PalmOS and WinMo Treos - I Use'em Both - What I Like Best on Each

In my role at Palm as the director of wireless solutions (a role that lets me experiment with lots of applications on my phones!), I carry about one of every model we make. One for each carrier, each form factor, each operating system, and I run a variety of applications starting with the killer core -- PIM/Email, to the over the air stuff (audio books, music and video), to maps and GPS to Sales Force Automation.

So the idea of these posts are to talk about what I like on each phone and what bugs me on each.

First some background to see if you can identify with my style:

I'm a male, +/-50 year olds. Runner/Biker (road and mountain). BIG music and movie fan. Do more email and text than voice (50-100 emails a day on Exchange, Yahoo! and MSN and 50 text messages per day vs. five phone calls a day. I'm married with teenage daughters (thus the texting). I believe in work/life balance and go out of my way to see my kids in sports and plays, and to make room to ride, run and travel.

So what do I like. I tried to think of some of the core things on each OS that make a difference - what are the things that when I switch from one to the other that make me go "dang" when it's not there:

-Palm OS (Treo 650, 680, 700p) - I love the application buttons. I love pushing the email button and getting my email. Push the Calendar and see the calendar. I use the Secondary (option/button) to get even more functions - web, text, camera...whatever I program.

-Windows Mobile (Treo 700w/wx, 750) - Multitasking is great. I can start a download of an audio book from Audible and then switch back to email and continue working while the book downloads. Or type in a URL like www.dyestatcal.com (daughter's track results) in the browser and while it brings down all the fancy pictures, I switch back to Google Maps or a text message, then switch back a minute later and the page is all there ready to be read.

Or put them in reverse: When I'm on the PalmOS, I'd really like to multitask, and when I'm on WinMo, I'd really like the direct control of the application buttons.

Next time I'll talk about music players...or Sales Force Automation...or my Tivo...

Joe Fabris - Director of Wireless Solutions

Comments

[Jerry F. Giardina]

Just saw this comment on TC and I wanted to post a portion of WHAT individual said as it bears some merit. This is of course referring to the extra programs placed in ROM like "On Demand" & "Pocket Tunes" I myself use On Demand daily for movies and weather and news. I do not subscribe to the paid features but it is one of my favorite apps. I did have a little problem with on demand on the 700WX I tried but not on the 700p version.
"-All the extra applications the carriers (or Palm?) included in ROM like "downloads" and that rebadged version of Handmark Express, etc. Again and again - no choice.

Maybe the best solution would be for Palm to plan for (or sell us the "option" to) access some portion of that ROM in some manageable fashion. If only to install "approved" apps that they could "digitally sign" or something.

The useless Treo 700p applications in ROM are like hauling a big smelly bag of garbage around in the trunk of your car for 10 months and counting - you can do it, but as more and more time passes you wonder WTF you stuck it in your trunk in the first place, and when you will will be allowed to dump it to free up space for the things you actually might want in your trunk."
This would be nice to have some end user control over these program. Some we love and some we hate!

Some more specs have been released on the 755p. It looks like they are packaging up the units to appeal to 650, 680 and 700p users. Please give me less lag and I want a FULL SD CARD. tHE BITS AND PIECES ARE STARTING TO ENTICE ME. i GUESS WE HAVE LEARN PATIENCE

can you release the specs on the 755 in detail like a full sd card, BT support ect, native voice dialing (It's half way been announced) I guess the features are like the new ice cream on the block. Anyway Palm take a look at the beginging of my post and show it to the engineers.

and thank you to Paul for opening the blog and showing the friendly side of Palm who has concern about their power base users.

[May C of palmdiscovery.net]

Yes, the press and hold on the "Ok" button will take you to the Memory Management screen setting (I think I read that in the manual). But, regardless, it's very silly on a Win Mo Treo to not allow the Treo user to be able to decide whether to "close" or exit out of the app or leave it running. Again, I do hope that Palm will allow that feature since multitasking can be great if we can switch between the apps that we want, not everything that we have previously opened.

