The Palm Treo 700w (aka Treo 670) - Exclusive first look!

Check it out: we got our hands on the new Windows Mobile-powered Treo, but it ain't called the Treo 670 anymore (if it even ever was called that), it's the Treo 700w (which implies-but doesn't guarantee-the existence of a Palm-powered Treo 700p). We haven't spent enough time with the 700w for a proper review - we've literally had it in our hands for only a few hours - but we couldn't resist posting up this first look:

Horizontal screen orientation.


Treo 700w vs. Treo 650. The 700w is actually a bit narrower than the 650.


"Welcome to the Palm 700w smartphone"


Plug-and-play. Getting online with an SD WiFi card could not have been any easier.


With the battery removed.


A few confirmed specs: Windows Mobile 5.0, one megapixel camera, EV-DO, Bluetooth, 64MB of memory, still trying to conclusively determine the resolution of the display, but it looks to our eyes like it's 240 x 240 pixels, not 320 x 320. But we're not 100% on that, ok?

[Gary @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Cool! Count me in.

[John Hummel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Great - at least with my Treo 650 I can sync to my Mac. Anyone know if you can sync a Windows Mobile to OS X yet?

[Jacob Varghese @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Even though these pics are of a Verizon phone, my Sprint pcs rep told me that they will be releasing this in January.

[Whisky @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

I like the Style of the Treo 650 better, but the Windows Mobile does look cool.

WIFI--- WTF, i'm still waiting for a driver for my Treo 650!!

[Spencer @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Why the tape over the carrier name? Come on just tell us.

[dukes @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

woah.

[Phil @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Yikes. No wifi? With the new XDAs coming out in the next few weeks, this is not going to be pretty..

[narco @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

So you still have to remove the back to reset it? This 700 isn't very different design-wise compared to the 650, nothing that would make me upgrade today. I've never tried Windows Mobile, but I'm used to what I have now and it does what I need it too.

Once they redesign it, then I'll upgrade. Spoken like a true Mac user.

Fishes,
narco.

[jjd @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

I like it. Please give it to me now with PalmOS or Linux. Anything but Windows.

[Jonatahn @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Anyone else feel that chill? I think hell just froze over. So much for "the Zen of Palm."

[Jacob Varghese @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Now the question to be asked is, which would make for a better smartphone -
treo 670/700 or the sprint ppc-6700?

http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000560059104/

[Steve @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

nice.

[danOS @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Win OS ?AND? Palm OS? or WindowsMobile5.0 hardware by PalmOne?

[Scoobydoo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

No Wifi, tiny screen? Welcome to HP's year old lineup. Palm is doomed.

[ChillyWilly @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Damn straight... this is what I've been waiting for. I'm sure it's going to be $600 or so when it comes out, but I think I know what my next phone will be. I may be able to live without analog for this model.

Ok.. time to post a new thread asking all of us for questions on this. I've got several just waiting for answers.

[ifryer @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Bummed they didn't include WiFi. But at least it seem to work with the addition of a card. I skiped on the 650 but am looking to upgrade from my 600. I hope T-Mobile is going to carry this one. I would like to see a head to head comparison this with the HTC-Wizard????

[Orneta @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Can't wait to get one of these, and it will certainly be nice to see the distribution that Palm can pull off for Windows Mobile. It stands to reason they will release a 750 series with the 480x480 resolution in the future.

[Arnold @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

I hope that is something they plan on seriously rethinking

[JerkyChew @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Yuck.

I don't use my Treo for its looks, I use it for the Palm OS. There are sexier, slimmer Windows-based phones out there, but I like my interface. Looks like there's no reason to stick with the Treo at this point.

[Permanent4 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

If it's got EVDO, most customers are going to spring for that and not miss the Wi-Fi all that much. Range is important, and even if you can only get 256 Kbps from where you are, that should still feel fast on a device like this. Sure, you'll pay for it, but I think it's worth it. (I've got a Treo 650, and even with 1xRTT, I think it's worth it.)

I still like this form factor better than the HTC Apache or Universal. It's clean, it's compact, it's easy to use, and it doesn't have any sliding parts that might break or get stressed from heavy usage. I just wish it ran another OS, but I suppose there's hope for a 700p in the near future.

Not that it matters now, since I've got my futurephone for the next two years. The futurephones that will be available in August 2007 ought to be even more kickass than this...

[Jonatahn @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

@#5: It says Verizon right on the front of it...

[Romeodawg @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Why would anyone consider this a positive?????

The reason the 650 is so successful is because it runs the Palm OS... There are lots of other Windows Mobile devices that haven't caught on like the 650... And this would dump all the Mac users, which I have a feeling is a pretty significant part of the Treo market.

The Treo 700 should just be a flatter version of the 650, with a speed bump and better camera. (Think 650 meets Razr). Add iTunes software, and that would be the ideal device for me.

[Jordan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

No WiFi.....WTF. I love my Treo 650 and was excited to upgrade to a decent sized Windows Mobile phone but if it does not include WiFi I don't think it will be worth it to me to fork over the $600 that Sprint will be asking.

How many Treo 650 owners agree with me? or am I being a little harsh?

[Jeeter @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Hey Kamalot, the reason the resolution is so low, is because Windows Mobile doesn't support 320x320. The only square resolution options I'm aware of are 240x240 and 480x480. As far as I know, there aren't any 480x480 Windows mobile devices yet.

I'm wondering if this thing has the PocketPC or SmartPhone OS.

