It's All in the Hand (Palm Treo 680)

Member Name: Zmugzy

Product:	Palm Treo 680
Date:	14/09/07 (265 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nice design, Blue tooth, expanded memory

Disadvantages: Weak Camera

Design wise the Palm Treo 680 catches the eye and with its a light, sleek body and curved tapered edges it certainly has an outstanding ergonomic feel to it. It appears quite similar to the earlier Treo 750v model but unlike the 750v this hand-held device uses the Palm Operating System. I particularly like the bright primary colour used for this model that certainly makes it stand out against the more usual neutral tones of most electronic gadgetry.

Although at first the control panel might seem a bit daunting to those who have never used such devices, it really doesn't take that long to find your way around. At the top of the device there is a slider that turns the ringer off and so allows you to silence the phone. Beneath the screen are big Call and End buttons, a huge navigation button and shortcuts to the calendar, messages, and home page. You can reprogram any of these buttons to open up different applications. Further down is an excellently designed mini keyboard with nicely laid out keys. These are tactile and back-lit for comfortable viewing in dark corners, but some might find that the spacing between the keys is rather small. However, I personally found it easy to navigate one-handed with the external controls and sometimes it is really helpful to be able to enter data and operate the device via the touch screen.

SD cards can be used with this device for memory expansion. This is a useful feature as they are quite common nowadays and can be used with other devices such as cameras. There is card slot on the right-hand edge of the device, so you can exchange cards easily. The device supports the Cingular EDGE network that allows you to take advantage of higher speed web browsing and download times. As you might expect there is the customary PIM tools such as a Calendar, a to-do list, a memo pad, a calculator, a world clock, and a voice recorder. There is also a Documents To Go application which lets you create as well as view a range of different document formats. For example, you open, create, and edit Word and Excel documents and view PowerPoint presentations. I have to admit though, this is a feature I find little use for. The fact that the handset is Quad-band will enable you to use it in a variety of international destinations.

The bright touch screen has a resolution of 320 x 320 pixels and a 64,000-color output which I suppose is satisfactory. Photos and web pages come out vibrant with text that is clear and easy to read. This was the case even when using the device in direct sunlight. One has to say though that the built-in VGA camera is a little disappointing as it only has a a maximum still image resolution of 640 x 480 pixels - hardly impressive. There is no Wi-Fi incorporated into this device nor does it support Palm's Wi-Fi card or voice dialling, which might be a bit of a let down for many users. The quality of the speakerphone also leaves a lot to be desired. However, you will find integrated Bluetooth as well as infra-red and the ability to use it as a wireless modem. There is also more user-accessible memory and I was impressed with the Versamail software that allows you to receive and send emails. The music player is also excellent and compares well with other portable audio devices on the market.

According to the manufacturers battery life is supposed to give you six hours' talk time and up to 12.5 days on stand-by. I found that the battery can run out within a day if all the features on the device are used frequently. This is a bit of a let down and really stretches the meaning of the phrase "portable device". What this all means is that if you intend to rely on it every day, then you'll have to be prepared to charge up the device every evening..

In conclusion a recommended buy, especially for those who are new to these types of devices or those of you who just want a mobile phone with a little bit more versatility.

Price ranges from £299.

Summary: Stylish PDA but low battery life

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