From T5 to 755p

[Dan Davies]

I think I am going to make the step, brought on by a dead T5. I have read many posts in this group and learned a great deal. However, I have some general questions:
- I am not just buying another T5 as even new ones are very old. This is a reliability issue, so how is the 755p reliability?
- I have kept to the T5 for so long because of the beautiful big screen. Obviously, any Treo screen is smaller - how have others found the transition?
- My main uses are viewing text, calendaring and contacts, but I am being seduced by the combination of features in the Treo. How is the Treo for these basic functions?
- How good are the phone & camera?

Thanks for any help!
Dan

[brickman65]

Dan, I made the transition from a T5 to a 755P and loved it. I still have my T5 and it is VERY stable even after all these years. The Treo screen is smaller and takes some getting use to but after a while it is no big deal. The "defining" moment for me was how easy the Treo keyboard made data input especially while on the go. Much, Much easier than a standard PDA. That is whem I fell in love with the 755P.

For basic PMI and viewing as you have describe, I think that you will find the 755P equal to the T5 and just as stable. Now having said that..... I did have a major problem with the Treo BT in regards to Headsets. Basically while using the BT headsests my 755P would randomly reset itself. It NEVER did this without the BT headset. I rely on BT for my job. I drive a lot and talk on the phone a lot, so BT is a necessity. Other than that my 755P was very stable.

Now in fairness others have not had the probs that I had and are very happy with their 755P. I can certainly recommend the 755P and believe that you will be happy with it, but just beware of the BT.

[Girt]

Hi, Dan,

I've gone through a number of transitions, so maybe I can share my side of it (it's different for everyone). Working with several old PDA's now, I have decided that they do get worn - the digitizers loose accuracy, especially if scratched, and even the chips/circuit boards seem to slowly die (or fast). That said, it's not the age, it's the mileage. I'm playing with a never-used WM2003SE machine, so it's about 4 years old; it seems flawless.

Reliability - I think they'll be about the same.

Treo transition - depends on the individual. You'll find the Treo is an excellent compromise, but compromise it is. It's pretty good at everything. I have a 700p; quite similar to the 755p. As a phone it is incredibly easy to use and get things done, because it is a PDA. As a PDA, it is good, the only complaint is the smaller screen.

Screen - it is smaller. You will have to adjust. If you choose to be delighted, you'll be fine. One can even watch movies with TCPMP (you'll want to zoom some), but ...
Input - the keyboard is great. One-handed operation is great. There is no provision for Graffiti, and don't try to add it (which makes me sad), but with very little practice, you get just as fast - in time, faster - with the keyboard. I ended up writing with the stylus also in hand to select, scroll, push buttons, etc.. Seems silly to have both, but actually works quite well.
Camera - excellent for a 1.3Mp (700p)
The Treo also comes with software to lightly edit pics. I started keeping a pictorial diary - take a shot, write a caption; done. Very handy. I have not kept this up without the convienience of the Treo.
Edit - it's still not a dedicated digital camera of course.

As a Phone - Excellent in all features* So easy to get anything done with a touch screen and full keyboard.
Reception - noticably better than my dedicated cell phone (which is actually annoying, but I digress).
Contacts - better than most cell phones - you just type a few letters and it auto-searches.
Messaging - threaded, very nice. If you're into texting, it is fantastic.
* I think it was missing one feature - my 700p didn't beep when it got a message or Vmail and I didn't read/get it. That may have been added to the 755p, or I maybe just missed it. It does show up on the screen.

All-in-One - depends. It is very handy to not carry two devices. I did start carrying an earbud, so when I took a call I could still use my Palm. You can also put it on speaker phone for this.

But I went back to a PDA...
It's different for everyone; I am a very heavy user. Have alarms going off all the time, which was confusing during a phone call. Also for reading, looking at a full calendar, watching videos, surfing the web - I went back to a full PDA and a cell phone. I do miss the convience of a converged device, the 1-handed features, and the keyboard for lengthy entries and texting.

At the moment I'm back on my Treo and testing PPC - that is a whole 'nother story. Who knows, I may stay with the Treo.

