Treo 650 as a $100 PDA?

[shsmith]

Now that the 680 is out, Treo 650's can be had for about $100 on ebay. I was thinking of getting one for use as a backup PDA -- i.e. I do not plan to use the phone function. Seems like this should be about as good as a TE2 but with smaller screen and a full keyboard. Comments? Drawbacks?

[el mamba]

I was wondering the same thing. But my question goes more towards can you use it to all its functionality w/o the phone? That's about my only reason why I haven't purchased one, I'm afraid to buy it and then it won't work b/c I'm not using it as a phone.

[andwewillbether]

It will work as a full functioning palm without the sim card in. I've used my 680 as a pda while the sim card was in a nokia.

[Joel]

I'm still using a Treo 650 and it's working great. I'm not a heavy phone user so basically I use this unlocked, prepaid plan Treo as a "PDA with keyboard" :)

[shsmith]

I'm still using a Treo 650 and it's working great. I'm not a heavy phone user so basically I use this unlocked, prepaid plan Treo as a "PDA with keyboard" :)
Cool! Is there a prepaid plan that works with the 650 in the US? I looked around, but couldn't find one.

I currently have a Virgin Mobile prepaid phone and spend $5 a month on it ($15 auto paypal topup every 90 days). Needless to say, I rarely use it; it is just for emergencies.

If I could use the 650 as a PDA and also have prepaid for those rare occasions I need to call a tow truck or something, it would be great... I doubt I will give up my TX for daily PDA usage, but it's hard to resist getting a 650 at such a bargain price...

[LupeValenz]

I believe the 650 might replace your TX as your daily PDA usage because the 650 has great one handed controls and with the keyboard, it handles greatly with shortcuts, will rarely find yourself pulling out the stylus now a days :).

[TT5]

Where the heck are finding them for $100?

[shsmith]

Where the heck are finding them for $100?Here is one that just sold for $107:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180123217127

The unlocked ones are going for a bit more.

Here is the search I was using:

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?MfcISAPICommand=GetResult&ht=1&query=treo+650&category0=146487&st=&worldlocation=ebayctry&available_to=1&located_in=0&SortProperty=MetaEndSort&maxPrice=100&pt=2&maxRecordsPerPage=50&ebaytag1code_tmp=1&ebaytag1_tmp=ebayavail&ebaytag1code=1&ebaytag1=ebayavail&ebaytag12=ebayreg

[toymaker]

I got mine for $93 and it's awesome except for the lack of Ram. I'm considering custom flashing the ROM. That is, If I can read up on the process to know what I'm doing.

[andwewillbether]

t-mobile 2 go, and cingular pre-paid work

provided it's a gsm treo

[shsmith]

Well, I just won one for 79.99. No GSM and no camera, but that's just fine with me. I won't be activating the cell service. It's just a toy...

[andwewillbether]

Much luck with it, have fun!

[shsmith]

I got the Treo yesterday and have been tinkering with it all day today.

The screen is very bright and the processor is quite snappy compared to the TX. The keyboard takes some getting used to, but I think it will be faster than myKbd after some practice.

The battery life is amazing. I watched movies, listened to music, drove around with TomTom6 and ran out of time before I ran out of battery. My guess is that the 650's battery will hold for 8 to 10 hours of solid PDA usage.

I was surprised to find the 650 has exactly the same dbcache size as the TX. When coupled with the smaller flash it actually works better as there isn't as much to fill up the cache.

I installed most of my apps on the card using PowerRun and they launch pretty fast. I have had a few unexplained resets, but overall it seems snappy and stable. Once I stop installing and tweaking stuff I expect it to settle down.

The biggest negatives are lack of wifi and the small screen size. The 650 is also noticeably heavier than the TX. You definitely wouldn't want to put it in a shirt pocket.

Going back to the TX after a day with the 650 was an eye opener. Although not as bright, the screen is beautiful and much easier on my middle-aged eyes.

Note to palm: please give us a clamshell TX-sized PDA as the next "Foleo Jr".

[shsmith]

I believe the 650 might replace your TX as your daily PDA usage because the 650 has great one handed controls and with the keyboard, it handles greatly with shortcuts, will rarely find yourself pulling out the stylus now a days :).
You were dead on. I have hardly used the TX at all since I got the 650. Once I figured out how to patch DUN over bluetooth, I was able to do just about everything I did on the TX.

I have a few nagging reset issues I haven't figured out yet, but for the most part I'm happy with the treo. It is hard to break the stylus habit though.

[Trio650]

I got mine for $93 and it's awesome except for the lack of Ram. I'm considering custom flashing the ROM. That is, If I can read up on the process to know what I'm doing.

Has anyone ever posted an upgrade flash (such as was posted for the TX elsewhere on this site)? I really enjoyed my TX-2 ;)

BTW: Just became a member today...lurker no mo.

[bulls96]

Will the Treo 650 work with the Foleo?

I am looking to get into the Foleo-Treo concept. Getting sold on Hawkins take on a world centered on a smartphone. Will the Treo 650 cut it? I would definitely love it to work, it can save me a couple hundred bucks!