Picture of the Treo 800w...finally!

Well that didn't take too long, now did it?

(bad joke)

Yes folks, courtesy of Shadowmite (via PIC) we have a real live shot of the long awaited 800w.

And...that's it.

No surprises and no more info (Okay, technically the micro-USB connector is confirmed). There is also only one Shift key as opposed to the typical two, which we find very aggravating on the Centro.

Sort of anti-climatic, no? There isn't even a comparison shot for perspective purposes i.e. relative size. Bad photographer, bad! (They also left the device serial number on the top right corner, so their time is probably limited on this Earth)

At least we were right about the "Zeppelin" codename though. Yawn.

Read here for past coverage on the 800w.

Thanks to surur for the tip!

Update: Forum member mlbizzle was kind enough to use some Photoshop skills to show us perhaps what the Sprint "charcoal black" version would look like. It does look sweet in black.

WC Staff
94 Comments
  • http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/9631/live-pic-of-the-treo-800w-spotted/
    Very business-like. Maybe too business-like?
    Surur
  • As a (now) non-palm user for a few years, at a quick glance I don't see what makes it significant more business like than any of the other treos of the last couple of year (which again I've only really glanced at)? - they all look of a muchness to me those days.
    When I hold my i780 up against the screen, the treo looks sorta cheap and naff looking (sorry guys just my gut feeling looking at the picture!)
  • sorry - as a (now) non-palm user for a few years, at a quick glance I don't see what makes it significant more business like than any of the other treos of the last couple of year.
    Lack of style. The i780 on your avatar is clearly more attractive, while this device seems more durable and much less fun. All work and no play basically.
    Surur
  • [quote=surur;1441697]Lack of style. The i780 on your avatar is clearly more attractive, while this device seems more durable and much less fun. All work and no play basically.
    Surur
    Ah right - now I get ya - I think it's partly that odd blue they've picked, it screams "cheap plastic" (which I'm sure it's not) - wonder what it would look like in black? any photoshoppers out there?
  • how does the i780 d-pad hold up in real use? I mean can you use it like a regular d-pad without all the optics?
  • Lack of style. The i780 on your avatar is clearly more attractive, while this device seems more durable and much less fun. All work and no play basically.
    Surur
    It is a prototype though... i.e. Sprint's will be charcoal black. (This is why Palm hates leaks--people pre-judge the final product when it's in its development stage still)
    Need we bring up the old Centro prototype pics too?
    Actually, I'm kinda po'd that there is only 1 shift key (used to be two on older Treos)--they did on the Centro and I totally hate it.Story is up BTW---that's what I get for heading out for the evening.
  • Looks like a Centro to me. Wonder if we could get a side by side of the two.
  • Let's see. Styling-wise, that thing looks like an amalgamation of the Zire 31 (blue), Zire 72 (blue & stacked buttons), Z22/LifeDrive ("condom ring" d-pad), and the Centro (hard button & d-pad arrangement). It's not setting any records for style but quite honestly, Palm's customers aren't really looking for that. I'm curious to know if that's softtouch paint on there though.
    I'm glad to see the "smile" keyboard has been retained. I guess we are still assuming the battery capacity is 1500mAh?
    Since the Athena connector has been ditched, I am assuming that the IR port is gone as well. I'll be curious to see if the 2.5mm headset jack has been retained, replaced by a 3.5mm stereo headphone plug for music purposes or if Palm's just going to go with BT completely (my guess).
    A shame Palm didn't decide to use this formfactor for a cut-down Garnet version (785p?) to buy them some more time until Nova is ready. With 128mb RAM, a sizable battery, and possibly some onboard flash storage, Palm could still squeeze out one final midrange Garnet-based Treo.
  • Yes you can. There is an option to change btwn mouse and dpad. You just swipe it in the direction you want on the optical. There is even a shortcut pgm written by a user to let you quickly toggle btwn this two option by assigning to a hard key.
  • Mal you beat me to the posting!
    Thanks for the tip, Surur!
  • ...Ugh. Really? I mean... Really? It kind of looks like one of those fake plastic phones toddlers have to chew on. Oh Palm... This was your big *last* chance...
    The one thing that I DON'T think about when looking at this phone is, "Wow! What a sleek business-like design". Maybe that's just me
  • How many huge Palm logos do they need to plaster on the poor thing? Placing a Palm logo on the button is the ultimate sign of executive cheesiness, especially when you already have another one on top.
