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Palm Discovery gives a HUGE thanks to Alex Mathews of Treobits for a recent mention on his site.

Palm Discovery also gives a BIG THANKS to Michelle Halpern and Amy Clark of Environics for providing the Treo 700p on loan for this review.

Before I continue, please keep in mind that the approach to this review comes from someone who owns a Treo 650, making comparisons between the Treo 650 and 700p as well as the choice of whether to upgrade to the 700p as a replacement for the 650. So, a lot of the opinions expressed here may not seem to be as positive as one would expect. In other words, for me, a GSM Treo 650 owner, I would not be tempted to upgrade to a 700p, and maybe a 680 because there isn’t enough special or upgraded features to persuade me to spend a few hundred dollars on a newer device. But, on the other hand, for someone who does not own a Treo 650, or anything similar this could be a great device as an upgrade.

Please check out my previous postings on Treo 650 (see the Related posts list off to the right side) for a list of postings and then also add in all the extra thoughts I’ve written in this posting to get a better perspective with what the Treo 700p offers. So, think of the Treo 700p as the Treo 650 plus a bit more, and that it only operates on the CDMA cellular networks. Unlike the Treo 650 which offers both a GSM and CDMA versions, newer models will only be supported on one or the other network, I guess, to avoid confusion.

For those of us who already own a Treo device and wish to upgrade to something a bit better, we currently have two choices: Treo 680 and Treo 700p. The Treo 680 shouldn’t really be considered an “upgrade” for the Treo 650 although it does offer more RAM but you must consider that it is outfitted with a lower capacity battery and that it is really meant as the newer “entry level” Treo rather than as a replacement for the aging and discontinued Treo 650.

The Treo 700p, on the other hand is considered an upgrade since it does offer some better features when comparing with the 650. Unfortunately, the Treo 700p is only offered on CDMA networks, which includes Sprint, Verizon (in the USA), Bell and Telus (in Canada). So, for those of us with Treos that operate on the GSM networks, we are currently only given the choice of the 680 for a Palm OS Treo. Especially since the Treo 650 has long been discontinued, I certainly do hope that there will be a true upgrade for Treo 650 users but only time will tell.

Here are some information on the Treo 700p (taken from Palm’s website)

A quick overall observation of the 700p in comparison to the 650 shows that first, the Palm Operating system version for the 700p is 5.4.9 vs. 5.4.7 for the 650. That’s a slightly newer OS version. Now, the memory is a big point here, with the 700p having 128MB although only 60MB are user accessible compared to 32MB with only 22MB user accessible. That is the main point and feature that I think is the main reason why anyone would upgrade to the 700p. Surprisingly, the both Treos operate at 312mhz so there is no difference in terms of the power and speed. The other big difference is the resolution of the camera. The screen resolution is the same for both at 320×320. The 700p has a 1.3 MP camera (1280×1024 resolution) vs 650’s 0.3MP camera (640×480 resolution). Again, the maximum video resolution on both are the same at 352×288 resolution. Also, of course, the other main difference as I’ve previously pointed out is that the 700p is only available on CDMA cellular networks like Sprint, Verizon, Bell, Telus and others. There is currently no Treo 700p available for the GSM networks and considering that the 680 is already out, highly doubtful there will be a GSM Treo 700p. This model is already showing its age and considering that the firmware update to address many issues (bluetooth compatibility support, stuttering music playback, time lag when switching applications) still hasn’t been released by Palm, I can only assume that much like it has happened before, Palm is no longer focusing on this model. Anyway, these are the major differences between the 700p and 650.

In my view, the main reason why I would be tempted to upgrade to the 700p would be the larger RAM memory. But then, considering that the 680 has 64MB RAM user accessible (128 MB total), which is 4MB more RAM than the 700p, and offers pretty much features similar to the 650, and it’s newer. sleeker, lighter and in a variety of colors (for unlocked versions), I would think that the newer 680 would appeal more to GSM network 650 users, like myself. After saying that, the 680 still doesn’t offer enough for me to upgrade to, so I’m hoping that there will be something else coming down the pipes. My problem is that I normally don’t upgrade unless there is a need to do so and the newer model offers features. Unfortunately, so far, most of these newer models are only minor enhancements to the Treo 650. Keep in mind that I am very much a practical person so a lot of style and flash doesn’t appeal while function will.

