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RickJames
Apr 2, 2008 3:32 PM
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What is a good Windows Mobile Smartphone? I have heard that Windows Mobile is good for email and calenering, but not so easy to make and receive calls - has anyone got any experience with it?
Also - there is a lot of ads on this site for the new imate Ultimate. Does Anyone have any experieicne with it?
http://www.imate.com/product.aspx?product=ultimate8502
Comment made about the PC Authority article:
Smartphones Roundup?
We test 11 keyboard-based smartphones to find the best tools for staying connected on the move
What do you think? Join the discussion. |
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geller
Apr 2, 2008 3:35 PM
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At a glance the new iMate 8502 you mention looks good – Telstra Next G compatible by looks of it, plus WiFi.
I’d have a quick play with a Windows Mobile phone for a day – I didn’t enjoy my experience with Windows Mobile, but you might find it’s ok.
Are you wanting push-email?
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Caelum
Apr 2, 2008 3:37 PM
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I have experience with both WM5 and WM6, and i think they are GREAT messaging platforms, specially for email and appointments etc when combined with Exchange Server 200x and push.
The majority of the devices i've used have been iMate's, however i have also used a Samsung Blackjack(from memory) which does not have a touch screen, but rather relies on the buttons of the phone itself to control the system. A far more clunky way of getting about things, when a simple touchscreen would increase flexibility significantly.
Phone functionality(apart from sms/mms/etc) is the weak point of WM platforms, without a doubt. However the flexibility of WM5/6 is a strongpoint, and allows the use of a huge array of software out there developed for WM. |
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RickJames
Apr 2, 2008 3:42 PM
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geller wrote:At a glance the new iMate 8502 you mention looks good – Telstra Next G compatible by looks of it, plus WiFi.
I’d have a quick play with a Windows Mobile phone for a day – I didn’t enjoy my experience with Windows Mobile, but you might find it’s ok.
Are you wanting push-email?
Geller - yes - Ideally I am after push email and calendar from my work's Exchange server.
Caelum - in your experience - how expensive is the data packages you need to support this kind of phone. I know it depends on how much data you use - I receive 100+ emails per day, and probably send around 50. Any ideas what my data costs may be on this?
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nix
Apr 2, 2008 3:46 PM
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I had a WM6 device for 6 months, and basically the #1 flaw was that it was too damn slow. The power was all there, but for day-to-day use the clunky sluggishness of the interface was too much... for example, opening an SMS would take 0.5-1.5 seconds, which doesn't sound like much but BOY does it get on your wick after a while.
Eventually I ended up buying a Nokia Series 60 device, which are amazingly cheap for the power you get. Not regretting it one bit so far.
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Caelum
Apr 2, 2008 4:11 PM
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RickJames - most of our staff ended up with between $50-$150 phone bills at the end of the month, so when it comes down to the additional productivity these devices can provide, well worth it. |
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geller
Apr 2, 2008 5:15 PM
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Rick James - If you're wanting Exchange functionality, maybe your choice is made (Windows Mobile). do you even have a choice?
I'm getting from others around here that WM is poor as a phone, but has the apps/Echange compatiblity. |
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Caelum
Apr 2, 2008 6:38 PM
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You got it geller.
There really isn't a better 'mobile productivity' platform around that i've come across so far. |
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geller
Apr 2, 2008 11:21 PM
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nix, i has the same slow load times on WM - this might vary , but the phone i used was just too laggy.
So what ARE the other options for mobile PDA style office functionality? There's blackberry but what else? I see Caelum mentions Nokia Series 60 - what is that? |
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Caelum
Apr 2, 2008 11:29 PM
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I didn't mention it, it was nix.
basically a series 60 nokia, is one of the 'smartphone' series of nokias, and can be anything from an E61 and E65, through to some of the higher priced, and specced models.
Based on the symbian operating system, with a nokia GUI thrown over the top.
I've heard good and bad reports about them though, as you would with any system that you look at. |
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RickJames
Apr 3, 2008 6:40 PM
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so can you get the same levels of functionality with a symbian OS as you can with windows mobile? |
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Caelum
Apr 3, 2008 6:44 PM
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Not in my opinion, no.
WM5/6 has far greater application availability, and support - In my experience. |
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nix
Apr 4, 2008 3:55 PM
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WM5/6 is still more of a smartphone, really. Series 60 is just much smarter than your average phone -- you can install third party software, etc.
For MS office, for example, you could try: http://www.quickoffice.com/store/s60-3rd-edition/quickoffice-50/ -- not a recommendation, as I haven't used it, but an example of how surprisingly powerful Series 60 is. The web browser is also amazing -- it's a full port of Webkit, which means if Safari can render a page, so can your Series 60.
For reference, the phone I'm using is the Nokia 6120 Classic: http://www.nokia.com.au/A4519098
It was cheap and decent looking, seems to do the job, drops calls occasionally (actually that might just be Three... grr) |