Palm Treo 650 - silver (Unlocked)

• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 19 reviews
• My rating: 0 stars

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• 6 stars

  Very nice to have myriad 'extras' but sometimes I just need it to be a good phone....

  by hksmith on July 12, 2005

  Pros: Ability to use all of my existing Palm OS apps

  Cons: Doesn't perform as a phone as well as my prior Nokia phone

  Summary: I truly enjoy being 'down' to just one device, but I have to confess, my lowered expectations, have been met. I'm not unhappy, but neither am I 'over the ...

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  Summary: I truly enjoy being 'down' to just one device, but I have to confess, my lowered expectations, have been met. I'm not unhappy, but neither am I 'over the moon' as I'd hoped to be with my 650.
  
  I'm a long time Palm user going all the way to US Robotics PalmPilot. Along the way, I've also owned Palm OS devices from Handera, Handspring and Sony. I even owned and used for a short while the VisorPhone plug-in. When the 600 came out, I initially raced to go and hold one to see if I really could get down to one device. I was able to hold off because a) I wanted BT and b) the form factor, while nice, is a ultimately a 'net loss' for me. I'm a big guy with big hands. The prospect of trying to thumb dial on the Palm keyboard held no allure. Besides that, I was/am extremely proficient with Graffiti 1. I wasn't looking forward to losing that data entry capability.
  
  When the 650 came out, I still held out waiting to see the critical reviews from press and early adopters. Reading about the memory issue, I felt vindicated by waiting. Ultimately I purchased and got down to business.
  
  One of the first things I noticed was the the fact that the sound volume for the headset is simply too low. It's ridiculous that I have to adjust to maximum for each and every call, particularly when a) I have perfect hearing - or at least that's what the doctor says - and b) I never had to do this on any of my previous portable 'phones' I eagerly installed the recent patch on the hopes that, as advertised, it would fix/address. Didn't happen. I tried third party app that supposedly fixes, but no joy - at least in my experience. Moreover, why should I have to pay for an extra app to help the phone do what it's supposed to do?
  
  Secondly, the Bluetooth implementation is neither as elegant or robust as it should be. After the initial pairing of a device, it should just work / be 'there' for all subsequent interactions. In my experience, sometimes this happens with the BT Headset...sometimes it doesn't. I've taken to either dialing my voicemail 'first' to make sure headset is 'recognized' and working or waving the phone around my ear on the hopes that BT Headset will recognize and connect. Interestly, I saw a special on some sports agent on ESPN yesterday. I immediately recognized he was wearing a Palm BT headset and likely using a 650. I had to chuckle when I saw him do the same 'ear wave' that I have to do to get the BT Headset to be recognized by the phone.
  
  Thirdly, I can't ever recall throwing any of my previous phones in disgust. I've done that more times than I care to admit with the Treo. On several occasions, I've navigated to a contact, hit the green send key to dial a number, held phone to my ear waiting for connection only to realize that dialing did not initiate nor complete and phone is in some previous state. To be fair, I don't know if it's the carrier (TMobile), some bad interaction between the extra apps I've installed and the built-in phone app, or the device itself. Again, when I pushed 'send' on previous, phone-only device, it 'just worked.'
  
  Finally, I followed the instructions to install the latest flash upgrade only to discover that I'd lost hundreds of contacts. Not sure why. Should I have backed up using a third party app. Probably. But again, tell me why I need to buy extra 'stuff' to do what the manufacturer says it's already covered with it's procedures? Fortunately, I'd backed up separately onto my wife's computer and I can 'selectively' reinstall the contact info I want via Outlook. Nothing like a periodic purge of your address book...g
  
  Yes it's the best smartphone out there, and, no I won't go 'back' to a phone only solution. I guess for me, the NY Times review that suggested it was an 'awkard teenage' felt most right to me. It's long past it's 'baby steps' but it's far from being a mature, solution for the masses. In my view, in order for the device to really have a mass appeal, it needs to 'just work' The average user does not want to spend time understanding the arcane intricacies of the Palm, Symbian, MS or any other OS. When the manufacturers figure that out, we'll all be better for it.

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  7 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 7 stars

  All in one, but harmony is hard to find

  by Chankul on July 12, 2005

  Pros: All in one, Nice Screen, Palm OS

  Cons: No Harmony Buggy software

  Summary: I'd been using a SONY hires CLIE and a NOKIA phone for years. I love Palm OS. Simplicity at its best. When Treo 600 came out I thought I'...

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  Summary: I'd been using a SONY hires CLIE and a NOKIA phone for years. I love Palm OS. Simplicity at its best. When Treo 600 came out I thought I'd be my dream device. It didn't. The low res screen simply put me back and kept using the SONY.
  
  And when Treo 650 came out. The wait was over and it was seemingly everything I wanted in a converged device. I took the plunge.
  
  As a PDA Treo is at its best but as a phone Treo 650 is far from perfect and honestly "sucks". The marriage between a PDA and a phone doesn't seem go in harmony or blend together.
  