[Girt]

More tips for the Treo -
- D-Pad - use a lot. It jumps to the various buttons, then hit center button to "click" it.
- when editing text, it is the cursor control (like arrow keys, but much more convenient).
- Keyboard - don't need an application launcher - just hit the first letter of the program and it jumps to it. e.g. - type "T" and it jumps to Tasks. Hit center button on D-Pad

[Dan Davies]

Thank you both for your advice and comments! I now have the 755p - so we will see how it goes...

Cheers,
Dan

[brickman65]

Congrats Dan!! I am sure that you will like it.

It sounds like you already have, but be sure to check out the 755P thread. There is a lot of good info in there.

[Girt]

be sure to check out the 755P thread.

It probably says it there, but before you hotsync, get things set -
1. copy your entire folder with the Backup folder and the PIM folders.
That may be all you need to do, but the safest thing is:
2. rename the Backup folder
3. create a new, empty folder named Backup
4. Hotsync
This will protect you from T5 specific files that the Treo doesn't want or need.
Then fresh install all your programs.
Sift through your renamed Backup folder for data files, etc.
It's more work, but it's safer...

[Girt]

Thank you both for your advice and comments! I now have the 755p - so we will see how it goes...

Cheers,
Dan

We'd love to hear about it.
I'm enjoying re-meeting my 700p.

One key for me in Calendaring is to use Categories to filter events. The built-in Calendar has this option (and Datebk you can use Views).

[Dan Davies]

So far, so good! I do miss my great big T5 screen, but can easily live with the Treo screen. There are a number of features that I like, such as bringing in my webmail and the ease of use for the phone. I did everything right for the upgrade installation - and it still did not work! It hung half way through, so I rebooted and did it again. This time, it saw it as a fresh install and did not bring over any of my data. I have been importing it by hand and installing my 3rd parties. Mostly with success. I will going through this forum looking at software ideas - though I have seen quite a few already.

Looks like I am a confirmed Treo owner!

Thanks again and Happy New Year!
Dan

[internetpilot]

I'm a bit late on chiming in on this, but it may still help you. I went to the 755p by way of M500, T|2, T|C, T|X, T|C (again), and then 755p.

- I am not just buying another T5 as even new ones are very old. This is a reliability issue, so how is the 755p reliability?

After a few problems early on that I've been able to work through, I find the 755p rather reliable. My problems with the 755p have all been with the OS and NVFS, and all of these were coming from an extremely stable T|C. I had similar problems with the T|X, which caused me to go back to the T|C. It's been a while now, and although I still own my T|C, I doubt I'll be going back to it any time soon.

- I have kept to the T5 for so long because of the beautiful big screen. Obviously, any Treo screen is smaller - how have others found the transition?

The T|X screen was very nice, too. However, I really haven't minded the 755p screen and it hasn't been a difficult transition. The 755p screen is very bright and sharp, even when comparing it to the T|C which is the same formfactor. At first I didn't like how overall small the 755p is, but now that I've gotten used to it the T|C and the T|X (when I see them in stores) the seems huge by comparison.

- My main uses are viewing text, calendaring and contacts, but I am being seduced by the combination of features in the Treo. How is the Treo for these basic functions?

Because the 755p is a phone, I don't usually use the Contacts application as much as I use the contacts function of my 3rd party phone app (TAKEphONE by SHSH software). There really isn't much use for the Contacts app anymore. I use my 755p both for viewing and creating documents in Docs2Go, as well as reading eBooks (I don't read real books anymore at all). I do like the newer Palm Calendar app (remember, I came from a T|C which had the older PIMs, but did "taste" the newer one with the T|X), but since I didn't have the newer Calendar app on the T|C, I bought into DateBk6, and liked it so much that I'm still using it on the 755p. Never had a problem with it, and I use it extensively.

- How good are the phone & camera?

The camera is only so-so. Not bad for what it is, but not great either. I only use it in a pinch, but then again it has to be a real pinch because I carry all my camera gear everywhere I go! I'm probably not the best person to ask about the camera!

The default phone app isn't bad, but I tried TAKEphONE and like it a lot better. It turns the 755p into not only a nice smartphone, but a rather slick one both in appearance and function. I highly recommend TAKEphONE.

Hope this helps, and congrats on your new Treo.