Palm TREO 800w Phone (Sprint) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I would change my rating of this phone to a 3 or 2 - read my review to find out why.
Day 1:
================================
I have only had this phone for just under 24 hours. So far I have a positive opinion of it.
1. Reception:
Appears to be very good.
2. Screen resolution:
Very good. Able to read small text easily.
3. Touch screen:
Very responsive when using fingers or the stylus. I sometimes need to press firmly to click through links or push accept on-screen buttons.
4. Navigation:
Scrolling is extremely responsive.
5. Phone mode:
Very good sound quality and people report hearing me well. I did hear a little bit of static when speaking to someone, but that may have been on their end.
6. Speaker phone:
Works well. Tried having a conversation with my brother who has an iPhone and had difficulty hearing him while driving in my car. This is probably due to the background road noise and due to the iPhone's poor sound quality (he tried using the iphone as a speaker phone, hand-held, and with a headset).
7. Camera:
Have taken one picture in a poorly lit room, and it came out reasonably well. Good enough to create profile pictures and take occasional pictures.
8. Internet connection:
Very fast. Getting 800k down and 350k up.
9. Included web browser:
Very fast. Loads pages much faster than the 755p or even the iphone. This is probably due to the much faster EVDO rev-A connection and faster processor and sufficient RAM.
10. Weight:
Reasonable.
11. Build:
Feels sturdy in the hand and easy to hold.
12. Interface:
Relatively easy to scroll and move around the screen and accept/select options. Sometimes, I feel I need to use the stylus to move the page around or to select items, and this will get easier with practice.
Day 15:
==================================================
Update:
After having this phone for 2 weeks, I have the following complaints:
Battery life is pathetic. Even with screen lightly lit (3rd bar from lowest), bluetooth off, wifi off, and email synchronization off, the phone's battery life drains quickly upon use for browsing the web or checking directions, or talking on the phone.
Windows mobile was not designed for touch screens. It is hard to move pages around (you need to use the directional button), and it jumps from page to page, so if you don't read the last light of page one, when you press down, you can't see that previous line.
The buttons do not really make sense when compared to the palm version. You need to hit the green talk button to get to the home screen (or hit "ok" a bunch of times). Similarly, to add a contact, or to check call history, you need to navigate through screens, which makes it annoying, confusing, and slow to get to previous callers. When you type in a persons name, and want to "edit or view all their contact info", if you accidentally, hit the middle directional button when highlighting the person's name, it immediately begins to call them, and the windows lag prevents you from canceling the call before it goes through.
Speaker phone and regular speaker (even with the included headset) are pathetic. Unable to use speaker phone while driving as it is not loud enough and when you do turn it up it over-attenuates (blares) causing me to be unable to understand the other person. Similarly, the other person has trouble understanding me.
Voice quality when holding phone normally, is good, though not as good as my previous Sanyo 4920, and the voice quality (earpiece) definitely has static and the max volume is sometimes not enough.
Touch screen can be responsive, and I tried using Opera Mobile 9.5 Beta which sort of works like the Iphone touch interface. However, trying to select links is hard, I generally need to angle my fingernail or use the stylus and poke at the screen repetitively to get it to work.
The phone does have great bandwidth capability, I clocked it at around 1.2 MBit download and around 600 KB upload which is great.
Bottom Line
================================================
I don't recommend this phone for most users, as you will get frustrated with the interface and the battery life.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Palm TREO 800w Phone (Sprint)