  I know this is completely a software issue. Though PalmOne says "Ace Palm OS" in the ROM, it isn't the case. Treo hardware is jewel in the eyes instead.
  
  To point out, comparing to the CLIE, this get corrupted PIM database in one way or the other. Basic most required phone oriented address book isn't there. Palm Contacts simply sucks for a quick use in a phone. Software titles galore for Palm OS but there isn't any single application which as easy as to use the NOKIA Phonebook and takes the full use of vivid 320X320 screen. This is a shame.
  
  If you use something like PhoneMagic instead, you always get corrupted PIM database and loop of resets.
  
  Volume level is always low and not steady
  
  No mp3 Ringtone without additional software. Anyway asigning ringtone to a name is a nightmare.
  
  So I rate this 7 at my best. But PalmOne and other software makers should gear up to deliver software for the Treo 650's nice piece of ace hardware capabilities.
  
  Anyone?

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  8 out of 11 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 10 stars

  Simply perfect ! ! !

  by CanadianMan1967 on January 24, 2006

  Pros: Great programs, very good battery life.

  Cons: A bit hard to operate.

  Summary: I simply love it. Most of people face the same problem, soft reset for no apparent reason. I found the solution for everyone. From the phone dial pad enter ##377 ...

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  Summary: I simply love it. Most of people face the same problem, soft reset for no apparent reason. I found the solution for everyone. From the phone dial pad enter ##377 on a CDMA model, and #*377 on GSM phones, then click the dial button. This code displays the last error which caused a soft reset, the program that was running, and line number, which is useful to Treo software developers in troubleshooting the problem. Just disable or uninstall this program and voila ! No more soft reset.

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  2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 5 stars

  Great concept, poor quality control

  by andreascohen on May 14, 2005

  Pros: Great Smartphone functionality for Palm lovers

  Cons: Constant performance glitches

  Summary: Actually this smartphone has all the makings of the breakthrough product which PalmOne needed to compete against the Blackberry. But, this phone is plagued with constant endless automatic rebooting and ...

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  Summary: Actually this smartphone has all the makings of the breakthrough product which PalmOne needed to compete against the Blackberry. But, this phone is plagued with constant endless automatic rebooting and automatic shut down of the phone feature. Certainly, these symptoms are not typical of Palm reliability and stability that their users have come to appreciate.

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  3 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 7 stars

  Not as pretty as other phones, but beauty is vain.

  by TreMano on September 22, 2009

  Pros: Strong, durable phone. Palm OS has gotta be one of the easiest and most stable OS's out there (you hear that Windows Mobile, I said STABLE). Great battery life, lotta free apps online, keyboard is amazing. Churning out text messages is a breeze.

  Cons: Stupid antenna stub is quite annoying. Browsing the internet is next to awful. Adding one too many apps will cause the phone to do some crazy things...like crash or the dreaded "loop of death". Kinda on the chubby side.

  Summary: I have had this phone for the better part of over two years. I have had my share of ups and downs with this phone but in the end, we'...

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  Summary: I have had this phone for the better part of over two years. I have had my share of ups and downs with this phone but in the end, we're meant to be together. I got this phone after my T-Mobile Dash decided to go berserk on me, which wasn't its fault, it's the crappy Windows Mobile software that caused me to get rid of it. I should have learned from my first Windows device the Motorola MPx200, was that a piece of work. Back to the Palm, I recently went back to the Palm after "upgrading" to the T-Mobile G1. I have to say I loved the Android OS, but they awkward keyboard design and the not so hot battery life (with 3G turned off), not to mention that ridiculous data plan, caused me to ditch it on eBay. The 650 does have its moments when it likes to turn off the phone function on its own, which is initially why I got the G1, but for the most part it works fine and does what I want it to do well, which is churn out those text messages. Thanks to this phone I use on average about 2500 texts a month. This was not happening on the G1 with that big bump next to the keyboard and the onscreen keyboard doesn't cut it either. I love that fact that I can still play my videos via TCPMP (The Core Pocket Media Player) listen to my music, check my email, all while getting great battery life. The G1 would have been a keeper if it lasted an extra 2 hours without the extended battery because the call quality was flawless. The 650 isn't quite flawless, but its pretty good. I also love the ability to create my own mp3 ringtones on my PC and transferring them to the phone via MiniTones. I edit the tones to be loud and the Treo makes them even louder. Another thing that people may find petty is that the vibrate can be felt in and out of my pocket. If I had the G1 in my pocket and someone called, I would never know because it was so weak. The vibrate on the Palm alone wakes me up in the morning, its that powerful. I will probably be looking to replace it with another 650 soon as this one's headphone jack seems to short out every headset I plug into it but that is minor. I love my Treo and I hope that they eventually release a GSM version of the Palm Pixi as I think that is a true successor to the Treo instead of all the other phones that they've released with that cruddy Windows Mobile software. Stick to your own new WebOS, Palm, and you'll have no problems. Leave Windows Mobile alone, they will be your downfall. I would have bought the Palm Treo Pro if it weren't for Windows plaguing it. Please bring the Pixi to GSM users!!!

