Palm Treo 800w for Sprint unboxing and hands-on

by Joshua Topolsky, posted Jul 14th 2008 at 8:30AM

If you've been really eager, it's possible you already bought one of these. If you haven't, then here's your chance to see Palm's latest Windows Mobile phone from just about every angle you could possibly imagine. We've got the company's new enterprise-themed phone in-hand (and on-table), and we're currently putting it through its paces. Take a look at the gallery below for a slew of pictures, and stay tuned for a review from us coming soon.

Gallery: Palm Treo 800w for Sprint unboxing and hands-on

Filed under: Handsets, Palm, Sprint, Windows Mobile, EV-DO

Tags: 800w, features, hands on, hands-on, HandsOn, palm, sprint nextel, SprintNextel, treo, treo 800w, Treo800w, unboxing

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Highly Ranked

Charles Han @ Jul 14th 2008 8:41AM

looks good, lets see what the review brings us!

Low Ranked

ev01 @ Jul 14th 2008 8:41AM

Another FAT ASS brick with the Treo label on it?

FAIL.

Neutral

clicclic @ Jul 14th 2008 8:48AM

Another gorgeous engineering design. I just wish they'd not give up on the Palm OS yet. Just sneak multitasking into it (multithreading whatever) - it's OS blows away Windows Mobile.

Good work Palm!

Low Ranked

Kevin @ Jul 14th 2008 9:37AM

Dude this is a Windows Mobile phone not a Palm OS one.

Did you read the post?

Highly Ranked

Rollins @ Jul 14th 2008 10:20AM

Kevin, did you read his comment? He's well aware that this is a Windows Mobile phone and laments the fact.

Low Ranked

Randy @ Jul 14th 2008 10:35AM

Even if he hadn't read the post, there's still the matter of the device having the Windows logo on it. and when it's powered up you can clearly see it's running Windows Mobile.

Sometimes you can club someone over the head w/ clues and they still don't get it.

Highest Ranked

backbeat @ Jul 14th 2008 11:02AM

@Randy(Earl's brother):

What pretty little picture showed up in the article still has nothing to do with the content of clicclic's post. Ask Vanna if you can buy a clue!

Neutral

stozmon @ Jul 14th 2008 9:30AM

Would have been great...a year ago. This is why Palm is steadily becoming irrelivent in the smartphone arena. Stick with the $99 kid phones(Centro) Palm, and leave the REAL hardware to the big boys!

Neutral

Alex @ Jul 14th 2008 9:58AM

They've moved from being the leader in CEO phones to Children.

Highest Ranked

Mr Nick @ Jul 14th 2008 10:09AM

Oh, god. Seriously, I know you apple-fanboys love your iCrap - But do you seriously have to insult every other phone to justify why you spend a retarded amount of money on a music player that is able to take calls?

This is a business phone, not a media phone. Get over it. This competes with Blackberry and HTC (both of which still have physical keyboards too). This product has nothing to do with the iPhone unless you're a complete idiot.

plus, the iPhone's "revolutionary" OS design is just a rip-off of garnet when you really look at the GUI.

Neutral

Jason @ Jul 14th 2008 11:05AM

retarded amount of money?

When I was researching my iPhone (EDGE version) purchase, I looked at Palms and HTCs and blackberries and Nokias. When you go unlocked, the iPhone was the cheapest of them all.

I spent $500CDN on my 16GB iPhone. The Nokia N95 was $800, HTC Kaiser was $900 and even the Blackberry (with WiFi) was $450, but it had that tiny screen in comparison. The Treo 750 is STILL $625 unlocked...without WiFi.

But then I saw how the iPhone's Safari browser worked, and that was that. Sold.

Highest Ranked

barry99705 @ Jul 14th 2008 11:08AM

That's funny, you're the first person to mention the iPhone.

Neutral

Devin @ Jul 14th 2008 12:10PM

@Jason

Because the average American is drowning in debt and could not afford the high up-front cost of the first generation iPhone, AT&T/Apple changed the iPhone 3G pricing model to pay now, hemorrhage later. (The combined plan & phone is more expensive over the term of the contract than the first generation model.) Sure you may have saved in the short run, but AT&T and Herr Jobs have commandeered your wallet for the next two years.

