Discussion
hehe, okies.. I spend 2-3 hours a day on the mobile, so comfort would be an issue.. headsets have been a PITA, sweaty ears etc.
Will have to pop into a store and check one out, but glad it sounds good.
re: the WiFi/3G/GRPS. I assume when WiFi is unavailable you can switch to a GPRS connection? does it support 3G? Well ? etc
Will have to pop into a store and check one out, but glad it sounds good.
re: the WiFi/3G/GRPS. I assume when WiFi is unavailable you can switch to a GPRS connection? does it support 3G? Well ? etc
I'm not sure if it live switches, you may have to reconnect via GPRS/3G I've not tried that, I only use Wifi when I can either pinch it or cant be arsed firing up the laptop.
Have only really downloaded mail headers via 3G, I'm not on a data bundle so have tried to limit that side of it really.
Few other people have them though and report decent speeds etc.
www.modaco.com is a good place to get in depth reviews.
Have only really downloaded mail headers via 3G, I'm not on a data bundle so have tried to limit that side of it really.
Few other people have them though and report decent speeds etc.
www.modaco.com is a good place to get in depth reviews.
I have one after posing the same question and it is fabulous.
Having hands like shovels I find it easy to use as a phone as well, though it is a bit brick like. The keyboard is magic. It actually makes Windows mobile useable. I can type reasonably quickly on it now.
Good for being a smarty pants know it all down the pub as t'internet is always at your fingertips. Was able to do some business on it while in Italy the other week as well. Download docs, read amend and email on.
Fantabulous.
I have a 1 gb MMC in mine with Tomtom 5 loaded, plus memory maps and about 400 mb of MP3. Links nicely to my bluetooth GPS. It is a full on 3g video mobile but not tried that yet, but the main camera works well.
Top toy.
Can you tell I like it?
Having hands like shovels I find it easy to use as a phone as well, though it is a bit brick like. The keyboard is magic. It actually makes Windows mobile useable. I can type reasonably quickly on it now.
Good for being a smarty pants know it all down the pub as t'internet is always at your fingertips. Was able to do some business on it while in Italy the other week as well. Download docs, read amend and email on.
Fantabulous.
I have a 1 gb MMC in mine with Tomtom 5 loaded, plus memory maps and about 400 mb of MP3. Links nicely to my bluetooth GPS. It is a full on 3g video mobile but not tried that yet, but the main camera works well.
Top toy.
Can you tell I like it?
Hi Jamie,
Having now used my Orange SPV M5000 for a while (which is the same thing), I can vouch that:
As a PDA/Phone:
It does what it says on the tin, pretty quick for a PDA, lovely screen, and has all the features you'd expect from a Windows Mobile 5 device.
Its survived a few dives to the floor, and the swivel case works lovely.
Additionally you can Remote Desktop and Terminal Server with it (very useful) and if you install a Telnet client you'll be able to use it for administering switches etc.
The GPRS/3G works ok, but when the signal is suspect, then it'll be a bit flaky at times (more to do with the latency if I'm correct - somebody correct me if I'm wrong).
For a PDA, providing you turn off the Wireless when you are not using it, it last for a couple of days, but if you leave it on, expect to leave it plugged in overnight...
As a phone:
Its a pain in the arse; heavy, hot and prone to answering itself as you fish about for it in your pocket.
The phone software is a bit er... vague to say the least (coming from a Nokia) but you get the hang of it after a while.
I use mine mostly via bluetooth in the car on the hands free kit via a Parrot CK3100 which works well, however, as is always the case, the Windows Mobile OS doesn't work properly with it, and my contacts dont work unless I individually 'beam' them to the device...
As a cool toy to get out in the Pub (especially at pub quizzes):
Top Banana
Hope that helps
Neil
p.s. Nobody I think has released the MSFP for the true 'Blackberry' experience yet - even O2, so don't let them fob you off!!! It won't work until this has been release by each carrier (they were waiting on MS for these)...
>> Edited by neil_cardiff on Tuesday 28th February 16:15
Having now used my Orange SPV M5000 for a while (which is the same thing), I can vouch that:
As a PDA/Phone:
It does what it says on the tin, pretty quick for a PDA, lovely screen, and has all the features you'd expect from a Windows Mobile 5 device.
Its survived a few dives to the floor, and the swivel case works lovely.
Additionally you can Remote Desktop and Terminal Server with it (very useful) and if you install a Telnet client you'll be able to use it for administering switches etc.
The GPRS/3G works ok, but when the signal is suspect, then it'll be a bit flaky at times (more to do with the latency if I'm correct - somebody correct me if I'm wrong).
For a PDA, providing you turn off the Wireless when you are not using it, it last for a couple of days, but if you leave it on, expect to leave it plugged in overnight...
As a phone:
Its a pain in the arse; heavy, hot and prone to answering itself as you fish about for it in your pocket.
The phone software is a bit er... vague to say the least (coming from a Nokia) but you get the hang of it after a while.
I use mine mostly via bluetooth in the car on the hands free kit via a Parrot CK3100 which works well, however, as is always the case, the Windows Mobile OS doesn't work properly with it, and my contacts dont work unless I individually 'beam' them to the device...