    Man, am I glad I stopped wanting one of these months ago.
  • It does look a lot like a Centro, but with minor differences (curved keyboard, button console mainly). Not really surprising...
    I agree with Mal on the right shift key, but this is apparently the new Way Of Doing Things so we'll live.
    There's no telling how the final product might look. When I ignore the blue grey plastic, I'm left looking at something that looks a lot like my Treo 700wx, but without that awful stubby antenna, and of course a higher-res screen. This, I think I can get excited about. I just pulled my 700wx out of the drawer and I miss it...I look forward to its newer counterpart when all the makeup has been applied. :)
  • As a (now) non-palm user for a few years, at a quick glance I don't see what makes it significant more business like than any of the other treos of the last couple of year (which again I've only really glanced at)? - they all look of a muchness to me those days.
    When I hold my i780 up against the screen, the treo looks sorta cheap and naff looking (sorry guys just my gut feeling looking at the picture!)
    Looks a whole like a slightly redesigned Treo 755 (no flush screen) nothing like the BB Bold or the HTC Diamond. Palm really needed a home run on design; I guess the influence from Apple has not caught on yet. I will still get the the Treo 800 W but will try the Diamond, Android and the new Palm Nova when released. Palm needs to be ashamed of themselves for running a great company into the the ground. The leader in smartphones and where does it stand now? It's a SELL now. What a shame; were in 2008 and Palm is still in 2003. How can Palm go against it's competitors; it comes in a distance 4th. The Previous pictures of the unit look better than this one. (of course it was a photo from a distance)
  • Looks significantly worse than the 755p imo. It's like some bastard, step-child of a Centro and a 755p.
  • Looks significantly worse than the 755p imo. It's like some bastard, step-child of a Centro and a 755p.
    Thanks, I started laughing when I saw your post and I am still smiling! Thanks
    But what you said is so true. Like one of the previous posts we really expected more. But Palm always ALWAYS short changes it's customers and fans?!! (we can't say the same on HTC or BB)
  • Except for that huge palm logo in the center of the dpad, I think it looks pretty good, semi blackberryish...
  • It is a prototype though... i.e. Sprint's will be charcoal black. (This is why Palm hates leaks--people pre-judge the final product when it's in its development stage still)
    Need we bring up the old Centro prototype pics too?
    Come on guys. We already know this is not what the final product will look like. You going to make a $500+ decision based on a single picture of a prototype device? :rolleyes:
  • Ebag, of course they will.
  • Thanks, I started laughing when I saw your post and I am still smiling! Thanks
    haha same!!!
  • [URL=http://www.wmexperts.com/articles/08/05/pic-treo-800w-live-leak-l.html" onclick="window.open('http://www.wmexperts.com/articles/08/05/pic-treo-800w-live-leak-l.html','popup','width=428,height=640,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false][/URL]
    Well that didn't take too long, now did it?
    (bad joke)
    Yes folks, courtesy of Shadowmite (via Palm Infocenter) we have a real live shot of the long awaited 800w.
    And...that's it.
    No surprises and no more info (Okay, technically the micro-USB connector is confirmed). Sort of anti-climatic, no?
    Read more at http://www.wmexperts.com/articles/picture_of_the_treo_800wfinall.html
    a little yep
  • The entire details of the gentleman who gave us this photo have not been posted. Suffice to say we tried to get as much detail as possible but this is about all we got. We also know it does run windows mobile. Big suprise right? :)
  • Still lighting these forums on fire, even when POS is left for dead... quite ironic.
  • I don't like it. I do hope it is a prototype. Even the Treo 750 looks more business-like than that!
  • [quote=surur;1441693]http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/9631/live-pic-of-the-treo-800w-spotted/
    Very business-like. Maybe too business-like?
    Surur
    Engadget picked it up: http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/15/palm-treo-800w-caught-with-its-keys-showing/
    But they removed the source of the photo Palminfocenter / shadowmite. Bad form I say.