Here’s a few more pics of the Treo 700p

Click on the thumbnail images for a bigger picture

And a video showing an overall comparison of the Treo 700p vs 650.

Treo 700p vs 650 quick comparison

700p vs 650 comparison on Vimeo

Vimeo requires Flash version 8 or higher

Alternative link: YouTube

And a 4 part video overview of the Treo 700p with some comparisons made with the Treo 650.

Treo 700p overview (4 parts)

Part 1 on Vimeo

Vimeo requires Flash version 8 or higher

Alternative link: YouTube

Part 2 on Vimeo

Alternative link: YouTube

Part 3 on Vimeo

Alternative link: YouTube

Part 4 on Vimeo

Alternative link: YouTube

As most of you have already gathered, I personally think that this can be a slight upgrade for Treo 650 users, although I feel that for me, that there isn’t enough features offered that persuade me to upgrade. As well, since the 700p is only offered on CDMA networks like Sprint, Verizon, Bell, Telus, and others, this is not an upgrade for those on GSM networks. Being CDMA, you are very restricted to the specific carrier it supports. Unlike GSM phones, where you can remove the subsidy lock that most carriers put on them and then be able to use any SIM or smart card and place and receive calls without restrictions, CDMA carriers have a policy of refusing to enable any competitor’s phone to operate on their network. So, you can’t expect to easily use a Sprint phone on a Verizon network and vice versa.

The main feature or persuading point of the 700p for me, is the extra RAM. This does make a HUGE difference in terms of NVFS and DBCache stability (although the 700p does have some issues as I’ve previously noted with regards to bluetooth, app lag, playback stutters). During my testing, I’ve never experienced any resets or problems but that may be also because I really didn’t put it through a strenuous testing. Those who own a Treo 650 will likely agree with me that there is not enough user accessible RAM to deal with DBCache which, for a lot of us Treo 650 users, causes stability issues. With a greater amount of RAM found in both the 700p and 680, the problem of resets and crashes due to DBCache has significantly decreased if not fixed altogether. For someone who may be interested in a Treo device and the convenience of an all-in-one mobile device, the Treo 700p may offer a good upgrade for those on CDMA networks since the 650 is no longer available. It offers all of the benefits and advantages of the once very popular Treo 650 smartphone plus the extra RAM, higher resolution camera and some extra programs and features.

The Treo 700p is a decent all-in-one smartphone device that can offer a lot for someone who has not owned something similar. The form factor is very similar to the very popular Treo 650 with a lot of the features and some enhancements to that device. One of the things I find I really like about the 700p aside from more RAM is the squarish QWERTY keys. To most, it may not seem like a big deal, but being quite familiar with the Treo 650 keys, I’ve found that the squarish or angular keys on the 700p really make a big difference in terms of typing. I’ve found that it’s much easier to type (probably because there’s more space on the key) and feels good on the hand. As an upgrade for 650 owners, there’s a very slight (in my view) reason to do so especially since we know how much getting a new phone, never mind a new Treo costs.

On the other hand, for someone else who’s never owned a Treo, this may offer all the advantages of a smartphone device that’s found in the Treo 650 and they may even get a good deal, especially for those looking for a CDMA phone. The form factor and how it feels so comfortable in the hands is one of the subtle things you’ll notice about the 700p. The advantage of having your PDA and phone with you everywhere at all times is another big plus. The QWERTY keys will allow you quick access to inputting and entering data into your office documents while you’re on the go. The camera can be very helpful for those in real estate or others in external environments to take a quick picture for emailing or documentation. The much faster EVDO data speeds offered by the CDMA carriers really make the 700p a robust and useful device. Most of the features and arguments for the Treo 650 can also be applied here with the added benefits that the Treo 700p provides.

To clarify, my perspective on this review is mainly for those who already have and own Treo 650 and not really for those who have not yet owned one. Please also check out my previous reviews on the Treo 650 here, as well as the Flash demos of the Treo 650 starting with part one here, as well as my thoughts of the Treo 650 device here and elsewhere spread out in the blog for my perspective on the Treo 650 and then add on all my thoughts of the 700p in this posting to get a better idea.

So, it really depends on your needs and budget.

You can find more information on the Treo 700p smartphone from the Palm US website. And you can purchase the Treo 700p from the Palm US Store here.

EDIT. Also check out my review of the Treo 755p here!

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