As a cool toy to get out in the Pub (especially at pub quizzes):
Top Banana
Hope that helps
Neil
p.s. Nobody I think has released the MSFP for the true 'Blackberry' experience yet - even O2, so don't let them fob you off!!! It won't work until this has been release by each carrier (they were waiting on MS for these)...
>> Edited by neil_cardiff on Tuesday 28th February 16:15
Thanks Chaps.
Re: 3g, do you know if its a persistent connection, or if, like GPRS, it seems to change IP every time you do something.
Makes it a PITA to use pop-before-smtp when you have one IP when you pop, and then a different one when you smtp 5 seconds later.
Greg: make me an offer, i've had it about 2 weeks. all origional packaging etc, not even reg'd it yet.
Its a sexy device.
J
Re: 3g, do you know if its a persistent connection, or if, like GPRS, it seems to change IP every time you do something.
Makes it a PITA to use pop-before-smtp when you have one IP when you pop, and then a different one when you smtp 5 seconds later.
Greg: make me an offer, i've had it about 2 weeks. all origional packaging etc, not even reg'd it yet.
Its a sexy device.
J
JamieBeeston said:
Re: 3g, do you know if its a persistent connection, or if, like GPRS, it seems to change IP every time you do something.
Absolutely nooooo idea... however, I'd have thought you could have built one of your servers into an exchange server and then used that? No need at all then for any particular IP addressing as it's all done by certificates...
Neil
neil_cardiff said:
p.s. Nobody I think has released the MSFP for the true 'Blackberry' experience yet - even O2, so don't let them fob you off!!! It won't work until this has been release by each carrier (they were waiting on MS for these)...
However: if you've got a chunky GPRS tarrif, you can happily set the device up to sync regularly against your Outlook Mobile Access server (if it's internet accessible, and let's fact it, it has to be) and it'll feel bloody close to the crackberry experience.
And actually I don't think I used any more than about 10Mb having it set up to sync every 10 mins between 8am and 10pm for a month. That's not too bad at all...
Hardware - excellent, except for the lack of a second screen for seeing who's calling.
As a PDA it is fair - excellent hardware let down by very mediocre operating system and software. It is also slow, far slower than my old iMate JAM and extremely buggy.
As a Phone it is mealy OK. The phone functionality hasn't been thought out at all and is severely lacking in ease of use.
Expect to spend a bit on some essential third party apps to make it usable.
5/10 in all. Still the best of the modern PDA's but not a patch on the old Psion stuff, either in design, implementation or software.
As a PDA it is fair - excellent hardware let down by very mediocre operating system and software. It is also slow, far slower than my old iMate JAM and extremely buggy.
As a Phone it is mealy OK. The phone functionality hasn't been thought out at all and is severely lacking in ease of use.
Expect to spend a bit on some essential third party apps to make it usable.
5/10 in all. Still the best of the modern PDA's but not a patch on the old Psion stuff, either in design, implementation or software.
JamieBeeston said:
hehe, okies.. I spend 2-3 hours a day on the mobile, so comfort would be an issue.. headsets have been a PITA, sweaty ears etc.
Will have to pop into a store and check one out, but glad it sounds good.
re: the WiFi/3G/GRPS. I assume when WiFi is unavailable you can switch to a GPRS connection? does it support 3G? Well ? etc
Don't do it....
I probably spend a similar amount of time to you on a mobile. If you choose one that runs MS PPC Phone edition (any version) then your battery life will not make it through a full day. (In my experience)
Also, the fact that the software will invariably lock up at inopportune moments (usually when a client calls, and you can't answer their call!)
I love my phones & gadgets and I got so frustrated with all my PPC powered devises, I flogged 'em all and now use a decrepit SE P900 that I picked up of a mate. It's brilliant!
Can't wait for the new P990, and then I'll upgrade.
Hope that helps
Chris
PS: I assume when WiFi is unavailable you can switch to a GPRS connection? The software should tell you you are out of range of WiFi, and switch seamlessly to a GPRS connection. In practice it seems to use a random choice of the two (usually which ever is going to cost you the most
- hence my data bill peaking at £175 in a month...For a ppc with good battery life try the vario (or k-jam or HTC wizard as its also known)
Dont expect performance though (dual core 200mhz proc)
With the wifi on it chews the battery but just as a phone with email its good for 16hrs (with ~2.5hrs chatting)
I wont comment on the 'lockups' though - (well - choose the third party apps wisely )
Dont expect performance though (dual core 200mhz proc)
With the wifi on it chews the battery but just as a phone with email its good for 16hrs (with ~2.5hrs chatting)
I wont comment on the 'lockups' though - (well - choose the third party apps wisely
)Muncher said:
What's the deal with 3G and GPRS?
I assume you pay a fixed amount for data downloaded via GPRS, is this the same for 3G?
Yep, O2 bill you for "Mobile Web" usage - which includes both GPRS and 3G. I think they're billed at the same rates.
I like my Exec, although the phone app seems buggy at times and I swear it should feel quicker for a 520MHz device.
>> Edited by detchibe on Thursday 2nd March 14:26
>> Edited by detchibe on Thursday 2nd March 14:26
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