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Of all of the developments in computing, PDAs, which stands for personal digital assistants, are devices that I had no familiarity with on any level until now. Certainly, I have seen these miniaturized machines in office situations and in airports, but I had never used one. So I came to the PDA world with a clean slate, well sort of clean slate. Plus, I was curious to see what this aspect of the digital divide was all about.
Being a desktop user, and I have been back and forth between PCs and Macs for many years, small hand-helds were a totally new world for me. A new world that took me some time getting accustomed to even after years of working daily with a PC. I thought having come from two operating systems, the adjustment would be easy, well it was not that easy. Input devices like mice and keyboards are like extensions of my fingers at this point. Working with the very tiny buttons of the Treo, as well as the entire format, took me by surprise. Adjusing to the Mac was actually easier than this for me.
For those that live by PDAs, those users may enjoy the functionality of a PDA with a cel phone, and some Web capabilities a great deal. But if you think that the Treo is a replacement for a laptop, or a portable alternative to a PC, forget that up front. This is a totally different world that requires a new mind set. Having come to systems like the Treo just recently, I felt the adjustment a bit jarring.
Handspring’s Treo 270 weds several different devices into one. It is a cel phone, a Web browser and a digital organizer that includes the ability to send email. On the surface this sounds great, but in real life, I felt that the concept is just not ready for prime time. Even as an option to a laptop, there are just too many issues, at least for me, that made this more a compelling toy than a real world device.
First, let me address the phone option. Aside from weak sound, the Treo is a proficient cel phone. The displays are large, and of course the Treo screen is in vivid color, so there are few issues on that point. It even includes speaker phone ability and does ship with a ear bud for private listening. From my experiences, it works well. The only problem that you may encounter is the increasingly inconsistent service coming from major mobile phone services. Having used several, the mobile phone industry is really in need of some major help regarding both reception, customer service and billing plans. But the phone segment of the Treo is certainly no better, or worse, than a mid level Motorola cel phone.
The problem with the Treo 270 comes when you start to treat it like a real digital assistant, or a scaled down computer. While you can touch the screen with the enclosed stylus to access some features, the built in keyboard makes typing a nightmare. As technology allows for the creation of smaller and smaller devices, buttons this diminutive are just not something I found workable. I just kept wishing that they had shipped a human sized keyboard with the unit for those of us not able to work with "doll" sized controls.
If you are coming to the Treo from the PC camp, be ready for the Palm OS. In some respects it is similar to the PC environment, but different enough that if you are dependent on a mouse to get from A to B, get ready for an adjustment in finding your way around. Clearly this is a point not lost on the makers of the Treo. Right up front in the instruction booklet it informs you that before using the product it directs you to "spend time with the instruction booklet" This is good advice. The Treo, for me, was not that intuitive.
While on the subject of instruction, I had to say the enclosed booklet was simply lacking in making points of those areas that are important. Instead of a booklet, a more comprehensive manual should be included. To say I was not happy with the instruction offered is an understatement. If you think that you can transfer what you know from the PC to the Palm OS, or the Treo, do be ready for a learning curve. If on the other hand you are new to computing, adjusting to the conventions of the Palm OS and the Treo may not seem that horrific. For me, I just wish they had a more basic set up for new users that pointed out the salient features first. I mean, if I could understand Maxon’s Cinema 4D instruction book without too many difficulties, why was this a real trauma?
On the subject of the Internet, it did take a few tries to get the Treo on line and running, but after a while, it did log in without too many issues. For users like me already spoiled by broadband, waiting and waiting for the connections on the Treo was a form of torture. So do not expect the amazing speed of broadband here. Things do take a while to download. Coupled with the slow connection speeds is the fact that pages are displayed, but broken up due to the size constraints of the screen. So you do not wind up seeing an entire page either quickly or as the author intended, which is frustrating. Naturally, I did not expect a full page as on a desktop, but what is the thrill of surfing the Net when it is slow, hard to view and compressed? Then again, if you want instant access and portability, this is one solution, albeit a limited one.
Mixing Web functionality, interoperability with Windows and Mac desktops, a cel phone, personal digital assistant and a few other applications, the Treo is not a bad device, however, you must factor in the price of the unit, with the price of service and how important all of this is to you. If your employer hands you one, by no means outright reject it up front. I can see in certain professional instances where this can be practical, but for hardcore users, writers and detailed note takers, this device is just not enough.
As an inventive digital "toy" with some practicality built in, The Treo is fine, but if you have to put out hard earned money for it, do consider purchasing a laptop and a solid cel phone. While that combo will be more expensive, it will give you a richer experience rather than a bits and parts approach.
While I do not want to come down on the Treo, I have to admit, I am not won over by the PDA concept as it stands. If more functionality were built in, larger screens, larger keyboard and more, it maybe a real asset. Right now the only advantage the Treo has is its small size.
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