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• 4 stars

  mediocre as a phone, ok as a pda, like the stylus

  by jerome.coullare on December 4, 2006

  Pros: rather reliable, 2Gb card

  Cons: mediocre phone features, bulky, no wma media, no wifi

  Summary: this is my first pda. i bought it as a support of a chinese application plecodict.
  it's rather reliable, just a few unexpected freezing or reboots, the sync is
  ...

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  Summary: this is my first pda. i bought it as a support of a chinese application plecodict.
  it's rather reliable, just a few unexpected freezing or reboots, the sync is flawless. i'm not impressed about the pda functions in general, "documents to go" is fine though, a kind of a small Office on the go. The link with outlook is fine. the tasks are not good, so rudimentary...
  calendar function ok. the 2 Gb card is a blessing, you can put a lot of applications or files - photos or music files, but let me go this sad part now.
  
  As a phone, it's yes a little drama: volume to the max is still low, and i'm not yet deaf. The jack is proprietary, so your audio standard jack won't fit - sooooooo stupid. Phone is not handy, it's bulky and the touchscreen is a problem as your ear can basically cut the conversation when touching the screen...you have to disable the screen, but then, you can't use it with the stylus to take an appointment or a number. So, you need to use it with their proprietary earphones, which is such a pain.
  Music files: only mp3, no wma or wav. Guys, give me a break. so you have to convert your files before loading your pda.
  no wifi, so you need a 45 bucks data plan to have internet access.
  
  well, i can't give the whole thing the average 5, it's just fine for me because of my language application that needed this hardware on which it was tested. Without this, that would be a definitive waste of money. My wife got a pocketPC with virtually none of the drawbacks i have just described.

  Updated
  forgot the quadri band function on unlocked phone. Could put a european prepaid sim card and use the device in europe, which was rather nice. didn't have to carry both my treo 650 as a pda AND a separate phone.

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• 9 stars

  Great work helper

  by jorgeandresmarin on March 26, 2006

  Pros: All in one, good reception, expansion option, esasy keyboard

  Cons: Heavy, blueetooth headset

  Summary: This is a great PDA and a great phone. All my work in one device. Excelent internet integration with browser an mail The bluetooth headset its noise and not easy ...

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  Summary: This is a great PDA and a great phone. All my work in one device. Excelent internet integration with browser an mail The bluetooth headset its noise and not easy to use. The device its some heavy and my pocket has to do a big work to hold it. The SD memory card acess is some slow.

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• 9 stars

  almost perfect

  by ellis feigenbaum on March 22, 2006

  Pros: good interface, clear calls , good screen res, many more

  Cons: occasional soft reset that seems to have cleared up now

  Summary: I have had this phone for 6 months, i use it every day, it works well with bluetooth headset and i even used it as a wireless modem once in ...

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  Summary: I have had this phone for 6 months, i use it every day, it works well with bluetooth headset and i even used it as a wireless modem once in an emergency.
  had a few softrest probs at start but this eems to have cleared up now i moved a few progs from device to sd card
  i have used it to videa a friens wedding every that sees it is tottally in awe of its capabilities.
  would like more internal memory and inbuilt voice recognition that i dont have to pay for.

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• 10 stars

  Very Nice phone decent battery life

  by sajjid on November 27, 2005

  Pros: decent battery life, opens attachments

  Cons: no pdf files, terrible memory management

  Summary: Don't know why the email won't store on the memory card, that is very bad. battery life is decent. stubby antenna is bad but I think that it ...

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  Summary: Don't know why the email won't store on the memory card, that is very bad. battery life is decent. stubby antenna is bad but I think that it helps reception. screen is very nice, better than the treo 600 and better than blackberry 7100 series. can't use mp3's as ringtones. overall phone is a 10.

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• 6 stars

  Great phone with some terrible software downgrades from the 600

  by Gary in Indiana on October 24, 2005

  Pros: Great combination of Palm Pilot and telephone

  Cons: Some really bad downgrades in software from the 600

  Summary: Many additional and improved functions over the 600 but some keystone basic functions are made more awkward on the 650.
  
  The key for most of these is the desktop software.
  
  ...

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  Summary: Many additional and improved functions over the 600 but some keystone basic functions are made more awkward on the 650.
  
  The key for most of these is the desktop software. With the 600 desktop software you could drag and drop a full name & phone number from your contact list to your calendar. Now all you get is a last name like Smith, Jones, etc., and no number.
  
  On the 600 phone you could decide which contact number (Home, Work, Mobile, etc.) was the primary. Now Palm has decided my primary contact number with everyone I know should be their work number. Also, when you look up a contact name on the phone, the 600 would default to the top number (your primary contact number) and you had only to push one button and you were dialing. On the 650 it defaults to the name and you have to scroll to whichever number you want before you hit the dial button. Admittedly, this seems like a small thing, but it can be a real big thing when you're driving.
  
  If I had never had a Treo 600 or that desktop software, I probably would rate this phone higher. I'm terribly disappointed in Palm's software people for some of these terrible decisions that result in a reduction of the utlity, ease of use and functionality of this phone and desktop software.

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