Palm Treo 680

Since it's the end of the year, I thought I'd get your mobile juices flowing with mobile devices I reviewed during 2007. See the posts that follow below.

Considering the proliferation of "smartphones" in the market, many now touting WIFI, 3G network speeds, thin form factors and now the Apple iPhone, one would think Palm Treos are dead. While I must admit, my first experiences with the Treo 650 were disasters--5 of them kept power-cycling off-and-on--the 680 is a dream.

The screen display is bright and easy to read 9 point type, the keypad is comfortable for typing quick emails and texting, the layout of the control keys is logical and easy to press and, finally, a phone manufacturer created a solid feeling metal and plastic PDA. Amazing. As RIM, Motorola, Samsung and others have downsized their phones and added more plastic, Palm's Treo 680, though bigger, fits comfortably in the "palm" of your hand, the stub antenna is gone and it sports a 300+mhz processor speeding up program loading and browser operation.

The Versamail email client is quick to program and use on POP3, IMAP and Exchange Server/Lotus Domino servers, there's additional internal memory--more than the 650--plus the usual memory card expansion slot.

Only a couple of complaints. You need to press the center D toggle button straight in to engage it without errors. And Palm decided to use a less powerful, thinner battery to make the 680 slightly thinner than the 650. Charging it overnight, however, is not a major drawback, plus Palm's new cradle charges a second battery and the phone simultaneously. I didn't test the phone on my Mac but you can sync your 680 to either a PC or Mac.

So, while the current Apple crowd drools over the iPhone--and interviewers proclaim the death of the Treo--I say get yourself a Treo 680. You won't be disappointed.