XV6700 vs. Treo 700w

My friend Rob Vonderhaar sent me a Word document with the following points (republished with his full permission). I've placed his original “Treo 700w or XV6700” response online as well. Here's his take…
XV6700 Pro:

• Larger screen (240 x 320 vs. 240 x 240) with landscape mode which is much better for web browsing, reading emails, etc. Also, this is the standard Windows Mobile aspect ratio so more third-party software will work properly (for example, I couldn’t even install WebIS Mail or Pocket Informant unless they release a version for square screens).
• I find the joystick much faster and easier to use than the Treo’s 5-way control.
• Much larger keyboard – easier to type rapidly.
• Almost 2x as much program memory (but less storage memory – the total amount is the same, but the 6700 allocates more to programs which is good).
• Built-in Wi-Fi
• USB sync cable also charges the battery
• Intel 416 mHz processor vs. only 312 mHz on Treo 700w
• Includes ZIP software
• Includes cradle to charge both phone and extra battery, stereo headphones w/ handsfree mic, slip case
• Optional high-capacity battery (but ruins form factor when using it)
• $100 less expensive!

XV6700 Con:

• Keyboard is big, but has poor tactile feedback. Can’t distinguish keys by touch, and it’s very hard to see in the dark due to the inconsistent blue backlighting. Also, there’s no integrated number pad (just the horizontal row of keys) so it’s hard to quickly enter numeric information like phone numbers.
• Bluetooth volume very low (I have to run it at max on both the phone and my Jabra BT350 headset)
• Speakerphone volume very low, and much more distorted – would be unusable with a larger group and/or a noisier environment
• Ringer volume also too low
• Voice Command levels too low (can’t hear incoming call announcements)
• Microsoft Voice Command not included (must add separately for $40)
• Making calls much harder w/o opening keyboard (definitely not one-handed like Treo)
• Lack of single “silent modeâ€Â? switch
• Slightly larger/heavier
• Much smaller selection of accessories (cases, etc.)
• Lacks the Palm enhancements such as a Today screen providing direct access to contacts, dialing a number, Google search, etc. Also no voicemail control panel and notifications, etc.
• Expansion memory limited to mini-SD cards only
• Long-term reliability and durability of slide-out keyboard is a concern.
• Lower battery life (based on limited experience…)
• No screen lock – unit turns itself on and keys are all active! Easy to make unintended calls or mess up other data when carrying in a case or bag when this happens. This is a major complaint from 6700 owners.

The XV6700 is probably the best choice if you’re looking for a PDA first, with phone features being very secondary. On the other hand, the Treo’s form factor and Palm enhancements to Windows Mobile make it a wonderful phone – but the small keyboard and especially the small screen and limited memory make it less useful as a PDA. Some of the limitations of the 6700 can be addressed through add-on software and internal tweaking that’s only possible for highly technical users (registry editing, etc.). The 700w simply works right out of the box. In a way, it parallels the “Mac vs. Windows� debates – if you’re a Mac person, you’ll love the Treo; if you’re a Windows person used to tweaking and tinkering, you’ll probably prefer the more powerful and feature-rich XV6700.

GoDaddy Web hosting plans are now more powerful than ever. Best of all, their plans start at just $3.95/month! No matter what plan you choose, your site receives 24/7 maintenance and protection in a world-class data center. Plus, as a listener of The Chris Pirillo Show, enter code CHRIS3 and get your .COM domain name for just $6.95 a year. Get your piece of the internet at GoDaddy!