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By Jessica Dolcourt, CNET.com
Jan 25, 2006

Back in September, Palm, Microsoft, and Verizon Wireless released a few tantalizing details about the Palm Treo 700w, then called the Palm Treo on Windows Mobile 5, but left us wanting much more information on the long-fabled smart phone. Finally, at CES 2006 in Las Vegas, the three companies announced its availability and many more details, including the final name. Yet while we were initially excited by the Windows-based Treo, our elation slowly deflated as we spent more time with the device. The once fresh-seeming features, such as photo speed dial and responding to calls with text messages, are now available on the Palm Treo 650 through third-party apps, so they're no longer unique to the Treo 700w. Also, we couldn't help but find the Treo 700w's washed-out screen uninspiring over time. Still, for those who want native Windows support, the smart phone offers good call quality, solid battery life, and excellent one-handed operation. The Treo 700w is now available to all through Verizon for a pricey US$499 in the U.S., although it should be a bit cheaper with service. The companies will release GSM versions of the Treo 700w but probably not until the middle of the year.

Design
Part of what makes Palm's Treo line so successful is its form factor, so we're glad to see that the company didn't mess with a good thing when designing the Treo 700w. Like its Palm OS-based sibling, the Palm Treo 650, the Palm Treo 700w measures 113 x 58 x 23mm and is a hair heavier at 180g. Although the dimensions of the two devices are the same on paper, the 700w actually feels heavier and looks thicker. The heft may be a turnoff to some, but the device feels solid in the hand and comfortable while held up to your ear. Also, the Treo 700w sports a classic silver and charcoal-gray color scheme that will look good in any boardroom.

Unfortunately, the Palm Treo 700w doesn't share the same sharp resolution as the Treo 650 (320x320 pixels). Rather, at 240x240 pixels, images and text don't look as defined as on the Treo 650, and though the Treo 700w displays 65,000 colors, they look a bit washed out. That said, the display isn't all bad. Below the display is a navigation keypad that's similar to the 650's. There are two action keys that give you quick access to various functions, depending on which screen you're in; for example, from the Today screen, you can launch your messages or the menu. Beneath the soft keys are the Talk, Start, OK, and End buttons, split in pairs by the four-way navigation toggle and the center Select key. All controls are well spaced and easy to use, and we love the fact that you can operate the smart phone with one hand--you don't have to rely on the stylus to access menus and applications.

Of course, the Treo 700w's QWERTY keyboard is even handier (are you reading, e-mail fanatics?). The device sports rectangular buttons instead of the oval-like keys found on the 650, but the two smart phones do have something in common: a squished layout. Users with larger digits should take note, but on the upside, the keyboard is well backlit and provides a nice tactile feel. There's a volume rocker on the left spine of the smart phone, as well as a customizable quick-launch button just below it. The infrared port, the MMC/SDIO expansion slot, and the ringer/silent switch sit atop the 700w, while the MultiConnector port and the 2.5mm headset jack line the bottom. As noted in our review of the Treo 650, we find the placement of the headset jack a bit inconvenient, but it's not a deal breaker. Finishing out the design elements of the Palm Treo 700w is a camera lens, a self-portrait mirror, a speaker, and a user-replaceable battery on the back. The smart phone comes packaged with an AC adapter, a USB ActiveSync cable, and a wired headset.

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