Visually, it resembles Motorola Star-cTac, but its cover has transparent window that allows you to view its monochrome screen. Unlike Visor, it uses a keyboard for text input and a side mounted rocker dial for navigation. Its chassis hides a 33MHz processor powering Palm OS 3.5.2. The unit's telephony functions haven't been neglected.
Hardly larger than a deck of cards (11 x 6.9 x 1.8 cm) and 147 grams, it slips easily into a trouser or jacket pocket. And its small size hasn't impacted on the screen's dimensions. They have been preserved to equal those of a Palm M100 and strong back-lighting ensuring that test can be read comfortably from the screen.
Successful integration
The Treo's software is integrated with the device at the component level. While the Visor's personal organisation applications form a base, it has a good range of telephony-specific additions: SMS management, WAP browser, Web and I-mode, call register, email.
The Treo's telephony functions integrate with the existing device perfectly. The telephone itself is very simple to use functioning as an independent part of the PDA. Outlook users will have something to rave about when they notice that the PDA's software systematically adds brackets to numbers in their contact list.
Even the SMS manager is particularly good; it is possible to enter one of a set of standard sentences allowing you to answer messages quickly. Another advantage is the ability to store a great number of messages, however the quantity readily made available on the PDA's menu is limited. The call register functions on the same principles; it is possible to keep a record of all calls over an entire year.
As a telephony product the Treo greeted us with a few pleasant surprises. Non-standard numbers are dealt with perfectly and it offers a vibration mode that can be selected easily using a knob located on the top of the apparatus. It is even compatible with future GPRS networks.
It was not possible to test the Treo's reception quality, but we hope that it will be as high as the features throughout rest of the machine.
Minor annoyances
We did have a few minor complaints about the Treo. It is not possible to select an application in the launcher using the rocker dial as you can if you own a Sony CLIE.
Even though it is possible to connect a charger directly to the Treo, by-passing the synchronisation cable, it is regrettable that the battery does not offer longer life. At 60 hours you'll get about two-days of use on a single charge. That would have been acceptable 2 years ago, but modern mobile phone batteries frequent breeze past the two-week barrier without a visit to the wall socket.
Lastly, there is no cradle delivered with the Treo -- just a cable equipped with a button to launch the synchronisation process.
Unlike Visorphone -- the mobile phone attachment designed to cradle the Handspring Visor PDA -- the Treo has proven to be a complete success. It should definitely only impress Palm fans but they won't be alone in their admiration. Those who use mobile phones intensively will be attracted by its ease of use.
Handspring Treo 180
Company: Handspring
Price: To be announced in March
Distributor: Brightpoint Australia
Phone: (02) 8977 5000
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