Rating: 
Summary: Finally, a PDA everyone can use!
Review: Well, after 2 tries with other Palm based PDA's I finally have one I can actually use. For some reason I could not re-learn the writing requirement on other PDA's and got frustrated with the whole process. I was looking for something simple, that would sync easily and that I could add/remove info as needed. I look seriously at the Windows based PDA, but the same thing, re-learn how to write - but for more money. Then I saw the Treo. Tried the phone version at about every store who carried them so I could get a feel for the keyboard function. Then decided to try one more time.Well, so far so good. Easy to sync, easy to enter data and easy to work on. So, I would recommend it, especially for the "writing challenged:.
Rating: 
Summary: Too small of a keyboard
Review: I was looking at the treo and thought that it would be a great buy. well after playing with it for a while I thought that the keyboard was way too small and that it did not come with enough colors. only 4,000. I also thought that it was kinda stupid to have that clear cover. though it could be nice in the treo with the phone and all but not on this one. I did like how ever that it was very small and light. Just it was too small of a keyboard. I still like the grafiti and thought it was just as fast. If you are coming from a blackberry you will like this. It has a light thin and sompact and if you are used to the keyboard you will love this. I ended up with a Sony Clie T615C. It has alot more programs more colors (64,000+) and a newer opperating system of Palm OS (4.10). I also like how you can view pics , do slide shows, have a version of like a mapquest. I thought that The sony was a better buy untill a new operating system comes out for the treo and more colors.
Rating: 
Summary: The Perfect Non-Graffiti Alternative
Review: Excellent alternative for users who don't like (or like me aren't very good at) Graffiti. I didn't use my previous handheld very much for this reason. I use the Treo 90 constantly and don't miss Graffiti one bit. Otherwise generally excellent plus small and nicely made. I presume the other makers will catch on and produce similar graffitiless keyboard devices, but for now this is the only game in town.
Rating:
Summary: You _can_ use Mac OS X and Graffiti with the Treo
Review: The Handspring Treo 90 can be used with Mac OS X if you install MarkSpace's Missing Sync (which cures a similar problem between Sony PDAs and Mac OS X and works for the Treo, as well). Similarly, you can use Graffiti (albeit on the upper part of the screen) if you install RecoEcho. None of this is intended to minimize Handspring's failure to be more OS X/Graffiti-friendly, but merely to point out that solutions are available and things are not as dire as some reviewers maintain.
Rating: 
Summary: poor Mac support
Review: I was very dissappointed when I went to install the desktop software on my iBook running OS X and the system crashed requiring a complete reinstillation of OS X. Only after going to the Handspring website and searching did I find any reference to the Treo 90 being incompatible with a Mac running OS X. Handspring really blew it.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, a usable keyboard
Review: Tis is my second PDA and I am very happy with the Treo 90! It is breeze to use and the keyboard makes it a practical tool to carry. It is light weight, color is good and in all, I find it has suddenly become indispensable to me. Before, I used a PDA poorly, found myself writing paper notes to be entered into the desktop and so on. Now, Handspring has come up with a PDA that makes sense!
Rating:
Summary: Still no Mac OS X support (July 2002)
Review: The Treo 90 is a great little organizer. The size is perfect and the weight is feather-like. But there is *still* no OS X support at the time of writing. My old Visor Edge at least works with Palm's OS X software but there are dire warnings against using it at Handspring.com. A disapointment to say the least. So, back it goes. Do yourself a favor if you're an OS X user and check Handspring's Web site before you buy.
Rating:
Summary: The smallest PDA on the market today
Review: Don't let the photos available on the TREO 90 fool you, they cannot show just how small this product actually is. Until I held one in my hand, I expected it to be much larger in size and feel. Not so. The TREO 90 truly is a marvel of design and function. I must admit that losing the graffiti function put me off a bit, but as many others have noted, after a little practice, input via the keyboard is every bit as quick as using graffiti -- and I would venture to say even faster. My biggest gripe about all the previous PDA's I have used in the past was the ability (or lack thereof) to properly recognize what I was writing in the graffiti box...I was constantly having to stop what I was writing, back-up and RE-WRITE a particular character, sometimes over and over again in order to get it correct...even though I WAS writing exactly as it was supposed to be written.
