iPhone 3G vs. Treo 800W

[Allan Gibbs]

My current Treo 700P's case is cracking so I have three choices:

1) Upgrade to the new Treo 800W (keeping Sprint): Initial cost $250.00 and renews my Sprint contract

2) Switch over to AT&T and go with the iPhone 3GL: Initial cost $200.00 plus AT&T's plan.

3) Replace my 700P with another 700P (probably a refurb) through the insurance program: $50.00 deductible doesn't renew contract

My general uses are e-mails, web surfing, calendars, Bluetooth phone calling, and uploading pictures.


Also, any thoughts in general regarding the current crop of smart phones? I understand RIM's coming out with the Blackberry Thunder which should have touch screen capability. Also, there are rumors of the smaller, sleeker Treo 850 coming out soon.

[Chili Red]

iPhone all the way... It does all things on your list VERY well.

[Allan Gibbs]

Treo 800W:


Rumored Treo 850 (release date unknown)


Blackberry Thunder.


Sorry about the picture sizing.

[antinym]

why isn't there an 800p or 850p? I always preferred the palm software to the windows.

[antinym]

how important is web surfing? The iphone is way better at surfing. The rest of the features are comparable. Save money and surf less, or assist the economy and surf enjoyable.

[Allan Gibbs]

I suppose the P versions will be coming out. I think the 700W came out before the 700P.

In regards to the iPhone, the carrier is a factor. Is anyone extremly happy/unhappy with AT&T?

[Allan Gibbs]

Originally Posted by antinym

how important is web surfing? The iphone is way better at surfing.

Very! Unfortunately, my company doesn't allow me to surf porn while at work.

Seriously, is it possible to type in text with one hand on the iPhone -or is it one hand to hold and the other to type? It's rather easy on the Treo and the lack of a keyboard intrigues me but also worries me. (And it's not like I can go to an Apple store to see an iPhone. All sold out).

[JWA]

I've owned most smartphones and PDAs before the original iPhone, and now have an iPhone 3G, and I can easily say that the iPhone is both the best phone and the best PDA ever. I switched to AT&T for the iPhone, and I am actually very happy with them. Coverage seems to be slightly better than T-Mobile and customer service is helpful.

[rnr]

Originally Posted by Allan Gibbs

And it's not like I can go to an Apple store to see an iPhone. All sold out.

The Apple store should have demo pieces that are around even if the stock is sold out.

[larez2]

Originally Posted by Allan Gibbs

Very! Unfortunately, my company doesn't allow me to surf porn while at work.

Seriously, is it possible to type in text with one hand on the iPhone -or is it one hand to hold and the other to type? It's rather easy on the Treo and the lack of a keyboard intrigues me but also worries me. (And it's not like I can go to an Apple store to see an iPhone. All sold out).

It is possible to type and hold with the same hand with the iphone, but I think it's easier on the treo.

I'd get another 700p. It's your cheapest choice and leaves you with the most flexibility if you change your mind in a couple of months. I'm still sporting my treo 650. I went back to it after buying an iphone and using it for about 6 months, i didn't really like the iphone. I think the 800w would be nice too but only if you like windows ce, I personally prefer palm. I've gone through a few models of blackberry's too but I never really got hooked on them.

good luck,
Larez2

[Allan Gibbs]

Originally Posted by rnr

The Apple store should have demo pieces that are around even if the stock is sold out.

Excellent! Thanks.

[cstetter]

I would get another 700p and wait for the next batch of PDA phones to come out:

HTC Touch Pro (has a sliding keyboard and touchscreen)
Blackberry Bold
Sony Xperia X1 (also has a sliding keyboard and touchscreen)

Yummy stuff coming in the next few months...

[MattG]

Originally Posted by Allan Gibbs

In regards to the iPhone, the carrier is a factor. Is anyone extremly happy/unhappy with AT&T?

AT&T =

I've been with them since they were Pacific Bell, then I think Cingular, then SBC, Then AT&T Wireless, now AT&T. Or something like that. Point is, been a long time with them and if I had heard of any cell phone company that's good to work with, I'd have switched by now. Their technology is very reliable, no complaints there. If you have to pick up a phone to talk to them, that's when it all falls apart. I've literally spent hours at a time dealing with what I thought would be an easy issue. Upgrading our account to a family plan with an iPhone data package probably took 6 hours of phone time with them. One hour of that was merely activating the phones, a process one would think would be simple. Their customer service reps are usually very helpful-sounding, but my impression is that their computer systems are incredibly bad and largely at fault for the time I've spent on the phone with them.

