Longtime Palm user choosing 680 or 750...

[wreave]

The title says it all. Palm III, IIIx, IIIxe, Treo 270, 600, and now a 650 user. The Treo has been my favorite device ever since it saved me from carrying two separate units (phone and Palm).

I use primarily the phone, contact manager, calendar, do-list, and memos. Less frequently: web browsing, email. Text messages, primarily with my family.

There are several third-party apps loaded, but most don't see frequent use. Chess Tiger, MyBible, and Docs to Go come to mind. I do occasionally mess around with a light spreadsheet. Word docs would be more useful, but I've trouble getting them to work and haven't ever bothered trying to fix it. Very occasional PDF viewing.

The camera is somewhat important. I really like taking pictures, and there are just some times when you don't have a camera. Especially with a 2-year old around, it's nice to know that I always have a camera in my pocket. The 600's camera was terrible. The 650 is much better, but that's not saying anything special.

I have a 2 MB SD card, that I also use in an adapter as my flash drive for sneakernet. My next digital camera will take an SD card. Going 750 would require purchasing a mini-SD.

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-screen resolution: the 320x320 would be nice, but it's not a deal-breaker.
-memory: 128 vs. 64, but doesn't Windows Mobile and its apps take up more space? I'm not sure that's a significant difference after everything is loaded.
-UMTS: could be a big difference, but truthfully I don't do much data.
-camera: 1.3 vs 0.3 is a huge difference. It's the difference between a picture that fills the screen and looks good, maybe even is printable at 4x6, and one that doesn't.
-expansion: mini-SD vs SD.
-WM vs Palm OS: this is the big one. I'd have to replace a few apps, and deal with the learning curve, but those are not big issues. The big thing is useability. I hear WM can be slow compared to Palm OS. True? Other issues I should consider?

If there were a 780(?) that was a Palm OS unit with 128 MB, UMTS, a 320x320 screen, SD slot, and a 1.3 Mp camera, it would be an easy choice. Throw in wifi for good measure it's a no-brainer. However, the current 680 vs 750 decision is not an easy one. This unit will have to last me for two years - I don't want to suffer.

HELP!!!

[LotusLord]

The 680 is not that huge of a step up from the 650. It's essentially just a new shell with some minor improvements. With that said however, what you'll be doing with your Treo are better suited to the 680.

SMS is better on the 680, I haven't had it work on my 750 at all as a matter of fact.

The 750's camera has some pretty bad shutter lag, at least on WM5, which is what you'd be getting, though the update to WM6 is right around the corner. I honestly haven't seen if this helps the shutter lag at all.

For you I strongly recommend the 680, if you really want to switch from the 650.

[wreave]

I wouldn't even upgrade at this time if AT&T would work with me like my previous carrier (a local Cingular reseller) did. At the time I converted to them, I didn't need a new phone as my 600 was working and the 650 was still new (read: expensive). Later, I went in, did a new contract, and got the 650. AT&T says they're going to put me on a 2-year deal whether I get a new phone or not.

So I'd rather just keep my 650 for now, and see what comes, but if they'd make me pay retail for a mid-term upgrade, I'll upgrade now.

I can get either a 680 or 750 refurb for $99.

Worst-case scenario, I suppose if I get the 750 and hate it, I can give it to my wife and go back to my 650. Then, when her contract is up early next year, get myself a new device on her contract.

[wreave]

...or maybe I should just dump AT&T and go Sprint or Verizon for the better data service?

[LotusLord]

The 755p has a better battery, cheaper data on Sprint, and is still Palm OS, but uses miniSD cards. Has the 1.3 MP camera though.