoing for $50--$55 if nighttime begins at 7:00 pm. When you live overseas, you get accustomed to those free incoming calls!

womanhattan · 11-19-2006, 09:21 AM

Thanks for all the info. You wrote, esp. about the non-volatile flash memory.

You wrote: "There's also the keypad on the touchscreen, which has "buttons" bigger than those on most cell phones." You use the stylus for the touchscreen as with a palm, right?

kdallen · 11-19-2006, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by womanhattan

I would prefer a GSM phone (T-Mobile) but lacking that (because of the Treo issue), Verizon is more expensive than Sprint. Sprint has a plan with unlimited incoming calls with 300 outgoing for $50--$55 if nighttime begins at 7:00 pm. When you live overseas, you get accustomed to those free incoming calls!

Sprint's actually got a plan for around $30 for voice, and their unlimited data is another $15 (cheapest around, by far). I hear you on the overseas thing, I spent 7 yrs in Italy, from 96 to 03.

kdallen · 11-19-2006, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by womanhattan

Thanks for all the info. You wrote, esp. about the non-volatile flash memory.

You wrote: "There's also the keypad on the touchscreen, which has "buttons" bigger than those on most cell phones." You use the stylus for the touchscreen as with a palm, right?

I very, very rarely pull out my stylus. If I was going to use the phone's touch keypad (I'm actually pretty good at just using the keyboard), I'd hit it with my fingertip.