Centro Notes From a Long Time Treo 650 User

[CentroPod]

Hello All,

My first post, I apologize for the length but maybe there's some info here to help someone in their choice of Centro vs EVERYBODY ELSE

A lot of the reviews I've read about Treos & Centros seem come form folks who either do not use a "Data Phone" in their actual day to day routine or have just got their hands on one for a few minutes.

For all of the folks that are searching for some information on the Centro, I just wanted share some thoughts on this little device and how it compares to the Treo 650.

First, the like the Treo, the Centro is for keeping track of your life.

If you want just a phone then get a $9.95 special
If you want to mostly play mp3, get a 19.95 special
If you REALLY have to watch TV on your phone, get a$49.99 special

If you want to have a roving database with all your valuable information at your fingertips ANY time, ANY where, AND you want to be able to keep your doctor's appointments AND you want to be able to play mp3s AND you want to watch TV on your phone AND you want be able to easily text msg AND you don't want to spend a small fortune on the phone, then try a Centro.

As far as Blackberrys go, that is another post at another time.

You WILL spend a small fortune if you browse without a data plan !

Of course, you can get a Centro and just use it as a phone and play Solitaire on it. What a waste though.

I am a veteran user of Pda's, Casio Zoomer (ZPDA), Newton 2100, HP iPaq, Treo (300, 600, & 650).

Before I retired, I was traveling, by car & plane 5-6 days a week, servicing computers, etc. Since the early 1990's, when I left the world of paper Day-Timers behind, I've kept track of my business & my personal life with all those devices and, for the past 6 yrs, with the Treos.

The Treos were on a Sprint unlimited data plan, so I gave the browser a real work out every day. I used all aspects of the Treo from the calendar to the Memo function to SMS messaging to reading over a hundred books on it, to listening to dozens of audio books on it also. It's alarm woke me in the morning & reading ebooks put me to sleep at night.

I recently retired and had to turn in my trusty Treo 650. I went through 3 different 650's since 2005 (all failures due to problems relating to headphone jack) - a Bluetooth headphone eliminated use of the jack and my last Treo 650 lasted about a 1.5 yrs.

Knowing that the Treo was going away, I began to get PWS "Palm Withdrawal Syndrome".

Six very busy years of my business and personal life were recorded in its little data bank. It contained all my wife's and my medical history, doctors appts, births, deaths, account numbers, and so on. I was synched to a laptop, so it was all backed up but when I was out and about I needed access to that stuff.

I broke down, as they say, and bought a Palm TX. I was able to bluetooth all my important data from the Treo to the Palm TX and I could now soldier on with a real Palm and could at least browse the Web from the local library or Panera's or Staples. At the time, DSL wasn't available at my house. The TX was also better for reading ebooks - bigger screen. Its display was not nearly as bright in the sunlight as was the Treo.

Well, this was a solution of sorts, but something was missing. My wife said that I kept reaching for my "Phantom Treo" every time we were driving around and she wondered out loud where a certain address was or if a certain store was open until 9pm. Something had to be done.

Being on a Social Security budget and already having gone over the limit with the TX, I looked at all the cheap phones. My wife has a Motorola e815 and it is a good phone with some fair features and can access Mobile Web ($1.99/day or $5.99/mth). The problem was that its calendar and reminders were not very functional and I just could not get the hang to trying to answer one of my grandaughter's text messages using a telephone keypad. She can type in faster from a phone keypad than I can from a qwerty.

I had really wanted an iPhone when they first came out but when I realized its calendar application just wouldn't work for me, I gave it up. I still don't see what functionality it has that the Treo/Centro doesn't.

Since we were already on a Verizon national plan, I naturally went to a Verizon store to see what was available. I had seen the advertisments for the Centro and was curious to see if it was as good as the Treo.

The first time I hefted it I liked it. It weighed less than my old Treo 650 and the slim form factor was very appealing also. I had carried my Treo 650 in a variety of belt holsters over the years and never did really get one that felt right. I would end up sticking it in my shirt pocket. It always felt like I was carrying a small brick in there.

The Centro fits nicely in my shirt pocket but I ended up getting a Swiss Mobility Legion belt case. I read about it on Treonauts. Thanks Andrew, for the great review and pics ! I was finally able to get rid of my wallet.

The Centro does everything my old Treo 650 did and, as stated in some of the reviews, it seems to do it quicker.

The display is a bit smaller but very bright even in the sunlight. It seems crisper then the Treo 650 display.

The keyboard is smaller but I don't notice any real problem. I have large hands and I usually typed on the Treo 650 by holding it my right hand and typing with the pad of my right thumb . The Treo 650 keys always felt a bit slippery but were functional. I believe the Centro's rubberized keys are a bit more functional. Not only can I feel them ok with my thumb pad but I can also catch them with my thumbnail for a slighly better "one thumb" typing experience.

The Centro's phone clarity, to me, is better than the Treo. The speaker phone also seems louder. I've switched from Sprint to Verizon but even with a strong Sprint signal the Treo never seemed as loud as the Centro. With or without the bluetooth headset, I was always having to crank up the Treo
volume.

