The new Treo

[Steve]

What do you think of the new Treo? See http://www.handspring.com

[imported_BigLig]

Interesting ideas there. So much for the complaints that the NEo and Pro were not sufficently different - here's the answer; they were updating their cash cows while preparing for a new device..

I would guess the 180 is aimed at mobile phone users who expect a tiny, barely useable keyboard , and the 180g is aimed at us PDA fans. The real PDA lunatics, though, might wait for the 270.

An interesting design choice to make it smaller- 4.3" x 2.7" x 0.7"
Compare with a normal Visor: 4.8" x 3.0" x 0.7" or an Edge: 4.7" x 3.1" x 0.44"

Again, probably what is expected for a phone device - the visorphone always looked a litle wide.

I've always expected this was where we were going - the PDA with a GSM phone in it. It was always the phone companies making them until now...

I think this is a clever piece of work from Handspring. Now we have to wait for someone to get one for a hands-on eval. I suspect the main point will be - does the smaller size make it a bad PDA.

[imported_JDELUNA]

If it has CDMA capabilities to work on the Sprint network then I am purchasing it. I believe that it would be more popular if it was able to work on the Sprint network since Sprint pretty much has the largest Digital network nationwide.

[chelentano]

Great design and size, though I am Pocket PC fan I would purchace the color version if it will be available with Sprint PCS service now.

But by the time this color unit will be available (mid-end of 2002) similar or better Pocket PC units will be available. In addition Pocket PC units will be capable to do full html/JavaScript/graphics web browsing on fast 3G networks and MP3 playback.

[Gulli]

I agree with chelentano if theese devices would both come out today at those prices they could be a killer, but in 3-8 months we will have pocket pc?s at the same price, and wheight and then it will be like compering today?s handsprings against todays P PC?s.
But i really like those devices, but i think i van buy somthing better in 2002

P.s. symbian will hopfully have some devices out in 2002 so PPC is not handspring?s only problem

[NewtonDKC]

The devices certainly score major points in the cool quotient arena - I wonder is Kyocera is worried? THese new handsprings sure make that phone look like a bulky brick! :-)
But even more interesting to me is - why announce them now? If the b&w model is still a couple months away, and the color model won't even be out until mid next year, then why - so to speak - shoot themselves in the foot by announcing these cool products now? Won't that stall sales of current models (a major problem that Palm had when the m50x series was announced prematurely)?
I wonder if it's to counter any possible imminenet announcement from Palm (the i700 series or whatever their wireless model will be)? Or if it's to stave off sales of the sexier (but larger) new Pocket PC models?
I think the answer to these questions would be almost as interesting as the devices themselves! :-)

[tsawicki]

It's a great looking device to me. I think they are pre-announcing it because they won't have it in time for christmas retail sales. This way they can gain interest for a hot launch. Palm is months away from announcing the m705 it seems.

As a former blackberry user, I love the keyboard personally. The limiting factor with blackberry was the inability to open attachments. PPC allows that - if PPC platform comes out with something in the Treo form factor I will be sold. Otherwise, I might just get my first palm os device.

[culo77]

Ok I would buy the Treo 270g right now at this very second..

Butt, and i say Butt, By next year june 2002 there better be a heck of alot more options. Its just to long to wait for it, and my Edge is on 741k left and i am still debating on the IR internet conection with the nokia 8290.

I want an color Edge with 16mb.

Oh please HAndspring oh Please!