Treo 755p Review
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This entire review could be written in a sentence: the Treo 755p is the Treo 700p in a 680 body. That’s it. No new bells and whistles, no new specifications to hype. I’m disappointed because I would have loved a new high end device. But I’m relieved because I won’t have to spend $300 to upgrade. My existing device will suffice.
Like the Treo 680, the Treo 755p is pretty. Palm sent me one in a crimson that would make any Buckeye or Alabama fan proud. The antenna is internal, and the mini sd slot is on the side with a cover. While it will take up to a 4GB card, the infamous patch from the Treo 680 allowing a larger SDHC card won’t help because mini are currently only available up to 4GB.
The height and width are virtually identical to the Treo 700p. The only size difference is a 0.1 inches in the depth. It’s a fraction of an ounce lighter than the 700p probably because, like its sister, the 680, it has a smaller 1600mAh battery.
The versions of both Bluetooth and EVDO are the same. I performed side by side speed tests on both my Treo 700p and the Treo 755p, and the 700p tested slightly faster than the 755. I paired my Palm ultralight headset with the 755p, and found it identical in performance as when paired with the 700p.
One of the rare differences between the 700 and the 755 is that the blink is back…although only when off the charger. A slow blinking green light indicates service, fast blinking green for pending notification. However, when the 755 is charging, the LED remains solid red; or solid green when the charge is full.
Side by side comparison of Treo 700p and Treo 755p Specifications
Treo 755p Software
I browsed through the applications included on the Treo 755p’s ROM, and found some new goodies. Google Maps is included. There is an IM client from Sprint that people may enjoy. But it does not compare with third party alternatives. I personally would rather use Mundu 4 or wait for Boraware to complete Chatworks. Like the Treo 755 itself, IM is pretty. It doesn’t allow you to see custom status messages, nor does it allow you to set custom status, and always shows you as mobile.
It includes gateways for AIM, Windows Live Messenger, and Yahoo. Despite having multiple accounts on all of these IM services, I have been unable to log into AIM, getting an “invalid or nonexistent” account/password message every time. I have also been unable to log into WLM: this times out with each attempt.
As you can see from the screen shots, I have been able to log into Yahoo, and it does pull up my contact list. Unfortunately, I don’t always receive messages sent to me, and it doesn’t work in the background at all.
When messages do make it from my laptop to the Treo 755p, it is slightly longer than “instant.” The connection seems to be very stable…not that this matters if you’re not receiving messages.
Some of you may already be familiar with the 3rd application, but it was new to me: Voice Control. After some careful surfing, I was able to find Voice Control on Handango for $6.00 and registered it immediately! Press and hold the side button to dial anyone in your address book, add appointments to your calendar, send short emails, and much more. This is not the same as Sprint’s Voice Command. (**Note: in the 12+ hours following the time I discovered and registered the product, the Nuance website was updated saying there is a recurring monthly charge of $6. This application is nice, but not worth $72/year.)
I installed some of my favorite apps to make sure everything would work, and purchased a mini sd card to make sure I was getting the full range of functionality of the 755p. I wish that Card Reader worked. I suspect it’s just a matter of MobileStream adding the device name.
Butler works great, as does the beta of Initiate (version 3). It is the Initiate screen that you see in many of the photos in this article. Lightwav and DialByPhoto also work well on the 755p. Perhaps this is a good sign that our Palm developer friends can rest easy that applications that run on the 700p will also work on the 755p.
Photographs
Related Links
Free Treo 755p & DialBy Photo Contest
Filed under: Software reviews
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Comparison to 700P:
Smaller battery, can’t do 8gb, same memory, same processor, same most everything.
Only two positives:
(1) The antenna is internal, which the 700P can overcome with the short antenna
(2) It weighs less
The only question a 700P user should ask is:
“Why would I want to upgrade?”
If you currently have a Nokia cell phone, the Treo 755p is a big upgrade. ;)
Great review Alli!
Thanks for blotting out the IM nicks! :P
The one thing I could never understand about devices such as this. If they are supposed to be such mobile extensions of our lives, why are there no decent IM apps out there??
Great review Alli!
Thanks for blotting out the IM nicks! :P
The one thing I could never understand about devices such as this. If they are supposed to be such mobile extensions of our lives, why are there no decent IM apps out there??