    Just looked at engadget's pic, the serial number is not blurred as much as this one at the top right corner. I can make out most of the digits. Is someone getting in trouble? I hope it wasn't Merlin that gave you that pic. ;)
  • I for one don't think it looks horrible. My Treo 750 was the BEST WM5/6 Professional device. I had the 8125, 8525, and Tilt; I knew how to load other ROMS on it and I know how to tweak these things (Been using PPC since I was in highschool, all the way back to the Casio Cassiopeia EM-500). NO other PPC device was as easy to use, stable, and quick compared to the 750. I've since moved on to the Blackjack II (I've had the SMT-5600 and Blackjack I prior to it from the WM Standard field) due to the thinness, GPS, better screen, more attractive appearance, better battery, and louder volume. I do miss the Professional OS, but I've made do.
    With that said, nothing beats a WM6+ Pro phone IMO. As long as the new Treo (GSM version) has the rumored specs - 320x320, 128/256mb memory, GPS, 400mhz processor, microSD slot, and decent battery (1300mah+) life, I'll gladly upgrade. Hopefully the Drucker has a flush screen and a slimmer profile.
  • By the time the 800w is out (hopefully in July), the Samsung Instinct will be on the hands of many smartphone lovers. And don't forget the 2nd generation iphone will be out by the end of June (a month early than 800w), one more thing, the HTC Diamond Touch is also coming to Sprint in the second half of 2008. So, unless you are hardcore treo lovers, I don't see a reason to to fall back onto the (old) treo technology again. Palm really needs a lot of luck to compete in the smartphone market.
  • And what software will there be for that Samsung Instinct again?
    All I have to say is that while this isn't beautiful... those old prototypes make this look like a masterpiece comparatively.
  • http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/9631/live-pic-of-the-treo-800w-spotted/
    Very business-like. Maybe too business-like?
    Surur
    eh.
  • Don't like it. 750 looks better. Way better.
  • And what software will there be for that Samsung Instinct again?
    All I have to say is that while this isn't beautiful... those old prototypes make this look like a masterpiece comparatively.
    The Instinct runs on BREW/Java. It's open source, so, expect more apps for the phone when it's officially released.
  • I was wondering why nobody mentioned "slim" in this thread... no wait, gadgetluva did.
  • My photoshop work... 800w on Sprint... I kinda like it.
  • I did some photoshop work and came up with this for the back sprint version... I can't wait for this phone!
  • My idea of what it will look like in Black on Sprint..
  • What a difference that makes. It looks much better.
    Surur
  • I agree... I think it looks much better
  • sorry about the 3 in a row... I kinda messed up, I am not that used to writing in the forums and didnt think the pic loaded... when it did.. sorry!
  • It's still a red headed step child in my opinion. As much as I loved or tired to love my 700wx, I don't think I will be trading in my Blackberry 8830 for the 800w. Yea the specs look good, but that thing is fugly. I held out for as long as I could, but Palm is just a day late and dollar short in the game.
    Just a little rant, but I love not having to reset my phone 2 to 3 times daily, love the instant push email that a 3rd grader can set up and love the on board GPS, Sprint navigation is actually very worth wild. Oh yea, it's ohhh so light and thin.
  • What a difference that makes. It looks much better.
    Surur
    Very Strange but the color made it look so much better.
  • sorry about the 3 in a row... I kinda messed up, I am not that used to writing in the forums and didnt think the pic loaded... when it did.. sorry!
    Nice mlbizzle...I updated the story on the blog with your pic :thumbsup:
    (although I wonder if the "chrome keys" would be black too, like in this image...hmmm)
  • I don't know about charcoal black, but its clear that glossy black is the in thing at present (look at the HTC Diamond, Blackberry 9000 and the purported iPhone 2).
    I hope Palm pays attention before its too late.
    Surur
  • Looking at the pic that Mal just threw up, I wonder if those side grooves indicate we may be getting a good holster for the thing... like the blackberrys?? I much prefer these types of cases to leather holsters. and there never was a really good one for the 700wx...
  • It's kinda hard to judge the appearance it still looks so pre-production like but its just OKAY.
    I just don't get the "hard-soft keys" WTF! :hmm: I would have gladly taken an tenth of additional screen size.
  • I think it it looks great and I am really psyched about it. FINALLY!
  • It's obvious that Palm has addressed the low screen resolution, limited memory, storage and also processor speed...I hope they have fixed the serious Bluetooth problems that the 700w/wx models STILL have. That alone would make me very happy!
  • So glad that it doesn't have a flush touchscreen. WM61 does a terrible job with screen presses in the phone app. Anyone who's used a Touch and a Mogul knows what I'm talking about. The Mogul is great and almost never registers an accidental screen press because of the recessed touchscreen.
