More annoying still, there is no front-facing camera for video calling. The 3G capability of this smart phone, then, is definitely data only. And while we are on that topic, the Treo 750v has the gubbins inside to cope with the high-speed HSDPA standard, but Vodafone has not enabled that. We are told there will be a software upgrade at some stage.
Palm has done some very clever stuff with the Windows Mobile operating system. There's a PDF reader included for those who want to browse email attachments and suchlike in this format, but the real innovations come right at the front end of the Treo 750v and relate to its use as a handset and mobile data device.
SMS messages, for example, can be viewed as 'threaded message' -- you can follow a series of SMS exchanges through as though they were a to-and-fro conversation, which is great if you text a lot and want to keep track.
We really like the way you place voice calls to people in your contact book. When on the Today Screen, just start to type a name and matches are shown on-screen, with the list of contacts narrowing down the more you type. Eventually you'll end up viewing the contact you want. Then you can scroll through the available numbers and tap the Call icon to dial. It's very quick and easy. Even faster, you can put a Picture ID on the Today screen and dial that. Great for the few people you call the most.
When calls come in, it's easy to send them to voicemail and, with just a few key presses, send an SMS to the caller -- you can even use a pre-defined text for speed and ease.
Oh, and did we mention the Google Web-search bar on the Today screen? Tap in a search term and the results are displayed in Pocket Internet Explorer in a flash.
It's not all rosy, though, particularly in terms of connectivity. There's no Wi-Fi, and the Bluetooth is version 1.2, which is a little old hat these days.
Performance
On a music rundown battery test we got just under 11 hours of continuous playback from a miniSD card with the Treo 750v's screen forced to stay on continuously. For the last hour, music playback was turned off -- that's when the battery got to 10 per cent of its charge.
Call quality was fine, and we found we were able to use the Treo 750v one-handed much of the time. The relatively small screen size is a major irritation, but something else would have had to be squeezed to make it larger and that would have been a pity.
Edited by Mary Lojkine
Additional editing by Nick Hide
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User reviews6
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Tom Vernon 6 August 2007
Good: It looks ok, and when it works it's pretty good
Bad: Everyone that has owned one in my business has had to have the handset replaced at least twice because of failures!
Comment: The Treo 750v should be a great phone. It looks good, considering it has a qwerty keyboard, and I like the colour. Initially it took a while to get used to the interface, stylus and keys, but I got there in the end.
However, telephones have one major function - the ability to make and receive calls. Of the original four Treo 750V's that my company purchased everyone of them has been replaced at least twice. The phones have failed due to various faults like not ringing out, failing to charge batteries, failing to hear a person calling you, and not being able to speak to someone whom you have called.
As I said a telephone should succeed to be a device for making and recieiving calls.
On not 1, but 8 occasions this phone failed to be a phone fit for purpose.
If you don't mind a phone which can make and recieve texts on, or browse the internet, or send and receive emails whilst being unable to actually call anybody then please get one.
Otherwise, stay well clear.
O Oya 3 January 2007
Good: I can do most things one handed. Palm's additions have made the software really sing!
Bad: I had to download an extra app to get button-activated voice recording. No scroll button.
Comment: Aside from the fact that I could not use this as a dicta machine out of the box, I think this is really the ultimate device for me. I can reach virtually everything at the touch of a button. Palm have really thought this through and there is now much better cohesion between software and hardware. Might I say this device would be perfect if there were a scroll wheel and more than one assignable hardware button. I don't really miss WI-FI too much because I can still use the 3G vodafone service if I really have to. I think GPS would have been a great addition.
Zero Uniden 8 November 2006
Good: All of it
Bad: I can't get it
Comment: It would help me out with all my work
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