Highly Ranked

minh @ Jul 14th 2008 4:02PM

Mr. Nick, calm down...just because people talk crap about Palm or WM does not mean they are an apple fanboy...Please consider that some people don't like them...

Low Ranked

stozmon @ Jul 14th 2008 10:16AM

Are you kidding? Same old tired design as thy've been using for years! Also, if you have any aspirations of using 3G, say goodbye to that relic of an OS...it cannot handle 3G (especially concurrently with WiFi), neverming multitasking.
Keeping your standards nice and low now, aren't you?

Highly Ranked

Paul @ Jul 14th 2008 10:37AM

stoz, not only are your comments idiotic, but you apparently haven't found the reply button...

Neutral

stozmon @ Jul 14th 2008 10:46AM

Idiotic? Explain.

Highly Ranked

Paul @ Jul 14th 2008 12:34PM

Admittedly not as idiotic as most posts on Engadget blogs, but first, Palm OS does support 3G in the EVDO variant. Second because the poster clearly was wishing that Palm had not given up on Palm OS in the sense that they should have continued to improve it, not in the sense that they should have offered the 800 in a tired franken-garnet version. Thirdly because you are slamming a well honed hardware platform geared towards business users as one that should be relegated to use by kids. Sure the Centro is a little less than a stellar business handset, but it doesn't mean that they have decided to (or should) switch demographics. Let's look at the this, the 850w, and what Palm brings to bear next year in terms of a new OS and new form factors before declaring them dead.

So, idiotic, maybe not, but certainly misguided...

Neutral

Paul @ Jul 14th 2008 12:38PM

Oh yeah, and "tired old" Palm OS garnet multitasks just fine. Far better than the iPhone, obiously. You have to code specially for the multitasking (i.e., background processes), but it works very well.

Neutral

Paul @ Jul 14th 2008 12:59PM

Neutral

stozmon @ Jul 14th 2008 2:45PM

Thank you for the clarification, Paul. I'm glad to see you actually have an informed opinion, rather than being being a trash talker just for the sake of it.
I still stand by my statements, however. EVDO rev A. is a 3rd generation technology but I think you have to admit that CDMA's user base is FAR outweighed by GSM, especially for business users and with the 4G roadmap starting to become apparently favored towards LTE, Palm OS not being able to handle 3G (GSM) is a true statement.
I agree that Palm should have offered Palm OS2 for the 800 but we all know thats not going to be available until 2010. That is part of the reason I'm making the statements that I am; What you refer to as well honed I'm calling antiquated. I don't think Palm should change demographics but their demographic is largely changing due to the Centro...and mostly in favor of a younger, less business geared user. had it not been for this surge in younger users, Palm would not have put up the profits that they did.
I was a loyal Palm user for well over a decade and slowly watched the entire field of competition surpass them; needless to say I was disappointed. Even with the 850w (assuming it will come...look at how long the 800 was delayed) and whatever they may offer up soon, I don't know that it will be enough to resurrect their quickly diminishing market share.
So, I feel my comments are neither misguided nor idiotic, however, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. Thats what makes freedom of speech so important.
P.S. Its not truly multitasking, but thats another debate. ;-)

Neutral

stozmon @ Jul 14th 2008 10:17AM

Who said anything about iphone?

Highest Ranked

Matt @ Jul 14th 2008 10:30AM

I personally went back to the Treo from the iPhone because my fingers are too big to use the virtual keyboard. I would have loved to continue using the iPhone had they kept innovating their SMS app by making a landscape-based version of it - like they do with their internet browser, but alas, a full year later, even v2.0 doesn't have it. It was agonizing trying to type on it fast. The treo's design is tried and true, and my thumbs feel at home with buttons. So, to each their own.

Highly Ranked

Brien @ Jul 14th 2008 10:53AM

The fact that Apple didn't make that keyboard landscape is just stupid. Everybody wanted that.

Neutral

st @ Jul 14th 2008 10:42AM

that home screen looks like it's from Windows 95

Neutral

alb.rod @ Jul 14th 2008 10:44AM

Treos bring back bad memories as I used to support them for the employees at my last job, but this one looks very nice. The thickness factor has always kept me from one though.

