PocketPC Phone Edition Review

[Ioman]

"We were both extremely happy with the phone and very disappointed in. The idea of integrating a phone with a PocketPC PDA is a fantastic one and we really wanted the product to full-fill all of our needs. First off, the sound quality of the phone both in speaker mode and regular mode is among the best we have ever heard. The conference call feature it totally cool and you can conference someone in mid conversation with another person. When someone calls while you are talking, simply look at the screen and choose whether you want to ignore them, switch to speak to them or conference them into your current conversation. The speaker phone works great; it is loud from a reasonable distance. The microphone works great for recording and when talking with other people; both in regular mode and speaker mode."

Full article here: http://www.designtechnica.com/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=50&page=2

[llbbl]

The two types of technologies are trying to meet in the middle. Phones and PDA's seem to be destined to interoperate. With regards to this new microsoft product, I would wait a year or so after it has been released and then start looking. Palm 5.0 is your best bet at this point.

[Ioman]

Originally posted by TecknoGeek
The two types of technologies are trying to meet in the middle. Phones and PDA's seem to be destined to interoperate. With regards to this new microsoft product, I would wait a year or so after it has been released and then start looking. Palm 5.0 is your best bet at this point.

Palm as a company won't be around in a couple years unless they get their act together. Microsoft in their first attempt has taken significant market share from Palm in only their first year. I would personally like to see a small clam cell phone with the power of the PocketPC I just reviewed. I dont need a huge touch screen or stylus. Just give me my outlook contacts in a good looking, small stylish phone.

[Archon]

I'm not a fan of PDA phones, especially ones which are the PDA right on the face of the phone (Samsung i330 and TMPPC), as I find whenever I use one, I always smudge my cheek up against the screen (which is UBER not good for it!) - another reason for screen protectors ;)

Anyways... I'd rather carry a small phone with me all the time, and take a PDA when I need it, rather than this big bulky thing. Both would be bluetooth, of course, and I would have a bluetooth headset for recording to the PDA, and using on the phone ;)

[Ioman]

Originally posted by Archon
I'm not a fan of PDA phones, especially ones which are the PDA right on the face of the phone (Samsung i330 and TMPPC), as I find whenever I use one, I always smudge my cheek up against the screen (which is UBER not good for it!) - another reason for screen protectors ;)

Anyways... I'd rather carry a small phone with me all the time, and take a PDA when I need it, rather than this big bulky thing. Both would be bluetooth, of course, and I would have a bluetooth headset for recording to the PDA, and using on the phone ;)

Word, I am with you on this. I don't think there will ever be a need for full PDA functionality in a phone. Just contacts, maybe e-mail and desltop synchronization. Leave the rest out.

[IronSerif]

I'm a big fan of multi-use/purpose devices...sometimes. A pda-phone combo is something that does not fancy me.

The biggest reason is that if something were to go wrong with the device, you are in loss of two devices.

One of the biggest experiences that we've had, well not us but other stores, is with the old PDQ2. Many units were sold at other stores around this area, and if/when a customer had to send their phone out for repair, it was nearly impossible for the stores to get a customer a PDQ2 to use as a loaner. Chances are the customers would get just a regular phone as a loaner, and be stuck without a pda.

I couldn't imagine being w/o both devices! Just my thoughts on it though :)

BTW, here's an interesting article (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030113/tc_nm/tech_palm_graffiti_dc_1) about Palm and what they plan to do with graffiti.

[llbbl]

Originally posted by IronSerif
...

The biggest reason is that if something were to go wrong with the device, you are in loss of two devices.

...


I think that arguement works well if you are talking about printer combo's, but not as well when you are talking about cell phone and PDA combo's. For one reason, all the data is going to be backed up on your home PC and with just about every electronics store selling new equipment you won't be at a loss for very long.

[IronSerif]

Yeah, that's true to man.

I guess it's really all personal preference. I've had many opportunities to use the pdq2, and I might have an opportunity to use the Kyocera 7135, but the pda/phone combo just isn't my thing.

I personally like having those two devices seperate, that's just me.

