Palm's Treo Pro in the wild, probably not fake

In case there was any lingering doubt that the Treo Pro (alias Treo 850) was real -- and there probably shouldn't be, considering it got snapped all the way back in May -- this round of non-blurry (dare we say artistic?) shots should pretty much seal the deal. The glossy shell, promise of a 320 x 320 display, and a general acknowledgment of circa-2008 industrial design definitely have us feeling just a little less pessimistic about Palm's prospects right now; if anything, it makes us wish they had some Android kit up their sleeves rather than slaving away on the thus-far vaporware Palm OS 2. As WinMo goodies go, though, this thing looks like it's ready to hang with the best of the best -- so bring it on, Palm. A legion of fans with well-worn 750s awaits you. In the meanwhile, check another shot after the break.

[Via WMExperts]

[TareX @ Aug 15th 2008 12:41PM]

The one on the left looks the best.

[Peter @ Aug 15th 2008 12:53PM]

I'm no Palm fan, but is the one on the left a shipping model? Stub antennas are ridiculous.

[Jeff @ Aug 15th 2008 1:25PM]

Dude that's Treo 650...the original gangsta of ALL them smart phones ...

show some respect.

[demagogue @ Aug 16th 2008 10:08PM]

Growin up on the south side of silicon valley, 650 always had it rough. After seeing his brother, 600, get gunned down by the WinMo mafia, 650 set out to claim back what was rightfully his. "PalmOS 4 Till I Die Mutha F**kas!!!"

[Graham @ Aug 15th 2008 12:42PM]

Whats with the blue line that looks like it was put on there in paint?

[Edward @ Aug 15th 2008 12:47PM]

It's to hide the unique identifier that all prototypes/beta test units have. Otherwise, Palm would know who to bust for violating their beta test NDA.

[wud_e @ Aug 15th 2008 12:44PM]

Looks nice. If this comes to Sprint I will upgrade my Wife's phone from the Centro.

[Edward @ Aug 15th 2008 12:47PM]

I'm 99% sure it'll be GSM. CDMA carriers just got the Treo 800w.

[Tonicboy @ Aug 15th 2008 1:57PM]

It's funny how if you look closely, it's pretty much the same basic design as the Centro, but with glossy black finish and slightly larger screen. And yet, it looks soooo much better than the cheap-looking Centro.

[Gunn @ Aug 15th 2008 12:45PM]

A close look... no Menu key?

[Joe H @ Aug 15th 2008 12:51PM]

It's running Windows Mobile, so no, no Menu key needed.

Since Engadget didn't include the specs from the WMexperts article:

What we know:

* 400Mhz CPU , but snappy response
* 256MB ROM, 128MB RAM! (Other reports show “In use: 43.96mb, Free 57.72mb)
* 320*320 screen
* GPS
* Full Tri-band 3G, Quad-band GSM
* 2 Megapixel camera
* microUSB connector!
* 3.5mm Earphone connector
* 1500mah battery (this is looking like it might actually be true?)

[ozzzy @ Aug 15th 2008 2:18PM]

Over the years I have yet to find a Windows Mobile phone with "snappy response" (HTC Typhoon excepted). My Treo 750 is almost always bogged down and lags when opening contacts, dialing or hanging up. With 3G enabled it drains the battery in under 18 hours on standby.

Palm and Microsoft has had their chance for my loyalty, I'm moving on to a BB or iPhone.

[Al @ Aug 15th 2008 5:19PM]

you forgot to mention the wifi.

[Jacob @ Aug 15th 2008 12:53PM]

a 320*320 display means it can't go against the best of the best, since the x1 is 800*480 and the Touch Diamond is 640*480

[Joe H @ Aug 15th 2008 1:01PM]

I'd be willing to bet this is a ton faster than those two devices though. Instead of layering on custom interfaces and making things much slower, like HTC and Sony, Palm tends to rip out unnecessary crap from WM to improve speed.

[Tonicboy @ Aug 15th 2008 2:04PM]

@Joe H

There's no reason that a well-programmed custom interface would necessarily slow things down at all. What makes WinMo slow isn't custom interfaces but the high CPU and RAM requirements of the WinMo OS. Cycle for cycle, Palm will always be snappier than WinMo. At least that's my experience as an owner of two Treo's and two WinMo phones.