Neutral

JackinNC @ Jul 14th 2008 10:53AM

This looks great. I have a ton of PalmOS apps that I'd miss a lot, but wi-fi and gps are huge and I love the Treo form factor. Does this use mini-USB for the headphones as well? That'd be a bummer from the standpoint of not being able to listen and charge, which is important to me at my desk and on road trips.

Neutral

Mr Maze @ Jul 14th 2008 7:03PM

Yes, the Micro-USB port (NOT a Mini-USB) is used for headphones as well. Which means I am SOL when I fly to Portugal next month and I need to charge it as well as listen to music. So far, the only thing I don't like. At least it came with earphones/headset.

Neutral

Brien @ Jul 14th 2008 10:53AM

Wow, i'm so glad the iPaq 910 came out right before this did.

1) The iPaq has a 2.46" screen compared to 1.74", and runs at a MUCH higher DPI rate with better colors. ...Who wants a 1.74" screen???

2) Crappy 2MP camera compared to less crappy 3MP camera with the iPaq 910.

3) I don't mind a little girth in my Phone, but ZDNet has some images that compare the 800w to the iPaq 910. The iPaq is a LOT thinner with the same (actually better) specs.

Palm...really?

Neutral

Paul @ Jul 14th 2008 1:05PM

I think the ZDNet got the dimensions of the screen wrong. I believe it is a 2.4" diagonal square screen (perhaps they were measuring one side, which is very much against the norm). And please look up the definition of DPI (no "rate" involved) and tell me how a higher resolution, smaller screen has a lower DPI. I won't speculate as to which device is better. Both are similar.

Neutral

P Cos @ Jul 14th 2008 11:17AM

been a palm user since the release of the 650 for sprint and sadly they havnt come out with anything worth an upgrade since then.. i do however enjoy the rubber coating on the 755p that i managed to get through the replacement plan

Neutral

forty4 @ Jul 14th 2008 11:28AM

Do the win mobile version palms have conversation or 'im' like sms the palm os has? Why havent more companies adopted this style? Lastly, does the iphone do this? (That's not a sarcastic statement, i really don't know)

Neutral

Scott @ Jul 14th 2008 11:49AM

Yes Treo800w has Windows Mobile 6.1 which is designed with "threaded" SMS. The iPhone also has threaded SMS.

Neutral

forty4 @ Jul 14th 2008 12:27PM

Thanks, i havent done any actual texting back and forth on the iphone. I just played with the keyboard out of curiosity after jailbreaking it for a friend.

Neutral

TheNurseWhoLovedMe @ Jul 14th 2008 12:08PM

Too bad it's not coming to VZW anymore...

Neutral

jries @ Jul 14th 2008 12:21PM

Not coming to VZW since when?

Neutral

Mr Maze @ Jul 14th 2008 5:36PM

I got this phone this morning, for free. My Moto Q decided that life wasn't worth living anymore and turned itself into a paperweight... Since the Q isn't available anymore with Sprint, they gave me this phone and so far it is a perfect phone for me.

Neutral

Vitamin-eej @ Jul 14th 2008 6:45PM

I just purchased this new Treo 800w. Gotta say not sure I am a fan. I have 30 days to decide if I like it or I get my money back. Here are my first impressions. The stylus absolutely sucks. Its so stinking flimsy that I feel like I'm holding a straw. Someone will definitely have to come out with a more sturdier aftermarket stylus perhaps metal like the 700W has. The screen doesn't seem as responsive either. I thought it was something to do with the cheap stylus so I grabbed the one off my 700. Same thing.

I do like the threaded SMS and the increased speed for web browsing is definitely noticable but overall I am not completely excited about this Treo like I was with the 700.

I've only had it a couple of hours so these are my very first impressions.

Highly Ranked

John @ Jul 14th 2008 7:43PM

do all you people who hate on other devices have some sort of inferiority complex? You seem determined to trash somebody's personal choice of which phone they want to use.. YES they base their choice off of more than the UI and YES there are smartphone users who for some reason dont buy data plans and who prefer physical tactile keys or different form factors, or removable batteries, or whatever other features that some phones have and some dont.