The touch screen is as responsive as the Treo 650.
I personally wouldn't have any Pda that didn't have a touch screen. I didn't realize that Blackberrys didn't have one until I tried them out last month at the Verizon stores. there is supposed to be a touch screen one in the works but right now the Centro is, to me, a way better interface. Besides, I wouldn't even want to figure out how to translate all my Palm data to a Blackberry

The D key (looks more like a O key to me) is easier to use than the Treo 650.
I actually wore the bottom of the Treo D key rim down into a groove using my thumbnail. The Centro's D key is lighter to the touch and I don't need the extra pressure. Also the Center Button of the D Key is much easier to press than the little rounded knob on the Treo 650. I personally like the function keys being under the flat facing. They are easier to press and don't get in the way when you don't need them.

Ther only change that confused my hand-eye coordination for the first few days was the Menu key. It was on the left side of the Treo 650 and is now on the right side of the Centro.

The applications are essentially the same.

The Calendar is my main application, followed by the Memo app.

There are some wonderful apps out there for the Palm OS but after trying many of them at one time or another, I think the native apps are just fine.

The only other accessory I got for my Centro is a White Silicoon Skin.

It makes my Verizon Blue Centro look kind of like an iPod. And since it will do what an iPod will do I named it: "CentroPod"

Functionally, the silicon skin is "grabby" and keeps it from sliding off tables, car dashes, or out of my shirt pocket when I absent mindedly drop it in (Old habits die hard).

The FLY in the oinment is the web access issue. The Centro is a considered a "Data Phone" and cannot get Verizon's "Mobile Web 2" as I had hoped. The plan that Verizon recommends is a $24.95/mth 10gb plan. Too rich for my budget at this time.

I will continue to use my CentroPod as an excellent phone with a great touchscreen and calendar until other options turn up.

Anyway, I hope this may help someone.

CentroPod

[eclair]

Oh Centropod, That was a killer post!! My favorite part was:

"Knowing that the Treo was going away, I began to get PWS "Palm Withdrawal Syndrome".

That had me ROFLMAO!!!
SO a Very very warm Treonauts welcome to you, it will be a joy to have you here.
Chauncey (my 700wx) is glad to see you've named your Centro. (he's nodding his little antenna right now)

See you around the forum,
eclair and Chauncey

[impaler]

Awesome review. I agree wholeheartedly with most of what you say. I have deactivated my beloved Centro at least three times in favor of other Sprint PDAs and even the iPhone, but keep coming back to it. It just works. It syncs beautifully with work (Outlook 2007). I am a very "set it and forget it" person. I choose to use my brain to remember other things, not when my appointments are. The other deal breaker is call quality and volume. With everything phones do these days, we often forget that they're supposed to be PHONES. And the Centro is awesome.

[Roger O]

Great review CentroPod.

After searching this and other Centro forums, I was hoping to get some help.

I totally agree with CentroPod that Verizon's data plan is way too expensive. Since I mostly need the online capability for reading emails, does anyone know how to enable the built in dial up capabilities of the Verizon Centro?

I have changed the configuation in the "Networking" option to the number of my dial up ISP, but although it tries, it does not connect.

Thanks for the help!

Roger

[comiken205]

When you say "...enable the dial up capabilities of...." You want to use the Centro's data connection or want to use the Centro as a modem for you laptop?

I noticed that you said that Verizon's data plan is way too expensive. I am going to take it that you mean the DUN or Dial Up Network.

I recommend one of two applications for that USBModem or PDANet. They disable the DUN suppression in the phone and allow you to use the phone as a modem. Just a word of caution. While these two programs make it look like your Centro is using the data plan, there could be a possibility that Verizon may find out and charge you. Second if you keep the use to just e-mail and Palm Centro and Treo Accessories and Software - Treonauts I don't see you having a problem.

I use USBModem. I have had no issues with it at all. Connects at EVDO speeds and stays connected. Remember, you must have one of this applications to disable the blocked DUN in your Centro.

[Roger O]

"When you say "...enable the dial up capabilities of...." You want to use the Centro's data connection or want to use the Centro as a modem for you laptop?"

No, I don't want to use the Centro as a modem for my laptop or PC. I want to use the Centro itself to connect to my ISP using DUN, and then use the Centro's browser for reading my email.

Thanks!

[Roger O]

I have USBModem installed as per your suggestion. The Centro does not connect to my dial up ISP. All of the numbers are correct, and I did a soft reset on the Centro, just to make sure. The Centro does complain when the USB cable is not connected though - Not really what I was looking for...

Thanks!

[comiken205]

1st off. If you don't have a data plan, you won't be able to use USBModem. There is no possible way that I know of getting the Centro to do what you are asking to do.

[Roger O]

Does anyone know of a Centro "hack" that will allow the Centro to be used directly (by dial up) to view emails without having a data plan?

Thanks!

Roger

[CentroSue]

Great post! One thing I can't get over...Verizon charges $25 a month for 10GB? Wow....I am on Sprint and I pay $25 a month for unlimited! I guess people aren't kidding when they say Verizon is expensive!

I feel the same way about my Centro as you do about yours...my whole life is in there!