Company:  PalmOne
Available:  Now at Sprint PCS; 2005 for All Others
Price:  $450 for New Customers; $600 for Existing Sprint PCS Customers

Rating:

Pros:  Great Display; Improved Keyboard and Button Layout; PalmOne Enhancements to Palm OS; Strong Battery Life
Cons: Limited Memory

When the rumors of the Treo 650 started flying, I couldn't wait.  The predecessor, Treo 600, had changed my view on smartphones, convincing me that a PDA could make a good phone and data on a phone was usable.  How could it get any better?  Admittedly, the Treo 600 had some shortcoming, but its overall usability made it a winner.  The Treo 650 sticks true to usability while adding features, making it even better.

Better Looking, Easier to Use

First and foremost, the Treo 650 has a delicious 320 by 320 high resolution display with support for 65,000 plus colors.  Everything from images to the resolution optimized icons and keypad look better.  The predecessor had half the resolution and an antiquated (even for 2003) 3,375 color display.

The Treo 650 gets several, seemingly minor, enhancements to the keyboard and button layout as well.  The keyboard now has larger and flatter keys, making it easier for less dexterous hands.  The keyboard has a slight curve, familiar to Blackberry users, all of which enhances its usability.  That and a much better keyboard backlight make for an even better Treo experience.  Avid Treo 600 users will need mere seconds to appreciate the improvements.

The Treo 650 gets other usability updates including larger, more prominent Send and End buttons.  Important keys like those to access Applications and Menu are larger and centrally located for quick access.  Even the volume keys are larger and easier to adjust during a call.  I'd say the Treo 650 is by far more user friendly than its predecessor.