Is this what you have to do to make youselves feel better about your purchase or to sleep at night? Trashing other tech products as garbage because you are afraid there might be something it can do that your glorious choice cant? If you havent noticed, people think for themselves and buy stuff THEY want, despite you thinking yourself enlightened for buying what YOU want.

Highest Ranked

grubish @ Jul 15th 2008 1:06PM

I have been a Treo 600, 650 and currenty treo 755p user. I love the OS with the exception of multi tasking. However, everytime I look at purchasing a laptop, I cant think of much that I would like to do remotely that I cant do on the Palm. I will admit that the OS is out dated. If Palm would have updated the gui, they would have been kicking rims but for a couple years. I do Blackberry support and really like my touchscreen for personal use.
I am pretty dissapointed that the location is not enabled on the 755p but it is for the centro. I think the folks that really paid Palm for their product got screwed. I encourage any palm bashers to go check out the new iphone app store, blackberry app store and compare that to all of the free apps available for the palm OS. and let me know if $20 for solitare is actually worth it.

If you spend the money on one of these phones, the biggest expense is going to be the service contract. We are all to wrapped up in the initial price rather than service cost. I know everyone hates Sprint but you were able to get an unlimited data plan for $15 bucks a month. Want a Blackberry? $49.99 per month. Iphone? $49.99 per month just for data. add this to the cost of a single app and I think you get my point. I will take an older, maybe a bit out dated device long before paying $600 per year for mobile internet. My cost is $180 per year. Enjoy that Iphone and the $1500 you just spent.

Neutral

Agust @ Jul 16th 2008 3:22AM

Well, I really thought that the Palm guys would go little wild after the iPhone.

Also considering simplicity in today devices sticker on the screen with "Call XXX for setup assistance" kind of reminds me on Windows 95 crackdowns where you needed to call the nerd from the family to fix the problem. (old school).

They really need to speed up with the design and development, I cant imagine that their sales are rising allot these months.

Neutral

Mike @ Jul 18th 2008 10:01AM

The reception on this phone is HORRIBLE. I waited forever for this phone and Ive never had a Palm with sound issues like this. People tell me Im fading in and out. What a disappointment. Sprint was kind enough to tell me that it must be the people I'm talking to. No, really that's what they said.

Now to be fair, I don't know if its the design, or this particular unit but since I only get ONE chance at a return with Sprint, how can I take a chance? I'm getting the Curve, if it ever comes in again. In the meantime I have to protect this piece of junk with my life so it doesn't get scratched.

Neutral

coreuser @ Jul 18th 2008 7:17PM

Sorry, I love my Treo but i would like to get my hands on one of these fine Linux phones. Lets stop the banter on Palm Verses Windows Mobile. Palm has been putting their product in the shitter by doing nothing for too long and Windows Mobile is a waste of processor.

http://www.openmoko.com/
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/drive_to_discover&id=6248649

Neutral

willville @ Jul 22nd 2008 3:17AM

Damn, that's one f'ugly device.
Palm manages to hijack all those Apple Employees and this is the best they can come up with. What the hell is happening at that place?
I'll stick with my Treo 700wx. It's not the greatest handheld, but at least it's pretty sleek.
Am I the only one in the world that finds the iPhone Keyboard a real nightmare?

Neutral

Roy @ Jul 23rd 2008 5:03PM

Palm makes pretty good phones, but its OS, im sorry to say sucks horribly. thats why verzion discontiuned theres. Just stick with Windows and I and many other phone junkies will buy.

also i think i covered this already, but palm's os will never be better, (well, not never), than windows.

Neutral

Magiolla @ Aug 6th 2008 2:31AM

I spent 2 years waiting to get away from Sprint and when I heard that Palm was dropping the Palm OS which I have used since the very first Palm Pilot I had my eye set on the Blackberry Bold (October ??) Then I heard about the Treo 800w and abandoned my 650 for it. The first phone was faulty - no Sound control and screen unable to switch off. Sprint replaced it immediately. I have been using it for 4 weeks now and It is a FANTASTIC phone. The GPS is so good I am going to sell my Maestro 4050. E mail and web are really fast and after you play around with the settings for a while it really grows on you. Integration with Outllok, Word and Excel is a breeze and if you are bored then try the Sprint TV. I still dont know everything this phone can do but I am highly impressed. 10 out of 10 to Palm Inc