Handspring Treo 180

As the line between mobile phones and handheld computers gets ever more blurred, you might ask why you're carrying around two gadgets when one offers most of the features of the other.

Unfortunately, 'most' doesn't mean 'all'. Phones are too fiddly to be a true handheld and handhelds still need a phone to get online. But that's all set to change with the advent of the smart phone: a mobile and handheld computer combined.

The Handspring Treo isn't the first smart phone to hit these shores but it's the first from an established handheld computer manufacturer. In fact, Handspring has dabbled in this area before with the VisorPhone - a clip-on module for its Handspring computer - and many of its features have found their way onto the Treo.

As a handheld PC, the Treo is a touch on the dinky side and it looks more like a curvy Palm m100 than one of Handspring's more angular models.

There's a screen cover with a plastic window too, but there's more to this than meets the eye. An ear piece inside the cover means the Treo can be opened and used just like a flip phone, and this design works rather well. The cover also hides another novel feature for a Handspring device: a keyboard.

This sits below the monochrome back-lit screen but it's so tiny that even those with medium-sized fingers will find it difficult to use. The keys have a positive click to them, though, which helps when typing.

The Treo's handheld features are the same as other Handspring and Palm devices, thanks mainly to the Palm operating system. However, they're all keyboard-based, rather than using a handwriting recognition system.

The simple but effective contact, diary, to-do and memo pad applications are joined by email and text messaging utilities. There is also a minimalist web browser that optimises pages for download over a slow mobile connection.

For regular phone use, the touch-sensitive screen displays a keypad. Calls can be made with the cover closed by using the side-mounted scroll wheel and contact application.

Contactwww.handspring.co.uk

ALSO CONSIDER:Motorola Accompli 008
Nice design; good software.
£230
****
Computeractive Issue 96