imported_nuke

I have a Treo650 on my corporate Cingular account. What a POS. First one locked up several times while trying to activate. They sent a replacement, but I don't think it is the hardware. All the crashing and operational farts seem to be entirely software/OS related. In any case, I'm really, really hating the 650. The browser is woefully limited and not particularly useful.

Compared to my iPaq 4700, the Treo is a complete POS.

The only up side to all of this is the phone is GSM and I have a SIM card with voice and data services.

I might be interested in the 6500 series, even if I have to pay for it myself, I think I can live with it better than the Treo. How does the 6500 compare in capability with the 4700?

When can I get a 6500 in the USA? Where, and how much?

Are there other PocketPC based options that I should be looking at? Most of them seem kind of crippled compared to the 4700.

What I'd like is a 4700 (or better) speed, screen, wifi/bt, storage options + GSM/GPRS/EDGE phone/data, that all actually worked.

swhoutx035

Originally Posted by nuke

Compared to my iPaq 4700, the Treo is a complete POS. The only up side to all of this is the phone is GSM and I have a SIM card with voice and data services. I might be interested in the 6500 series, even if I have to pay for it myself, I think I can live with it better than the Treo. How does the 6500 compare in capability with the 4700? When can I get a 6500 in the USA? Where, and how much?

Hi nuke, what do you like most about the 4700? If it's the screen, you won't be happy with the 6500. It's only QVGA and 240x240. Personally, I am ruined by the 4700 - I can never see myself going back to a QVGA device or smaller screen. I don't know when the 6500 is due out in the US. There are a couple of reviews here on this site by Chris and Ted (Whitelyt) that may give you more of an idea of its capabilities as far as PPC functions.

psionandy

The MDA IV could be what you are looking for... out at the end of this year

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imported_nuke

The 4700 screen gets me the best, it would be hard to go to a lesser image. Then the overall speed is pretty good, the case feels very sturdy and good in my hand.

I like the OS better. The PalmOS drives me bonkers. Froze again today. Can't find stuff on it because there are no "files" in the Palm thing.

I think I will keep my eyes open for a PocketPC type device with a lot of computing power and a full featured reliable phone. I can bide my time.

swhoutx035

Originally Posted by nuke

I think I will keep my eyes open for a PocketPC type device with a lot of computing power and a full featured reliable phone. I can bide my time.

Hi nuke. Happy hunting. Post back when you've decide and let us know what you chose.

cec

Originally Posted by nuke

I have a Treo650 on my corporate Cingular account. What a POS. First one locked up several times while trying to activate. They sent a replacement, but I don't think it is the hardware. All the crashing and operational farts seem to be entirely software/OS related. In any case, I'm really, really hating the 650. The browser is woefully limited and not particularly useful. Compared to my iPaq 4700, the Treo is a complete POS. The only up side to all of this is the phone is GSM and I have a SIM card with voice and data services. I might be interested in the 6500 series, even if I have to pay for it myself, I think I can live with it better than the Treo. How does the 6500 compare in capability with the 4700? When can I get a 6500 in the USA? Where, and how much? Are there other PocketPC based options that I should be looking at? Most of them seem kind of crippled compared to the 4700. What I'd like is a 4700 (or better) speed, screen, wifi/bt, storage options + GSM/GPRS/EDGE phone/data, that all actually worked.

As an owner of both the Treo 650 (unbranded GSM) and hx4705 I must say I couldn't disagree with you more. The 650 is a great phone/PDA with a stable OS. I can't sit here and not defend it. Either you had a bad unit or problems with 3rd party software. IMHO it is still the best integrated convergence device on the market hands down.

If you need a true convergent device with GSM service and are opposed to the 650, I would take a look at the Imate JAM. It has a great form factor and all the power of a mid-range PPC. You would need a WiFi card though.

psionandy

Originally Posted by cec

If you need a true convergent device with GSM service and are opposed to the 650, I would take a look at the Imate JAM. It has a great form factor and all the power of a mid-range PPC. You would need a WiFi card though.

Since my first post in this thread I've now got an MDA compact (Tmobile branded Imate Jam)... and it is very nice.

No wifi though.

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iPAQsavy

hw6500 series would be a good choice

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mm42

Originally Posted by cec

As an owner of both the Treo 650 (unbranded GSM) and hx4705 I must say I couldn't disagree with you more. The 650 is a great phone/PDA with a stable OS.

Wow, I have to strongly disagree with that. I had a Treo 600 and a Treo 650, and the OS is anything but stable. I thought my 600 was bad, and looked forward to more mature and stable performance from the 650, but instead it was plagued even more by constant resets and hangs.

Versamail is awful and so is Blazer. I tried 3rd party replacements for these, but each had some limitation or incompatibility with my needs as well.

Treo speaker volume is not loud enough for use outside of very quiet areas. I had to get a 3rd party app called VolumeCare just to boost the volume to a reasonable level.

The hardware is also lousy on the Treos, very poor quality control. My 600 lasted about 6 months before devolving into the buzzing noise problem commonly complained of, and my 650 lasted a whole 7 months before the radio simply failed and will not send or receive calls any more.

I hate to say these things about the Treos, because I love the form factor and the ergonomics. The integration of the 5-way is great, allowing one-handed, stylus-free operation of almost everything. (On the 650 though its very annoying to have to remove the back to reset it, although this would be no big deal if it didn't hang up so often.)

So far although I miss the one-hand capabilities of the 650 and the convenience of the 5-way nav in general, my hw6510 is far superior in the nuts and bolts of operation, i.e. not crashing (ever) and providing functional browser and e-mail software in Internet Explorer and Messages.

Another thing I will miss about the Treo is the seamless integration of Contacts with the phone. I could find all my numbers just by beginning to type initials into the phone app. If there is an easy way to do this on hw6510 I haven't discovered it yet.

If the Treo 650 frustrated you, the hw6500 series may be as welcome a change for you as it is for me.

Maybe when the Treo 700w comes out I will see all the features I want unified in a device, but I will still be wary of the hardware quality of Treo devices.

AmesAxim

I do IT work and we have had nothing but problems with the 650. They suck and Cingular can rarely do anything but send new units.

sbd

mm42 says: "If there is an easy way to do this on hw6510 I haven't discovered it yet"

There is!!! And one-handed too!

Press the 'contacts' button (don't even have to press power). Start typing in the first few alpahbets of the name of the contact you want to call/sms/email. Once the contact is highlighted correctly, press the windows right click button (bottom-most row, third from the left) and you're provided a whole bunch of options. Press 'M' to call mobile, 'H' for home, etc. Wallah!

mm42

sdb:

Quote:

Press the 'contacts' button (don't even have to press power). Start typing in the first few alpahbets of the name of the contact you want to call/sms/email. Once the contact is highlighted correctly, press the windows right click button (bottom-most row, third from the left) and you're provided a whole bunch of options. Press 'M' to call mobile, 'H' for home, etc. Wallah!

I tried this and it works very well - thanks!

Chris Leckness

I am carrying the HTC Wizard, AKA iMate kjam (among others).... IT IS VERY NICE!

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harleyxlc

+1 for the JAM.

The JASJAR is VGA and now there is a K-JAM with wi-fi and a keyboard.

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Current PDA/phones:

AT&T Tilt (unlocked)
Motorola v360
SE T610

My sordid past:

Kyocera 6035, Kyocera 7135, Samsung i700, iPAQ 6315, iPAQ hx4705, Motorola a630, BB 7100t, iPAQ rx3115, JAM 850, BB 8700g, Samsung i320 (just for fun), imate KJAM, TMO SDA, MDA, TMO Wing