Handspring Treo 90

Rating:
Summary: Uninformed consumers shouldn't write reviews
Review: The Treo 90 is incredible. Once you use this mini-keyboard, you'll wonder how people ever use PDAs without it! The screen is great, especially for such a reasonable price. There is a wealth of software available all over the Internet for Palms that makes it even more fun and useful. I had the same backlight problem as someone in another review, but I don't see why they are so mad about it. The backlight problem is a published recall on the Treo 90 by Handspring...they said about 5-10% of the units will have defective backlights, and they have discovered the problem and fixed it in all currently available ones. They sent me a replacement one via next-day shipping at their cost, before I even sent them the broken one back, also at their cost - and new one works perfectly. Stellar customer service for a stellar product.

Rating:
Summary: Great Product, you won't understand til you see it yourself
Review: First of all the Treo 90 is an awesome product that you can't judge until you have seen it for yourself. It is tiny and amazing. The color screen is great, compare to palms disastrous m505 and you'll appreciate it a thousand times more even though it lacks 16-bit colors. (65,000 colors)
Second of all, (for previous reviewers such as scott spears)if you think the keyboard is too small, you obviously have only looked at it on your computer because when you start using it is amazing. It is so easy to use, graffiti doesn't stand a chance against the errorless speed of the keyboard.
Third, like many reviewers have said and like it states in the amazon.com technical data, the treo 90 runs on palm OS 3.5h but that is false. I don't know where that idea came from because it runs handsprings version of palm OS4.1 (handsprings version includes better calculator, world alarm clock, and updated versions of datebook, to-do and contacts to work best with the keyboard.)
The treo 90 is an awesome product. Handspring pulled through this time!!

Rating:
Summary: Great Product!
Review: Too bad this product is no longer available....I was able to get a new one this year, at a low price. I love it! It is a replacement to my Handspring Visor (dropped and cracked the screen!) I was hesitant on the keyboard (I am good at using the handscript) but love it!

Rating:
Summary: Thumb Keyboard Better than Grafiti
Review: This is my 4th PDA I've owned from the original Palm Pilot to the Palm III to IIIxe to Treo 90 and without a doubt the Treo is by far the best.

Screen:
I love the color screen - it is much more pleasant to read than the monochrome screens and I've made good use of converting personal pictures into a photo album by downloading the fireviewer product and converting digital pictures to the treo.
When you are out in the sun it is pretty much unreadable but this is true of most color screens(this is why I gave the unit 4 stars instead of 5).

Memory:
The 16mb onboard beats just about all of the PDAs in its price class plus it gives you a MMC slot to add an additional 128mb of storage for maps, pictures, or games.

Keyboard:
Nobody else has it except Sony so if you don't like grafiti or can just type a lot faster with your thumbs this is the way to go.
The thumb keyboard is at least 3 times faster for typing notes or emails and the shortcuts allow you to avoid using the stylus most of the time.

Case:
The case is nicely designed and the see through cover is a great idea. I've heard some complaints that the bottom buttons aren't covered but you can lock the keys which should keep you from having any problems if you keep the unit in your pocket.

Rating:
Summary: It's innovative, but is that enough?
Review: Handspring continues to define new ground with its Palm-based handhelds. But, frankly, the Treo 90 isn't "the PDA you've been waiting for." Here's why:

- The color screen is a nice break from monochrome, but the resolution still clearly lags that of the Windows-based devices. Specifically, the Treo 90 only displays roughly 4000 colors vs. 65,000 colors for other Palm O/S-based devices. Visually, I was disappointed, especially when comparing it side-by-side with an iPaq or Journada. And if you're not accessing Web sites or storing pictures of your kids, you're not getting your money's worth for a color PDA.
- It runs on an older version of the Palm O/S (a Handspring-adapted version of Palm 3.5), which may limit your ability to take full advantage of more recently introduced or upcoming applications.
- You can't input data through graffiti, only through the Blackberry-like keyboard (on which you use your thumbs to type). It takes some getting used to, but you'll be a pro in a few weeks. And despite how small and compact the keys are, I was surprised how firm they are and how few times I depressed an adjacent key by accident. You'll have no more errors than with the imperfect graffiti recognition system. Still, I have gotten pretty handy with a stylus and since you need the stylus to scroll down pages or select certain menu options anyway, it makes switching to input data a bit awkward.

As I stated above, the Treo 90 does introduce some features that make it worth a look, especially if you don't own a PDA yet:
- It is the thinnest and lightest basic handheld on the market and even compared to my Palm Vx, I was impressed with the "footprint" - you could stick this thing anywhere to carry it.
- It has an expansion slot (though not a Springboard slot, which Handspring is apparently abandoning). This Secure Digital slot allows you to add a few features, such as photos or memory-intensive games. But it can't make the Treo 90 a cell phone and won't play MP3s.
- The flip cover protects the screen while allowing you to view the screen's content. You can view the basic applications (calendar, address book, etc.) by using the shortcut buttons, but inputting requires you to flip open the cover.

