T- Mobile- A Great Phone/ Computer With a Huge Problem
Written: Nov 17 '02
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Pros: More options and versatility than you can imagine, cool, useful
Cons: Expensive, signing the contract
The Bottom Line: Quite good, but I would wait until there is better technology before spending $500.
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| hwz1's Full Review: T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition |
I have had a run of bad luck. A couple of months ago I won a Palm Pilot through a work contest and have become very comfortable using it. Well, we has our quarterly meeting a couple of weeks ago and I was informed that we are heading toward the T- Mobile platform when it comes to wireless PDA/ phone options. Ugh!
At any rate, we went through a training class and saw the numerous options and the various capabilities that the T- Mobile Pocket PC brings to the table and now I can see why management made the decision that they did (Usually I have a tough time figuring why they do what they do, but don't we all).
THE SPECIFICS:
* 5 hours of talk time with the PDA off
* 180 hours of standby
* 5.1 x 2.8 x 0.7 size
* 6.8 ounces
* Caller ID
* Conference call capabilities
* Built in pager
* Call waiting and call hold
* Voice mail
* Call forwarding
* Charger and battery
* Sync software
* Hands free headset
Optional accessories:
* AOL instant messenger
* T- Mobile internet
* Data connection
Hmmm, I think this is the longest list of specifics that I have ever listed. Yes, the Pocket PC is loaded with options. Heck, it has to be to perform as a phone and a PC.
WHAT I LIKE:
1. The ability to remove one of the "things" I carry with me on a daily basis. Lets face it, although technology has made the gadgets that we carry smaller and smaller, we still carry almost as much "equipment" as a police officer. You figure that any one person could be carrying all of the following: Cell phone, pager, PDA, wallet, watch, ring, pen, and keys. I count eight things that you may be carrying when you walk out the door in the morning. Well, the Pocket PC allows you to consolidate three of those things into one. As long as there is no loss in performance, why would you not want to consolidate a few of these things?
2. The cool factor. Ok, I am now a ripe old 32 years of age and not as into the cool thing as I was a decade ago. But still, it is nice to every now and then have people looking at the contraption that you are fiddling with and wonder what it is and what it does. The Pocket PC has a little of this sex appeal. No, not as much as it would have had five years ago; we have become accustomed to the Palm Pilots and cell phones to be wowed by something that is a hybrid. But, it is still cool to show your friends and family what technology can do in this day and age.
3. Quick activation and set up. Within two hours of purchasing the Pocket PC the unit was ready to go with voice and data services. What a difference from the days of having to charge your cell phone for many hours before using. I did however charge the battery while I loaded the sync software. Downloading the software is self explanatory.
4. A big benefit from the get go. Ok, remember how you had to spend hours typing in all of your contact information when you switched software? No longer will you have to do this is you utilize Outlook. Hallelujah! I simply sync my contact information from Outlook and, walla, I do not have spend hours typing.
5. The battery is quite good. I use the various options that the Pocket PC provides a lot and have rarely run into problems. I would suggest having a backup available as a just in case. I would also suggest having a car charger- hey, what better time to charge the unit than while driving (Assuming you are not driving and sending email while doing so).
6. A plethora of uses. I am constantly amazed at what today's technology can do. The Pocket PC utilizes the GPRS high speed data service in order to allow you to utilize the HTML browser and AOL instant messaging. You also have access to Pocket Word, Excel, Outlook, and Windows Media Player for MP3 and video files. Amazing and it is all in a piece of equipment not bigger than you wallet.
The big question is whether or not all of this "stuff" works well. For the most part, I would say that it does. The sound quality is great and the various programs (IM, Word, Excel, etc.) are simple to use if you are accustomed to PDA's and the various operating platform. I would not suggest learning something as simple as Word anywhere other than on a typical PC, but once you know how to make your way around Word, you are home free with the Pocket PC.
7. The big draw- wireless internet capability. It actually works and works fairly well. The screen is decent sized and contains a real web browser. I find that I use this option most frequently to check my email accounts and the process is fairly simple and quick.
Will you be able to download the ESPN homepage in no time? No. But, a homepage similar to Yahoo's (Little graphics and typically the fastest loading page) will download quite quickly. The video files are not lightning quick, but they eventually make their way through. The MP3 files are wonderful to listen to and, again, the process is quite simple.
8. Finally, the unit itself is solid. Can you drop it from the third story of your apartment and expect it to survive? No, but it also will not be rendered useless if it falls out of your hand a few times. The unit contains a bright light and the case provides good protection.
WHAT I DO NOT LIKE:
1. The occasional crash. While this can be expected from time to time, I never experienced with any of my cell phones. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to answer a phone and not having it respond to your attempts. While this does not happen often, it should not happen at all.
2. I am not a fan of being tied into a contract. Being that T- Mobile offers the service, you will be tied in for some period of time. Now I know that it is hard to avoid being tied into some kind of contract in this day and age, it is also a major pain to have to learn something new after mastering an operating system. Hence, I would say that you need to be sure you are fine with the contract that T- Mobile offers.
In the Philadelphia area (Where I live and a pretty big city), the deal looks like this:
* $60/ month
* 3000 minutes a month
* Two way text- 50 incoming/ month
* $.35 for exceeding the plan
* Coverage areas include: Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
Maryland, and Delaware
There is also a National Plan that will cost you $40/ month and provide 600 minutes a month. I am not a fan of this plan as 600 minutes a month equals about 20 minutes a month. Your charge for exceeding the 600 minutes is also $.40/ minute. T- Mobile likes to market this plan to business professionals who spend less than 30 minutes day on the phone. I wish I knew who these people were.
3. The Pocket PC is not cheap and my guess is that it is not going to get much cheaper anytime soon. Check out any magazine and you will see ads for the Pocket PC. Look for Mrs. Michael Douglas (Catherine Zeta Jones) hawking the product and think about how the company will be able to pay for all of the advertising and the celebrity spokeswoman. I can assure you they are not using the Pocket PC as a loss leader. Hence, the likelyhood that the prices will stay high for awhile.
4. Though I sung the praises of the ability to consolidate three of your "morning things" into one, I do have a hard time adjusting to the size of the Pocket PC. No, it is not huge, but it is more along the size of a wallet. In a time when we are becoming accustomed to cell phones that are not much larger than a credit card, you will notice the increased bulk.
FINAL CALL:
I would suggest purchasing the Pocket PC, but would also keep in mind that there are better phones coming in the next couple of years. In other words, if you can hold on with what are currently using, do so. The Pocket PC is an excellent phone, but also an expensive one. You may be better served by waiting a year or so and seeing what other options are available. Sure, they may be more expensive, but they may also contain much greater (Believe it or not) technology.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $500
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Epinions.com ID:
hwz1
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Location: Philadelphia, PA
Reviews written: 845
Trusted by: 923 members
About Me:
Just got a big promotion that will move my new wife and I to Atlanta.
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