Comments on: Treo 650 as a Notebook Alternative

Treo or MacBook?PCWorld has an article up about leaving the laptop behind in favor of a Palm Treo 650. The author compares his experiences managing email on his Treo smartphone with using a notebook as well as a RIM device.
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Treo 650 has the same big limitation as my m515

dagwud @ 2/23/2006 1:21:24 PM # Q
The only thing that I wish my m515 had on a daily basis is an HVGA screen. The ability to increase the display size and work in landscape mode like the TX or the Lifedrive would make it much more a notebook alternative.

The Treo 650 has the same problem as my m515 - square screen.

Don't get me wrong - I still do many of the same things on my m515 that I would do on a notebook (save email and web). I create documents, manage spreadsheets, use a database, etc. I just wish the screen was bigger.

Make this my second plug in as many weeks for a Treo without the thumbboard.

--
PalmPilot Pro (1997) -> III (1998) -> Vx (1999) -> m500 (2001) -> m515 (2002) -> ???

RE: Treo 650 has the same big limitation as my m515
hkklife @ 2/23/2006 3:08:27 PM # Q
Palm's "heart" has never been in HVGA screens. They prefer the SSS due to cost, cheapness, affordability, ease of implementation, and the fact that so many Palm developers have bailed out and not updated their apps since 2003 or so. So Palm wants to create the illusion of "current" apps by continuing to ship 320*320 Treos & PDAs that will run the thousands of abandonware titles out there.

Nothing infuriates me more than trying to see PalmSource/PalmGear/Handango scan a customer out of thier $ and not mention what screen resolutions a certain app supports. Case in point--the Namco arcade ports of Pac-Man, Galaga etc. These are perfect titles to utlize a HVGA screen. Instead they took the cheap way out and went with 320*320 only.

Whether it's Palm unwillingness or FrankenGarnet's inherent instability (my vote is both), Palm has a love/hate relationship with HVGA devices. I still maintain they should have released a T|C2 with dual wireless, a >Treo keypad and a 480*320 screen. That would be the ideal device for what you are talkinga bout, dagwud.

Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX

RE: Treo 650 has the same big limitation as my m515
dagwud @ 2/23/2006 8:34:10 PM # Q
Your "ideal device" loses me at the thumbboard. Don't like 'em. Don't want to use 'em. And I'm faster with Grafitti anyway.

I don't mind carrying a folding keyboard if it means I can have a full keyboard. One of the reasons that the newer post-universal-connecter units haven't appealed to me is that the wireless PPK initially did away with the number row. They've brought it back, which removes that complaint.

--
PalmPilot Pro (1997) -> III (1998) -> Vx (1999) -> m500 (2001) -> m515 (2002) -> ???

RE: Treo 650 has the same big limitation as my m515
hkklife @ 2/24/2006 12:11:17 AM # Q
I didn't say that was my "Ideal device" ;-)
My IDEAL device would have Graffiti 1 with the bells'n whistles of G2 (onscreen ink, crossing over style caps etc) available OPTIONALLY via the prefs menu.

I dislike thumboards immensely but I'd still take a thumboard over the miserable G2 anyday. I've been trying for3 years to become as adept in G2 as I was in G1 to no avail.

I must admit, the newer IR Universal keyboard with the number row is the best effort so far. Build quality isn't as good as the older units but the keys' feel is good, the number row is a must-have and the driver FINALLY (1.10) is rock solid stable.

Palm finally beat ThinkOutside for a keyboard. Who woulda thunk it?

Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX

RE: Treo 650 has the same big limitation as my m515
Timothy Rapson @ 2/24/2006 8:23:52 AM # Q
I, too, am fed up with the SSS and it is basically because I use my PDA as a mini-laptop.
I also want a real file system, multitasking, and real fonts.

RE: Treo 650 has the same big limitation as my m515
dagwud @ 2/24/2006 10:08:38 AM # Q
hkklife, I put "ideal device" in quotes because you were the one who used the term to describe a proposed device. I didn't mean to infer that the proposed device was one that you'd consider ideal.

Sorry 'bout that.

--
PalmPilot Pro (1997) -> III (1998) -> Vx (1999) -> m500 (2001) -> m515 (2002) -> ???

RE: Treo 650 has the same big limitation as my m515
slinky @ 2/26/2006 3:01:08 PM # Q
Let's see:

1) RAM Limitation: 23MB of RAM/Storage - Try to download a few docs and the game is over.

2) No WiFi: I'm going on a trip tomorrow. Can't even connect to get email.

3) No EVDO: Well, this wouldn't be so much of a problem if we had WiFi but we don't have that either. No EVDO. Works great for downloading docs that you could use on your Commodore 64.

