I am currently testing the Treo 700 and the MDA and have found many pros and cons about both units. I have both units for about a week. I have only tested the Verizon 6700 at the Verizon store, so I don't have any real extended experience with the 6700. After testing the units, here are my opinions. Please tell me if you agree or disagree. I would also like to get feedback from actual users of their experiences with the Treo 700, MDA and Verizon 6700.
Treo 700
Pros: easy to operate with only one hand; better data signal reception than 6700; better voice signal than 6700; Verizon EVDO beats the heck out of T-Mobile Edge (which I don't seem to even be able to get in Houston); uses standard SD card instead of mini-SD; seems to open applications faster than 6700; looks cooler than MDA and 6700.
Cons: one hand operation is nice, but typing on the small keyboard is challenging, even for a Blackberry veteran; limited memory causes occasional crash of programs and inability to view large size files; expensive voice and data plans; no direct wi-fi support; smaller screen than 6700 and MDA; directional pad center button harder to push without hitting the side directional pad
T-Mobile MDA
Pros: better keyboard than Treo and 6700; screen is bigger than Treo, and seems to be more crisp than 6700; seems to open programs faster than 6700; switches from portrait to horizontal faster than 6700; wi-fi and abundance of T-Mobile hotspots around Houston; phone signal is a bit better than Treo; GSM worldwide compatibility; camera is a bit better than Treo's; more memory than Treo
Cons: T-Mobile Edge is super slow compared to Verizon EVDO, and I can't even get Edge speeds in Houston; chunkier feel and look, even though it's the same size as the 6700, and weighs less than the Treo; no dedicated "OK" button in landscape mode; uses mini-SD; can't type messages with one hand; difficult access to contacts when trying to dial phone from the phone screen
Verizon 6700
Pros: Verizon EVDO is much better than anything T-Mobile has; screen is bigger than Treo; keyboard is better than Treo, but not as good as MDA, because it gets cramped on the top row as they are too close to the screen; bit lighter and smaller than MDA; dedicated "OK" and "Windows" button on landscape mode; joystick seems to be a bit better than MDA's directional pad, and definitely better than Treo's directional pad; more memory than Treo; has built-in wi-fi
Cons: very spartan looking; seems flimsier than MDA; stylus storage placement is awkward (in the antenna); does not seem to perform as well as the Treo in terms of running programs, data reception speed, and phone signal reception, even though it's also on Verizon's network
Problems with all three units:
no dedicated "cancel", "X", or closing key that allows you to close and exit a program, so either a stylus or finger tip action is required from time to time; for some odd reason, Windows Mobile 5 does not shut the program down when you close the screen, and multiple applications open begin to hog up the memory requiring user to go to settings and choose an option to "shut down of all programs"
Well, those are my thoughts. Your feedback is very much appreciated.
Here's a disclaimer, I've been wanting to get a Treo 700 for the longest time. Now that I got one, I don't know if I want to REALLY keep it. Plus, I am currently stuck in a T-Mobile 2 year Blackberry plan, so I really don't want to have to break my contract and pay $200. So if I go with Verizon, I might use the device (whether the Treo 700 or the 6700) as a data only device, and switch to a voice-only plan with T-Mobile. I guess I can hold out and wait for Nokia, Motorola, and Samsung's Blackberry look-a-likes to be released.
Thanks for your input.
Treo 700
Pros: easy to operate with only one hand; better data signal reception than 6700; better voice signal than 6700; Verizon EVDO beats the heck out of T-Mobile Edge (which I don't seem to even be able to get in Houston); uses standard SD card instead of mini-SD; seems to open applications faster than 6700; looks cooler than MDA and 6700.
Cons: one hand operation is nice, but typing on the small keyboard is challenging, even for a Blackberry veteran; limited memory causes occasional crash of programs and inability to view large size files; expensive voice and data plans; no direct wi-fi support; smaller screen than 6700 and MDA; directional pad center button harder to push without hitting the side directional pad
T-Mobile MDA
Pros: better keyboard than Treo and 6700; screen is bigger than Treo, and seems to be more crisp than 6700; seems to open programs faster than 6700; switches from portrait to horizontal faster than 6700; wi-fi and abundance of T-Mobile hotspots around Houston; phone signal is a bit better than Treo; GSM worldwide compatibility; camera is a bit better than Treo's; more memory than Treo
Cons: T-Mobile Edge is super slow compared to Verizon EVDO, and I can't even get Edge speeds in Houston; chunkier feel and look, even though it's the same size as the 6700, and weighs less than the Treo; no dedicated "OK" button in landscape mode; uses mini-SD; can't type messages with one hand; difficult access to contacts when trying to dial phone from the phone screen
Verizon 6700
Pros: Verizon EVDO is much better than anything T-Mobile has; screen is bigger than Treo; keyboard is better than Treo, but not as good as MDA, because it gets cramped on the top row as they are too close to the screen; bit lighter and smaller than MDA; dedicated "OK" and "Windows" button on landscape mode; joystick seems to be a bit better than MDA's directional pad, and definitely better than Treo's directional pad; more memory than Treo; has built-in wi-fi
Cons: very spartan looking; seems flimsier than MDA; stylus storage placement is awkward (in the antenna); does not seem to perform as well as the Treo in terms of running programs, data reception speed, and phone signal reception, even though it's also on Verizon's network
Problems with all three units:
no dedicated "cancel", "X", or closing key that allows you to close and exit a program, so either a stylus or finger tip action is required from time to time; for some odd reason, Windows Mobile 5 does not shut the program down when you close the screen, and multiple applications open begin to hog up the memory requiring user to go to settings and choose an option to "shut down of all programs"
Well, those are my thoughts. Your feedback is very much appreciated.
Here's a disclaimer, I've been wanting to get a Treo 700 for the longest time. Now that I got one, I don't know if I want to REALLY keep it. Plus, I am currently stuck in a T-Mobile 2 year Blackberry plan, so I really don't want to have to break my contract and pay $200. So if I go with Verizon, I might use the device (whether the Treo 700 or the 6700) as a data only device, and switch to a voice-only plan with T-Mobile. I guess I can hold out and wait for Nokia, Motorola, and Samsung's Blackberry look-a-likes to be released.
Thanks for your input.