And with that being said, 5 months down the road I'll probably end up getting a pda/phone combo :P

[llbbl]

The bottom line on this phone is that there are better on the market. It is big and bulky and has a number of other things that would take getting used to. I like either small and stylish or keyboard enabled. As far as keyboard enabled models go I would prefer the Treo or the new Palm Zire (is it?) or the Danger Hiptop or even a Blackberry.

[IronSerif]

Yaa I'm a fan of the built in keyboards myself. I still use my T900 two way pager.
Love the blackberry models though.

I think the Palm Zire is Palm's low end pda, without a built in keyboard.

[Archon]

Im a fan of ESP-enabled PDAs, which automaticly dictate what you think.

:)

[Unregistered]

Hey gang. I own one of these things, and let me tell you: It is WAAAAY better than carrying a cell and a PDA. I've got half of the people in my office in a tizzy over it, they all want one. I work in a technology group where we've had everything - pagers, blackberries (both the big PDA ones and the smaller pager ones), Nextel phones.... all that hardware gets heavy. Although this thing seems big it's actually smaller than an iPaq, and feels better. And you don't have to carry the two devices.

I personally also slapped in a 256MB SD card (512 are now available) and I use it to play MP3s (well, actually, WMAs, every last meg counts) in the subway. I take about 4~5 CDs worth, plus a couple old LucasArts games, plus 15 books, plus newspapers from around the world courtesy of Avantgo.

Last, the Internet access feature is major, and I frequently use it to figure out what movies are playing nearby "hey guys, anyone want to go to the movies?". Most recently I got a $3500 HDTV for $2500 by jumping on the net at a store in front of a salesman and asking him to price match (no joking).

The freezing problem that the article talks about is a good point - the phone DID freeze a lot when I first got it. The solution was to remove T-Mobile's apps (believe it or not, Microsoft's software IS solid on this phone, it was the OEM's extensions which were not properly tested). A recent (mid december) ROM update fixes the crashing altogether.

Hope that gives a different view from a fan of the phone/pda combo. As always, make your own judgement.

-Jack Ash

[Archon]

you're able to do this a lot easier, with a small bluetooth phone and a small bluetooth PDA, this way you can talk on the phone and play Monkey Island @ the same time :)

[Ioman]

Originally posted by Unregistered
Hey gang. I own one of these things, and let me tell you: It is WAAAAY better than carrying a cell and a PDA. I've got half of the people in my office in a tizzy over it, they all want one. I work in a technology group where we've had everything - pagers, blackberries (both the big PDA ones and the smaller pager ones), Nextel phones.... all that hardware gets heavy. Although this thing seems big it's actually smaller than an iPaq, and feels better. And you don't have to carry the two devices.

I personally also slapped in a 256MB SD card (512 are now available) and I use it to play MP3s (well, actually, WMAs, every last meg counts) in the subway. I take about 4~5 CDs worth, plus a couple old LucasArts games, plus 15 books, plus newspapers from around the world courtesy of Avantgo.

Last, the Internet access feature is major, and I frequently use it to figure out what movies are playing nearby "hey guys, anyone want to go to the movies?". Most recently I got a $3500 HDTV for $2500 by jumping on the net at a store in front of a salesman and asking him to price match (no joking).

The freezing problem that the article talks about is a good point - the phone DID freeze a lot when I first got it. The solution was to remove T-Mobile's apps (believe it or not, Microsoft's software IS solid on this phone, it was the OEM's extensions which were not properly tested). A recent (mid december) ROM update fixes the crashing altogether.

Hope that gives a different view from a fan of the phone/pda combo. As always, make your own judgement.

-Jack Ash

Thanks for the information! SD announced a 1GB card at this years CES, so it would be sweet to slap one of those in there. I am contemplating on whether to keep my PocketPC or not at this point. I really whish it was more user friendly in the car while driving. Trying to put on a 2 ear headset and then using your thumbs to type is very difficult in the car. And I am in the car a lot so this is important to me. A bluetooth headset would be nice too.

[Archon]

they should make a spiffy HUD for the car. Open your dash, stick your phone and PDA in their respective slots, and then have a device combine the two in an easy to use, voice activated panel on your dash. all wireless, of course :D