I never really understood the hype surrounding the iPhone. Its claim to fame, as far as I could tell, was being a cell phone that could play music and video. I've had a Treo 650 for a few years, and with some simple Google searching and a couple downloads costing less than $30 my Treo can make the same claims.
I've watched most of the new Battlestar Galactica series during air travel on my Treo's 320x320 screen, and I've listened to many hours of MP3s as well. Plus the 650 fully syncs with my Outlook's email and calendar, giving me instant and coordinated feedback between it and my desktop. So why did I just buy two iPhones?
Two reasons, actually, First, the wife was in serious need of a new cell phone. She's been using an ancient Samsung N400 for years (it was a hand-me-down I gave her in 2003, I think). I knew an iPhone would make an excellent and unexpected Christmas gift. And since I was buying one anyway, why not get two and take advantage of the family plan rates?
After 10 days I don't claim to fully understand every iPhone feature, but I think I've got a grasp of its strengths and weaknesses, at least compared to the Treo 650 (and yes, I know there are newer Treo models). They are actually pretty similar in that they both have cameras but no flash (the above photo was taken with my other iPhone), they are about the same physical size (the iPhone is about half as thick as the Treo) and they both offer a wide array of functionality beyond being phones and media players.
Here are the primary differences between these two phones:
1. Screen Quality: The Treo 650's screen is brighter and clearer than non-users might think, and its ability to render video is fully functional for travel-related needs. That said, the iPhone slaughters it with both a larger screen size and richer visual quality. Advantage: iPhone
2. Battery Life: The trouble with having such a beautiful screen is that you want to endlessly play around with the iPhone, and the battery icon seems to drain with each web page download or song. But the real problem is the lack of a removable battery. Regardless of how quickly the Treo's battery dies, at least I can replace it with a spare (which I have) in a matter of seconds. Advantage: Treo
3. Interface: There's really no comparison here. The Treo's dedicated, hard plastic buttons for email, phone and calendar are admirable, but the iPhone has these, along with 13 additional "buttons" (graphical icons on the "home" page) for things like media library, Internet browsing, local weather, local traffic and even a YouTube button. The YouTube experience is pretty amazing in and of itself because the iPhone has been optimized to utilize this site. Additionally, the iPhone uses intuitive finger movements for scrolling, zooming and controlling audio functions. Advantage: iPhone
4. Sync: A single cable connects the iPhone to any USB port to both charge and sync the device, but all media (songs and video) must be sync'd through iTunes. If iTunes can't/won't recognize the music/video files you're SOL. With the Treo you can load music/video on removable memory cards, meaning you can load up several memory cards with video and never need access to your desktop to watch them all (handy when you're on a transcontinental flight). Also, while I'm still investigating the details, my understanding is that the iPhone can't receive an email as soon as someone sends it. You can make the iPhone check for email every 15 minutes, but that's still a 15-minute delay compared to the "instantaneous" communication between my desktop and the 650. Advantage: Treo
5. Software: Unless you're willing to hack your iPhone you are limited to Apple or Apple-approved applications. The Treo is Palm (or Windows) based, meaning the application list is endless. For example, it's a good thing the iPhone works so well on YouTube, because it can't handle any flash applications (meaning, for example, no flipper action on Inside Line's homepage, and no video from any other site beyond YouTube). Advantage: Treo
6. "Crash"-iness: After only 10 days with the iPhone I haven't really put this to the test. But after three years with the Treo I fully know about its stability -- or lack thereof. I recently re-structured the memory on my Treo, which greatly helped its dependability. That said, it still freezes/crashes waaaay too often. It's also proven highly buggy in certain applications, Bluetooth being the best example. In fact, it was the hit-or-miss functionality of the Treo's Bluetooth that pushed me into buying a second iPhone. Just about every test car I drive now offers hands-free phone provisions, and I was beyond frustrated with not being able to use them. Thus far the iPhone hasn't crashed on me, and its Bluetooth has performed flawlessly. Advantage (at least so far): iPhone
The qustion at this point comes down to which phone will I ultimately commit to? In terms of work-related functions the Treo still performs far better. But my long commute (and Cailfornia's impending "hands-free" phone law on July 1st) suggests I need a phone with dependable Bluetooth functionality. Plus I really like the iPhone's overall stability and interface. For instance, I can technically browse the Internet on my Treo, but I actually want to browse it on my iPhone. Same with music and video -- I don't have to be trapped on an airplane to want to use my iPhone for music/video activity.
One thing I don't want to do is carry both of them around, so I'll have to figure something out pretty soon...
By chavis10
on January 2, 2008
07:49 AM
Interesting article. I have a Treo 700p and while it's kind of buggy (Bluetooth especially), I like the tactile feel of the keys when texting and emailing. I often surprise myself in how fast I can actually type on the thing and I think i'll be forever spoiled by its keyboard. I think I could live with an iPod Touch as an entertainment only device but I can't seem to get rid of the Treo because it's so handy. Plus, the iPod Touch still has WiFi and Philly has city wide broadband provided by Earthlink so I wouldn't lose out on AT&T's 2.5G network.
iPhone needs these upgrades: UMTS/HSPDA Network (3-3.5G); Picture/Video messaging MMS; online chat clients- AIM, MSN, Yahoo; and a removeable battery. Otherwise, the price needs to drop even further since it's so far behind the competition in the features department. As an Apple user since 1991, I was a little disappointed that they decontented the phone so much.
By opfreak
on January 2, 2008
08:03 AM
whats interesting is that your few years old phone still holds its own fairly decently against the iphone.
i havent used the iphone. But it looks/reviews as a good phone... Just not the end all be all that apple says it it.
