Palm Treo 755p hands-on

Yeah, it's a tiny bit thinner (0.8-inches vs. 0.9-inches) and lighter (5.6 ounces vs 6.4 ounces) and they've finally lopped off that antenna which has been missing from Windows Mobile-powered Treos for a while now, swapped the SD card slot out for a miniSD card slot, and added a nice, soft finish (we're not feeling the burgundy, though you might), but otherwise everything's about the same. It's the same version of the Palm OS (version 5.4.9), same screen size and resolution (320 x 320 pixels), same wireless radio (EV-DO Rev 0, not even a bump up to Rev A), same Bluetooth (1.2, you'd think it'd kill 'em to upgrade to 2.0), same 1.3 megapixel camera, same battery life, same processor (312MHz XScale), same amount of memory (128MB of RAM), etc. You get the picture, and to be fair, Palm makes it pretty clear with the model number that this isn't meant to be a major upgrade.
There are a few cosmetic differences worth noting (besides that lopped off antenna). The casing of the 755p is more or less identical to that of the Treo 750, with the memory card slot and IR port moved to the right side of the phone, a larger speaker, and a slight indentation along each side that makes the phone a bit easier to hold. One thing we were hoping is that they would have ported over to the 755p some of the UI improvements they've made with the Treo 680, but no such luck. Google Maps does come pre-installed (as well as Bejeweled), but the probably the most exciting new free app they've included (well, technically made available for download) is Sprint IM, an instant messaging program from Thumbspeed that's compatible with AIM, Yahoo Messenger, and MSN Messenger. It's something that's been way overdue, and the app itself is clean and easy to use (though we weren't able to successfully log-in with any of our AIM accounts).
The bottom line is that if you already have a Treo 700p, you definitely shouldn't have any buyer's remorse -- that is unless you really, really hate that antenna -- there aren't enough improvements here to make it worth the money you'd spend. If you're still holding on to that 650 or (gasp!) 600, and you're ready to upgrade, you may as well take the plunge and get the 755p.
Click here for the pics!



















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
C Nguyen @ May 9th 2007 2:00AM
I had thought that the 750's battery on Cingular is smaller. I wonder if this battery is larger than the 750's but smaller than the 700p?
1337sauce @ May 9th 2007 2:05AM
What the hell Palm, we have been beta testing your 700p and now you release this before the "MR" even comes out... wtf???
treonut @ May 28th 2007 3:36PM
my sentiments exactly. i have 700p & 755p. i wish for the return of my 650.
Dustin @ May 9th 2007 5:33AM
I'm Palm Burgundy. You stay classy, San Diego.
Tony Ricciardi @ May 9th 2007 6:18AM
Say it with me people.
Evolution, not Revolution.
Palm is dying because of incremental, insignificant, limp along updates like this. The current incarnation of the treo is essentially the same exact thing that Jeff Hawkins created over 5 years ago. Since buying Handspring, Palm has done absolutely nothing to progress the Treo.
derF @ May 9th 2007 7:34AM
Forget the hardware upgrades; how is it that Palm didn't include the 680's phone app? Isn't this nothing more than a simple software change?
derF @ May 9th 2007 7:42AM
I also predict that Sprint will be swapping-out 755p's -- for free -- to any disgruntled 700p owner.
revaaron @ May 9th 2007 8:42AM
if they put a 800x480 screen or even a 640x480 screen on this, I would upgrade from my 650. I'm still waiting for a bad ass email/aim phone upgrade. my major problem with the treos is that I can't multi-task! I want to be able to ssh to something and then check a webpage and then come back to my SSH session like windows mobile can do since the beginning!
the other issue with these phones is I need a secondary app to cut and paste since the c+p buffer is so damn small.
I will say one thing, the 650 takes a ride across the pavement almost every day and still keeps ticking.
Treo Cell Phone Fan @ May 9th 2007 9:26AM
It's been a year since 700p's release. Whether it's a revolution or evolution, Palm has to keep it's product lineup fresh to attract new customers.
