Customer Reviews

PCS Phone palmOne Treo 300 (Sprint)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

Ever since my last long motorcycle trip to the West, where I had to beg or borrow other people's computers to handle my e-mail and update my weblog, I've yearned for a compact device with which to access the Internet.
My first thought was the PalmPilot Tungsten C, which uses WiFi to connect.
Then I discovered the Handspring Treo family of smartphones. While the Treo 300 is obsolete - it's been succeeded by the Treo 600 and just this month by the Treo 650 - it's still a heck of a neat device. I already had a Sprint cell phone account, so the Sprint Treo 300 looked like the perfect way to get the functions of a cell phone and a PDA rolled into one - Plus, the Treo 300 accesses Sprint's always-on internet connection. Forget having to seek out a WiFi hotspot that may, or may not, be an encrypted pay-as-you go arrangement. If I'm able to make a Sprint PCS phone call, I can also be online, for as long as I want without incurring any additional charges.
The beauty of the Treo 300 is that it's no longer the cutting edge of smartphone technology that it was a couple of years ago. The biggest difference between the 300 and 600 is that the 600 has a built-in camera and doesn't have a flip-up clamshell design. So if you don't care about your PDA/cell phone having a camera and want to get what used to be a $500 phone very cheap, scout around for a Treo 300. I picked up a used one for $70 and have since found a ton of free software for it online.
If you're already a Sprint customer, or are considering becoming one, it's a no-brainer.

When the Treo 300 came out, I started looking for a decent price. I had decided to wait for a price decrease when I saw the rebate offer from Amazon.com. I purchased it immediately. The features for me, a low volume cell phone user, are great. The combination of a cell phone and PDA truly lightens the load on my belt. I've gotten used to no grafitti which was my biggest adjustment. Downside? Sprint customer service ('nuff said).
I won't be going on the web with the unit, so the problems with the browser don't concern me. The speakerphone is loud and clear, learning to use the keyboard was easy and programming the phone was a snap. I do have some concerns about battery life as the battery charge indicator takes a fall rather quickly during calls. However, after subtracting the Amazon.com rebate, the Sprint rebate and selling my old PDA, this baby is hard to beat.

Yes, I was one of those guys who resembled a Techno-Nerd: cell phone and PDA on the belt. Now that I use the Treo 300 with Sprint service, I resemble an "undercover" Techno-Nerd.

The Palm OS platform is very stable and there are a lot of applications made for it. The whole package (email, web browsing, seamless Microsoft Outlook synchronization, and telephone) works very, very well.

As far as Sprint customer service is concerned, well, all wireless companies have questionable service. This is coming from someone who has had accounts with Verizon, Cingular, and AT&T...So, I believe I know what I'm talking about.

Yes, the Wireless Web on PCS Vision is slow. Mine seems to run at about 28,000 most of the time. Hopefully, in time, these transfer speeds will pick up. But the Treo 300 wasn't really made for hardcore web browsing. If that's what you're into, get a laptop with a wireless card and service...

Simply put, the Treo is a great unit that combines everything the mobile, on-the-go person needs. My only real concern is the battery. It will last for an entire day on a full charge, but not much longer than that. Props to Handspring and Sprint.

I'm holding in my hands both the new Palm Tungsten and the Handspring Treo 300. I upgraded from the 270, as it has been my experience that GSM is horrible at best, at least in the LA area. Sprint customer service is truly abysmal -- my service has been suddenly turned of for non-payment TWICE in the FIVE DAYS I've had this unit. It takes a long time to talk to an actual person, and the website is often down. However, coverage has been great with Sprint, and that's the most important thing. The new Vision plans are great -- unlimited web browsing and email, and good deals on minutes. THE BEST THING about the phone is that I finally only need the one gadget, instead of having to grab my Palm and my cell phone. And it works with OSX, while the 270 did not. Syncing has been easy and consistent, and I can actually hear people talking on the other end (the 270 was impossibly quiet). THE WORST THING about the Treo 300 is the lack of SMS text messaging. I really don't understand how it could be missing... apparently you can receive but not send. And receiving has been very inconsistent for me, but at least that should be fixed eventually with revised software. Color is nice, and the resolution is OK to browse and look at photos with, but once you've seen the Tungsten screen... well, if you're considering the Treo don't look at a Tungsten screen. It will just make you depressed. If this had Bluetooth and the Tungsten screen, it would be a perfect product. But because it combined my two most used gadgets in one elegant, functional design, I'd have to say it's the best gadget I own. Ok next to my iPod. Ok after Tivo.

The keyboard format is awesome, because I can't stand graffiti. My cover has never broken, but I would advise anyone to purchase a case for this phone. The battery isn't easily replaced, but a little googling and you'll find websites that sell replacement batteries for $25 and include instructions for installation. It's not rocket science, trust me. Otherwise, some people get their undies in a twist over the lack of voice-dialing, but I don't mind. I just use the shortcut keys for the speed dial option. It's not a great driving phone. If you're a commuter cell-phone chatterbox, this is not your phone. If you're a professional or a student with PDA experience, a little patience, and a budget, this would be perfect for you. Don't buy it new...MAJOR RIPOFF. Get it used here or on ebay.

The phone works fine (but only with the earbud -- without it, the volume is inaudible); the PDA is great; the two together simplify, and improve life. Between them, however, Handspring and Sprint (and now Palm) make it hard to get simple questions answered, and impossible to answer hard questions. Why can one only get a replacement earbud from Handspring, and not Sprint? Why wouldn't two different Sprint store managers know that? Why would they keep giving out Sprint earbuds -- for free! -- that don't work? Why would they need to keep the Treo 300 for two days to figure that out? Don't get me started on the week it takes to get a replacement earbud via Fedex! Not to mention the unavailability of replacement styluses! Exclamation points! Still and all, good is better than perfect, and I look forward to upgrading to a Treo 600 when they get the backlog problem sorted out and the cost comes down.

I love this item. I have had it for about 3 months now. I paid about 100 dollars with all the discounts. Being 16MB is pretty good considering the price and dual function. The phone function is really nice, though I wish the speaker phone was a bit louder. It is very easy to hotsync software to the phone. Only thing I have been having problems with is installing new ringtones, but that is a trivial issue.

As for the customer service, I have never had an issue. I had every issue I had handled quickly. Always have with sprint and handspring.

This is the best damn product to come out in a very long time, from any manufacturer, making anything. Vision is the FASTEST web browsing service available and works great with the Treo (other providers don't even claim to be better). I have had the product since the day it was available and have used it extensively since then. My wife has one too and uses it even more than I do for running her business and loves it. We both can't wait until the faster, smaller, more functional (apparently it is possible) Treo 600 to come out this fall. No, I do not work for Handspring or Palm. Thems the facts, Jack.

I owned the Treo 300 for about three months before I started having problems. I mean, sure it worked well and did everything I wanted and needed it to do, but after awhile of use, the hinges that hold the earpiece on broke off. This happened only after normal use (opening and closing the lid). It was a disappointment to say the least. Another thing about it was the fact that it was alot bigger than I had expected (not having seen it live before because I bought it on the internet). This is not necessarily a bad thing, just inconvenient at times. So overall, if you can overlook the broken hinges and the oversize, it is a good phone. I do not recommend it!

I just recently lost my earbud and cannot seem to easily get it replaced. The problem is that only one works with the phone. Even the Sprint people don't have the skill sets or knowledge to understand that only the one earbud provided works. The most amazing thing is that if you go onto their own website, Sprint will be happy to sell you an earbud that won't work with the phone!