How is Treo reliability - Treo Forums

cliffling · 05-09-2008, 10:32 AM

I have a Motorola Q and my girlfriend has a Blackberry. We're seriously considering moving to some Palm devices (I want the 800w and she wants a Centro), but we've heard that reliability isn't always the best with this brand.

Can you folks who actually have them tell me: are they reliable? What's battery life like? Do they have glitches that drive you crazy (Lord knows my Q does...)?

I would especially like to hear from folks who have used other smartphones/pda phones.

Thanks,

Cliff

stevetaz · 05-09-2008, 01:20 PM

Hi Cliff and welcome to ET...

Jeeeeez, that is almost like asking how blue is the sky and how high is up? So much of the reliability of almost any smartphone lies with the user and what they load on and use it for. You are using a Q, but looking to change and your GF is using a BB, but looking to change. If you posted this on a BB or a Q forum I bet I would know answers they would give!!! Why are you looking to change and why is she?

I carried a Treo650 for three years and after some initial resetting and instability it really was fine until it began getting to the end of its lifecycle. I have moved to the BB platform and frankly I have found it to be a superior phone and rock-solid email device with great battery life, but certainly not as "finished" or polished as the Treo. There is a multitude of software available for the Treo, but I only used a small part. The big selection is also probably a contributor to instability problems some may have. The more third-party software you install, try, uninstall and so on, the more risk you run to introduce instability.

You are also asking about one device (800W) that has not even been released yet. Depending on what you read or listen to, it may be in beta testing now and it may be released by Sprint in July....or not. I have heard some real good things about the Centro, but I am not a user.

I have no experience with the W versions of the Treo, but I am sure if you troll these boards and read what people are posting you can get a feel of honest opinions maybe more than asking others to tell you what they think. Keep in mind that when you see postings to these boards they are more often a user having a problem and looking for help. The other people you run into are the real fans who might be just a tad biased. All the others in the middle are probably at work using their devices to be productive and working and don't have time to post on boards. I do believe the rumors are that the 800 will FINALLY include Bluetooth 2.0 and WiFi and will be on the Windows Mobile 6.1 platform. Also rumored is a new USB mini charging/sync plug instead of the proprietary Palm and built-in GPS (sounds like my BB). I also heard that itb will include a mini microwave and blender!!! (kidding).

Bottom line...I thing the Palm devices still have something to offer and from what I hear the Centro might be a great introduction if you can adapt to the small keyboard. Not so sure of the 800W because it is really an unknown and also not sure if I would jump on so much new until the initial kinks are known and corrected....But that is me. I also wouldn't buy the first year model of a car and I might try Vista next year.

What you might look into is how long the trial period is so you can get a bit comfortable trying it out, but if it is a disaster for you you can still return it with no penalties. Make sure you "get it in writing" and don't rely on a salesperson's word.

Good luck and let us know what you decide and how it goes. Your question is not much different than many others have in this sea of technology.

SteveTaz

Quote:

Originally Posted by cliffling

I have a Motorola Q and my girlfriend has a Blackberry. We're seriously considering moving to some Palm devices (I want the 800w and she wants a Centro), but we've heard that reliability isn't always the best with this brand.

Can you folks who actually have them tell me: are they reliable? What's battery life like? Do they have glitches that drive you crazy (Lord knows my Q does...)?

I would especially like to hear from folks who have used other smartphones/pda phones.

Thanks,

Cliff

cliffling · 05-09-2008, 02:19 PM

Thanks, Steve. I'm a member of EverythingQ.com, so I've seen a bit of the folks who just didn't know what they were doing and blasted the Q and all, just as many do here with Treo's I'm sure. I have looked at the Treo's for a bit, but I'm a fan of Windows Mobile (my girlfriend hates it, and I can't stand the Centros tiny keyboard.... just shows: different strokes for different folks). I happened across the 800w, and it looks impressive.

Point being, I got pretty excited about the 800w, and I know it isn't out yet and all, but when I brought it up to my girlfriend (knowing she liked the Centro, but has been leaning toward a curve), she said "I thought the Treo's were not reliable".

So, I thought I'd ask some Treo owners. I very much appreciate your thoughts on the matter. I looked a little on here and found some folks who said "I'm on the third one, and I'm done with this phone. It sucks". I've seen the same thing about Q's, and while mine is quirky at times (especially in places with low signal, which unfortunately is exactly what I have at work...), it is a great phone.

We're just got the new phone bug pretty bad, and I know I'm looking for a WM phone with WiFi and a non sliding Qwerty keyboard, and the 800w seems to fit that bill.

blueonblackstrat · 05-11-2008, 09:29 AM

I had the Treo 650, then went to the Moto Q, for about 3 weeks, before I had to let it go... Worst device I've ever owned. I went with the 755P, which is far and away better than the Q.

The Palm OS, is in my opinion far better than the Windows Mobile system... Everything is right there at your fingertips. Where as with the Windows mobile I found myself searching through folders to attempt to find a ringtone I put in. As it is now, I put a ringone in my Palm in under 30 seconds...

benjie · 05-11-2008, 12:17 PM

I have very little experience with Windows, having a 700W for a short period of time, 2 Blackberry's in the family and having spent about 2 weeks playing with a Blackjack and a Touch. My conclusion, worthless as it is, none of the devices do everything for everybody. When you use them in their out-of-the-box state, every one I used did very well. When one starts loadiing 'em up with third party software, problems begin. That is not to say that 3rd party software needs to be avoided - one just has to put forth the time to check out the applications for stability/interaction problems.

My 600s were great devices. The 650s bit the dirt real bad, the 700Ps did very well - rock solid if there ever was a solid rock. The 2 Centros in the family are solid/reliable. The 700w bit after I started adding applications. The 2 Blackberrys were ok on their own, but adding applications, well not what my wife liked when she could not find what she wanted.

I am looking forward to getting my hands on a 800w and if it as good as the 700wx, I will go with it; the reason for not going with the 700wx is because of my desire for a newer os.

Ben