Pedro @ May 9th 2007 10:09AM
I second the problems with the 700p. I have had every Sprint Treo model thus far, and the 700p has been a nightmare. Random crashes, a bug with the bluetooth headset. SLOW application switching. I am tempted to just by the 755p if they have fixed half of those problems. It is very frustrating that they have not released ANY sort of update for these problems, even though Palm has officially gone on the record that they exist.
Scott @ May 9th 2007 10:21AM
I'm one of those "gasp!" people - I still have a 600. :P
But - I'm holding out 'til June to see how the iPhone shakes out before leaping one way or the other. I love my Treo, but I mainly love it for the functionality, not because of its unique Treo-ness.
Matt @ May 9th 2007 11:17AM
I can't tell by the pictures, but will the 755p have the soft-touch paint finish that the Treo 750 currently has?
orlando @ May 9th 2007 1:28PM
All I have to say is that its true Palm has to update the Treo with more current hardware. But as far as hardware even though it’s still the same since 5 or 6 years it’s still better than windows mobile. I have tried every incarnation of WM and they are not friendly enough. And what is up with no threaded SMS support.
orlando @ May 9th 2007 1:29PM
I ment software*
Mrfrancophile @ May 9th 2007 3:05PM
I've been a Palm owner since 1997 and bought the first Treo300 when it came out. I have to say that the lack of innovation at Palm is pushing me out the door. Now I'm looking more seriously at phones like the Helio Ocean, Blackberry Curve, or even the iPhone. With innovative new phones coming out from other vendors every 6 months, it's shocking that Palm has had the same basic form factor and features since the Treo600 was released some 4 years ago or so.
Palm had an incredible lead on the smartphone market with the Treo300 - that lead is long gone.
Mark R. @ May 9th 2007 5:50PM
Damn, I would like the 320x320 instead of the 240x240 I have.
Mike @ May 10th 2007 2:23AM
Anyone that thinks the 680's phone app is better than the 650s is smoking crack. They tried to make it simple and instead made it a mess.... as usual.
If it wasn't that I was a Palm developer and the fact that it has the largest selection of third party apps of any smartphone, I would have jumped ship a long time ago. Palm, you are a pathetic excuse for an innovative company.
immauss @ May 11th 2007 1:23AM
When the @!#(*$)@(#*$ are they going to produce a new GSM palm ? I've had a Treo since the 270. Still holding on to my 650 and waiting for a newer GSM. However, it looks like I'll be able to get an openmoko before Palm goes back to GSM. WTF ?
H. Henderson @ May 12th 2007 11:14PM
In some cases, it's the third-party apps that really make the difference.
I'm not sure what's up with the PPC version of UpToDate, but the Palm version, although uglier, loads quite a bit faster. I've tried UpToDate with a Palm TX and an hp hx4700. I don't know why the Windows Mobile version is integrated with Sentry 2020; it feels as though Sentry 2020 can't handle those gigantic files...
...UpToDate is, to my knowledge, one of the biggest medical "textbooks" around -- and in the hospital, the extra speed really makes a difference.
UpToDate, combined with Skyscape applications and Lexi-Comp, makes way for a whopper of a medical database; even better [in my view] than ePocrates. It's really the main reason why I prefer both Palm and Windows Mobile devices over the competition (i.e. Symbian, Blackberry).
I'll ramble on a little more. Carrying iSilo and PDF versions of Textbooks (i.e. Kaplan) on a phone is so much easier then lugging a heavy backpack, or, heck, even a UMPC. It makes studying on-the-fly that much easier, too. It also attracts a lot of attention [heh heh heh].
Palm may be old; Windows Mobile may be a little clunky; but I'll accept them over those gigantic, expensive textbooks any day.
treonut @ May 26th 2007 12:45PM
the 755p already has the trademark self resetting disease.
jp @ Jul 12th 2007 5:00AM
hmhm, im in love with this treo, it is enhanced on the outside, the skin kinda texture, your no longer touching plastic.. and NO antenna! and the buttons have been enhanced, i dno, minimal yet noticeable changes, it works, ive had every treo since 600 and this is the ONE!