The Treo Pro is easily Palm's best Treo yet. It finally hits all of the feature checkmarks that users have been clamoring for and does it in a way that's well-integrated with the hardware. Where other smartphones have a tendency to just throw hardware onto a device and leave out making it easy to use, the Treo Pro rarely feels awkward.
Just as importantly, the Treo Pro is the first Treo in a long time to sport a thin and sexy form factor compared to other devices on the market. From the packaging to the look to build quality to feature set to battery life, the Treo Pro is a real winner and doesn't feel like it's a year behind the smartphone curve.
Of my quibbles with the Treo Pro, the biggest one is with the keyboard. Given the space Palm had to put the keyboard on this thin device, the sheet-printed, Centro-like keyboard was probably their best option. Even so, it still isn't as easy to type on as some of its competitors. For a device that's meant to compete in the serious email and messaging space, that's a pretty serious problem, but not so serious that I consider it a deal-breaker for the Treo Pro. The keyboard is "good enough" when you first use it and with some practice most users will find that they're nearly as quick as they might be with larger keyboards.
There's a lot to like about the Treo Pro and many of those elements don't come across well in photos or even descriptions. You really will need to get the device in your hands and perhaps even use it for a day or two before you can appreciate just how thoughtful the design is. Hopefully Palm will be able to get enough devices out there in Enterprise circles and get official carrier support from AT&T to enable enough users to experience the Treo Pro directly.
Meanwhile, I'll be keeping my review unit for as long as I can. This is almost exactly the smartphone I've been hoping for since the release of the Treo 700w and now that it's in my hands, I'm loathe to let it go.
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| Pros |
Thin
Hits all the big features
Good battery life
Treo design touches
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| Cons |
Keyboard
Lack of Soft Buttons
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