  • Ive been screaming for them to redesign the middle action button to a rubber tip, or something with a better grip. I dont care if they put the PALM logo in but I LOVE the fact that it looks like it will grip better. I hope this is a sign of thngs to come for the 800/900Plinux
  • [quote=Hdhntr23;1441899] I hope this is a sign of thngs to come for the 800/900Plinux
    the 800/900 will surely follow the palm model of "we already own all those components and design molds" ;)
  • Agreed...
    Now my thumb / fingers wont slide off so much.the 800/900 will surely follow the palm model of "we already own all those components and design molds" ;)
  • Let's see. Styling-wise, that thing looks like an amalgamation of the Zire 31 (blue), Zire 72 (blue & stacked buttons), Z22/LifeDrive ("condom ring" d-pad), and the Centro (hard button & d-pad arrangement). It's not setting any records for style but quite honestly, Palm's customers aren't really looking for that. I'm curious to know if that's softtouch paint on there though.
    You're making a generalization that most/all Palm customers aren't looking for style? I think its pretty obvious that style is pretty high on all many Palm customers list.
  • You're making a generalization that most/all Palm customers aren't looking for style? I think its pretty obvious that style is pretty high on all many Palm customers list.
    Why do they have Palm's then ;)
    Ba-dum pum
    ;)
    Surur
  • I truly think palm is to afraid to innovate. Palm has rode this same styling factor since the intro of the treo 600. This "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality is getting to be sad. With the absence of the antenna, this looks like every other treo out. HTC and Blackberry don't seem to be afraid to try different things. I will admit, this is a big step for palm with the introduction of wifi. But the wifi argument is not as strong as it was a few years back. I just think palm needs a breath of fresh air, and this isn't it. Maybe the "Drucker" will be it but not the 800w.
    In Nov 2006, I switched to the HTC touch from my treo700wx. yeah I missed the keyboard at first but I got use to it. At first glance (800w) I see no reason to "come" back to palm. If the innovations that HTC are promoting with the soon to be released HTC Diamond are as good as the appear to be, I see no reason to ever "look" back.
  • [quote=surur;1441918]Why do they have Palm's then ;)
    Ba-dum pum
    ;)
    Surur
    You beat me to it - modern palm devices are a lot of things but Stylish? :eek:
  • You're making a generalization that most/all Palm customers aren't looking for style? I think its pretty obvious that style is pretty high on all many Palm customers list.
    not only style, we need some color:)
  • I think my general problem is this. It looks like a centro. Which is being marketed as an entry level smartphone even if it is an evolution of sorts of the treo 650 and 700p.
    So after that Centro came out, i thought palm would redesign its Treos to relect its "advanced" phone. But again, this looks like a Centro.
    That's not to say that its bad or anything. But I was expecting some differentiation. The 800w will still do everything under the sun, but the look itself is what is going to grab you first. I do love the centro i have. I'm not sure i want to shell out the bucks for a windows centro basically but will be tempted. I will say that the palm centro has been my favorite smartphone thus far even going up against the iphone or whatever.
    It just makes me wonder if the 900p with nova is going to be truly innovative, widescreen device some of us palm people have been wanting or will it simply be a tweaked centro with the name Treo plastered on it?
  • I disagree. They should have made a flush screen, and made it glossy black and metallic to reflect its premium status. If they want to sell a high margin device it should look expensive.
    I hope they at least did something interesting with the software and UI.
    One wonders where the innovation is.
    Surur
  • I disagree. They should have made a flush screen, and made it glossy black and metallic to reflect its premium status. If they want to sell a high margin device it should look expensive.
    I hope they at least did something interesting with the software and UI.
    One wonders where the innovation is.
    Surur
    I like the recessed screen. If I drop my phone I'm not terrified I broke/scratched my screen.
    I also like the Palm form/factor. It works well, and why may not be cutting edge, if something isn't broke, why fix it until it is? :)
    Palm's handling the form factor right IMHO with minor changes to different versions and getting feedback on specfici things.
    People as a general rule don't like things to be TOO radical. To give a few examples anyone remember the post style keyboard the Logitech had a while back? Or take a look at the Scion's, when they first showed up they were extremely designed (from a consumer standpoint). This year they were redesigned to be much more conservatively styled.
    This is also a big part of the reason why one phone looks much like another. :)
  • I disagree. They should have made a flush screen, and made it glossy black and metallic to reflect its premium status. If they want to sell a high margin device it should look expensive.
