Handspring Treo 300

• Reviewed by: lsjp

  Strengths: I can carry my Palm and phone in one unit. The keyboard is big enough to use, long battery life for phone calls and schedules, lists, etc. My battery will last 2-3 days before needing recharging.

  Weaknesses: Everyone is right that you can't see the screen in direct sunlight, but who uses their phone in direct sunight anyway? I can see fine in my car or in shade.

  Overall: I really like this phone/pda. I had a cell phone and palm pilot and they were bulky in my purse. I was always searching for one or the other. I am very busy with heavy schedules of appointments and this one unit works great. I actually looked at the Treo 600, but it is REALLY small and the keyboard looks hard to use, it's too small. I don't sit and play games or get online with my unit. I have great service with Sprint and I really like my phone. I would buy it again, in a New York minute. I really hope that when it dies, Treo will come up with another unit that is larger than the 600. I don't want all the bells and whistles ie: mp3 or picture phone capabilities. I just want a PDA/Cell phone and that's what this is.

• Reviewed by: philipdl71

  Strengths: Phone works great, PalmOS support, Headset jack

  Weaknesses: Screen is hard to read in direct sunlight, Battery life is good for about 2 hours of continuous use of the LCD + Radio.

  Overall: I got my PDA for $150 last March from Amazon. It's a great phone. Fairly small (although not as small as the Treo 600). It's affordable and runs most PalmOS software. The browser that comes with it is pretty good but I'm convinced that it could be improved a bit especially when it comes to rendering times and minimal javascript support.The only downside to the device is I use it so much that I often run down the battery. I did find a charger for it on Ebay I will be trying out to see if this helps on days when I use it heavily. The other minor downside is that the screen is very hard to read in direct sunlight. This may or may not be a problem for you depending on where you live and how often you walk around outside.If you have the money go for the 600 but IMHO it's way overpriced.

• Reviewed by: danbee46

  Strengths: easy phone operation, quick responses, color screen ok indoors

  Weaknesses: color screen is invisible in normal daylight; one-handed phone operation is quite difficult; speakerphone is so low as to be useless; a bit bulky; expensive

  Overall: I bought this phone because I needed a PDA/phone convergent device and didn't want to wait to get one of the new ones about to be released. The reviews of the Treo were basically positive, so I was disappointed to find the phone totally unacceptable. I need a phone whose screen is visible in the daylight --- this one was almost invisible. The phone rang while I was walking to my car one afternoon and I was unable to see the screen for the caller ID information. When I opened the flip I was unable to see the controls. And the screen was on maximum brightness. I need a phone with a speaker that can be used as a handsfree device --- this speaker was too low. It can be used . . . but only in a very quiet place. I need a phone that I can use one-handed. That was almost impossible with the Treo. Obviously, the $450 I paid Spring is far too expensive considering my experience with this device. All in all, a terrible experience. I returned the phone within 4 days.