Palm’s recently released Treo 700w is the first Palm Smartphone to run the Windows Mobile operating system thus giving the Treo Smartphone an extreme software makeover. As such, there are major changes from the Palm OS operating system of the Treo 650. I will the highlight similarities and differences between the Treo 700w and the Treo 650 to help you decide whether or not to make that upgrade or choose which smartphone is right for you.
Windows Mobile on a Treo
The Treo 700w is the first Palm Treo to run the Windows Mobile; a major departure from the Palm OS that has run on the original Handspring Treo 180 to the more recent Treo 650. With past introductions to the Treo smartphone family, it was easier to focus on the attributes of the hardware and features more so, than delving into the operating system. The Palm Treo 700w is a whole new ball game. It’s akin to reviewing Apple iMacs running OS X and then having Apple release a new iMac running Windows XP. To further muddle things, from an aesthetic point of view, the Treo 700w is in a lot of ways similar to the Treo 650. One thing is for certain; the debate regarding device superiority is sure to go rage on.
Mac User’s Perspective
Those who have read past reviews or frequented the Everything Treo forums will know that I am a Mac OS user. Out of the box, the new Verizon Treo 700w does not support Macintosh. Mark/Space, makers of the Missing Sync, are currently working on a Mac solution to support Windows Mobile 5 and the Treo 700w. In a futile attempt to get Active Sync working on my Mac, I installed Virtual PC. After 8 hours of installation and Windows XP updates, I was unable to get Virtual PC to recognize the Treo 700w. For this reason, the Active Sync portion of this review will be added at a later date.
What’s In The Box
The Palm Treo 700w is currently available with Verizon Wireless and comes with the following:
- Palm Treo 700w smartphone
- USB Sync cable
- Rechargeable battery
- Wired headset
- AC Charger
- Welcome CD
- Windows Mobile Getting Started CD
- Quick Reference Guide
Treo 700w Review continued: Everything Starts With Windows Today
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