Handspring has always helped push the boundaries of PDAs that run the Palm operating system. They were the first to offer USB connectivity to the PC and created the Springboard expansion slot for adding modules such as a digital camera or a GPS receiver. With the Treo 180, Handspring has developed a communications device coupled with a powerful computing platform that just might be the perfect PDA. The Treo features all of the basic organization applications from the Handspring arsenal, as well as a few twists--including a Web browser and e-mail application. To access the Web browser, you'll need an Internet Service Provider in addition to a VoiceStream service plan. We found the ISP setup to be extremely simple, but it is an extra step that you have to take.
Where the Treo 180 diverges from other Palm OS devices is in its method of input. Instead of using Graffiti, the shorthand alphabet that you write on the screen, and which then gets translated into letters, the Treo 180 offers a thumb-board akin to the RIM Blackberry. A handy scroll wheel on the upper-left-hand side of the unit offers a quick, easy way to zip through menu options or contact lists.
If you're a tried-and-true fan of Graffiti, the small keyboard buttons might be a slight hurdle. But with practice, you'll be able to jump and leap with ease. One of the distinguishing aspects of the Treo is that it lets you send and receive e-mails and text messages. We found that dashing off quick notes with this thumb-board is actually a breeze and much faster than trying to write in Graffiti. You wouldn't want to use the Treo to critique someone's business plan, but we found it quite handy to compose short messages that we could follow up on later when back in the office.
Where the Treo really breaks away from the pack is as a cell phone. The included PhoneBook software is fully integrated, so you can dial directly from your contact list. The phone defaults to the speed-dial page when you flip open the transparent cover, immediately giving you one-click access to your most frequently dialed contacts. Simply tap on a contact name and the number is dialed. We also found it easy to locate anyone not on our speed-dial list by typing in the first few letters of a person's name. If you already own a PDA with a Palm operating system, you can transfer your existing contacts within a few seconds. A large, easy-to-read virtual keyboard makes dialing new numbers a snap.
The Treo also comes with a slew of features that you'd expect from a cell phone in this price range, including three-way calling, call history, and a speakerphone function.
Synchronization with Outlook (on Windows) is a breeze, and brought in all our contact and calendar data, enabling us to place calls almost immediately by choosing numbers from our address book.
The Treo 180 is much less bulky than we had imagined--and lighter and easier to carry, by far, than other PDA-cell phone hybrids. Slightly larger than a deck of cards (4.3 by 2.7 by 0.7 inches), it slid perfectly in the front pocket of our khakis during our travels about town and across the country. It's slightly larger than other cell phones, and we thought it might feel a bit awkward. To our delight, the flip-phone design is quite comfortable, and we felt we could hear conversations better with its cupped speaker. A separate headset comes with the piece, so if you prefer, you can have hands-free conversations.
While the Web browser is a nice addition, don't go into it expecting what you see on your PC. Most images are not downloaded (by design), to keep the download times to a minimum, and layout on the Treo 180's small screen means additional scrolling. Also, we found that some sites that use some wild JavaScripting froze the browser, and it took us some time to get it back in working order. That said, we could access many sites quickly, including news and entertainment sites. While riding in a cab through downtown Seattle, for instance, the Treo helped us impress a dinner date by downloading movie times.
Handspring delivers on its claim of 2.5 hours of talk time and 60 hours of standby time. But if you're a power cell phone user, you'll want to charge the Treo just about every night to make sure you've got enough juice to last through the day.
There's no way to add more memory to the Treo, but that shouldn't be a problem because the phone comes with a whopping 16 MB of memory. We immediately added many of our favorite Palm OS games and applications and didn't come close to filling up the memory.
Overall, the Treo is a well-designed convergence product that really delivers on its promise of rolling a powerful PDA and a slick cell phone into an elegant, compact package.
--Steve O'Neil and Agen Schmitz
Pros:
- E-mail access and Web browsing ability
- Built-in keyboard
- Fully integrated PhoneBook with GSM, dual-band world phone
- Slim size and lightweight
- One-touch calling
Cons:
- Web connection requires your own ISP
- Battery life is relatively short
How We Tested Battery Talk/Standby Time
When reading our reviews, you should view the test results of mobile-phone battery talk time and standby time as relative information only. Many variables, including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency (including incoming and outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, and battery charging methods and history, will affect performance. When handset manufacturers and mobile phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings, they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer to the times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery life ranges, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience at least the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers of dual-mode digital and analog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, as analog mode consumes much more power than digital mode.
Our Tests: We tested digital-mode talk and standby times with each phone. Prior to each test, we fully charged the phone's battery according to the manufacturer's directions. To test digital-phone talk time, we turned the phone on, established a digital carrier signal, dialed a number in our test lab, and, when the call rang through, took the receiving phone's handset off the hook. When all went well, we didn't do anything else except record the time when the phone died. In a couple of cases, the phones lost the signal and dropped the calls. If we were right there and could redial, we did so immediately and continued running the test. Otherwise, we halted the test, recharged the battery, and started the test over. Assuming consistent carrier-signal strength, this test should represent best-case talk time. And it's worth noting that several phones' talk-time performance significantly exceeded the manufacturers' ratings.
To test digital-phone standby time, we turned the phone on, established a carrier signal, and left the phone in standby mode. We checked the phone every few hours (for what was often days on end) until the phone finally cut out. Since no outgoing or incoming calls occurred during testing and because the phone was not moved, this method should represent best-case standby time, again assuming consistent carrier signal strength.
