Handspring Treo 270 Review

Overall Rating

Features and screen quality.

Battery life (Very bad), and stability (Hung many times a day without fail for the past 9 months).

I have been using the Treo 270 PDA - phone for 9 months now. I have been getting only 40 - 45 minutes talktime since day one. I called the distributor, GRANDTECH, technician told me that this is normal. By the way, the "Beam receive" was "off".
The technician suggested that I used it as a PDA and not so much as a phone, he also suggested I should consider getting a another phone as back up!! I agreed but I have not done it yet, I hope to get a different PDA-Phone soon and retire my Treo 270.
I also found out that I have to open the flip cover gently with both hands or I might break it. I actually broke the flip cover after 3 months of usage. It broke when I opened the cover too fast.
I took it back to GRANDTECH for repair and complained about the battery life, they replaced it with a new unit (with new battery), and told me that they are clearing stock. It cost me extra, as the flip cover was not under warranty. Talktime was still 40 - 45 minutes until today. I asked about the Treo 600, they said they are no longer selling Treos. I am not too sure about the actual reason.
I managed to get hold of a USB car-charger. I carry the sync cable wherever I go. I have to charge the Treo about 3 times a day between 9 am and 10 pm.
CNET review mentioned 3 hrs+ of talktime battery life, and I am getting only a miserable 40 mins. CNET also mentioned Treo 600 battery life was 4 hrs+, it may be actually giving much lower talktime, I am not sure. I shall not trust that review. I am definitely changing to a different brand soon, very likely an Nokia brand. Sorry.
The treo 270 also hung many times in a day. I have to reset it every time. The reset pin was provided, hidden inside the stylus.
As a phone, due to the terrible battery life ( reminded me of the mobile phones of the early nineties), I shall give a score of 2 out of 5, as a PDA, another 2 out of 5 (hangs a few times a day) for a total of 4 out of 10. I was all along a palm fan. I owned a number of palm PDA's before. If not for the need to reset so many times a day, it should be considered an average PDA.
This Treo 270 should be my last palm based device. I need a RELIABLE PDA-Phone with much longer talktime. I am taking the cue from my friends to stay away from Palm platform, at least for now.