[Joe H @ Aug 15th 2008 2:26PM]

I'm not talking about Palm's Garnet devices. Palm's WM devices are consistently faster than the competition even with the same or slower processor. Check out the 800w for a prime example of that. Because of the way WM works (and because MS has only given Palm permission to mess with the inner workings of the OS, last I read), a custom interface is basically just plopped on top of the standard WM interface. This means more CPU cycles and more memory being used. Sure, faster devices can cover for that, but it makes things more bloated, which on a mobile device, is not what you want.

[Mycroft @ Aug 15th 2008 2:41PM]

2" screen vs. 2.8" and 3"
2.0 megpix vs. 3.2 with flash
No accelerometor
etc.

I have said it before, Palm used to be an inovator - the 650 pictured there is the proof. Now, years later ? Their best is an also-ran, midrange, forgetable phone. Sad.

[qrius @ Aug 15th 2008 12:54PM]

what's the diff between this and the 800w that just came out? they both look like junk to me.

[Joe H @ Aug 15th 2008 1:00PM]

Too bad AT&T's rates don't come close to Sprint's still though. I mean, even without the old SERO plans that some have:

Sprint Everything 450 (Unlimited texts, internet, nights and weekends at 7, GPS navigation): $69.99

AT&T 450 Minutes Plan (only 5000 nights and weekends minutes) $39.99
PDA Personal Bundle (unlimited internet and texts) $60.00
AT&T Navigator $9.99

Total $109.98 for the same plan (and actually not even as good, limited nights and weekends minutes) that is $69.99 on Sprint.

Kind of ridiculous if you ask me.

(Also, I noticed on the AT&T website that they're now giving away free Treo 750s with a contract... maybe to get rid of their stocks, for the Pro?)

[Freakin Ijit @ Aug 15th 2008 1:00PM]

In your sudden about-face you forgot ONE wee minor detail about Palm devices - pricing compared to the competition.

[propynyl @ Aug 15th 2008 1:05PM]

It's the OS stupid!

[Marq @ Aug 15th 2008 1:05PM]

Yeah...ummm...they really should look into hiring that kid that "made" a new Palm as a photoshop project

http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/palm-centro-2-leaked-lacking-qwerty/

[MasterCKO @ Aug 15th 2008 1:08PM]

Looks nice. I just wish that they would make their devices thinner. Other than that, it's pretty slick.

[Tony @ Aug 15th 2008 5:36PM]

It's better this way—easier to use with one hand. The only real gripe anyone should have is the smaller keyboard and glossy exterior.

[Derek @ Aug 15th 2008 1:11PM]

If anyone cares the one on the left is a Treo 650

[yea... @ Aug 15th 2008 1:30PM]

Anyone over 10 probably knows that's a Treo 650.

[Rogue_Genius @ Aug 15th 2008 2:12PM]

@ yea...

Clearly, Peter (2nd post up top) is under the age of 10 then.

[DssTrainer @ Aug 15th 2008 1:18PM]

Finally!! They finally made the screen flat all the way through instead of the inset style. But its still too fat.

[bob sakamano @ Aug 15th 2008 1:23PM]

fake fake, fake fake, fake fake, fake

[~~Tito~~ @ Aug 15th 2008 3:14PM]

How can you say its fake when they just had an article about a flash demo on the palm site? It was taken down though.

[pr @ Aug 15th 2008 1:26PM]

And yet, still a fatty.

Better luck next time.

[yeahyeahyeah @ Aug 15th 2008 1:31PM]

looks really cool, wish the screen was a little bigger though.

[Fox @ Aug 15th 2008 1:31PM]

Maybe it is just me but how can your brand be so diluted that even a Windows Mobile device is called a Palm. I have yet to see a Windows made product running Palm OS but a Palm made device with Windows Mobile can still be called a Palm Treo.

I wonder how many people came to this article thinking they would be seeing a new Palm OS product?

Yet they would just as easily send a C & D letter to a developer who helps maintain their limited old stock of hardware.They might as well change their name to Treo because they don't really make Palms anymore in the traditional sense of the word. The last Palm in my opinion was the Palm TX.

