Palm Treo 700p Cell Phone Review - Tour & Design
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Alfredo Padilla Published on March 15, 2007 Comment on this |
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Front Closed
The front of the Treo 700p is dominated by a large 2.46” TFT Touchscreen, displaying 65k colors with a resolution of 320 x 320 pixels. Above the screen you find the Sprint and Palm logos, with the grille for the phone speaker sitting between them. To the left of the speaker is a single LED which shows the battery status. Below the screen are the navigation controls and a full QWERTY keyboard.
On the left hand side of the device are two volume control keys, plus a voice memo key that can be configured to perform other tasks.
Top
The top of the device sports a slot for full sized SD cards, a switch for choosing between silent or vibrate mode, and the Infrared port. You will also notice the antenna, which sticks out around three quarters of an inch from the main body of the camera and the top of the stylus bay.
On the bottom you will find the 700p’s ports. From left to right there are a 2.5mm headphone jack, Palm’s proprietary multi-connector port (where the USB cable connects), a charging port and the microphone for the phone. Unfortunately Palm continues to use their proprietary multi-connector port and separate charging port rather than the more handy mini usb standard seen on other phones.
You won’t find anything on the right side of the Treo 700p.
The lower two third’s of the Treo 700p’s back is taken up by the battery cover, with a release switch at the top of the cover. Above this on the left are the main speaker, and above the speaker the lens for the 1.3 megapixel camera and a self-portrait mirror. At the top left you find the stylus slot, while on the top right you find the port for an external antenna.
Battery Out
Underneath the Treo 700p’s battery slot you will find a large 1900 mAh battery. Because this is a CDMA phone, there is no slot for SIM cards.
In the Box (3.0)
The Treo 700p comes with a fairly basic set of accessories, including a wall charger, a sync cable that plugs into your computer’s USB port and manuals. It also includes a Palm screen protector, which is a nice item and a CD with all of the software you will need to sync your Treo 700p with your Windows computer.
Handling (3.0)
The Treo 700p is fairly large and heavy for a phone, at 6.4 ounces. Although the controls are well placed, it definitely feels heavy in the hand, and you get tired holding it up to your head for long calls. The plastic construction also makes it feel a little slick, and the antenna can feel awkward in a pocket. Compared to other smart phones however, the 700p is built intelligently. For example the PPC 6700 from Sprint places the controls at the very bottom of the device, making it very difficult to hold for long periods, the Treo does not suffer from this problem. Of course the newer lineup of slim and light form factors in smart phones, such as the Motorola Q, are much easier to handle, however you do give up functionality and battery performance with those devices.
Portability (3.0)
The Treo 700p is definitely a big phone to carry around on a daily basis, especially compared to regular phones or newer and smaller smart phones. Although it will fit into most front pockets, it will weigh you down, and those who don’t mind looking too much like geeks may want to consider a belt holster for it. The phone will fit easily into most purses.
Aesthetic (4.0)
There’s not getting around it, the 700p is not a beautiful device. Utilitarian is the best adjective that describes it, but business users will find it a professional looking device. If you’re looking for something a little more “sexy” with similar functionality, the Motorola Q is probably more up your alley.
Durability (7.0)
The Treo 700p feels solidly constructed, with no gaps to let in dust or moving parts that may wear out over time. The battery case was a little loose, and we would recommend you invest in screen protectors, as the screen is not covered when the phone is in a pocket or bag and could easily get scratched. The multi connector is also a little flimsy, and you should not be surprised if the USB cable that comes with the device breaks after a couple of years. The same can be said of the power connector. Like any phone, you can also expect that the symbols on the buttons will fade with extensive wear. The lens of the camera is also unprotected, and will inevitably get scratched.
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