    I hope they at least did something interesting with the software and UI.
    One wonders where the innovation is.
    Surur
    Palm experiments with flush screens (the did with the Centro), their conclusion from tester feedback was they did not like it as they were either nervous of scratching the screen or inadvertent screen presses. However, at least from the "drucker" details, it appears Palm will concede some of that (thought it remains to be seen, obviously).
    I prefer slightly recessed myself, assuming the device is not a "touch" device which I'm not a fan of either.
    re: "glossy black & metallic", to repeat: these are prototypes and in my story here I noted there are various colors and slightly different designs floating around.
    I'm not sure people really get that these are tester devices. They are not meant to draw attention to themselves when being used in public since they are trying to keep them secret. If you recall, even iPhone testers were told to keep it in "under wraps" (granted, since most phones don't have much in the way of actual user testing, this is not an issue for most devices who only get the basic "carrier testing" stuff--but we know the 800w is being publicly beta tested).
    Plus if the device is "carrier neutral" at the point, there is no need to beta test the final color scheme/gloss/paint, etc. The Sprint version is slated to go into final production in mid-June i.e. when the final design configuration is decided.
    (Now if the device comes out and it's just as plain and blue as that pic, I'll eat crow.)
    No offense Surur, but you slammed the Centro pre-release too for all the same reasons you are saying about the 800w and I think your critiques are certainly premature.
    ps I also don't consider "flush screens" or glossy paint "innovation" exactly, so I'm not sure what you mean
  • i love see this device with color variants so that we can choose the color we wanted.
  • [quote=Ebag333;1441989]
    People as a general rule don't like things to be TOO radical.
    Who talking about radical? all people are asking for is a bit more "wow" in Treo's phone design - yes I know that's a dirty word when mentioned in the front of the great god functionality but besides the faithful, I don't think palm can compete at the higher end of the wm marketplace with those increasingly stale offerings - when people pay out a lot of money, the looks do counts (and yes I know someone will post "not to me!" but we are talking about market trends not individual preferences).
    I just don't see any real product differentation - their high-end device looks pretty much like their bargin basement centro.
  • I have loved the Palms since I first got the Treo 600p a few years back, but I must admit, I am throughly underwhelmed.
  • Did some PS work to see it with some dark grey highlights against the black body, it looks better to me.
    For all the people who are surprised how the color change is so dramatic remember back to the early Centro pics: white=fugly, pink=cute.
  • No offense Surur, but you slammed the Centro pre-release too for all the same reasons you are saying about the 800w and I think your critiques are certainly premature.
    I was not the only one.Also I also don't consider "flush screens" or glossy paint "innovation" exactly, so I'm not sure what you mean
    I was thinking more of innovative features measures that differentiate the device from other devices with exactly the same base feature set, like the blackberry 9000 for example.
    HTC famously tries all kinds of boondoggles which never really work out very well, but at least make their devices more interesting. The Dash had the JOGGR, the Artemis had the RollR trackball and ring, the Tilt of course has the tilt. Samsung has its optical track-pad, the Toshiba devices have finger print readers etc etc.
    Software wise of course HTC has done touchflo and touchflo 3D. If Palm doesn't make their hardware interesting I hope they do something nice software wise.
    Surur
  • I was not the only one.
    lol, doesn't make the analysis any better or worse...
    fact is, we should refrain from pre-judging the device till the final spec sheet and the publicity "glamor shots" come out--I would have thought the Centro situation would have taught us that...
    I was thinking more of innovative features measures that differentiate the device from other devices with exactly the same base feature set, like the blackberry 9000 for example.
    HTC famously tries all kinds of boondoggles which never really work out very well, but at least make their devices more interesting. The Dash had the JOGGR, the Artemis had the RollR trackball and ring, the Tilt of course has the tilt. Samsung has its optical track-pad, the Toshiba devices have finger print readers etc etc.
    Software wise of course HTC has done touchflo and touchflo 3D. If Palm doesn't make their hardware interesting I hope they do something nice software wise.
    Surur
    Palm does need to try new and wacky ideas...no argument.
    Just on a different line of devices, not the Treo line which has a long history, reputation and following.
    I guess I'm just tired of people trying to turn a messenger/business device into an iPhone, Diamond "insert new fad device here". Palm does need those devices but not while calling it a "Treo".