I think the big question is whether or not Docs to Go version 6.0 or 7.0 is included in the ROM. No modern Palm device is complete on release unless it includes unremovable outdated garbage in the ROM. I can see from the specs that the only improvement is the updated radio and internal antenna, while the downside is driving down the battery life (even more) and forcing us to downgrade to Mini-SD.
If it’s anything like the 750, you now need to pry off an even TINIER flap on the side (the Mini-SD cover) in order to reset the device. Makes one yearn for the “yank off the battery cover” simplicity of previous reset-hole blunders.
Maybe we’ll get lucky and even get the same bluetooth stack they haven’t yet fixed on the 700p after a year? This release seems to be Palm rolling over and letting WinceMob and Blackberry devour the rest of the market, they seem to be adrift in a pool of their own stasis.
Disgusting, Palm - you could have done so much better by putting in just a little effort.
Is there a difference between the 680 and the 755p?
I will stay with my Treo 700p for now. Thanks Alli for the review.
I will stay with my Treo 700p for now. Thanks Alli for the review.
cheker - the big difference between the 680 and the 755 (other than the obvious GSM vs. CDMA) is probably the phone app (dial screen) itself. The 755 has the same as the 700 and the 650, whereas the 680’s phone app is unique.
i dont see how the blinking green light wasnt on the 700p. im on sprint and mine have the blinking green light for service and solid red for charge, solid green for charge complete. thanks for making me realize i didnt need to upgrade.
I will stick with the 650 until they make something worth upgrading.
The other companies are starting to control the market and Palm brings out the same phone?
The 650 can still do everything I need it for right now. Granted it is getting a little long in the tooth though.
Thanks for the review. My light still blinks the same also. :)
Great Review, but I will wait to upgrade a few models from now. I have a Verizon 700P that doesn’t seem to have the problems that most people have. My light flashes green when I have service, it flashes faster when I have a message, it is orange when transmitting or receiving data, and it is red when charging. It paired with my Motorola HS850 headset on the first try and I have never had a problem with it. I use lots of 3rd party software and never have a problem.
As a dissatisfied 680 user, I can tell you that a lot of people will be unhappy that this phone will not make it through the day on one charge, unless you use it only as a phone, in which case, why would you need the memory, apps, etc. You get rid of an antenna, basically, and lose 4-6 hours of battery life. A word to the wise.
Great Review, but I will wait to upgrade a few models from now. I have a Verizon 700P that doesn’t seem to have the problems that most people have. My light flashes green when I have service, it flashes faster when I have a message, it is orange when transmitting or receiving data, and it is red when charging. It paired with my Motorola HS850 headset on the first try and I have never had a problem with it. I use lots of 3rd party software and never have a problem.
As a Sprint user who has been staying with an ancient Treo 600, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the 755. I’ve been a loyal Palm fan since the VIIx, but it looks like Palm is not worried about keeping their fan base.
I should have left the 600 years ago but I waited for the 755 to be impressed by Palm with what they were offering for Sprint users. I’m not impressed. Like Microsoft or not, in my book, it is time to jump ship and go to a Windows platform. It is too bad for Palm because they are not the clear-cut winner in hardware and their software needed a facelift years ago.
The decisions I have made is: to evaluate hardware, but get away from the Palm operating system regardless. I guess it is time to put almost a decade of Palm equipment on eBay and get 1/1000th of what I paid for it; but clean out my desk…
Same old stuff no changes. Its unfortunate, why spend money or upgrade on a product that hardly changes! With iphone coming, Treo is way behind.
I’m afraid they are going the wrong direction.Come on Treo, do something different!
From what I’ve seen, I think I’d rather spend 30.00 and get the small aftermarket antenna replacement that’s virtually “not there” (very short and much less intrusive), and a nice colored hard case for my 700p, (60.00 or so total) and just wait until Palm fixes all the issues like bluetooth, and a few others that they are supposedly working on, then make an upgrade later or even wait until the next Palm OS is our, not enough new features on the 755p to warrant a 300.00 price difference (in most cases that is, some even more)….my 2¢
Faslane
Given the inclusion of Voice Control, could the 755p be the first Treo that can be awakened by pressing the side button, or must the device be awake prior to launching Voice Control?
The device still needs to be woken up. The side key doesn’t turn on the power.