[k @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

all these people saying no WiFi...can you not READ! It does say getting online with WiFi could not have been easier right under the picture confirming such....

[Alexandre @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Very good! But why horizontal orientation if the screen is square?

[Ryan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

take a screenshot and see what the resolution is.

[steve @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

You windows haters crack me up. I'm sure you look trendy with your Ipod, non starbucks coffee and VW passat but the truth is, it's a better OS. My 650 reboots or locks up at least 3 times a day. My Windows Mobile phone didn't do it once. Get over your trendy Micro$soft attitude and while your at it, take your John Kerry sticker off. You lost already.

[craig @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Why the horizontal screen orientation option? Seems to me that w/a square screen, that's unnecessary...?

[Daniel Bier @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

I agree with Kamalot. There really aren't that many applications that support that resolution, so you'll find yourself scroling down a lot during applications, and maybe even horizontally, too. That basically means that it's going to be used primarily as a smart_phone_, not as a PDA that happens to have a phone in it, although i'm not sure which was palm's original intention. I like the design, and would even consider it, if it weren't for the fact that Palm, even the hardware, is unstable, and I have a perfectly great (but now obsolete :-( Dell X50V.). I also use Cingular. Ah, hell. It's an ok device, but the screen is what kills it.

[Ben Dalton @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

It is running Pocket Pc not Smartphone... soo.. it looks like a huge winner to me. I want one!

[macstibs @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

The Settings screen on the xv6600 looks to have the same width so it should be a 240x240 screen.

[Daniel Strack @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Looks great! I can't wait to get my hands on one... but not for nothing - no built-in WIFI? Oh well...

IMHO -n As far as people saying they use the Treo because of the Palm OS - that blows my mind. PalmOS is NOT a great OS ... The reason the Treo is popular is because of form factor!

[ME @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Mac sync - try Markspace (http://www.markspace.com/)

[Scott Johnson @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Sweet!

[Nick @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

GUYS! You owe it to the world to spill the beans on this ASAP... please drop everything and review this puppy now!!

[Timmay @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

It looks like a small BenQ...

[Sebhelyesfarku @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

I am a troll: [e-mail]

[Raphael Salgado @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

It's definitely 240x240. Look at the keyboard icon in the bottom of the screen. Definitely low-pixelage compared to images of that icon on VGA screens. Oh well, it's still good.

EXCEPT WHY IS IT A CDMA DEVICE?!? Need GSM/EDGE...

[PauldG @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

I'd go with any HTC device over this one. My simple question is wether they improved the phone quatlity, or just the OS?

[BlackFlux @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

One megapixel camera?!?! Why does Palm continue to put cheap cameras in the Treo?

[Scott @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

How does the weight compare between the two phones?

[Guided By Voices @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Look, this is an obvious joke. If anyone here has tested the Ipaq 6500 series with 240x240 screen, (yes...I have) you would know that Landscape mode is NOT supported/available for these screens. Where would the benefit come from when the resolution is the same since its a square screen?!? The WM screen is photoshopped onto the hardware.

[Raphael Salgado @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

@PauldG: It is an HTC-designed device. They've had a huge roadmap on msmobiles.com showing that they even designed the Treo 650...

[James @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Well I'd be the first to pay up front and get this new Treo. I just bought the 650 on ebay last night. I may just have to resell it to get me one of these. Oh and Steve...John Kerry may have lost but he didn't leave the people in New Orleans to die...your buddy did a great job with that. Count me in on the new 700 its about time people understand Microsoft can not be beat. Get over it...quickly.

[James @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Well I'd be the first to pay up front and get this new Treo. I just bought the 650 on ebay last night. I may just have to resell it to get me one of these. Oh and Steve...John Kerry may have lost but he didn't leave the people in New Orleans to die...your buddy did a great job with that. Count me in on the new 700 its about time people understand Microsoft can not be beat. Get over it...quickly.

[Jacob Varghese @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

steve: "take your John Kerry sticker off. You lost already."
LOL
Yeah, your right we did lose, but it looks like the whole country lost, doesn't it?
hmmm... what are those approval poll numbers again for Bush - around 40%. Hmmm.... Record deficit, 1900 soldiers killed in Iraq, record gas prices (don't blame Katrina) .
Dude, please pick up a paper once in a while.

[will @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

I wonder how the battery life will be with the Treo 700w. I'm thinking it'll be worse.

[Midas @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

From an IT perspective this is a killer product. If you combine it with Exchange SP2 you get email that gets directly pushed to the device. Add to that the additional security features (remotely wiping a phone, phone lock controlled by the server, etc) this is a fantastic solution

I'm sure people will mention that the Blackberry can do this already but let's face it: as a phone the Blackberry falls short. Add to that the additional expenditure of needing a separate server for the Blackberry software and you can see why a Treo is a more attractive solution

Finally: anyone who says that Palm software is a good OS clearly has not spent any time with any hardware running it. There are numerous problems with the OS generally (it crashes often) and does not have support for advanced features (such as video streaming) that are becoming more of a factor. If the Palm OS was a great solution there would have been no reason to switch to Windows Mobile; the fact that they have done so clearly indicates that they were unhappy with the Palm OS.

[Marc @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

#43 James, I concur that MicroSoft seems to be winning the OS war in handhelds. I, however, have been a longtime fan of the Palm OS. The simplicity yet the breadth of software. I feel it is the best out right now. I am concerned about the Palm OS' future. I hope that the OS will not atrophy under Access' watch.