vB Easy Archive - 8525 vs. Treo 750, which one?

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8525 vs. Treo 750, which one?
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Posted by: thetoness

It looks like these two smart phones will be available in the relatively near future. I need help in deciding which one to get. Which would you get and why?

Posted by: JeShUa

8525. More mghz. Larger screen. Like the style.. almost got a 8125 until I heard about the 8525.

Posted by: richy240

I'll take Windows Mobile over Palm OS any day.

Let me put it this way: my company gave me a Treo 650 when I started. A day later I went out and bought an 8125 with my own money because I couldn't stand the Treo.

But that's just me.

Posted by: kassper

Quote:

Originally Posted by richy240

I'll take Windows Mobile over Palm OS any day.

Let me put it this way: my company gave me a Treo 650 when I started. A day later I went out and bought an 8125 with my own money because I couldn't stand the Treo.

But that's just me.

750 uses WM

Posted by: ajpprc

I like the form factor of the treo better, but the 8525 definately has the better specs.

Posted by: richy240

Quote:

Originally Posted by kassper

750 uses WM

Good point. I hadn't considered that. I guess I just saw *Treo*

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajpprc

I like the form factor of the treo better, but the 8525 definately has the better specs.

I prefer the larger sliding keyboard. I'd take a SE P990 over a Treo any day if I were considering that type of form factor.

Posted by: Jayden0606

Honestly it's all about preferance. Both 3G, both WM, & both like sexy in their own rights. I rather get the 8525 for typing with two hands. When using the treo, it seemed as though it was better to type with one hand, but for me I like to type fast.

Posted by: irockash

...what about the built in wi-fi on the 8525?

Posted by: fowen

I am stuck between these two devices as well. I had a 8125 but recently "downgraded" to a 3125 because I was tired of trying to use the phone one handed. I decided to give the 8525 another try (since it has UMTS) but I played with a 700wx the other day and liked the ability to user one hand for normal use.

I think I am going to purchase both devices and decide which one I want to keep. Gotta like my WBA agreement! :P

Posted by: RF9

This had been my dilemma. I should start by saying I have used the Treo 600 and 650 for about 2-3 years now and always loved the form factor and convenience of the keyboard on the front/exposed.

At first I was sold on the 8525. I'm a 'must have it all power user/geek and the 8525 has the kitchen sink. No possibility for buyer's remorse because there's nothing else that has more (except for GPS, but that's fine.)
But as the 8525 became more delayed and the Treo 750 details surfaced, I bought an 8125 to 'test drive' and help me decided between the two.

After 3 weeks of using the 8125, I can say I'm definitely going for the Treo 750, not the 8525. But it wasn't easy to come to that decision.

The reason I"m getting the Treo 750 is for one reason only. Form factor. The Treo form factor with it's front exposed keyboard is very convenient and the shape size isn't too unlike holding a phone. I could go on for days (so I'll spare you) about all of the situations and little times when I'm using the keyboard to just enter a few letters and the slide out keyboard is a pain in the *** (esp. at a traffic light, standing in line somewhere, in an elevator, walking from one meeting to the next... any place not shutting down basically)

People with large hands should find the slide out keyboard is probably more comfortable, but I find the Treo keyboard more comfortable to use (except for the cramped wrist bend to hold it.) But my hands aren't big. The closer-spaced keys means that my fingers travel a shorter distance from one to the next, and I can and do use the keyboard 1-handed to enter phone numbers, passwords, and as menu short cuts.

The down sides to the Treo: Slower processor, no WiFi, Bluetooth 1.2 (vs 2.0), 1.3 MP camera, and smaller pixel real estate on the screen.

Processor=It's faster than my 8125, which is already fast enough for me. Anyone that I've read that uses it says it's 'snappy' and feels fast
WiFi=Something I can live without to have a phone I'm happy with. Since 3G is available in many places (clearly not all the time), this reduces the need for WiFi greatly.
Also, I have already got the Spectec Mini SDIO WiFi card to use in the Treo 750 for those rare cases. It's not a good solution because it sticks out the side and you have to remove the MiniSD memory you have in there, but it works in a pinch for heavy net tasks or you're going to park it somewhere for an hour to web surf.
Bluetooth 1.2=Treo still supports A2DP which is what I care about. Bluetooth 1.2 just means you get slower data when tethering with a laptop. So I'll use the USB cable which I always do anyway for performance.
1.3MP camera=I have a digital camera. The one on the phone is just for fun. 1.3 is fine. Most of the time it's just to send pictures anyway which case I don't want the larger picture. I just don't need more that 1.3 on my phone right now.
Pixel real estate=The biggest draw back. But the Treo screen is still very usable.

