TreoCentral hands-on video, first look, etc.

Dieter Bohn · 09/27/2007, 09:26 PM

I had too much coffee before the conference, so all my hand-on photos of the Centro turned out like CRAP. So I'm leaving them out. Sorry.

Anyhow, posting a short video and my initial thoughts on the Centro in just a bit. Discuss that article here.

Dieter Bohn · 09/27/2007, 09:34 PM

and here she is:

http://treocentral.com/content/Stories/1361-1.htm

I'm off to a swank NYC party now, or so I'm told. I'll respond to the deluge of "OMG YOU'RE SUCH A PALM ******" responses on Saturday, most likely.

bigredgpk · 09/27/2007, 09:54 PM

sick! I'm still trying to figure out what is the difference between the Centro and the 755p? And i want to geeky hardware details... not dimension and version info. I want to know CPU model, chip sets, etc.

Timmay

Dieter Bohn · 09/27/2007, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigredgpk

sick! I'm still trying to figure out what is the difference between the Centro and the 755p? And i want to geeky hardware details... not dimension and version info. I want to know CPU model, chip sets, etc.

Timmay

Tsk. sorry, man. I wasn't able to dig that deep in. As soon as I get a review unit I'll let you know!

bigredgpk · 09/27/2007, 10:19 PM

at the risk of hijacking the thread, that is quiet the hand held time line you have there. I thought i had a problem.

Your hands on has convinced me not to get a Centro on another phone line just for the hell of it. And $400 w/o a contract? Jesus... I wonder how much it'll cost with a 1 year corp contract?

cadman · 09/27/2007, 10:25 PM

If this were on Verizon's network I would grab one immediately. I don't want to spend 300-400.00 on a device. Many I know want a treo without the price tag. This is ideal for the business user who is out of college, or in a profession/ position where a full featured high end device is not warranted.

Rome · 09/27/2007, 10:40 PM

Great review once again. Appreciate the insights, Dieter

~Q~ · 09/27/2007, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadman

If this were on Verizon's network I would grab one immediately. I don't want to spend 300-400.00 on a device. Many I know want a treo without the price tag. This is ideal for the business user who is out of college, or in a profession/ position where a full featured high end device is not warranted.

This device is no less highend than a 755P. I would argue that it doesn't get much higher end than the 755

samkim · 09/27/2007, 11:24 PM

Dieter,
Thanks for the great in-depth review.

I understand that the keyboard is very usable. But how does it feel? It looks like it might feel a bit cheap.

Also, what's the story with the memory? I don't know what 64MB/64MB means relative to the 60MB/128MB of the 755. I assume it must be worse, since it's cheaper, but 64>60.

Thanks.

Frenzytom · 09/28/2007, 01:27 AM

I arrived at the DigitalLife show today in NYC at the Javits Center and walked right into the Palm kiosk. A lady named Dolleen handed me both the black and red Centro to play around with. She let me look at it for at least 15 minutes and she gave me her own Treo to compare (thanks!).

I didn't want to reiterate what Dieter said as I agree with most of what he said.

I liked:
The phone speed is fast!

The size is perfect and feels great even typing with one hand.

The recessed action buttons (Call, End, etc.).

The feel of the keyboard (basketball rubbery material feel).

The plastic feels cheap at first but it kinda felt nice and practical if you like to put it in your pants pocket or holster quick. (My current 755p grips alittle too much)

Here are a few photos I took with my Treo (sorry for the clarity). I had my brother's Blackberry to compare as well.

If you are in NYC, go check out the show and see for yourselves!

1PTUser · 09/28/2007, 02:10 AM

Wow! It makes the BB8830 look like a brick... and I really like the 8830 form factor. That thing has got to me small. Maybe this is my kid's first smartphone after all.

json · 09/28/2007, 04:59 AM

DAMN... does anyone else feel ripped off....lol....$100 for treo with a two year contract. it was just last year (this month) i was haggling with sprint cs for $50 credit after the 700p dropped in price.

ohh...and is anyone else bothered by the fact that voda is getting the 500 with BT 2.0 and a 2mp camera and we are not. when i saw those specs (even though it's windows mobile) i got a little happy cause i was planning on down grading

ill make sure to bring my brother and his girlfriend who both have sidekicks to meet dolleen

davidg4781 · 09/28/2007, 06:39 AM

I have a feeling Palm's trying out some new hardware with the phones they're putting out, before adding them to the Super Treo we're all expecting....

2MP camera, BT2.0, new keyboard, faster navigation (different chipset?), smaller form factor.

Everyone's getting all excited because this isn't everything they always wanted, but I think that's coming later. Palm's trying to tap into new markets and test drive some of its new technology before going to the corporate world, the ones that pay high dollar and expect a lot out of their phones.

oalvarez · 09/28/2007, 08:13 AM

funny that they omitted the Blackberry Pearl and Curve from the comparison

and no comparative side shots

Antoine of MMM · 09/28/2007, 09:22 AM

oalvarez, engadget's posting of this release has those shots. Wow, I was sorta quoted in a TC article, hope that doesn't get me in trouble at BH

Looks solid, but like others, I look for the Treo that steps up into things. This however is really good and I've got a slew of people to look at getting it as it is priced and does exactly what they want.

west3man · 09/28/2007, 10:18 AM

I like it.

I really wish it had some of the features of Palm's other new release, like Bluetooth 2.0, a 2MP camera, etc., but I still like it.

I kinda wanna say I'd consider getting one of my mom (or my girlfriend if she hadn't already made the 755p jump with me) but I'm not sure if the screen and keyboard sizes are meant for her demographic.

Good info, Dieter (and the poster who posted pix). Thanks.

west3man · 09/28/2007, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antoine of MMM

oalvarez, engadget's posting of this release has those shots. Wow, I was sorta quoted in a TC article, hope that doesn't get me in trouble at BH

Quoted in which article?

And what's "BH?" ...or would you have to kill me if you told me?

Antoine of MMM · 09/28/2007, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by west3man

Quoted in which article?

And what's "BH?" ...or would you have to kill me if you told me?

Sorta quoted in Dieter's TreoCentral article linked at the beginning of this post.

BH = Brighthand, my "other" job.

Hdhntr23 · 09/28/2007, 11:41 AM

Where is the reset hole on it? Is it underneath the batter like the 680, or is it next to it like all the other Treo's?

west3man · 09/28/2007, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hdhntr23

Where is the reset hole on it? Is it underneath the batter like the 680, or is it next to it like all the other Treo's?

The 755p has no reset hole/button.