Impossible to put down, impossible not to pick up, the Treo 180 communicator provides in form and function what other companies have been unwilling or unable to deliver thus far. It relegates the PDA organizer to that of a calculator, and exposes mobile phones as little more than simple switchboard devices. It provides the missing link between a true mobile phone and desktop computing, with a design elegant enough to require constant and immediate use.

Hardware

Inside a local pub during a recent rainstorm, the bar was a display of drinks and cell phones, protected from soaking wet clothing like sidearms of a bygone era. Placing the Treo down next to this line of small mobile phones garnered some attention, for the appearance of the Treo is certainly more square and flat than a simple phone. But as a call arrived and the other patrons glanced over to see the distinct and geometric keyboard, there is a moment of recognition that something different is going on here. The lid snaps up like a lexus, the screen responds to the touch of a finger as it does a sharp stylus, all of the buttons are firm yet clickable, the mute switch and the jog wheel are solid for long-term abuse. The dark monochromatic screen is crisp and tight, with a wide viewing angle in daylight and in the dark. But similar to all such screens it suffers a bit in medium lighting conditions. Also, the earpiece in the lid is a bit challenging to land correctly on the ear, making the volume float up and down until the correct position is locked in.

So streamlined is this form, but the future should procure some design updates as well. Looking at the device and the picture to the right, one can't help but to feel that we're all looking at a first-generation Treo. The two-part design, the base and the flip lid connected by a very strong yet somewhat extrusive hinge, is all very extraordinary for compact functionality. But an eye toward the future could transform a two-piece design into a single, streamlined cradle from base to lid.

Phone

Clearly the most capable phone ever developed. Having full integration of contact lists that are downloaded from a computer is a distinct advantage. After experiencing this with the Treo, all other cell phones are exposed for what they are -- small versions of last century technology. But innovation only catches on when it's simple to use, and the phone aspects of the Treo are it's most simple function. Large screen icons, full screen alert menus, massive contact lists of thousands of names are almost instantly located, speed dial menus edited by simple clicking and dragging to any location. The only significant feature that is missing is greater integration between the phone and the organizer. It would be useful if the calendar could keep track of phone calls on a daily basis, and also important to dial numbers from the within the calendar.

Palm OS

As the general public is beginning to rely on standalone PDA's to keep track of important appointments and assignments, separate Palm organizers should go the way of the Franklin Planner now that an entire PDA is but one feature of this Treo. The Palm OS integration is flawless and mostly snappy, offering full synchronization with desktop applications. Entering in new appointments and contact information is rapid with the keyboard model, becoming almost an invisible task after a week of use. Even meetings requiring beaming contact information between the Treo and other Palm devices is automatic and swift.

But even seasoned Palm veterans may find the Treo takes a little time getting used to. Navigating with the keyboard is certainly a new experience even with the familliar interface. Also, the Palm OS has icons that are only a few pixels in size, making tapping on the screen without the stylus somewhat difficult. For example, the tiny appointment note attachment icon is impossible to open without the included stylus. There are some other slight Palm Treo anomalies, such as third-party applications that are not keyboard aware. But overall, the Palm experience with the Treo is impeccable.

Internet, Email, Messaging

Many retail users may not be interested in utilizing the advanced data features of the Treo communicator that corporate owners thrive on, but they are useful options going forward. To begin with, some service providers offer a free month or two of data usage to try out the features without much cost. Once connected, the internet browsing with the included Blazer browser gives acceptable access to most websites. It's surprising just how easy it is to whip out the Treo to access some immediate online information. And since most web usage is information retrieval, the Treo is the perfect companion for this. But for more extensive internet browsing, current slow data rates may continue to find users downloading websites via a desktop connection.

Email, a majority of which is simple text communication, is handled by the Treo in a tight and useful fashion. Accessing email with various full-featured Palm applications does the trick so well, that carrying around a laptop or being tethered to a desktop seems unnecessary. Composing long messages and replies is easy enough; fixing a typo or inserting more text requires nothing more than a simple tap to the screen.

And about the growing popularity of SMS text messaging, well, this communicator is as good as it gets. Which could be useful to many other users as well. For example, you can set up a simple rule in your desktop to bounce an important arriving email to your Treo as an SMS message.

Conclusion

The Treo 180 delivers as anticipated, with some room for improvment for future editions. Palm and Blackberry users have discovered that electronic wireless organizers are important tools to develop an ever-expanding lifestyle. Combine this with most capable and well-designed phone yet invented, and you have a device that is unmatched by any other offering.