Clearly there are sacrifices to going with the 750. No argument there. But the 750 is going to be better for making phone calls, text messaging, and quick text entry. It really is a one-handed device most of the time.
The 8525 would clearly be better for someone who rides train a lot, sits in a cafe to browse the Internet, and wants to watch Slingbox TV or movies in full 320x240 landscape mode... etc.
Which bucket are you? The type to sit park somewhere to use the features, or try to use this stuff on the go throughout your day. If you're the first, then you'll probabally like the 8525. If you're the on the go person, you'll want the Treo.

I suggest you to to a store (like a Verizon store) that has a Treo 700w and play with it for a half hour. Give the form factor and keyboard a try and see if you can deal with it.

Thanks for your patience (with my long post.)

Posted by: shawnaz

If so, how fast is the expected through put?

I was thinking about getting a data card for my laptop but if the speeds thru the phone are pretty fast, I'll forgo the added expense.

Posted by: SymbianBlack

if the treo is wiFi get the treo. better form factor

Posted by: RF9

Treo 750 does not have WiFi. You have to use a MiniSD WiFi card to get WiFi. So it can be done but it's inconvenient. Plus, I'm not sure how well the treo performs with this card. Someone mentioned something about sluggishness which I need to confirm with other people.

Throughput as a modem?
We're not sure if Treo will be HSDPA at luanch, or merely UMTS which is slower. Either way Palm has promised an HSDPA upgrade, but you may not get it from day 1. The 8525 has HSDPA.
8525 has Bluetooth 2.0 which is faster. Treo has Bluetooth 1.2 which is slower. Both should be fast enough, but you'll get better performance on the Treo if you use a USB cable instead of bluetooth (that's always the case with any device.)
Using a USB cable, they should both be the same speed when they both have HSDPA.

I still like the Treo. I'm getting one. But since the Treo may not be out for a few months, I might end up getting an 8525 in the mean time. (shrug) what can I do? I want a 3G PDA and I'm not waiting.

Posted by: gravejoker

Cingular 3G can go upto as high as 1Mbps .. depends and you can get almost the same speeds when you tether ..

Posted by: eimajuno

I was in this situation in my mind a little while ago. Currently, I have both a Treo 650 and a 8125. I like them both. I love wm5 but I hate having to slide out the keypad for texting. I love my treos form factor but hate the OS. Even though the Treo 750 will not have wifi, I still think I am going to get it over the 8525. I have been drooling over the treo 700w ever since verzion got it.

Posted by: klinquist

I think I'm with RF9.

I'm a pretty moderate Treo 650 user. Love chattermail.

I just ordered a Tytn. I think the biggest thing I'll miss will be what RF9 mentions - quickly typing "yes" or "see you soon" while driving to reply to a SMS. Typing in a contact name to find it, etc. I already bought a copy of MS voice command, so hopefully that'll make it better.

I was just itching for a new gadget and wanted it now

. I'll be posting a full usability comparo after I've got it for a few days.

Posted by: RF9

Quote:

Originally Posted by eimajuno

I was in this situation in my mind a little while ago. Currently, I have both a Treo 650 and a 8125. I like them both. I love wm5 but I hate having to slide out the keypad for texting. I love my treos form factor but hate the OS. Even though the Treo 750 will not have wifi, I still think I am going to get it over the 8525. I have been drooling over the treo 700w ever since verzion got it.

I am (obviously) in 100% agreement with you. I'm sending my 8125 back to Cingular tomorrow for my (under 30 day) full refund. Back to the 650 until I 750 comes. God I hope it's not a really long time before it comes. I thin the ONLY thing I'll miss is watching video on the large 320x240 screen in landscape mode. You could totally watch a movie this way if the battery would hold up. Even WiFi I won't miss much since there aren't many places I can use it.. and it eats the battery up like nobody's business.

Posted by: Goldenmonkey1

I'm in the same boat right now. Have a Treo 650, and love it, but am ready to make the switch from PalmOS to Windows Mobile OS. I think I want to stick with the Treo, because of the form factor, and that i text/email/IM a lot via my phone, and i can't see the 8525 being convenient for that.

Then again, another thing I wish to use the phone for is slingbox, and watching TV via it... obviously, the 8525 is better there...

is the 8525 a touchscreen?

What is the pricing looking to be? (after any rebates, as i'm due to re-up my contract in january anyway). If one phone is significantly cheaper ($100 or so cheaper) i might as well go with that one.