Treo 680 review roundup
By Conrad Quilty-Harper 
posted Nov 25th 2006 5:28PM
posted Nov 25th 2006 5:28PM
Featuring the same 312MHz Intel processor, 320 x 320 pixel display and EDGE modem as its 650 predecessor, the Treo 680 isn't by any means a revolutionary smartphone. Frustratingly for aficionados of Palm's software design, the 680 improvements are for the most part a consolidation of small tweaks that have been made to other models in the Treo line-up which have been coupled with a slight slimming down in dimensions and weight. Fortunately, the incremental improvements are numerous: usable memory has been increased to 66MB, version numbers of bundled-apps like DocumentsToGo and the Blazer web browser have been upped, and according to LaptopMag, the new dimensions and 0.7 ounce weight reduction results in a device that "feels a lot lighter than it looks." Unfortunately the lack of WiFi, the appalling VGA camera -- which Palm claims isn't much different than a 1 megapixel camera (right) -- and the staid design results in a device that PC Magazine says has "a strong whiff of 2004 about it." (Say, didn't we state just that a few days ago?) Ultimately it's up to you whether you think the relatively low price ($199 w/2 year Cingular contract), incremental updates, and the ever-brilliant Palm OS are good enough to distract you from the weak hardware and budget-price feature set.Read - LaptopMag, 4/5 "Priced for the masses but also designed for the masses"
Read - PC Magazine, 3/5 "The masses will find it helps them get organized, but for early adopters, there's just not enough spice here"
Read - CNET, 7.0/10 "...the Palm Treo 680 is a good smart phone for the first-time buyer"
Read - MyTreo "It feels nicer in the hand than my Treo 700p with its external antenna"
if the treo 680s camera is anything like the 650 then i dont see the problem. the treo 650 has the best camera ever put on a phone in history. do yall actually use the phones or just look at the specs on the box?
"Treo's camera produced some sickly looking pictures."
-CNET
I hardly think that the "best camera ever put on a phone in history" would produce sickly pictures now, would it?
Cnet says that? Annnd?
all CNET reviews should be taken with a grain of salt as they are victim of bias in every way. The reviewers over there talk about what they as individuals like in things, which most of the time doesn't translate into practical use that most of us seek.
Just got the 680, love it, do not miss the "nub".. yet... the new Bluetooth, version 3.2 does not sync with my car, Audi A6, as did my previous Treo 650, with Bluetooth 1.1... My car does not "see" the new phone
The Treo's camera is most definitely not the "best camera ever put on a phone in history" its actually not a very good cam, especially when you compare it to the 3.2mp auto focus, flash sporting camera phones out there, its a basic cam at best.
I do however disagree with these reviews. I just don't understand how this is a smart phone for beginners. It does almost everything a BB Pearl does, in some cases better.
Treonauts also has the first part of their Treo 680 review available now... http://blog.treonauts.com/2006/11/palm_treo_680_r.html
SlashPhone also ran the review - featuring an unboxing video.
http://www.slashphone.com/1/5912.html
That "FOX News" review is my PC Magazine review, syndicated over to their site. Thanks for including the review in your roundup, but I wonder why you linked to it on the FOX site as opposed to on its home at PCMag.com.
What does it take to get love? My review went up as soon as the NDA lifted.
http://www.treocentral.com/content/Stories/988-1.htm
Brighthand also had a review up the minute the NDA was over:
http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=12630
PIC's review is up too:
http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/9134/palm-treo-680-review/