Handspring Treo 270:

  Handspring has always helped push the boundaries of PDAs that run the Palm operating system. They were the first to offer USB connectivity to the PC and created the Springboard expansion slot for adding modules such as a digital camera or a GPS receiver. The Treo 270, like the Treo 180, is a communications device coupled with a powerful computing platform. Unlike its predecessor, it includes a dazzling full-color screen.

  The Treo features all of the basic organization applications from the Handspring arsenal, as well as a few twists--including a Web browser and e-mail application. To access the Web browser, you’ll need an Internet Service Provider in addition to a VoiceStream service plan. We found the ISP setup to be extremely simple, but it is an extra step that you have to take.

  Where the Treo 270 diverges from other Palm OS devices is in its method of input. Instead of using Graffiti, the shorthand alphabet that you write on the screen, and which then gets translated into letters, the Treo 270 offers a thumb keyboard akin to the RIM Blackberry. A handy scroll wheel on the upper-left-hand side of the unit offers a quick, easy way to zip through menu options or contact lists.

  If you're a tried-and-true fan of Graffiti, the small keyboard buttons might be a slight hurdle. But with practice, you'll be able to jump and leap with ease. One of the distinguishing aspects of the Treo is that it lets you send and receive e-mails and text messages. We found that dashing off quick notes with this thumb keyboard is actually a breeze and much faster than trying to write in Graffiti. You wouldn’t want to use the Treo to critique someone’s business plan, but we found it quite handy to compose short messages that we could follow up on later when back in the office.

  Where the Treo really breaks away from the pack is as a cell phone. The included PhoneBook software is fully integrated, so you can dial directly from your contact list. The phone defaults to the speed-dial page when you flip open the transparent cover, immediately giving you one-click access to your most frequently dialed contacts.

  Simply tap on a contact name and the number is dialed. We also found it easy to locate anyone not on our speed-dial list by typing in the first few letters of a person’s name. If you already own a PDA with a Palm operating system, you can transfer your existing contacts within a few seconds. A large, easy-to-read virtual keyboard makes dialing new numbers a snap.

  The Treo also comes with a slew of features that you’d expect from a cell phone in this price range, including three-way calling, call history, and a speakerphone function.

  Synchronization with Outlook (on Windows) is a breeze, and brought in all our contact and calendar data, enabling us to place calls almost immediately by choosing numbers from our address book.

  The Treo 270 is much less bulky than we had imagined--and lighter and easier to carry, by far, than other PDA-cell phone hybrids. Slightly larger than a deck of cards (4.2 by 2.8 by 0.82 inches), it slid perfectly into the front pocket of our khakis during our travels about town and across the country. It's slightly larger than other cell phones, and we thought it might feel a bit awkward. To our delight, the flip-phone design is quite comfortable, and we felt we could hear conversations better with its cupped speaker. A separate headset comes with the piece, so if you prefer, you can have hands-free conversations.

  While the Web browser is a nice addition, don't go into it expecting what you see on your PC. That said, the backlit, 12-bit color screen features over 4,000 colors, making Web browsing feel closer to the PC experience. Most images are not downloaded (by design), to keep the download times to a minimum, and layout on the Treo 270's small screen means additional scrolling.

  Also, we found that some sites that use some wild JavaScripting froze the browser, and it took us some time to get it back in working order. That said, we could access many sites quickly, including news and entertainment sites. While riding in a cab through downtown Seattle, for instance, the Treo helped us impress a dinner date by downloading movie times.

  Handspring delivers on its claim of 3 hours of talk time and 150 hours of standby time. But if you're a power cell phone user, you'll want to charge the Treo just about every night to make sure you’ve got enough juice to last through the day.

  There’s no way to add more memory to the Treo, but that shouldn’t be a problem because the phone comes with a whopping 16 MB of memory. We immediately added many of our favorite Palm OS games and applications and didn’t come close to filling up the memory.

  Overall, the Treo is a well-designed convergence product that really delivers on its promise of rolling a powerful PDA and a slick cell phone into an elegant, compact package. --Steve O'Neil and Agen Schmitz

Pros:

*  12-bit color, backlit screen

*  E-mail access and Web browsing ability

*  Improved battery life

*  Built-in keyboard

*  Fully integrated PhoneBook with GSM, dual-band world phone

*  Slim size and lightweight

*  One-touch calling

Cons:

*  Web connection requires your own ISP

*  Keyboard data entry slightly awkward initially for practiced Graffiti users

Description:

  The Handspring Treo 270 communicator combines a GSM mobile phone with a Palm OS organizer complete with full-color screen, keeping you connected via voice, e-mail, and the Web with all your important information at hand.

  This dual-band world phone has all the features you expect, like speed dial, three-way calling, and call history. Plus, it has extra features like a personal speakerphone, full integration with the built-in PhoneBook application so you can dial direct from your contact list, and more.

  With 16 MB of memory and a fast processor, the rechargeable Treo 270 communicator has all the functionality you expect from a Handspring handheld--Date Book Plus, PhoneBook (an improved Address Book), To Do List, Memo Pad, and more. Plus, you can install thousands of other cool Palm OS applications as well as beam and receive data from other Palm OS devices.

  Send and receive e-mail and access the Web wirelessly from virtually anywhere. The Treo 270 communicator comes with Blazer--the award-winning wireless Web browser--so you can access virtually any Web site, not just those sites optimized for mobile access. And if you have a short message, send an SMS text message to other mobile phone users in your network or even to an e-mail address.

  The Treo 270 features a built-in QWERTY thumb keyboard for fast and accurate input as well as a jog rocker for one-handed navigation. It's compatible with both Windows (98, Me, 2000, and XP) and Mac (OS 8.5 or later) and connects to your computer via its USB port. Synchronize data on your Treo with the Palm Desktop application or Microsoft Outlook. It comes with a USB HotSync cable, travel charger, and hands-free headset and is backed by a one-year limited warranty.

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