And since I dont need most of the functions of the pda.. Its webbrowser seems to be one of the best... However, if faced with the option of a 50-100 dollar decent/very good phone with contract. or 400 dollars for the iphone. that upfront is way to much.
By rsholland
on January 2, 2008
08:59 AM
Being a long time Mac user, I'm really looking forward to see how the iPhone evolves. I'm hoping that the next version will get GPS capability—and that more service providers will be available from which customers can chose from.
FWIW, there's a rumor that BMW may be using Apple to re-do their IDrive interface.
http://66.160.188.111/Straightline/3950
By mopar424
on January 2, 2008
10:02 AM
The iPhone also has Google Earth, for the majority of us that dont have nav systems in our cars. Used it to get to the Citrus Bowl last weekend.
By iskch
on January 2, 2008
10:50 AM
All I can say it goes with application. I don't have use for the units mentioned. Mine is a 4 year old cheapo card phone. Yes, I can afford a nice blackberry but I have no use for it at all and the same goes for the other high end units. :))
By neuronbob
on January 2, 2008
10:56 AM
Great comparo! I have been thinking of making exactly the same switch, but decided to keep my Treo.
I am a longtime Mac user, Apple shareholder, and longtime Palm user, currently owning a 700p. As such, I appreciate your article as I considered an iPhone at the time of its release. However, the iPhone lacks several things that I, as a business user, require:
a) third party software. You were dead on with this point. I use Filemaker Pro on my Macs and convert the files to JFile on the Palm. I have done this almost daily since I owned my first Palm product eight years ago. Until there's a credible calendar program (I strongly dislike iCal as it's still buggy after all these years) and database program on iPhone, I can't commit to it.
b) 3G. I am on Verizon and web surfing is fast when I'm in an EVDO area. If/When the iPhone eventually gets 3G capability, I'll consider it more strongly. Even with Blazer as a browser (*yuck*), Big advantage to Palm here.
c) removable battery--I totally agree with you on this point. What an oversight for Apple to make on the iPhone.
Just so you know, my 700p only rarely crashes. I had a 650 before it that crashed so often it was unusable; the 700p (despite its own well-documented issues) is very stable. Further, Bluetooth is MUCH more stable on the 700p I own than on the 650--it works wonderfully in my '06 Acura RL.
By droz2
on January 2, 2008
11:39 AM
I also switched from a 650 to the iPhone and I can say that there is really no comparison. There is no third party app that rivals what you can do with the iPhone. The best app on the Treo was Google Maps - iPhone's apps is far superior.
The web on the Treo was painful. Too small, no way to enlarge. If you had to make a call you lose your page that loaded.
The Treo keyboard was nice but the iPhone's is nice too.
The one advantage I would give the Treo is that if you have a large contact list you can make a call by typing your contact's initials. iPhone does this for sms and email but not yet for calling.
By mnorm1
on January 2, 2008
06:08 PM
Yes, but do either of them seat 4 in comfort, and get decent gas mileage?
Oh, I'm sorry, I thought I was at the Karl on Cars blog site. You know the one that at the top says:
Road tests and reviews on the latest cars and trucks, along with musings and commentary on auto industry happenings.
Sorry, but it was too easy to pass up.
Happy New Year (better late than not at all)
By editor_karl
on January 2, 2008
06:21 PM
The iPhone has more horsepower, but the Treo puts out fewer emissions.
By hondacura4
on January 2, 2008
06:22 PM
<--Treo 650i owner also. Dont have anything bad to say about it, although it has locked up a few times. I havent really got the chance to play around with an i-phone but Id like to. Id actually like some of the more user friendly aspects of the i-phone and some of the simplicity of my Treo. I text message more than I talk so the keyboard on the Treo is great. I can type texts super fast and get back to what I was doing. The i-Phone seems to be the phone for the audio/video crowd and it offers some good features also. Id like to see a phone with the best features of both in one handset.
By blueguydotcom
on January 3, 2008
01:30 AM
Gave my wife my iPod Touch when I had to get a Pearl for work. Gotta say, I love my blackberry and find the rollerball much better for every function in the phone. Our 16 GB Touch is gorgeous and great for her to show off wedding pics or watch movies, but I definitely do not dig on the capacitive touchscreen and the slow wifi.
Different goals. For work, portability and usability, the Pearl 8130's pretty sweet. At a dinner party when people want to see pics she took of shark during a diving trip, the Touch takes the cake.
By autoboy16
on January 4, 2008
07:41 AM
Hey karl, if you want to keep your treo, i mean have no problem accepting a 10day old iphone as a gift if you don't want it... It'd make a great wedding gift for my sis that has had the same sony ericson for last 7years...
On a less serious note, the ipod touch is also a great ipod. If you connect it to a phoone via bluetooth, it can make an accept calls. It even rings when you get a call. A friend of mine got one for xmas. She calls it her "bootleg iPhone".
-Cj
By jaserb
on January 4, 2008
08:18 AM
I just switched from the Treo 650 to the Blackberry 8300 (curve). The biggest difference to me is that the Treo feels like a toolkit, and the Curve is a tool. As Karl mentioned you can make a Treo do just about anything due to its programmability - Universal remote control, anybody? - but it's nowhere near as elegant as the Blackberry, which feels much more integrated. I actually lost some features in the upgrade, like touch screen and IR, for example, but it's worth it to have a phone that just does what I want it do, and doesn't require a ton of tinkering to set it up "just right".
Plus the build quality of the Treo sucked. Panel gaps, anyone?
-Jason