Palm Treo 500 - Expert Reviews

Review summary: The Palm Treo 500v is a real departure for Palm. Its not the first handset it has launched that runs on Windows Mobile rather than the PalmOS, but the handset itself has been radically redesigned.

Verdict: The Palm Treo 500v has dependability written all over it. It's not the slinkiest or prettiest of smartphones, but if you need a rock-solid handset with which to keep in touch - by email, SMS, phone or IM - and that can help you idle away lost hours, ...

Review summary: Speak clearly. The new Palm Treo 500v smartphone lets you say what you want, how you want with phone, messaging, IM, email, and web in one simple device. No more code words or misunderstandings thanks to a full keyboard and a big, bright screen. So ...

Award: Editor's Choice!

Review summary: The Treo 500v reworks the Windows Mobile user interface to generally good effect, but the absence of HSDPA, Wi-Fi and a front-facing camera may prove to be serious shortcomings. Overall though, it's a creditable addition both to the Windows Mobile ...

Pros: Two modes for the scroll wheel let you spin through long documents quickly, Very portable, Mouse is shaped for both left- and right-handed users, Programmable buttons, Tiny receiver stores inside the mouse, Laser tracking for precision on many ...

Cons: Somewhat expensive, May be too small for people with large hands, Modified interface may take some getting used to, No Wi-Fi, No HSDPA, No front facing camera

Review summary: Palm's first smartphone aimed at the consumer market, the Palm Treo 500v, takes on the likes of the BlackBerry 8300 Curve. It is smaller than previous Palm offerings but still feels clunkier than some of its rivals

Pros: 3G connectivity, Simple to use, Familiar Windows Mobile interface, Good battery life, Pre-installed applications

Cons: Cramped keyboard, Boring design, Poor camera

Verdict: Its design largely fails to inspire, but performance is more than a match for most of its rivals

Review summary: The Palm Treo 500v is a consumer-centric smart phone that packs 3G. It's proprietary menu interface is made up of category tabs and quick links to useful applications such as Windows Live Messenger, Internet Explorer and Word. Setting up email is a ...

Pros: 3G ; easy email setup

Cons: Cramped keypad ; lacklustre design

Verdict: We like the fact the the 500v is smaller than previous Treos, the proprietary menu interface and how easy it is to setup of email accounts, such as Gmail or Yahoo. We can't help feeling the 500v lacks a wow-factor in its design -- particularly the ...