And I really like the fact that Palm is getting to replying back to the comments. It's always nice to get some "feedback" since it's long overdue and I'm sure that a lot of Palm users would appreciate. We don't want to talk to a brick wall ;)

As for the majority of people who don't know what a Palm or Treo can do, I've been yelling this for the past year or two, starting with the first blog post I originally wrote in Oct 2005. It's crucial that Palm do some work on getting the word out that the Treos and Palm devices do much more than PIM stuff. I can only keep writing the same thing a certain number of times before it gets too repetitive. There' only so many videos and Flash demos I can create on what the Palm and Treos can do.

[Eric]

Thanks Joe, for replying on my Dual Boot OS Treo.

I only want to mention that this can be a great opportunity for Palm. Or not. You can deliver every Treo with Palm OS preinstalled, so WM users can try Palm OS with in there minds that they can always switch to WM again if they don't like it. Normally a WM user will most likely not sell a Palm OS only phone for trying out.
So for the upcoming new Palm OS it is definitely worthwhile to bring a dual boot OS Treo on the market to let WM users sniff at the new Palm OS and hopefully turn them to the Palm OS side.
The downside is that Palm OS users can switch to the WM side. But if you belief in your product, you don't have to worry.

Greetings,
Eric.

[Brian]

Joe,

Great article, and it's great to finally see Palm (you specifically) participating in a *conversation* in the comments. I hope others follow suit: If this blog is truly about open communications with Palm's loyal users, then participation by the blogger/author is an absolute must.

Brian

[jp]

i am having issues with my web browser (blazer - treo700wx with sprint) in that some of the websites i go to does not show the "sign in" button..i downloaded minimo but it takes forever to download a page..i heard that opera mini 3.1 will solve my problems...do you have any insight re this? Thanks.

[France Treo]

"...I carry about one of every model we make. One for each carrier, each form factor, each operating system..."

Gosh! How many pockets do you have?!

[Carl W. Brooks]

Joe,

Hope to meet you again when you come to the Detroit area again. We'll get a drink from Starbucks and share some tips.

Here is some interesting reading...about out first meeting and other rants about this blog and Palm Inc.

http://www.palmloyal.com/addons.php?name=News&file=article&sid=17931

[George Muenz]

Great to have this blog. I am a Palm user since 1999. I currently have an unlocked 750v that I use on the Rogers network. Great phone, but....

For a phone at this price/functionality, there are a few irritating issues that are really basic. They should have already been fixed in a update of some sort.
Alarms not going off at proper times or not at all.
Phone quality -friends tell me that my phone cuts out a lot.
You can see more bugs on TreoCentral 750 thread http://discussion.treocentral.com/showthread.php?t=136383

[Andy]

I am going to get a Treo. I also will be retiring my day planner and plan on the Treo to help me better manage things for me. I will be a heavy user of the calendar for appointments and to do lists (tasks). Can people please comment about the advantages and disadvantages with appointments and tasks with the palm os vs. windows os. I like to see my tasks show on the calendar for that day along with appointments and not sure if either can do this. I don't know what one will have better features in this area. Thanks.

[Dan Georges]

Do you have, among your collection of Palm devices, a Tungsten C? If so, has the MAC address re-set itself to 00:E0:18:00:00:00?

If so, have you developed a work-around for the situation?

Dan

[Rayde]

Joe,
I appreciate the candid comments about the Palm OS vs WinMobile. I have a couple of questions. First, I am contemplating moving from the Palm OS to the Win OS. How difficult is it to get my Palm data loaded into the Win OS (not contemplating a Palm device)?

Second, I have an old Tungsten. I seem to have lost the Palm OS all together. It happened when I was trying to download a version upgrade. Can this device be salvaged? Is there a way to download the basic OS back into it?

Thanks.

[Mark]

Any word when there will be an update for the 700wx? The MSFT bluetooth stack has an error in it and they posted a fix over six months ago. This is only requires Palm to recompile the OS and issue one new file. Anyword when this might be complete?

[Mark Ðißiasio]

I just bought a AT&T Treo680. I am upgrading from a 650 from a 600.

I have to say the application lag and the new Phone Screen (is bloody awful) is not the improvements I expected.

I never had app lags on the Treo 650.

I still have my first Palm Pilot, from the late 90's, I am committed user.

I was hoping for more -- Palm disappointed me.