The design of the Treo 750 remains largely unchanged from that of the Treo 700w, its direct predecessor.  The most obvious difference is the 750’s lack of an external antenna nub.  The missing antenna does lend the new Treo a more modern look, but its overall design is beginning to seem a bit dated.

New smartphones like the Samsung BlackJack and Cingular 3125 have managed to shaved quite a bit of bulk, changing what we expect from a smartphone .  The Treo 750 remains bulky, weighing just over 5.5-ounces and measuring almost one inch thick.  This may or may not be an issue for you, as some users prefer a meatier phone, but those looking for the most modern slim-phones should look elsewhere. 

Like all Treos, the face of the 750 is dominated by its square display and QWERTY keyboard.  The display features a 240x240 resolution and offers the same user experience as its predecessor.  The unit’s keyboard performs well and is one of the best implemented thumboards on the market.  Between the screen and keyboard is the navigation section, home to the four-way navigation pad, two soft keys, Talk and End keys for the phone and Start and OK buttons for the Windows Mobile OS.  The left side of the Treo houses to a two-way volume rocker and a programmable shortcut button.  On the right side is the miniSD card slot cover and an Infrared data port.  The mute switch and stylus slot are on the top of the handheld, leaving the bottom for the data, charging and headset ports.  The headset port is compatible with standard 2.5mm headsets and headphones.  The digital camera lens and self-portrait mirror are located on the rear of the Treo, left of the main speaker.  Beneath the lens and speaker is the main battery compartment door, which forms the majority of the 750’s backpiece.  The battery cover is particularly sturdy, giving the device a more solid feel in the hand.

As a handset, the Treo 750 is comfortable enough, though it is thick and squatty, and some users may find it uncomfortable to hold to their ears for long periods.  I would rate its feel in the hand as 6 out of 10.

I recommended a case for the Treo 700w, and I make the same recommendation here.  The exterior shell is made from comfortably soft, but scratch prone, plastic and should be covered at all times to avoid scuffs and scrapes.  A skin case is likely the best option for the 750.  You can see a list of them, along with other types of cases, here.

The elimination of the external antenna was a good move on Palm’s part, though it’s not exactly revolutionary and doesn’t do much in the way of updating the Treo’s look.  Some might argue that each incarnation of the Treo has been a success, and changing a winning design is needlessly risky.  That may be, but sooner or later Palm will have to evolve to continue competing with new and innovative handhelds.