  • Granted, you could do some fairly "different" changes to the Treo line without going the HTC Diamond/iPhone route (which basically only really means pure touch interface with focus on the screen).
    If there was a Mogul/Raphael type device that was called a Treo (but hopefully with a bit better keyboard than the Mogul and some design tweaking to make it easier to hold) I would be quite interested and would give it consideration. I can't speak for everyone though. For a quick example, if it had the Treo 755p keys on the slideout and a similar finish.
    What I like far less is how I keep seeing pictures of the 800w, 500, etc that look Centro-ish. The design is a step backwards imo, although some people probably like it
  • So this is what the long wait has been for, the Centro2? Did Palm finally renegotiate their contract with the silk screener and now can put Treo on the Centro cases? Is that what really happened? Where is the innovation? The Palm sink hole just got bigger and deeper. Back to square one.
    Hey Palm, what about that ex-apple designer super hero you guys picked up? Doesn't he get any input on how the future designs will look? Or was that hot air to buy you time to work on the Foleo?
  • In my view, whether its a photoshop black or blue, this treo is still just...... eh.
    Same ole ****. Wifi and gps which are nice, but not really a great deal to sing about in the sleepy world of palm.
    The usual.
  • I was not the only one.
    I was thinking more of innovative features measures that differentiate the device from other devices with exactly the same base feature set, like the blackberry 9000 for example.
    HTC famously tries all kinds of boondoggles which never really work out very well, but at least make their devices more interesting. The Dash had the JOGGR, the Artemis had the RollR trackball and ring, the Tilt of course has the tilt. Samsung has its optical track-pad, the Toshiba devices have finger print readers etc etc.
    Software wise of course HTC has done touchflo and touchflo 3D. If Palm doesn't make their hardware interesting I hope they do something nice software wise.
    Surur
    The JOGGR is annoying, the Tilt is a gimmick (but surprisingly useful at times), and the Treo form factor is PERFECT IMO from an efficiency AND effectiveness standpoint. Flush screen, larger battery, more programmable hardkeys are all things that I think would make it a better device, but not necessary. Also, soft touch paint ALL the way - I'd rather have a device that is easy to hold and feels secure in hand rather than a fingerprint magnet glossy finish that also gets as slippery as a bar of soap whenever it comes into contact with human skin.
    What other innovation do you guys want from Palm? How many WM6 Pro devices are there in the QWERTYbar format right now that aren't so full of bugs that you end up returning it? In terms of form factor, Palm got it right with the Treo 600 so why bother changing it? Sure, it would be good for Palm to have other options, but KEEP this design as the main model. I've owned a variety of devices and I'll go through the Pros/Cons of each different form factor now:QWERTYbar - Overall efficiency and effectiveness winner.
    Pros: Like I said, the best form factor for me. Always there keyboard is convenient not only for text entry, but for shortcuts, quick dialing/searching of contacts, and being better at navigating (go to programs and press "S" to get to the programs that start with an S). Even something like Google Search from the Today screen is RIDICULOUSLY easy and FAST. My Blackjack II is also great at this BECAUSE of the form factor. This form factor should allow for smaller designs as well.
    Cons: Smaller screen, not much of a "wow" factor, smaller keyboard (although, this isn't usually a problem as most people adjust to keyboards by touch)Keyboard Sliders (AKA Tilt, Mogul) - best for "all-around" but inefficient.
    Pros: Definite wow factor at first; large, spacious keyboard; bigger screen sizes possible.
    Cons: Overall size and weight, MAJOR inefficiency when entering data (from the time it takes to slide orientation, to switch screen orientation, to finally entering data - at times it would take my hacked Tilt/8525 4-5 seconds to become responsive to text entry!); slower contact searches/dialing; inefficient Google Search from Today (fairly big deal to me); more moving parts that can break.Touch devices - i.e. iPhone, HTC Touch - best for multimedia
    Pros: Size, cool factor, larger screen, less weight, flush screens.
    Cons: no tactile feedback on keyboard, no keyboard shortcuts (Press start and try to easily press "C" to launch the Calendar), smaller screens = smaller onscreen keyboards or having to resort to SureType/T9esque keyboards, both of which lead to inaccurate typing.
    To me, the above summarizes the main form factors we're seeing in the WM world today. As a business and "prosumer" user, I think the QWERTYbar is the epitome of efficiency and effectiveness.