Palm is missing the boat. Everybody’s postings are negative and I agree with them as well. There are so many products out there that will do…at half the price. My 650 will be retired and I’m going to give another (non-Treo) product a try.
The postings are negative because we all expected something innovative. Palm is still the best os for mobile devices, and the Treo is still the best smartphone you can buy.
I just wish they’d held of on the 755 until they could have shown us a significant difference. Not necessarily improvement…just difference.
I must echo the sentiment express here, Alli you’re spot on. Palm needs a wake up call, or alot more DoubleShots in the R&D dept. My guess is the Palm had this 755 developed months ago, ie when the 680 came out, and finally got Sprint to commit. They’re going all out to gain worldwide distribution, so the more carriers that have a Treo in their product line the better. I get the strategy but as users we’re not seeing the innovation YET. BratPackLtd - you might want to hold off on commiting to WM until after Jeff Hawkins’ D5 presentation. Something new just might surface by June 1 that could make things “berry interessting”. Or not, who knows with Hawkins. Bottom line: yeah, the 755 isn’t big deal but it’ll probably be the last product with the Garnet OS and the real upgrades will be coming at us 6 months from now, post iPhones’ launch and crash.
I have the 650 and love it. I have read reviews for all the rest of the upgrades and can’t find a legitimate reason for upgrading. The Windows OS was enticing but once I got used to the 650 OS I don’t see a reason to change. My green light blinks constantly. So what? It helps me find the phone when I have a senior moment. When I put it on my night stand I turn the screen down so the light doesn’t show, otherwise it’s no bother. It stays red while charging and goes green when charged, that’s good. I use my 650 as the only phone for my business and so far I have not had a problem with the battery running low. I got the desktop charger synch unit and it came with a new battery. I keep one in the charger and change them out daily. I bought a car charger and have not used it yet. My Treo is with me in my work truck all the time and it gets used constantly. I don’t chat so I don’t miss the IM features. I have a WiFi laptop so I don’t need it for email. The bluetooth works great and so far have been able to connect with every device I have tried, no problem. The only complaint is with Cingular, they told me they won’t insure my Treo because it is too expensive. I think that cheasy.
Henry
I don’t mean to hijack the this 755p thread, but dakv82, what app are you using on your 700p to control the LED that way? I’ve been looking for something like that. Please PM me.
adz - use Butler to control the LED on your 700p.
Well, back to waiting another year or so for a real upgrade to the Treo 600/650. This pitiful excuse for any press coverage holds little for anyone but Palm’s Mini-SD supplier, custom case builders, and June Fabrics (who will now be able to justify an “upgrade” fee for any PDAnet users).
Let’s see if Palm is still in business in a year. At this rate of “innovation” I doubt it.
Still no WiFi, so it’ll be a bust in Asia and large parts of Metropolitan Europe… Sigh…
I traded in my 650 for the 755 and I am happy so far with just one issue. I use the Softick Audio Gateway for BT headphones on my 650 and it won’t recognize the BT devices on the 755. All my other software has been compatible. I guess I just have to keep my 650 around to go to the gym.
Well I was going to get a treo 755 and upgrade from 650. I use the softick Audio Gateway for Bluetooth headphones. I see that it doesn’t work on the 755 per mlevi98 thread. That stinks. I go to they gym daily and that BT software is good. I used the softick on the 700P and it worked no prob’s. barry@barrybilt.com
this time last year I upgraded my 650 to the 700p. I just ordered my 755p yesterday and I’m so excited. even if its the same exact phone as the 700, not having the antenna and having a treo in a different color than I’ve had for 2+ years now, I can’t wait for my 755 to get here!
I just got this note from Softick:
Reply date - 2007-05-17
Thank you for your request.
New version of Audio Gateway with beta 755p support will be released today or tomorrow.
Softick released an upgrade to Audio Gateway yesterday. It now works perfectly on the 755p.
you all know you can turn that annoying blinking green light off, right? i find that it drains my battery faster so i turn that feature off
LEDoff
Great review Alli!!! As a matter of fact, I was in the Sprint store recently and said to the representative that I didn’t see any difference in the 755p and 700p. Yet, all he kept saying is that it has Mobile TV. I, too, was expecting to see some major differences.
Keyshade - Works
2day- Works
Keycaps600 - Works
ABCTextPad - Works
Par 72 Golf - Works
i am ttly havin problems with this application.