Palm hasn’t had it that easy of late. Trying to please an ever-fickle business user base and tech-savvy consumers at the same time is no easy task. Take the Centro for example. It didn’t exactly set the business world on fire, did it?
But that was then and this is now and Palm has tried to consign any gripes we had the Centro and its ageing Palm operating system with this Windows Mobile powered Treo Pro.
Looking like a familiar old friend with its stylish exterior and slinky black overcoat, the Palm Treo Pro wouldn’t look entirely out of place at an Apple iPhone reunion party. However, looks can be deceiving and while this device has a lot to offer business professionals, an iPhone it most certainly isn’t.
Serving up a new slim line packaging approach, the Pro’s parents have done away with the set-up CD. While this minimises cardboard usage, it doesn’t necessarily minimise headaches for the end user if they’re using anything other than a PC. Mac fans may be disgruntled by the device’s claims of easy PC set-up, as they’ll have to download a third-party application to get things synced up and ready to roll.
Once you’ve gotten over the potential set up hurdle, you can start to appreciate what the Palm Treo Pro has to offer. At just 133g, 6cm high and 1.3cm wide, it’s discreet enough to fit in your pocket without causing an unsightly bulge. While its 2.5 inch screen isn’t the biggest on the market, it is still sizable enough to carry out most tasks without having to squint.
A stylus is housed comfortably round the back, as we’ve come to expect with Palm devices and unlike most keyboard equipped Windows Mobile devices the display is touch sensitive too.
The Treo Pro is among a flurry of devices that have recently succumbed to the advances of Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional. While it has its detractors we think the use of this OS helps move things on from the negativities people may have levied at Palm historically.
It’s a better choice for dealing with office documents on the go, for example, maximising productivity.
[pb/]
We found the touch screen incredibly responsive to use although our fondness for using this input method resulted in sticky finger marks on the screen. The back casing was just as bad when it comes to attracting the grease too.
An issue that plagued the Centro was the size of the physical keys and though it’s improved, the problem remains for all but the daintiest of hands. As outlined above, however, the slick touch screen interface somewhat sweetens any bitterness business users may have about key sizing.
The display could be described as ‘good enough’, though the 320 x 320 resolution is nothing to write home about. We put the handset through its paces on both a sunny day and a conversely dark and miserable morning and we were pleased to say that the screen dealt with both conditions admirably.
A convenient feature is a top mounted silent mode shortcut switch, avoiding the desperate phone-into-the-bag scrabble when it goes off unexpectedly.
Battery life is always an issue with Windows Mobile devices, and Palm has clearly concerned about this. The screen saving mode kicks in relatively quickly and missed calls and messages are displayed without having to unlock or press the screen. This will come in handy for keeping an eye on your phone for important calls during a business meeting without giving the other attendees the impression that they have anything other than your undivided attention.
Browsing the web is a pleasant experience thanks to HSDPA connectivity, and GPS plus the Webraska navigation software will help point you in the right direction for business meetings, though disappointingly it’s only a trial version. There’s also a handy Wi-Fi shortcut button, which found and connected to our wireless network quickly and easily.
It’ll hook up to your corporate Exchange mail server so you can never been parted from your emails and it’s standard OS will no doubt please the IT department when it comes to any support issues you may have going forward. The Pro also supports POP3 and IMAP email accounts.
Furthermore, the nifty little handset can also be used as a modem to support web browsing and access on a larger screen device like your laptop. Just make sure you watch your data consumption levels – particularly if you’re abroad.
The two-megapixel camera is not going to win any camera innovation awards but, let’s face it, if you’re travelling somewhere on business, you’re unlikely to have time to take that many snaps.
Author: Maggie Holland
Palm Treo Pro