Treo 700p: Worth the Premium?

Reader Andrey writes: I'm debating between the Treo 650 and 700p. Would you be kind enough to brief me on which one is better and why? The 700p is $200 more than the 650. Thank you in advance for your time.

Good question, Andrey. The Treo 650 and the 700p use the same operating system, have the same CPU, the same size and resolution screen, and do pretty much the same things. While you can typically get the 700p for $399 and the Treo 650 for $299, that's still a $100 difference, and for what?

Here are the big differences:

• The 700p offers EV-DO speed on the Verizon network.
• 128MB of RAM vs. 32MB on the 650.
• A 1.3-megapixel camera vs. a lame 0.3-megapixel model on the older Palm.
• Some additional, lesser features like streaming audio and video support, and new audio playing software.
• The size and weight are nearly identical: The 700p weighs a whopping 2 grams more than the 650.

So, is all that worth $100? I think so. The RAM upgrade could be huge if you're short on memory cards, and the EV-DO support is a major boon for web browsing. The upgrades might even be worth $200, if that's what your carrier is trying to charge you.

Remember that the 650, while still a good product, is near the end of its life. How long will it be supported by PalmOne? That can be important if you're hoping for a few years of service on the phone.

Still, if you're convinced you want the 650 instead of the 700p, consider a used or refurbished one. As people upgrade to the 700p and 700w in droves, 650's are hitting eBay now. You'll find hundreds, if not thousands, of them available online. Get 'em while they're hot!