Their data network (EDGE, first gen iPhone) is of really poor quality IMO and I'd suspect the same would translate to the 3G network. The issue isn't speed, it's the WAIT you endure for the data to start transferring. Very easy to monitor on an iPhone...when trying to view an attachment, you'll watch the progress bar stay at 0 for a long time, then quickly shoot to 100%. The speed of EDGE isn't an issue, but the backend sure is.

That said - I love my iPhone so much that if AT&T is the only way I can get one, then I'll be a loyal AT&T customer.

[Cali]

Originally Posted by MattG

AT&T =

I've been with them since they were Pacific Bell, then I think Cingular, then SBC, Then AT&T Wireless, now AT&T. Or something like that. Point is, been a long time with them and if I had heard of any cell phone company that's good to work with, I'd have switched by now. Their technology is very reliable, no complaints there. If you have to pick up a phone to talk to them, that's when it all falls apart. I've literally spent hours at a time dealing with what I thought would be an easy issue. Upgrading our account to a family plan with an iPhone data package probably took 6 hours of phone time with them. One hour of that was merely activating the phones, a process one would think would be simple. Their customer service reps are usually very helpful-sounding, but my impression is that their computer systems are incredibly bad and largely at fault for the time I've spent on the phone with them.

Their data network (EDGE, first gen iPhone) is of really poor quality IMO and I'd suspect the same would translate to the 3G network. The issue isn't speed, it's the WAIT you endure for the data to start transferring. Very easy to monitor on an iPhone...when trying to view an attachment, you'll watch the progress bar stay at 0 for a long time, then quickly shoot to 100%. The speed of EDGE isn't an issue, but the backend sure is.

That said - I love my iPhone so much that if AT&T is the only way I can get one, then I'll be a loyal AT&T customer.

+1 on the service with AT&T. I was also with them way back when they first started (LA Cellular, I think it was called). I finally got sick of their service and switched to Verizon. I seriously never have dropped calls anymore and their customer reps are way easier to deal with over the phone. I want an iPhone, but wouldn't go back to AT&T. Just my two cents...

[NMRJock]

I went from AT&T to Verizon, then back to AT&T for the iPhone.

I liked Verizon when I was with them, but they dropped their lease on some local towers and I lost service at home. That was all the excuse I needed to get my iPhone (Which I love).

[Spudboy]

Palm OS = Great Battery Life, great interface, dead end OS.
Windows Mobile = Terrible Battery Life, interface sucks.
iPhone = Groovy device, short battery life, wonderful browser, harder to type with no tactile feedback, no cut&paste?!

Verizon = Great USA Coverage
AT&T = Crappy USA Coverage, especially 3G, but good global relationships


My $0.02.

[couldbemage]

Been using a treo. 100% on moving to the htc mogul. I still require a real keyboard.

[JWA]

Originally Posted by Spudboy

iPhone = Groovy device, short battery life, wonderful browser, harder to type with no tactile feedback, no cut&paste?

Recent tests say that the iPhone 3G has the best battery life of all of the 3G phones.

I thought that the on-screen keyboard would suck too, but after a day or so I was faster with it than a normal keyboard. Plus, when you factor in numbers, punctuation, and other symbols the on-screen keyboard is way better. Haptic feedback sounds like it would be cool to have though.

[Dirac]

iPhone. No question. If you try one, you'll see why.

Also note that you'll get much much better with the keyboard after a while, especially when you start trusting the built-in autocorrection feature.

The only reason not to get an iPhone would be:

• You have to pay lots of money to terminate your existing contract
• You have no AT&T coverage in your area

Even the last point is debatable, I have poor AT&T coverage where I live, and ended up with T-mobile as my provider for the iPhone instead. Not officially supported, but works great*.

* I have a first-gen iPhone without 3G, note that T-mobile doesn't have a proper 3G network yet.

[FLuXeXigeS]

current iPhone user, but will tell you how the new 3G will fair against my stepdads Sprint Treo 800w when i get mine next week

wild guess but i think iPhone 3G>Treo