Designed for business users who depend on their smartphones for high-speed productivity on the go, the Palm Treo 800w operates on the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network and provides support for EV-DO Rev. A data speeds, WiFi for data and GPS capabilities right out of the box. Offering the power of the updated Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system, you'll stay easily connected to your business and personal data on the go with support for a wide variety of email accounts as well as the ability to edit Microsoft Office documents.
In addition to direct push email (via Microsoft Direct Push Technology) and powerful PIM organization, you'll enjoy GPS navigation capabilities for accessing the optional Sprint Navigation turn-by-turn direction service as well as access to Sprint TV's video-on-demand with full-motion video and vivid sound. Other features include a full QWERTY keyboard, brightly colorful touchscreen, 2-megapixel camera/camcorder, Bluetooth for handsfree devices and stereo music streaming, 256 MB internal memory with MicroSD slot (for cards up to 8 GB in size), Wi-Fi networking for accessing corporate LANs and on-the-go hotspots, and up to 4.5 hours of talk time.
Sprint Service Supporting the EV-DO Rev. A high-speed data standard, this phone enables you to download and stream high-quality video, straight onto your phone. Where coverage is available, EV-DO Rev. A connectivity provides peak network download data rates of up to 3.1 Mbps and peak upload data rates of up to 1.8 Mbps; average download speeds range from 600 kbps to 1.4 mbps and average uplink speeds range from 350 to 500 kbps.
With Sprint TV, you can make your cell phone your always-on source for news, weather, sports and more. This comprehensive service allows you to access your favorite channels and networks within seconds to watch live TV or video-on-demand with full-motion video. Choose from more than 50 live television channels and watch programs such as CNN mobile, FOX sports and E! Entertainment; access NFL Network and special programming via Sprint Exclusive Entertainment.
This GPS-enabled phone provides optional access to Sprint Navigation for driving directions on your mobile phone--by voice and onscreen. Along the way, turn-by-turn directions will be announced in a clear voice and displayed on your phone. For example, Sprint Navigation will say, "Go 1.2 miles and turn right on Elm Street." As you approach the turn, you will hear, "Turn right on Elm Street." Sprint Navigation also provides proactive traffic alerts with one click re-routing. And it's easy to find restaurants, banks, cafes, hotels and more from over 10 million points of interest across the U.S.
In addition to the valuable business-friendly features delivered through Palm and Windows Mobile 6.1, new business applications are being created through Sprint's newly launched Professional Developer Program and with tools such as the Titan platform for Windows Mobile 6.1 devices. A growing community of application developers who may previously have focused on desktop services are now finding it easier to generate services that can perform on both the desktop and mobile devices.
Phone Features At just 5 ounces, the Treo 800w feels less bulkier in your pocket without the antenna stub of older Treo models. It also features a 320 x 320-pixel color touchscreen, full QWERTY backlit keypad, and application buttons (which are customizable). A five-way navigator controls most of the phone's menus and operating system functions, while quick application buttons on either side of the navigator get you to your favorite applications in a snap. A touch-screen stylus can be tucked away on the right side of the phone. Meanwhile, a combined charging, data, and accessory attachment port is housed on the bottom of the unit, as is a standard 2.5 mm stereo headset jack. The expansion card slot is compatible with MicroSD/MicroSDHC cards, and supports up to 8 GB of memory (memory cards sold separately).
Under the hood, it runs the Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system, which includes some unique Palm innovations that run on top of the OS:
Today Screen enhancements -- call, text, email, perform a web search and map a contact's address, all directly from the Today Screen
Dial from the Today Screen -- enter the contact name, select the number and dial. Add text or picture speed dials for one-touch calls to family and friends, or use the physical or touch screen number keys to dial the number directly
Voicemail controls -- VCR-like icons, such as rewind, delete and fast-forward, for easy navigation
Ignore with text -- ignore a call quickly by sending a text message, such as "In a meeting" or "Can't talk right now"
Superior phone and call management -- dedicated mute, speakerphone, conference calling icons, or dial any number in an email or webpage, all with just one touch