[Joe H @ Aug 15th 2008 1:37PM]

Well for one, its not their brand anymore. Palm OS is not Palm OS anymore, its owned by Access and called Garnet, so its not really diluting their brand.


A new Palm OS is supposedly coming in 2009 as well, but they plan on having 3 lines.

The entry-level Centro running Garnet
For professionals, the Treo, running WM
And the upcoming Prosumer Nova devices (the new Palm OS).

[CanisMinor @ Aug 15th 2008 1:37PM]

@Fox

"I have yet to see a Windows made product running Palm OS but a Palm made device with Windows Mobile can still be called a Palm Treo"
Um, that's because Windows IS an OS - why the heck would an OS supposed to run an OS, other than emulation?

[Phoenix @ Aug 15th 2008 1:38PM]

a "windows made product" eh? Since when did Windows make phones?
It's still palm hardware. If HTC makes an android phone it's still an HTC device, just not running the OS they first made devices with.

Boot camp. A Mac running Windows is still a Mac

[Tejas @ Aug 15th 2008 2:10PM]

Never knew there was a hardware company called Windows (at least not in the Computer and IT domain, not the 'other' hardware)! :-s

[Fox @ Aug 15th 2008 2:53PM]

Phoenix, I stand corrected.You are absolutely right. I lost my head there.

I am still in a daze on how Palm has been so assimilated by their former competitor. As a fan of Palm from way back the fact that their hardware runs Windows Mobile is still hard to get over as well as them selling their OS (and buying it back again eventually). What else do you have left?

It all amounts to advertising Windows Mobile under your Moniker because you have to and giving Apple a head start that may be too much to overcome.

[Jason @ Aug 15th 2008 3:26PM]

"Boot camp. A Mac running Windows is still a Mac"

Unless it's a Psystar.

[Peter, The Micro-Kid @ Aug 15th 2008 1:33PM]

I've held this model in my hand about 4 months ago. The Palm-man tould me it would be launched as the 800w, but I guess he was wrong... The battery is indeed a 1500 mah one, he showed me that. Also nice to know is that there is a WiFi hardware switch on the side somewhere. Also, the model he showd me had a grey/steel-like lining on the edges and around the call/end buttons instead of the glossy black one showed here.

[Baxter Madu @ Aug 15th 2008 1:58PM]

other than the battery, you're describing the 800w. Not that he gave you any clues it'd be called that ;)

[Kevin @ Aug 15th 2008 1:44PM]

Am I missing something? Shouldn't Palm finally eliminating the sunk in screen be getting more attention?

[MastrCake @ Aug 15th 2008 1:45PM]

At my risk of getting low ranked, I have one major issue with the Pro:

It has the same keypad as the Centro!!! I have big thumbs, and when I tried out the Centro, I could barely type on it!

Now, I do have a BJ2, but the keys have much better spacing, and are slightly bigger (but I still have occasional problems, having just graduated from the Dash I had for a year).

Thumb-Reduction surgery, anybody? For reals this time?
http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/10/man-has-thumbs-altered-to-improve-iphone-dexterity/

[Cycomachead @ Aug 15th 2008 2:45PM]

FINALLY someone said it! It looks like it could be a nice device, but it needs the real Palm keyboard. Though that would bsically be a glossy black 800w (not bad)

Also trimming a bit of the fat would be nice, but it better than the old Palms.

[MastrCake @ Aug 15th 2008 1:50PM]

I have one major issue...

The keypad!!! It looks just like the Centro's, and I had soooo much trouble with that thing (due to my big thumbs).

Thumb-reduction surgery, anybody? For reals this time?
http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/10/man-has-thumbs-altered-to-improve-iphone-dexterity/

(note: this is my second attempt at this post, after 5 minutes of constant F5 mashing.)

[MastrCake @ Aug 15th 2008 1:52PM]

Awww... Damnit!!! Right when I click "add comment", it pops up!!!!!!!

Well, it was five minutes, right on the money.

[Jason @ Aug 15th 2008 4:31PM]

F5, and then refresh.

[Jason @ Aug 15th 2008 2:04PM]

still no wi-fi... junk

With the exception of EVDO/3G and a little bit better camera there is almost no improvement over the Treo 650!

[miles @ Aug 15th 2008 2:08PM]

It has wifi!

"no improvement over the Treo 650!"

You got to be kiddin.