After what seemed like years of unfulfilled longing for a Treo 600, and then
for a Treo 650, when I finally took the plunge a few weeks ago, I was
expecting instant bliss. Not so. Not to say that I was at all dissatisfied,
but getting used to a smartphone takes a little effort.

If, like me, you’re a new Treo owner or if you’re just thinking about
getting a Treo, you’ll probably have to spend a little time working out your
personal approach to making the most of the device.

For example, how would I know what to do if I was listening to RealPlayer
and someone called? Would RealPlayer stop? Would I be able to hear the phone
ring? What would I do if I had to take a call without a hands-free set in my
car? Would I know where the controls were? What if I needed to check my
calendar?

With use, these and other questions answer themselves. For example, a
hands-free set is next to impossible to live without, especially if your
Treo spends much time in a case. It’s difficult enough to hear callers due
to the flat design of the “earpiece” above the screen, let alone when
there’s a thick layer of leather between your Treo and your ear. Moreover, a
hands-free set really gives you the freedom to manipulate your Treo while
you’re on the phone, so you can take notes, check your calendar, or just
play a game of Solitaire while your caller rambles on.

Another worthwhile lesson is to become acquainted with the many 3rd-party
downloads available specifically for Treos. As a longtime Palm OS user, I’m
accustomed to this abundance, but there’s nothing quite like finding that
one little app that solves the issue you were only just starting to realize
you had.

All in all, the Treo 650, with its nearly overwhelming feature set, is a joy
to get used to, and many of my initial anxieties proved to be unfounded as
the Treo’s designers apparently considered these same issues. So far, my
Treo 650 and I are getting along just fine.

By mytreo.net staff writer, kateoneill.

Filed under: How-to guides