    So what are your thoughts? Why does Palm need to mess with a winning formula? Adding features like 3G (done), wifi (not important to me but important in a high end smartphone nonetheless), GPS (more important now than ever to carriers for revenue as well as those of us that travel frequently for work or for personal), more RAM/ROM, and a competent processor, which is something Palm has seemed to have remedied. What more is there? Mobile TV? Hey, throw that in too on the GSM model.
  • In my view, whether its a photoshop black or blue, this treo is still just...... eh.
    Same ole ****. Wifi and gps which are nice, but not really a great deal to sing about in the sleepy world of palm.
    The usual.
    So what else are you looking for? A toy with new "features" that don't really work right but make it a "cooler" device?
  • I think most of Palm's devices, even business-focused, are still bought by consumers out of pocket. With that in mind, there are basics which Palm has omitted, such as a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
    In addition, nice features like a side scroll wheel has also not made it to the Palm platform recently.
    I cant think of anything truly innovative that would still make it a business device, but taking the best of what everyone else has done, and doing it well, is also innovation of a kind (look at the iPhone for example).
    In that vein, and keeping it business-focused, a belt holster designed for the phone would have been cool, and even better if it clipped into a small dashboard mount or vent mount (magnetically even). The device does have GPS after all.
    How about a large "locate me" button on the top of the device (say upper right corner) which would activate the GPS, and be configurable to either send out your location to a central server (run by Palm as a free service), launch your GPS apps or launch google maps so you can search it?
    How about having the ringer switch double as a speaker phone switch, so all incoming calls are automatically on speaker phone (e.g. for car usage)? We are selling this device primarily to the travelling salesman after all.
    Anyway, just brainstorming a bit, but I bet the people who get paid for this can come up with many real, useful and realistic ideas which could have made the 800w even more desirable.
    Surur
  • In my view, whether its a photoshop black or blue, this treo is still just...... eh.
    Same ole ****. Wifi and gps which are nice, but not really a great deal to sing about in the sleepy world of palm.
    The usual.
    Agree
    I am starting to like the new "flashier" phones sprint is putting out. Little details, like the Ipod touch wheel of the diamond (and how it lights up in a circle when you have a notification)
    just the small things like that.
    plus I like an "artsy' UI.. sprint never really put much into that department
  • In addition, nice features like a side scroll wheel has also not made it to the Palm platform recently.
    I dont want any of these other "workarounds". The Palm WM interface is AWESOME, imho. I dont need touch pads and scroll wheels. I can do almost everything with my ONE thumb on a Palm device. Thats why we are on this forum, right?
    I just switched to AT&T and have a new (to me, but old to the industry) WM6 Unlocked 750. The best device I have ever had.
    I need 750 functionality, in a device that I can use my hundreds of dollars worth of WM third party apps, with more speed, more memory, GPS, WIFI and a modern "BB Bold look".
    I just want to use my thumb (on a D-pad), quickly, during my busy day. I dont have time for Mogul or BB-like interfaces.
  • Anyway, just brainstorming a bit, but I bet the people who get paid for this can come up with many real, useful and realistic ideas which could have made the 800w even more desirable.
    Surur
    lol, we haven't even seen the device turned on yet.
    I think, if accurate, that 100mb of free RAM (~25mb more than average 128mb HTC devices) hints at some serious tweaking.
    The dedicated WiFi button is nice (as well as ones for email and calendar). Plus that ringer switch that HTC won't put on.
    Who knows what the OS looks like though and if they did any other "innovation"--like I said, lets at least see the
    [LIST=1]
    [*]final Version
    [*]device turned on
    [/LIST]
    ...before deciding.
    btw, when did the "black slab" (Instinct, Diamond, iPhone, Voyager, p560, xenium, bb thunder, shine, glyde, prada, iPerformer, LG Vue, Paris, e66 etc.) become "innovation" in the (pseduo) smartphone market? Because that's all I'm seeing now...:p
    Thankfully we have such creative people at these companies.
  • Well put Malatesta.. I have a feeling when this device is actually released and is slightly (probably not significatly) different than this prototype we see but we can actually hold it and see the operating system tweaks and Palm touches (that they are great at and have improved on from the 700wx to the 750 and now the 800...) everyone will sing a different tune...
    This device is going to look sharp with windows mobile in 320 x 320 next to all of the 320 x 240 slider phones out there too...
