which one is better, treo 650 or 700?

[jrky]

Hello all,
just wanted everyone's opinion on the difference of treo's. I'm looking into getting one, (just selling my ux50) and wanted to know.

Thanks!

[Ezikial Anta]

Depends, since we don't know the absolute and real specs on the 700...
Well, the Palm version anyway.

[alex_mathews]

If you're talking about what's available now, then comparing a 650 to a 700w is an apples to oranges comparison. They run different operating systems, so if you're comfortable with Palm OS, your only option at this moment is the 650. Now, when the 700p is available, I would assume that the updated parts of it would make it better than the 650. No way to say for sure until it's released though.

[hope]

If your talking about the 700p and 650, you have to look at prices and service plan pricing. The 650 can be had very easily for $300 or less. The 700p has been reported to cost $679.99 and $529.99 with 2 year contract. Obviously a big deciding factor. Also, a treo is a phone as well and using the data plans to fully utilize the PDA part costs monthly fees. The 700p, available only with Sprint first reportedly, uses high speed data access that costs close to twice as much as the monthly fee for a 650.

As far as hardware specs to hardware specs, the 700p is reported to have EVDO high speed data access, a 1.2/3 mp camera, a reported 128mb of ram as well as a large cache memory, and the inclusion of Sprint TV/streaming music/etc... The rest of the specs, such as bluetooth 320x320 screen, SD card slot, are all carry over from the 650. The big questions are whether the 700p will work with the palm WiFi card, what bluetooth profiles it will have (will it have the A2DP profile to listen to music with bluetooth headphones), and will it have a proper headphone jack instead of the phone one.

My opinion is the 650 was a huge leap over the 600 with bluetooth , high res screen, quality yet low megapixel camera, great battery life, and much improved keyboard and button arrangement/layout. The 700p really isn't adding anything great like built in WiFi, larger or higher res screen, a high res camera (2mp or greater), or even making the design thinner or sleeker. It is a basic, generic Palm type upgrade that is good but nothing huge and may be not worth the additional upfront price and monthly costs. Basically camera, EVDO, and memory are being improved. Not a leap by any means and certainly should be more after coming out over a year after the 650. Sony use to sprout PDA's every 3-6 months. Hope I helped.

That being said, if I could afford the addional monthly costs I probably would upgrade, even though the specs are incremental. I am happy to say, though, that I am more than satisfied with my 650 and the 700p isn't provoking any upgrade bug like the old Clie's.

[dragonsgames]

I doubt if the extra $$$ for the 700p will be worth it. :rolleyes:
I was just about to post about "What's the point?"

[hope]

I must point out though, if the 700p has the A2DP bluetooth profile, I would seriously consider making the purchase. Its the one feature thats making the LG 550, which should be coming out along side the 700p May 28th, very desirable over my blade. If the 700p has this feature, you can probably call me a buyer. If not, I'll be keeping my 650 'til my contract ends and remain happy.

[Demonstar]

Hope, if that's the case and with Palms previous history would it make sense to give it 6 or 7 months and buy the 700p at the dropped price? Palm has already dropped the price of the 650.

[hope]

Depends on sales. They dropped the 700w real quick because it just wasn't selling at the exaggerated price they place on a new device. It allows them to recooperate some of the costs quickly before the price comes down to a normal $300-$400 level. Asking $600-700 is also saying this phone is for a select few. And a select few will feel special with their overpriced 700p for a few months before everyone else has one. Remember when the RAZR was $500, now you can get it free with cash back. Given the success of Palm, not windows, and Sprint with the treo line, I would say it is going to be more successful and the price drop will not happen for at least 6 months. Given todays pda phone market, prices remain higher for a bit longer as the replacement is farther behind versus regular handsets. Look at the 6700 or 6600, there are no real replacements in sight and the prices remain on the higher end. The treo doesn't demand as much respect as those, no real reason, but it will still keep its higher price tag. Sprint going to milk its Power Vision and Sprint TV capabiliites for the 700p.

I'd say it still boils down to price and, personally, the A2DP protocol and WiFi card support to even upgrade at any price. The EVDO and added monthly charges, minimal camera upgrade, and memory aren't quite enough to pull an upgrade from my wallet. Imagine if they did a treo with a T3 slider for a full screen under the keypad or minimized the size the Moto Q thinness, or added WiFi and skype support natively. What a novel idea, innovation.