As I said, I own a Palm Vx and I am waiting for a few things before upgrading. First and foremost is version 5.0 (I may even wait for version 5.1) of the Palm O/S, which is due out this Fall. That version will be able to better handle email from various sources and will be able to access Web sites in their native presentation, not altered as Web clippings for Palm users. I'd also prefer Blackberry-like always-on email and instant messaging functionality, which the Palm i705 currently offers. And my hope is that the new O/S supports a better resolution color screen. So, I'm passing on the Treo 90. If you don't own any PDA, this one might fit the bill, though I think you'd be better advised to go very low end (Palm m105/125 or Handspring Visor Neo or Edge) to start.

Rating:
Summary: Great price, very useful, but still disappointing
Review: After owning almost a dozen PDA's since the first Palm, my search for PDA utopia continues after two months with the Handspring Treo 90. Please note that my view is based on current market prices. Any implied criticism in my review is tempered with the realization that this unit initially was priced at $299, so the current Amazon price represents and incredible value, but other PDA prices have declined substantially as well.

Pros: The keyboard's letter area is functional, but the need to hit an awkward two button combination to access the number pad is very disappointing.

The treo 90 is an amazingly small and light unit.
Cons:

Battery life seems adequate.

Cons:

Palm OS really is not very intuitive anymore in the age of PDA multitasking. The inability to quickly access all programs is very primitive considering that many professionals use their PDAs to access Power point presentations, complex spreadsheets, and other programs.

The lower screen resolution is very disappointing after experiencing the size of several Clie and Pocket PC PDAs.

Perhaps most importantly, the most innovative feature of this unit, the keyboard integration, is a complete disaster. It is very difficult to open information or creat new entries without the stylus. This was a huge disappointment for me.

In my bag, the treo continually turned itself on. That is inexcusable because my bag is not over stuffed and the treo was in a separate section.

This has to be one of the worst power buttons ever created. It feels very hard to turn on and off, and because the feel is poor, after clicking on it you wonder if you actually accomplished the task of powering the unit.
.

In conclusion, if you are an individual that primarily "stores" information in your PDA, this unit will be great: it's inexpensive, small and light, and does use a keyboard as it's only input mode.

After using this unit, I yearned for Grafiti, although I've always considered it slow and unnecessarily inaccurate.

If you are someone that has uses their PDA throughout the day, i.e., a power user, you will be very disappointed. I certainly am.

Rating:
Summary: Almost done right--still the best for price
Review: Bought my original Treo 90 for $300 20 months ago because the worst thing about PDAs is having to take the time to pull out a stylus to use it. Keyboard entry is the way to go. Unfortunately, the Treo doesn't go quite far enough as navigating without the stylus is still difficult and in some cases impossible. Still, as I use it primarily for storage of reference sources--phone contacts and medical docs (the latter principally using iSilo, as well as several on-line synched programs)--it was a workhorse I couldn't live without. Dropped it multiple times, filled it with dirt once while crawling through mud with it in my pocket. It never flinched. I use a Secure Digital card to store an additional 15MB or so of data (which is a LOT of documents).

Then last week it died. Had to do a hard reset. All data erased. But, since I back up very frequently, no problem! Right? ...Until I found that the synch ability died also. Now I have a laptop with all my data, but no way to access it. Tried using the IR synch, which also wouldn't work.

So I went shopping. Much to my surprise keyboard entry is now only found on the highest end models. The Tungsten C is tempting, but at $400 I can buy 3 Treo 90s on-line for the same price. Do I really need Wi-fi access and a bulkier PDA? Don't think so. Thinking about buying 2 at least so I will have one as a backup down the road.

Rating:
Summary: Excelent for first time users
Review: Its a long review so here's the short:
Good: Battery, Price, Memory, Color Screen, keyboard, Easy to set up and use, compatability (freeware), expansion slot
Bad:
Only basic software included, Palm includes Word and Excel To Go.
Cheaper to replace then repair (which could be good as you get a new one in days rather than the old one in weeks, and not uncommon in gadgets like this)

This is my first Handheld. I received it as hand-me down from someone who found they didn't use it much since they had a laptop. Its low price and great features make me glad I started with this one. A less capable handleld would have frustrated me and turned me off to the Idea of handhelds.

Typing on they keyboard seemed much more appealing than learning to use the PDA shorthand for character recognition. A benefit for first time users. It might not be as difficult to pick up as I though.