  • btw, when did the "black slab" (Instinct, Diamond, iPhone, Voyager, p560, xenium, bb thunder, shine, glyde, prada, iPerformer, LG Vue, Paris, e66 etc.) become "innovation" in the (pseduo) smartphone market? Because that's all I'm seeing now...:p
    Thankfully we have such creative people at these companies.
    Black slabs are clearly the future. 2010 here we come ;)
    BTW, I am not saying its a bad device, just that its not very interesting. I am sure with the specs Palm gave it (with which I cant find anything wrong, unlike the diamond with its absence of a card slot for example) the device will work really well, be really snappy, and have good battery life.
    As usual, we criticise because we care. We want Palm to do even better, because we know its possible, instead of doing the minimum all the time.
    Surur
  • same ol' design, very little innovation, but hey, that hardly comes as a surprise. color it what you want.
    as it currently stands, no thanks.
  • same ol' design, very little innovation, but hey, that hardly comes as a surprise. color it what you want.
    as it currently stands, no thanks.
    Treos have been about usability, efficiency and speed and they do these three things better than any other device. That is why we are all here, nt because we are looking for rounded edges and metallic paint.
  • Black slabs are clearly the future. 2010 here we come ;)
    Surur
    lmao, nice...:p
  • Treos have been about usability, efficiency and speed and they do these three things better than any other device. .
    i might give you one of the three....:eek:
  • I really wanna see a picture of the back of the device... I hope it doesn't look like the centro... I'm not a big fan
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRQ6OK3Q-dg
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRQ6OK3Q-dg
    :) :D :) :D :) :D :) :D
    He should have said its marginally thinner than previous units ;)
    Surur
    :D
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRQ6OK3Q-dg
    ROFLMAO...;) I definitely would like to get my hands on the 780 featured in the vid and on your avatar. Rumor their is a quadband version in the works for us here in the red white and blue. My BJ II is doing a stellar job for now. Samsung does hit it well in the realm of style.
  • I'm really happy with it - I was a bit worried about the keyboard after the bigger one on my e61 but it's been fine.:)
    I think you guys are getting it as the i788 in a few months?
  • I knew it would be available in red! :)
  • No offense Surur, but you slammed the Centro pre-release too for all the same reasons you are saying about the 800w and I think your critiques are certainly premature
    I seem to remember defending the looks of the pre-release Centro but I really hate this. The little things add up to a big no-no IMO. I don't like the prominence or shape of the big silver button pad, the vertical red and green buttons, the silly little menu buttons, the off-set space bar, the cut-out around the speaker, the shaping of the cut-out around the screen, or the colour. My crticisms may be premature too, but it will have to change a lot to even get as pretty as, say, the 750:
    [INDENT][/INDENT]
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRQ6OK3Q-dg
    I take it all back. That version's much nicer :)
  • I take it all back. That version's much nicer :)
    British accent. I thought the 800w is released in USA first.
  • [INDENT][/INDENT]
    Since the Treo 800w will lack of a right shift key, we should be able to project the width of the new device by referring to the Treo 750. Anyone can figure it out? Thanks.
  • Since the Treo 800w will lack of a right shift key, we should be able to project the width of the new device by referring to the Treo 750. Anyone can figure it out? Thanks.
    Hardly at all.
    The screen is 2" by 2". The border is just about the same width, so you can expect nearly the same dimensions for width.
    Height looks about the same ratio.
    I expect the only real difference will be in the depth.
  • don't know if this has been posted elsewhere, but there are new (still blurry) pics of the 800w on boygeniusreport.http://tinyurl.com/4yd8ug
    The side pic seems different than the one on shadowmite's blog. anyone else agree?
    Riz
  • don't know if this has been posted elsewhere, but there are new (still blurry) pics of the 800w on boygeniusreport.http://tinyurl.com/4yd8ug
    The side pic seems different than the one on shadowmite's blog. anyone else agree?
    Riz
    That's prettier than I expected.
  • Yeah, the proportions are nice. It's amazing what just having a square-on photograph can do to change the look.
    However, I'm still confused as to why it looks both thicker wedge shaped on BGR, but flat-square (definitely better!) in Shadowmite's other picShadowmite pic II
    Chalk it up to a trick of off-angle photography again, or what? :confused:
    Either way, if this is the case/form factor that will progress on to Nova, I guess I'm o.k. with it. not wowed, but ok. The OS, however... well here's hoping...
    Oh, btw. The comments at the bottom of BGR: just lovely :mad: