The Wall Street Journal describes Rectron`s new Treo 180 communicator from Handspring as both the best personal digital assistant (PDA) its reviewer has ever used, as well as the most capable cellphone.
Rectron managing director Mark Lu describes the Treo - one of the smallest Palm OS systems ever developed - as a combination of mobile phone, wireless data device for e-mail, messaging and Internet browsing, and a palm-top organiser in one key mobile communicator.
The unit is available in two configurations: the Treo 180, which has a built-in QWERTY keyboard, and the Treo 180g, which uses the same Graffiti-style input as other Palm OS PDAs.
"As Handspring says, the Treo 180 is the precursor to a new brand of communications products that will simplify the way people communicate and access information," said Lu. "The stylish communicator, which is packed with features without compromising functionality or ease-of-use, does everything your mobile phone does, and more.
"A dualband world phone, it features speed dial, three-way calling, and call history, as well as a built-in PhoneBook to allow users to dial direct from their contact list. It is also a powerful personal speakerphone, as well as having a free headset for handsfree operation."
As a fully-fledged Palm OS organiser, the rechargeable Treo 180 runs on 16MB of memory and a fast processor, and touts new applications like Date Book Plus and PhoneBook, which is an improved Address Book, as well as normal PDA applications including To Do List, Memo Pad, and more. Like other Palm OS-based PDAs, it allows users to install thousands of other Palm OS applications.
"It also allows users to send and receive e-mail and short messages wirelessly, as well as allowing access to the Web from just about everywhere, via its built-in Blazer wireless Web browser. Blazer allows for full access to virtually any Web site, not just those sites optimised for mobile access."
Lu says the keyboard version of the Treo communicator has several very important advantages.
"Users need only use one hand to select a speed dial, look up and dial someone in their address books, enter a phone number and dial it, go into speakerphone mode, invoke extra digits associated with a speed dial and enter commands for voice mail," he explained.
"With Graffiti, all of these operations require two hands and a stylus but are easy to perform with one hand on the keyboard. The keyboard`s primary advantage is one-handed operation, not text entry."
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