Palm Treo 755p

Considered a refresh by Palm, the Treo 755p for Sprint ($279 with two-year contract, rebates and instant savings) features the same old operating system, the same basic specs, and the same wireless technology as its predecessor. And it's only slightly less bulky than the Treo 700p, now that the antenna has been lopped off. So why do we recommend this quasi-sequel? Because it does everything you want a smart phone to do--e-mail with attachments, fast Web surfing, act as an organizer--while still being easy to use. You also get such welcome enhancements as Google Maps and a new instant-messaging client. Those in the market for a reasonably fast and long-lasting smart phone won't be disappointed by this device.

 

The 755p cuts a somewhat slimmer figure than the Treo 700p but will still create a bulge in your pocket. On the plus side, the 755p is noticeably lighter (5.6 ounces versus 6.4 ounces). It's also easier on the eyes, thanks to two new color choices: Burgundy and Midnight Blue. We tested the latter model and appreciated the soft-touch paint job and tapered sides. The keyboard was easy to use, as was the five-way navigation button, and you still have the touchscreen and stylus as a fallback option. Most of the buttons are where they were before, but the SD Card slot has become a miniSD Card slot and is now located on the right side instead of the top (See photo gallery).

 

Spec for spec, the Treo 755p is nearly identical to its predecessor, which is a bit disappointing considering that the 700p launched nearly a year ago. The 312-MHz XScale processor is still plenty speedy, the 2.5-inch display still plenty bright and crisp, and the 60MB of available memory still enough to store plenty of Palm OS applications. However, we would have preferred support for Sprint's faster EV-DO Rev. A network instead of EV-DO Rev. 0, which would allow for much faster upload speeds. And the lack of stereo Bluetooth in 2007 is pretty much inexcusable, although a $19.99 piece of software from Softick adds this capability. The 1.3-megapixel camera continues to capture decent photos but blurry videos.

 

One welcome addition is Sprint Mobile Instant Messaging, which comes preloaded on the 755p. The instant-messaging client took a while to load and bring up our Yahoo contact list--about 22 seconds--but once up and running we found the messaging snappy. The app even replicates the new-message notification sound you're accustomed to on your PC and includes 36 emoticons. The client also supports AIM and Windows Messenger, and its tabbed interface enables users to toggle among the three services with a simple tap.

 

Google Maps is the other noteworthy enhancement. It's a full-featured Palm OS app that lets you map an address, find nearby businesses, and get directions. We especially like that you can map a contact's location right from within the Treo's address book. You can also switch from a map view to a satellite view and get up-to-date traffic info. Screen redraws were a bit slow, but this is a valuable program to have on board. The only thing missing is spoken directions. For that, you'll need a Bluetooth GPS receiver.

 

E-mail and Web junkies will be satisfied with the Treo 755p. The device supports AOL, Gmail, and Yahoo, as well as Microsoft Direct Push and Good Mobile Messaging. Thanks to Documents to Go 8.0, you'll be able to open and edit Word and Excel files, and view PowerPoint and PDF files. Surfing is as fast as ever, as the Blazer browser let us start reading CNN.com within 3 seconds; it took 39 seconds for the homepage to completely load. It took about 9 seconds for the mobile version of The New York Times to load and 4 seconds for a technology article to fill the screen. Like other Treos, this one can be used as a modem for your notebook (over USB or Bluetooth), provided you sign up for a phone-as-modem plan, which begin at $39.99.

 

Palm OS devices have traditionally been less robust in the multimedia department than Windows Mobile smart phones because of the latter's tight integration with Windows Media Player. Even the new BlackBerry Curve has an edge over the 755p because of RIM's new Roxio-powered Media Manager software. Still, this Treo offers plenty of ways to have fun, including Sprint TV and PocketTunes for playing MP3s. Too bad Palm didn't include a standard 3.5mm audio jack this time around for plugging in your own earbuds.

 

As a phone, the Treo 755p sounded a little crisper that the 700p when making calls on Sprint's network in Manhattan and New Jersey. Recipients said they could tell we were on a cell phone but otherwise had no complaints. Voice-dial capability is offered by Nuance, but it costs $6 per month after the initial trial. The good news is that this smart software will let you do a lot of other things with your voice, from composing short e-mails and launching specific Web sites to looking up the weather or a stock quote. Unfortunately, the software doesn't support Bluetooth headsets.

 

This Treo continues Palm's tradition of offering long battery life. Although it features slightly less talk time than its predecessor (4.2 hours versus 4.5 hours), we were able to get through three days of regular use before having to recharge. That's a lot better than the one or two days offered by the MOTO Q and Samsung BlackJack.

 

Those hoping for a breakthrough in design or software should look elsewhere or wait to see what Palm has coming next. However, the Treo 755p offers a lot of functionality without a steep learning curve and it's a little less bulky than previous models. We prefer the sleeker BlackBerry Curve, but this is our top smart phone pick for Sprint customers.

 

 

Palm Treo 700p Review
The Treo gets a speed bump with EV-DO, a better camera, and other welcome upgrades without sacrificing ease of use.

 

BlackBerry Curve
A sleek smart phone for much more than e-mail, the Curve sports a sharp 2-MP camera and some serious multimedia muscle.

 

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