This article is a joke. The 650 is a joke. It could have been built to be a reasonable laptop replacement for simple tasks. Palm sucks and the sooner they die, the better off we'll be. Someone should buy their hardware and build it properly.



Slinky's turning to the darkside - the epic battle!
Surur @ 2/26/2006 5:08:55 PM # Q
http://www.churchoflivingfaith.com/images/treosith.jpg

slinky:Unfortunately since Palm decided to stick it to every Treo 650 owner in not allowing WiFi, I realized I am completely without options now that I'm traveling tomorrow. I can not only NOT use the phone as a phone, but I can't even use it as an email retreival device since there is no CDMA service. Palm should rot in hell. I will never buy another device from them and the answer will not be buying into their Windows Media version that isn't that great, especially when my 650 works perfectly and isn't even a year old.

May Palm suffer greatly from a quick death. Long live options and every other manufacturer who provides them.

Bill Gates slide in smoothly into the room, apparently on a cloud of smoke emanating from his dark cloak.
Bill Gates: The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be... unnatural.

slinky:Is this possible to learn those powers?"

Bill Gates, close-up, matter-of-factly, facing Slinky
Bill Gates:Not from a POS user.

Later at Bill Gates's mansion on the shores of Lake Washington.
Gfunkmagic storms in.

gfunkmagic:You turned Slinky against POS!

You have done that yourself.

gfunkmagic:You will not take her from me!

Bill Gates:Your anger and your lust for power have already done that... You have allowed this dark lord to twist your mind until now you have become the very thing you swore to destroy.

Slinky comes in from the bedroom, dressed only in a long shirt.

slinky:Don't lecture me Gfunkmagic. I see through the lies of Palm. I do not fear the dark side as you do... I have WIFi, Multitasking and GPS in my new smartphone.

Close-up, shocked

gfunkmagic:Your new smartphone! Don't make me kill you.

slinky:Gfunkmagic... My allegiance is to Power!, to Freedom!

gfunkmagic:If you're not with me, then you are my enemy.

slinky:Only a Moderators deals in absolutes. I will do what I must...

gfunkmagic:You will try!

both Gfunkmagic and slinky duel to the death

Feel free to continue this thrilling story. Palm Wars Episode 1 awaits! ;)

Surur
The forum gets way too little traffic

They said I only argued for the sake of arguing, but after an hour I convinced them they were wrong...

gspunkface SLAIN by the Dark Side!!! Bwahahaha!
The_Voice_of_Reason @ 2/26/2006 5:31:03 PM # Q
http://www.churchoflivingfaith.com/images/treosith.jpg


I was at the Sith Conference where this picture was taken, but until Pat Horne revealed the truth with his all-seeing TruthCam™ I did not realize that it was really Lord Gates on the stage.

We have been deceived™. Where is Jeff "Yoda" Hawkins when we need him*?







[*Counting my millions of $$$, I am.
- Jeff]




------------------------
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.
------------------------

The Palm eCONomy = Communism™

The Great Palm Swindle: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comments/7864/#108038

NetFrontLinux - the next major cellphone OS?: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comments/8060/#111823

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You call that an article?

pascanu @ 2/23/2006 3:25:37 PM # Q
My 8 years old kid could tell you more about email on a Treo650 just by seeing me use it every day.

Handspring Visor -> m505 -> Zire71 -> Zire72 -> Treo650
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Bah!

legodude522 @ 2/23/2006 5:35:06 PM # Q
Treo 650 as a laptop alternative is nothing compared to my Sharp Zaurus SL-C1000. I mean nothing! The Zaurus the closest thing to a laptop replacement except perhaps, an OQO.

Palm m125 December 25, 2002 to March 24 2004 > palmOne Zire 71 March 24, 2004 to March 31, 2005. Tapwave Zodiac 1 April 18, 2005 to November 2, 2005 > palmOne Zire 72 November 2, 2005 to present
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Ed Hardy

legodude522 @ 2/23/2006 8:23:26 PM # Q
Tell Ed Hardy to stop writing bs articles, oh.... wait. This wasn't him. My bad.

Palm m125 December 25, 2002 to March 24 2004 > palmOne Zire 71 March 24, 2004 to March 31, 2005. Tapwave Zodiac 1 April 18, 2005 to November 2, 2005 > palmOne Zire 72 November 2, 2005 to present
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'Origami' Concept as Alternative?

Gekko @ 2/28/2006 6:57:58 AM # Q
RE: 'Origami' Concept as Alternative?
SeldomVisitor @ 2/28/2006 7:13:55 AM # Q
== "...it's not yet clear if this would be a device under the
== Microsoft brand (which would be a departure for the company) or
== if it would be branded and marketed by others..."

Like...uh...PALM?

Jeff Hawkins' "third business" "next big thang".

Let's get that rumor MOVING!

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