Palm Treo Pro now shipping

Listen up all you Palm Treo Pro hopefuls, your pre-order unit is now shipping with Palm's on-line store showing in stock availability. At least one tipster received a confirmation email saying his unlocked, $549 obsidian-black Treo is in the mail. Hell, Palm even did him a solid and expedited the order overnight instead of the 6-10 day standard shipment originally selected. Good on ya Palm.

[Thanks, Matt B.]

[Muhammad-Oli @ Sep 26th 2008 8:01AM]

That's some cheap looking headphones. If I was Palm, I'd leave those out of the product shots.

[eric f. @ Sep 26th 2008 12:14PM]

Really, how are they cheaper than any other bundled earbuds? I swear, people have nothing better to do than find something negative to say about stuff.

The phone looks pretty nice. It's refreshing to see that Palm has rediscovered design.

[F @ Sep 26th 2008 8:09AM]

BFD.

[Nathan @ Sep 26th 2008 8:13AM]

I can't believe I am saying this but it's actually not a bad looking device. Shame about the huge bezel around the screen and yeh the cheap headphones. And why, why, why did they not just kick Palm OS/Win Mobile to the curb and adopt Android. All they would need to do is build in a set of Palm-ified apps and a new home screen. Would be the ultimate device no ?

[kjb434 @ Sep 26th 2008 9:25AM]

Considering windows is a proven OS and Palm needs new devices without so many questions around it. This isn't a knock on Android, but a safe play on Palm's part.

I can see Palm in the future supporting Android, especially if they give up on their new OS.

[rm @ Sep 26th 2008 8:27AM]

Too little, too late, too expensive. I am a long time Palm user, but I have had it. See why I am excited about Android instead:

http://temporaryland.wordpress.com/2008/09/25/why-i-am-excited-about-android/

[freediverdude @ Sep 26th 2008 8:38AM]

2 words: Windows Mobile. Enough said.

[aard @ Sep 26th 2008 8:56AM]

What's your point?
I've been using windows mobile for years now. I really don't get the hate.
It's stable, lots of available software...
What, it lacks the iPhone-esque UI? that's a good thing!

[Logboy @ Sep 26th 2008 10:31AM]

agreed.

[thomas @ Sep 26th 2008 9:27PM]

agreed

[Dark Harry @ Sep 27th 2008 2:39AM]

agreed

[freediverdude @ Sep 27th 2008 1:04PM]

Yes, good luck with your tiny scroll bars that you have to use a stylus or 4-way button for, or finding all that functionality in the windows mobile menus.

[TareX @ Sep 26th 2008 8:41AM]

What's with all the hate? This is a VERY Decent phone... and it's easily the best Palm phone ever inside out, which is huge.
Sure it runs WM 6.1, but till Palm OS II comes out, this is the best Palm can do.

My only gripe is the small square screen. They could have made it a rectangular big screen, while hiding the qwerty on a portrait sliding mechanism. That would have made it perfect. I hope they're saving these ideas for Palm OS II.

[Xavier @ Sep 26th 2008 9:04AM]

@ TareX

"They could have made it a rectangular big screen, while hiding the qwerty on a portrait sliding mechanism."

Without the keyboard, it don't qualify to bare the name "treo".
At least that is why I sold off my TytN II and go back to my 650 for.

[TareX @ Sep 26th 2008 9:12AM]

There you go:

Two brilliant Palm 900 concept designs with the big screen and sliding classic qwerty.
http://forum.treonauts.com/palm-smartphones/future-treo-smartphones/7786-treo-900-concept-design.html

Looks fantastic.

[Frankie @ Sep 26th 2008 9:31AM]

@Tarex
That (concept) phone came out years ago, it's called the PPC 6600 (well no really, but it sure as heck reminds me of it). Oh, how I wish they would bring that form factor back.

[--------- @ Sep 26th 2008 10:45AM]

That small screen is a relatively dense 320x320
This may be my first Palm phone, but I'm anxiously awaiting some good hands on reviews.

[Colonel Kernel @ Sep 28th 2008 1:41AM]

I like the idea of a sliding Treo, but I need the keyboard front-and-center at all times. I've relied on Mapletop Software's Co-Launcher since my Treo 180.

I want Palm to do a sliding screen, like the Tungsten T3 -
http://mytreo.net/forum/index.php?topic=55135.msg434793#msg434793

[Jash Sayani @ Sep 26th 2008 8:51AM]

Nice. But expensive for a Treo. Its better to get the Blackberry Bold for $400.

[rm @ Sep 26th 2008 8:54AM]

Is criticism allowed. Why was my last comment removed? As I was saying, I am a long time Palm user that has been patiently waiting for the promised Linux based new OS. Windows Mobile simply does not excite me at all. The release of Android is the final nail in Palm's coffin. I wrote a full explanation of this here:

http://temporaryland.wordpress.com/2008/09/25/why-i-am-excited-about-android/

Note: If you disagree with me, say so rather than delete my post.

[rm @ Sep 26th 2008 8:58AM]

Oops. Its back. It was gone a few minutes ago, really. :) Any way, sorry for the double post.

[Muhammad-Oli @ Sep 26th 2008 9:16AM]

Its just engadget's crappy comments system. Some advice would be to wait 10 minutes or so after commenting, and if your comment still hasn't appeared, then start to wonder. :)

Comments tend to disappear and reappear at random for the first few minutes.

[chefgon_ign @ Sep 26th 2008 9:33AM]

Engadget doesn't delete posts, your browser just had an outdated version of the page cached.

[jdog @ Sep 26th 2008 9:31AM]

I've been using Palm OS devices since the first USRobotics release. I switched to a Crackberry Curve a few months ago. This device, while visually appealing to a degree, is too little, and too late. Palm is already past-tense. Palm is dead; long live Palm.

[Frankie @ Sep 26th 2008 9:38AM]

@Terex
The concept phone that you mentioned seems reminds me a lot of the very sucessful Windows Mobile based phone that came out years ago... yeah, the PPC 6600, also know as the HTC BlueAngel.

[thomas @ Sep 26th 2008 9:31PM]

imate used to sell the exact same phone under a different name . I think it might have been their first , but i could be wrong.

[clicclic @ Sep 26th 2008 10:17AM]

This phone looks great; I just wish it had Palm OS.

The keyboard on these Treo's is close to perfect. The form factor is close to perfect. This phone and the Centro are really the smallest you can go with a full keyboard. All these show-off slider phones are just too plain big/heavy.

[lanejasper69 @ Sep 27th 2008 1:07AM]

I agree, if the Treo form factor had a slider over the keys it would make for a pretty thick device. OR, the keys would have to be so recessed, they'd be hard to hit. This is a pretty damn decent looking phone though, I wish Palm would've released their new OS on it though, we'll see. As far as earbuds go, who cares...any "audiophile" will use their preferred earphones anyway. Even the iPhone buds suck I think, I use some decent Sony(s) that sound quite nice and much better fit.

[marinp @ Sep 26th 2008 10:34AM]

I've been using this for about a month now and I have to say it's a nice little smartphone. Powerful, well-designed, and the UI's not too bad (especially if you throw on a UI like spb), and WinMo's not that bad as it's customizable as heck. I've been fortunate to have a review unit, don't know if I'd drop $560 though, as it's not THAT much better than other, cheaper devices.

[boyweho @ Sep 26th 2008 11:01AM]

Wow, as if there weren't enough buttons under the screen, they've squished eight more *on* the screen... Doesn't seem to leave much room for actual usable screen real estate...

[Edward Green @ Sep 26th 2008 1:09PM]

For a Windows Mobile Device of this form factor the Treo Pro is hard to beat. Yes the Samsung option is cheaper, but the Palm device has a number of usability features that make it stand out. A headphone jack and ringer switch for a start.

For PalmOS users there is Styletap to run legacy software. Although what we really want from WM is a 'One Tap' PIM solution.

I like the look of the Bold, but I use IMAP 4 for email, and want full access to my folders. Not sure Blackberry can offer this?

The Nokia e71 is probably a better phone, but s60 and Windows Mobile are very different beasts. The same for iPhone (No Copy and Paste!) and Android.

I am sticking with the Treo 680 at the moment, because despite their being better hardware and OS soultions available nothing else can match the software feature set. It's frustrating, because I want Docs to Go quality Word editing, IMAP email, Threaded Text messages, and a one tap PIM that can sync to Google with 3G, multitasking and maybe even a decent snapper. But at the moment that is hard to find.

[apeguero @ Sep 26th 2008 3:47PM]

That's one nice looking phone. Only problem is the WinMo on it. It would've been nicer had Palm finalized it's vaporware OS and used it on this phone. Oh well.

[Jonathan @ Sep 26th 2008 4:12PM]

It's $505 at buy.com but they're just not showing stock yet. It looks like it'll be any day now.

[Jamesey @ Sep 26th 2008 6:12PM]

As someone who uses a phone for business everyday, Palm OS with goodlink kicks Windows mobile's ass all over the place. It's simple and works.

[*brotha @ Sep 26th 2008 11:25PM]

if this phone was cheaper i would really consider getting it

palms phones sure feel nice in the hand, and save on the annoyance of having some fold out keyboard

i guess its more practical then... good looking. for those of us who really do not care about surfing the web on a phone.. considering there are computers everywhere.

[lanejasper69 @ Sep 27th 2008 1:07AM]

I agree, I have an iPhone, but also have a Centro, and with the Softick Audio Gateway app on it The Centro Rules!! I can stream music via A2DP to my BT headphones or my Car deck that supports A2DP (Sony Xplod MEX XXXX(?), send receive files via bluetooth, A2DP Bluetooth, replaceable battery, super small, GPS, Speakerphone, MicroSD (8GB) it simply rules for everything I toss at it, and when I go to the beach it goes with me, so I don't have to worry about drowning my iPhone by mistake. The Centro was much cheaper, and it just works and is super quick to check email, or rifle off a few texts or take a photo etc. I love it. My iPhone in pocket and Centro close by in glovebox. Might have to snag one of these if they come to AT&T...I want a rebate ;-) otherwise very tempting, cannot wait to play with it and se how it measures up to other Treos.