This remains my #1 problem with using PDA's, and I must admit for some reason, the Handspring products were MUCH better at graffiti recognition than the Palm products I used (which I can't explain since they both use the exact same software for this). Well I am happy to say this is a problem of the past with the miniature keyboard provided with the TREO 90. A little intimidating -- at first. If this is the only concern you have about purchasing this product, do NOT let that keep you from making the buy. It is surprisingly sturdy and I was also amazed at how I wasn't constantly hitting buttons nearby as I typed in data. VERY useful, if you ask me. Another leap for Handspring was recognizing that the Springboard modules they had previously been using with their other PDA's was outdated (and I might add overpriced, too) and moved UP to the amazingly productive and versatile multi media cards which are incredibly small (especially compared with the Springboard modules) and definitely seem to be the wave of the future. The color screen really is rather impressive considering how tiny this unit is. Sure it only supports 4,000 colors compared with 65,000 available with the Palm m515, but seriously, by comparing these products side-by-side, you would be hard pressed to see the difference...although your pocketbook definitely WOULD see a HUGE difference ... . The standard 16mb of memory is also a great move up, too. In taking on the Palm m515 head-to-head I would have to give the edge to the TREO in a BIG way. Where the Palm has the lead is in offering OS 4.1 where the TREO still uses OS 3.5. This can be a problem, but one in which I understand Handspring will be correcting in the very near future, and from what I can tell, doesn't effect the use of the product at all -- yet. If this becomes a problem in the future, I certainly WILL bring it up in a re-vision of my review. Overall, Handspring has managed to leapfrog ahead of Palm (for a change) and delivered literally the smallest & lightest PDA available today (seriously, if there is one that offers this much at this price and is smaller, I'd like to see it) plus comes with the innovative miniature keyboard (instead of graffiti), standard 16mb internal memory, fast processor, color screen, a cover plate which you can see through (which is pretty cool, too), the multi media card expansion slot -- when you consider ALL of the options, you would be hard pressed to find a better PDA on the market today -- especially for the money. Very COOL indeed.
Rating:
Summary: Good value, but a letdown for Graffiti Users
Review: I have been using the Handspring PDAs since over 4 years ago, and the Treo 90 is now my 5th unit. I have owned the Visor Deluxe, Visor Platinum, and am now a user of the Visor Prism & Treo 180 Grafitti. I bought a Treo 90 to supplement my Prism but will instead be retaining my Prism and selling my Treo 90. Why? First, let me point out the Treo 90's stong points. It has many. Good value, light weight, long battery life, 8MB more RAM than most PDAs. So why am I keeping my Handspring Prism and not the Treo 90? There are several reasons - but the primary one is its keyboard. I find the keyboard too tiny. Being a longtime Grafitti user, I find the absence of a Graffiti writing pad disconcerting. The excellent intuitive feel of the Palm OS is gone with the loss of the Grafitti section. Using the keyboard is slow, awkard, and difficult. The keyboard tactile feel is terrible, and may even cause wrist and finger injury on extended use. In addition to the tiny keyboard, the absence of a backlighted keyboard makes it impossible to use the Treo 90 in dark places. While it is still possible to use Grafitti with the Treo 90 by using additional software such as RecoEcho, the softer and more fragile screen of the Treo 90 makes this an ill advised option. RecoEcho also has some limitations when used with the Treo 90 as it is no longer possible to write characters beginning with "." You will need to use the tiny keyboard for this purpose, which makes data entry slow, laborious and awkard. I also dislike the flip up cover. Flipping up the cover activates the Treo 90, and closing it shuts off the Treo 90. But while the cover is a good location for the speaker in a PDA/phone communicator, is useless and intrusive on the Treo 90 which is strictly a PDA. The cover requires 2 extra steps to open and close it. I find the power button much easier to manage than opening and closing the cover. The cover also occupies a bigger footprint when laid on the table with the cover open. My other dislikes for the Treo 90 is its screen. The colored screen of the Prism is by far better. But for those migrating from monochrome screens, its actually quite good. This is not a dislike. But I wished the Treo 90 also has a springboard module. I have an extensive list of springboard modules which I will not be able to use with the Treo 90. This includes the Visorphone, a 256MB Lexar Compact Flash with Springboard CF Adapter, some electronic books, digital camera, etc. In fairness to Handspring, integrating the keyboard on the Treo is quite an accomplishment. But the limitations and difficulties that attends its use makes it considerably less attractive. Many PDA users who are familiar with Grafitti, or who will take time to learn the better data input interface provided by Grafitti, will call out to Handspring, "Bring on a Graffiti version of the Treo 90 (and 270)!".
Rating:
Summary: Graffiti-less handheld a boon
Review: I previously owned a Palm III which simply stayed in its cradle for 3 yrs, unused mainly because I hated the graffiti I had to learn. Also, the Palm III had hot sync problems and had a regular AAA battery. The Treo 90 has a rechargable battery, it is very light and small, no graffiti. It has a great QWERTY keyboard that is easy to use with your thumbs. I am a computer literate person but not a techie and this was so easy to set up and meets all my needs. I did not need any bells and whistles. And the color screen is wonderful. The Palm III sometimes had a poorly visible screen. I am very pleased with Treo 90.
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