700p vs 700w

[Vonnie]

Hello!

I've been looking at buying a smartphone for the past couple months - I have finally decieded that I want the treo but am at a total loss as too which one I would like better - the P or W??? I have used both a windows based pocket pc and a palm handheld in the past but only very minimally.

Can anyone tell me which they like better and why? Since both will be new I have to learn everything anyway.

I dont see needing all the windows app's - but will it be easier? I plan on using the phone - taking notes - playing games - and accessing the internet ... and mabye needing to use the phone when I travel as my modem occasionally. Any help would be most appreciated!

[skoenig]

I currently have a 700p and not directly experienced a Pocket PC ever (sadly).

Hardware feature set differenced aside (64mb usable RAM Palm, Wifi PPC)... cough cough (where my wifi for the palm?)

I like the Palm OS and have used it before, there's a tonne of new and legacy apps to do most things you might need.

Where I think the PPC OS has advantages is familiarity (for existing Windows users) in interface design, mechanics and usability which helps on the learning curve greatly.

I find many Palm apps to lack in standardisation in terms of menu lay out and general feature navigation. Even though I've used many OSs before I still get a bit lost in general usability terms because many apps adopt their own standards. I aslo think that by and large they don't place too much attention on design looks and layout.

There's additional comments on the PPC version in this thread too...

It's a tough choice to make as sadly I haven't heard of anyone being able to reflash their Treo with a new OS unlike a PC where you switch if you want from XP, 98, Linux, OSX (with some work) at will.

At the moment I'd opt to stay with a Palm version but if someone offered a PPC Treo to me I'd gladly check it out.

~ Steph

[bcaslis]

Do you use a Mac or PC? If a Mac, the 700p is a better match out of the box.

Do you want to use it as modem via bluetooth or USB? Only the 700p offers bluetooth dun.

Do you prefer Verizon or Sprint? You can get the 700p on either, the 700w is limited by low application memory resulting in more frequent slowdowns, the 700wx has double the application memory and multitasks much better.

[AdamJ]

I was a Windows Mobile user via a Sprint PPC-6700 for over a year. Prior to that I was a PalmOS user.

Recently (this week) I have returned to the PalmOS.

The essential difference between PalmOS and WM is that Windows Mobile is a powerful, extensible, and highly-configurable operating system. It is closer to running a true Windows-based computer on your phone.

Out of the box, the two's differences are somewhat negligable and are more a matter of personal preference. Once you want to install applications, make customizations, and change configurations Windows Mobile can do significantly more.

Many people believe that the PalmOS is centered around a simpler is better ideaology. This doesn't mean the PalmOS can't do as much as WM, it just tends to do things with less 'complexity'. This leads into the reasoning of why I switched to a Palm-powered device. As 'cool' and 'fun' as it is to have a Windows Mobile device, once I installed some of my must-have applications I tended to notice instability issues. These issues are reproduceable on almost any WM device because they are strictly software specific. Things that would require me to 'reboot' my phone once a week or so. Crashes that occured in the 'off' state so that I would miss HOURS of calls without even knowing. Bluetooth is slow to respond in comparison to Palm, etc.

I don't think there is any right answer other then 'what do YOU like better?' If you are someone who will primarily stick with the built-in applications these phones come with, then Windows Mobile will be just fine. If your a major power user with 3rd party applications, etc, you have a higher risk of instability on a WM device then you will on a Palm device.

[RichC]

Originally Posted by AdamJ

Many people believe that the PalmOS is centered around a simpler is better ideaology. This doesn't mean the PalmOS can't do as much as WM, it just tends to do things with less 'complexity'. This leads into the reasoning of why I switched to a Palm-powered device.

Very interesting comments.

I've been a palm (lightweight) user for many years and the 700p is my first Treo and first OS past Palm OS4. (Samsung i500) I opted for the Palm based Treo for some of the same reasons that Adam J had and seriously considered the Windows phone. After playing with it for about a day, I realized that the Palm was something I was use to, did most everything I needed ... NEEDED ... and easily sync-ed up my old databases from previous Visors and Palm phone.

Are their days I wish it would do more? Yes. I would love to have the Slingbox port to my phone (someday soon) and believe the multi-tasking would be handy. As for stability, I don't own a Windows phone but would not be happy if it crashed while in my pocket. Its bad enough that I occasionally find a SMS or VM waiting for me.

[impaler]

I owned a 700p for about three weeks. However, I had a bit of trouble synching at my work machine, a Windows box, and my home Mac. There were duplicate entries created, and I worked around that, by having the sync software only overwrite the entries on my home Mac, and used my Windows PC at work as the key machine to sync changes on the Treo. I guess that was okay. I wanted something that better integrated my Windows PC and switched to the 700wx, and I've been happy so far (haven't had it for 24 hours yet). True, I can't sync with my Mac anymore, but that was never very important to me anyway.

Palm OS 5.4.9 is old and tired. MW 5.1 is pretty nice. I have made phone calls on it, and the sound is clear and responsive, on Sprint. If you want MMS messaging, the 700wx doesn't do it--just SMS. That was never important to me. I want basic PIM functions, a nice phone, and options to configure. WM does it. It has just as much memory for use as the 700p, which is a nice change. The photo dialing is sweet. Just pick a picture off the "Today" screen. I think searching contacts is a bit more robust, as well, and the PIM features come as close as possible to using Outloook on a PDA.

I really wanted to like the 700p more than the 700wx, but I'm leaning toward the Windows Mobile device so far. All the options I've come to know and love from the 650 and 700p can be found on the device. Palm has done a nice job melding this OS with the same exact architecture.

[skoenig]

@RichC Ah Slingbox. I have that for my demo 700wx. And yes. You would love to have it. The quality beats the hell out of SprintTV and for the cost - about $6 a month rental of the cable box that it sits exclusively on - it's more than worth it.

One day it will reach PalmOS.

~ Steph