Handspring
has got it right with this PDA. The Treo
90 enters a saturated PDA market but here are the
features that make the Treo 90 stand out.
Date
Created: 01/15/2002
Last
Updated:
04/24/2005
Authors:J.LOVE
The Handspring
Treo 90 is a small, powerful Palm OS handheld computer with
a built-in keyboard, full-color screen, and expansion slot for Secure
Digital (SD) and MultiMedia Card (MMC) expansion cards. With 16
MB memory and a lightweight, compact design, the Treo 90 makes getting
organized easy. At only 0.7 inches thick and 4 ounces, it's small
enough to fit comfortably in any pocket. It also features a fast,
33 MHz processor and an internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery
that can be charged using the included travel charger. Entering
data and navigating are now faster with the Treo's built-in QWERTY
keyboard. You can look up a phone number, view your calendar, and
switch applications easily with one hand. Or use two thumbs for
fast typing of notes and e-mail. by
J.LOVE
Reasons
to Buy the Treo
1.
Display:
The Treo 90 is color with a 12-bit display. It's back light too
for easier viewing in a variety of lighting conditions and supports
over 4,000 colors.
Bottom Line: It's more readable
that the instruments in your car.
2.
Expansion
& Memory: With the Treo 90's integrated Secure Digital
(SD) expansion slot, you can easily add a variety of applications--from
games to databases--as well as family photos without compromising
size or sacrificing memory. It is compatible with both SD and MMC
cards. You'll also be able to add more functionality using optional
SD
cards, which will be available in the future.
Bottom Line: You won't run out of
memory. And if you do, you can buy a little memory stick thing. And
you may not need it because the Treo comes with 16 MB of memory. FYI,
that's a lot.
3.
Operating
System: The Treo 90 runs the popular Palm operating system
and is compatible with thousands of applications that use this platform--from
games to enterprise business software.
Bottom Line: Way more applications
work for the Treo than those lame Microsoft handhelds.
4.
Extra
Software: In addition to the built-in applications that come
with Palm OS 4.1H, the Treo 90 offers the following applications on
the included CD-ROM: the Blazer Web browser, One-Touch Mail (POP3
compatible), SMS messaging, phone drivers for connecting to compatible
GSM phones, and the WordSmith word processing application. WordSmith
features rich formatting capabilities and offers seamless integration
with Microsoft Word.
Bottom Line: The existing software
on your computer will work perfectly with this little bad boy.
5.
Synchronization:
The Treo 90 comes with a USB HotSync cable so you can instantly back
up, update, and exchange information between the Treo handheld and
your desktop computer. (An optional recharging USB HotSync cradle
is available separately.) A CD-ROM is included with the Palm Desktop
and HotSync Manager applications for both Windows and Mac; you can
also choose to synchronize with Microsoft Outlook for Windows.
Bottom Line: Your address book and
calendar will become one with your handheld.
6.
Compatibility:
Like other Handspring handhelds, the Treo 90 is compatible with both
Windows and Macintosh operating systems.
Bottom Line: Your Treo will work
even if you have a PC at work and a Mac at home.
7.
Company
Policy: Even if you bought your Treo from a mail order store like
Amazon.com,
Handspring will replace broken or buggy units in a matter of days
(usually over night).
8.
Summery:
Handspring has got it right with this PDA. The Treo
90 enters a saturated PDA market but here are the features that
make the Treo 90 stand out:
Built-in
Keyboard - a feature that puts Handspring in a category almost
by itself - RIM being the other company that has a built-in keyboard
in their devices and Sony who recently added a keyboard to their
high-end and expensive CLIE NR-70
Color screen
- same resolution and brightness as Palm's m130 and m515
16 MB RAM
- Handspring started this trend with the Visor Pro last year and
its competitors are still playing catch up in this area
Secure Digital
Card slot - Handspring is aligning itself (finally!) with an industry
standard type of expandable media, thus dropping the Springboard
expansion ability that was part of the VISOR line and perhaps
sending it to its death
Weight -
at 4 oz., it is the lightest PDA out there
Price -
$200 (aprox) and with the features above, Handspring should have
a winner on their hands
TIP: Buy
a soft
case for your Palm if you don't already have one. That way when you
drop your handheld, it will have some padding. A hard case may look a
lot nicer, but you need the shock absorbing action of a soft case. I've
dropped my palm several times since buying a soft case and it hasn't
broken yet.
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