In a bid to deal itself back into the business–smart phone market, Palm has released the Windows Mobile–powered Treo 800w. This feature-packed update to the Treo 700wx is lighter and thinner than its predecessor, adds Wi-Fi and GPS, and boasts a higher-resolution touchscreen. Palm continues to innovate on top of the Exchange-friendly Windows Mobile with such perks as time-saving Today screen shortcuts and a dedicated Wi-Fi button. We wish the Treo 800w lasted longer on a charge, but its call quality and ease of use make it a good BlackBerry alternative.

Design

Just looking at the Treo 800w reminded us of the smooth edges and straight lines of the Centro. The old Treo had a nice shape, but the protrusion of its blocky antenna and awkward curves made it a clunky fit for pockets. The Treo 800w forgoes the old gawky shape for a device that measures 4.4 x 2.3 x 0.7 inches, weighs 5 ounces, and is designed with strong, straight lines along the sides and subtle curves along the top and bottom. The phone felt light in our hands and, thanks to its smooth slip-proof rubber backing, we didn’t worry about dropping it at all. However, the BlackBerry Curve 8330 is still an ounce lighter and slimmer.

On the face of the phone is a generous 1.7-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 320 x 320 pixels, which is a welcome step up from the 240 x 240-pixel display on the 700wx. Windows Mobile 6.1 is built for very fine touch-based interaction that often rules out using fingers to navigate the phone’s many programs. Too bad the included stylus feels chintzy.

Below the screen are two discreet soft action keys and a strip of silver buttons surrounding Palm’s signature five-way navigation key. There are also four programmable action keys and buttons to answer or end calls that double as a phone tool launch key and a power button, respectively.

At the top of the Treo 800w is a ringer on/off switch, a new Wi-Fi on/off button, and a dock for the stylus. Along the right is a microSD Card slot, accessible without removing the battery cover. On the left side of the phone are narrow volume controls and a soft button for launching the program of your choice. On the back is the 2-MP camera and speaker.

At the bottom of the Treo 800w is a micro-USB port that’s used not only for charging and syncing but for attaching the included headset for listening to music or making calls. Unfortunately, there’s a 2.5mm jack instead of a 3.5mm one, so you can’t use your own headphones.

Great Keyboard for Speedy Typing

At the phone’s base is an ample 34-button QWERTY pad that is much more spacious than that of the Palm Centro. Keys are more spaced, and the Treo 800w’s larger buttons are also raised with curved tips, making them easier to press and more responsive to the touch. 

Typing on the Treo 800w was just as fast, rhythmic, and error-free as using a full-size BlackBerry, even if the clicks are not as firm. We liked that in all word processing modes, the Windows Mobile software attempted to complete our words for us by providing a list of options after we entered a few letters. Though the program is not as smart as RIM’s SureType software for the BlackBerry Pearl, the feature will come in handy.