The color backlight display is a must have for my future purchases, I only wish the keyboard was lit some way also. I did find a replacement stylus with a light to solve that problem though.
I never had a need for the expansion slot, the 15 Meg of memory hasn't been past half full even with a Word compatible editor and quite a few documents.
I love the calendar, notepad, and e-mail. It comes with its own appointment program, and also syncs with Outlook. The sync setup is easy, and has worked without complications for me.

There are quite a few free applications that you can download to add other features, such as MS Word and Excel compatibility. The freeware apps are a bit crude but get the job done. The freeware apps for word compatibility convert the .doc file into its own format, then needs to re-convert back to word when you are done. Sometimes using cut and paste into the Note Pad can be just as easy. You can purchase Word To Go, but these are included in the purchase of Palm PDA's and might make buying them a better bargain if you need full compatability with MS Office.

I had it for six months and used it constantly at work and home until I dropped it, and the backlight went out, and then while seeking replacement, it wouldn't boot at all. Since it was a secondhand item, it wasn't under warranty, and the $99 service charge sent me shopping again. Comparable handhelds were twice the price, and didn't have the keyboard. Palm does include the documents to go, and quite a few applications that made them a tempting option. Not ready to move on to the handwriting recognition or the additional investment, I replaced it with another Treo90.

As mentioned in other reviews, I am constantly finding the Treo on when I pull it out of my pocket. This is because the buttons all across the bottom turn the device on (a feature I could live without). They all stick out enough that they get hit by everything, the leather cases for them might provide enough clearance for the buttons, or just as likely would get miss-aligned and constantly hit the buttons. In spite of the unit being on quite a bit, I have never had a problem with it keeping a charge. I charged it and sync at my workstation at work, and have no problem going the weekend without additional charge.

My next purchase will be a close call between the Palm (Tungsten) and the Treo.

Rating:
Summary: Poor battery life
Review: After 15 months of ownership, my TREO90 will no longer turn on. One month ago, it began having problems holding a charge (despite reading the Handspring FAQs, and getting rid of any drain to power). PalmOne's minimum out-of-warranty repair charge is $99. (Am neurotically careful with my "stuff" -- this thing was babied.) Instead of repair, PalmOne advises considering a replacement. No thanks: my next purchase will be a 'DayRunner.'

Rating:
Summary: Terrible, Terrible Customer Support
Review: I really wanted to have a keyboard on my PDA. Since the Treo 90 was the least expensive PDA with a keyboard, I decided to go for it. Now, if I could go back in time, I would never have bought the thing; it's just not a very good gadget. Let me tell you why.

The cover is held in place by two plastic protrusions that quickly wear down because of friction. Amazing how cheap this design feature is.

It is very difficult to find a good case for the Treo. And you must have a case because the Treo 90 is made with such soft plastic, your fingernails can scratch it. If I could buy another PDA, I would go for a Palm because Zero-Halliburton makes cases for a couple of the Palm models.

The box for my Treo 90 mentioned that some very important software called RecoEcho was available for free from the Handspring web site. This is necessary in case you ever need to do some data entry in the dark when you cannot see the keyboard (no, the keyboard is not backlit). But the software wasn't there because they're pulling back the offer. Guess my box was out of date. To Handspring's credit, I was able to obtain the software by writing to Customer Support. But I'm not sure that you would be able to get it for free now.

The screen on my Treo 90 has a bright spot in the upper right-hand corner. When it first appeared, the PDA was still under warranty so I sent it back to Handspring for repair or replacement. I was astonished when it arrived back at my doorstep a week later with the bright spot just as it had been. Worse, some poorly trained technician at Handspring had tilted the on/off button and messed up the keyboard. Each button now makes a metallic ping when it's pressed (in addition to the clicking sound that it's supposed to make). After the unit had been returned to me unfixed, I decided to call somebody at Handspring to ask about it. A very ditzy man told me that his Treo 90 also has a bright spot in the screen and that there was nothing to worry about. He also ignorantly mentioned that the unit could be turned on with any of the front buttons, so it shouldn't matter to me that the on/off button had been dislocated. (Problem with his suggestion is that whenever you power up with a front button, you wind up in the associated application. What if you were playing a fun game before the PDA turned off?) At that point he tried to sell me some accessories. Later, I wrote Handspring Customer Support to tell them that the unit had been returned to me unrepaired and that it had been further damaged at the repair center. This resulted in a call from some bully who left me a surly message that he had "received my latest complaint, ," and that I should call him back (presumably to be convinced that the PDA was perfectly sound and that their service was great).

I would advise staying away from this product. The technology is old and Handspring's Customer Service is barbaric. Either wait for the Pocket PCs to come down in price, or get a Palm or Sony without a keyboard.