The Treo 800w comes fully equipped with easy-to-use professional email. Microsoft Direct Push Technology is available out of the box and gives users connected to a Microsoft Exchange Server fast, automatic wireless updates from their email, calendar, contacts and tasks. Users can download email attachments to view and edit Microsoft Word and Excel files, view PowerPoint and PDF files, and open ZIP files. And with thousands of applications available for Windows Mobile, businesses can extend mobility beyond email to optimize business processes whether in sales or out in field.
The Treo 800w is compatible with Microsoft's System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008, which delivers increased security and easier smartphone management as well as access to information on the corporate network via mobile VPN. IT professionals can confidently manage large Treo 800w deployments the same way they would expect to manage PCs with a low-cost, reliable solution that fits seamlessly with their existing IT infrastructures.
Handsfree communication is easy thanks to the integrated speakerphone. This phone also provides Bluetooth wireless connectivity (version 2.0), and includes profiles for communication headset, handsfree car kits, and file transfer. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. You can connect your laptop (either via Bluetooth or wired USB) and enjoy dial-up networking--surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server. The phone also sports Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g) for accessing corporate LANs as well as on-the-go hotspots--there's even an instant-on short-cut button for Wi-Fi access.
The 2-megapixel camera can capture images up to 1600 x 1200 pixels--perfect for creating up to 8 x 10-inch prints--and build and customize your favorite photos into your very own slide show. It also features a 2x digital zoom, a choice of five resolutions and three shooting modes, and brightness controls. It also offers video capture capabilities with two quality settings and a brightness control scale.
Other features include:
256 MB user memory and 128 MB of program memory offers plenty of room to carry everything you need.
Data Transfer Mode (DTM): Set in the default position allowing users in an active data session to be notified of incoming voice calls, rather than having them go automatically to voicemail.
Built-in media player compatible with MP3 and WMA digital audio files
Software included on device: Alarm Clock; Calculator; Camera; File Explorer; Internet Sharing; Games â€" Bubble Breaker, Solitaire, Astraware Sudoku, and Aces Texas Hold'em; Maps; Messaging; Microsoft ActiveSync; Microsoft Internet Explorer Mobile; Microsoft Live Search; Microsoft Notes; Microsoft Office Mobile â€" Outlook Mobile, Excel Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile, Word Mobile, and OneNote Mobile; Microsoft Tasks; Microsoft Windows Live; Pics and Video; Picsel PDF Viewer; Quick Tour; Sprint Navigation; Sprint TVSM; Sprite Backup; Windows Media Player Mobile
Hearing Aid Compatible (HAC) rating of T3 for hearing aids operating in the telecoil mode.
Bluetooth version 2.0+EDR with the following profiles: A2DP (stereo music streaming), AVRC (remote control), HFP (hands-free car kits), HSP (communication headsets), BPP (basic printing profile for text, email), DUN (dial-up networking), OPP (object push for business cards, calendar items, and pictures)

Vital Statistics The Palm Treo 800w weighs 5.0 ounces and measures 4.41 x 2.28 x 0.73 inches. Its 1150 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4.5 hours of talk time, and up to 200 hours of standby time. It runs on the 800/1900 CDMA/EV-DO Rev. A frequencies.
Powered by Windows Mobile 6.1 Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.1 offers a number of handy features that make searching through email, editing Microsoft Office documents, and staying on top of your most important communications even easier. Emails can now be viewed in their original rich HTML format and now offer the ability to visit embedded links. It also includes Windows Live for Windows Mobile, which provides a full set of Windows Live services, such as the Windows Live Messenger IM application, which now enables you to chat with more than one person at one time or send a file.
With Windows Mobile 6.1, your phone will finally be able to emulate the power and features of your PC's Microsoft Office suite. You'll be able to neatly view, navigate and edit Word documents and Excel spreadsheets in their original formatting--without affecting tables, images or text--as well as view PowerPoint presentations.
Microsoft Office Word Mobile features include spell-check, Find and Replace commands, bulleted lists, text formatting, and support for tables for the first time.
With Excel Mobile, you're not just confined to editing charts: with the new Chart Wizard you can create charts quickly and easily.
PowerPoint Mobile allows you to view the full presentation, rehearse timings, check the order and any live links you may have in your presentation. You can then email comments back to the team or communicate via MSN Messenger for an immediate response.
After creating or editing a Word document or Excel spreadsheet, you can synchronize it with your PC and it will automatically be converted to the PC version.

All Windows Mobile 6.1 powered devices include Direct Push Technology for up-to-date e-mail delivery and automatic synchronization of Outlook calendars, tasks and contacts through Microsoft Exchange Server. It also offers a set of important device security and management features that include the capability to remotely wipe all data from a device should it be lost or stolen, helping ensure that confidential information remains that way.

Click here for more information about Palm TREO 800w Phone (Sprint)