Let me start off by saying that I know this is the mac buying advice section, but I also know that there are often threads of people asking advice on smartphones and the like, so I thought I would post this here so it would be in the most conveniant place for those looking for smartphone advice. If this section is innapproprate please move the thread. And now, the review:
So today I was shopping in downtown with my friend and I stopped into the cingular store to oggle phones. 5 months ago I switched from verizon and got a free RAZR which I was happy with until I realized how awful the software was, how poor the call quality was, and how many RAZRs there actually are out there. Plus I use my phone for mostly text, and I really wanted a keyboard. Anyway, I stopped in and saw the new blackjack on display, and it looked pretty cool. A salesman started talking to me and after I told him I wasn't elligible for quite a while he told me he would see what he could do. Somehow he managed to wrangle me the upgrade price on the phone- $200 after rebate instead of $449. I told him I'd think about it, but that I was definatley interested. I decided to go for it, but realized I only had $200 in cash (I don't have a credit card or checks, or an ATM card...heh...maybe I should work on that). So I told him I would have to go get cash but would be back in two hours (had to go home to get it), or the next day if he went off duty. Well, he got this pained look on his face and went off to talk to his manager. When he came back he asked how much I had and I told him $200, and he said he would give me the phone for $200 and give m the mail in rebate, but I had to sign up for the $20 a month unlimited data plan, which I could cancel after 6 months. So I went for it.
3G Data
The blackjack's selling point is that it has 3g data, a new arrival to the US, at least in GSM form. I can tell you now from my ~5 hours of use that 3G is SPEEDY. Not as quick as a computer of course, but I would say it is much faster than my old PSP on 802.11b. All sites are viewable and it takes ~3-5 seconds for a page with several pictures and text entry boxes. A big plus. Also setting up my imap e-mail account took less than a minute and is working perfectly, which I totally didn't expect. Maybe I'm just software-jaded.
Keyboard
This is my first QWERTY phone, so getting used to the full set is more difficult than I would have thought coming from a computer. However as I pick it up I am getting quicker and quicker. The keys are rather small and a little cramped, however that does not hamper useability when regularly typing. It only becomes a slight problem when trying to do something like shift or caps lock. Then again I have monsterous hands, so that may just be a personal problem. There is also a scroll wheel for easy navigation which is pretty well placed, although I find the back button next to it difficult to push (it is very small).
Software
This phone is running Windows Mobile 5. We all hate windows, but I have to say, the phone is stable and quick, although I would not consider it "snappy." I don't love the interface, but it is without a doubt a step up from Moto's software. The GUI actually reminds me more of the blackberry UI than windows, which makes for a general plesant experiance.
Camera
Online reviews have said the camera performance is middling, but compared to my RAZR's vga shooter this thing is a Mark II 1Ds. The pictures it takes are vibrant and detailed, and the camera works quite well in low light situations (wheras the RAZR would crap out and the camera would die). Which brings me to the
Screen
My one hesitiation about buying was the screen- it is a bit small for a smartphone, especially when compared to the treo or the cingular 8525, however it is vibrant and BRIGHT. The resolution must be great, because the screen, while small, is just fun to look at, even at a low brightness. It is a bit inhibitive when it comes to reading long websites but if reading large text files is not somthing you do on your phone, then this screen is perfect.
Final Impressions
And one last thing. The Size. This thing is tiny. Maybe a tad thicker than the closed RAZR and the same thickness as my 5g 30gb ipod, it is quite light and fits easily in my pocket. It does have a rather irritating bulge at the top where the camera is, but I can certanly live with that. My other minor problem is that that unlocking the keypad takes a 3 button combo, but again, not major. I got a great deal and am very happy, and I hope this mini-review helped a bit. If you have any questions please ask away and I'll try to answer as best I can.
PS. I haven't tried yet syncing with OS X or the windows partition on my MBP but I will update this over the weekend as I try different syncing options.
EDIT: The device does not sync with OS X on its own. The missing sync has been suggested, but I will not be purchasing. Syncs perfectly through windows.
EDIT 2: Pictures added (Post 28, page 2)
So today I was shopping in downtown with my friend and I stopped into the cingular store to oggle phones. 5 months ago I switched from verizon and got a free RAZR which I was happy with until I realized how awful the software was, how poor the call quality was, and how many RAZRs there actually are out there. Plus I use my phone for mostly text, and I really wanted a keyboard. Anyway, I stopped in and saw the new blackjack on display, and it looked pretty cool. A salesman started talking to me and after I told him I wasn't elligible for quite a while he told me he would see what he could do. Somehow he managed to wrangle me the upgrade price on the phone- $200 after rebate instead of $449. I told him I'd think about it, but that I was definatley interested. I decided to go for it, but realized I only had $200 in cash (I don't have a credit card or checks, or an ATM card...heh...maybe I should work on that). So I told him I would have to go get cash but would be back in two hours (had to go home to get it), or the next day if he went off duty. Well, he got this pained look on his face and went off to talk to his manager. When he came back he asked how much I had and I told him $200, and he said he would give me the phone for $200 and give m the mail in rebate, but I had to sign up for the $20 a month unlimited data plan, which I could cancel after 6 months. So I went for it.
3G Data
The blackjack's selling point is that it has 3g data, a new arrival to the US, at least in GSM form. I can tell you now from my ~5 hours of use that 3G is SPEEDY. Not as quick as a computer of course, but I would say it is much faster than my old PSP on 802.11b. All sites are viewable and it takes ~3-5 seconds for a page with several pictures and text entry boxes. A big plus. Also setting up my imap e-mail account took less than a minute and is working perfectly, which I totally didn't expect. Maybe I'm just software-jaded.
Keyboard
This is my first QWERTY phone, so getting used to the full set is more difficult than I would have thought coming from a computer. However as I pick it up I am getting quicker and quicker. The keys are rather small and a little cramped, however that does not hamper useability when regularly typing. It only becomes a slight problem when trying to do something like shift or caps lock. Then again I have monsterous hands, so that may just be a personal problem. There is also a scroll wheel for easy navigation which is pretty well placed, although I find the back button next to it difficult to push (it is very small).
Software
This phone is running Windows Mobile 5. We all hate windows, but I have to say, the phone is stable and quick, although I would not consider it "snappy." I don't love the interface, but it is without a doubt a step up from Moto's software. The GUI actually reminds me more of the blackberry UI than windows, which makes for a general plesant experiance.
Camera
Online reviews have said the camera performance is middling, but compared to my RAZR's vga shooter this thing is a Mark II 1Ds. The pictures it takes are vibrant and detailed, and the camera works quite well in low light situations (wheras the RAZR would crap out and the camera would die). Which brings me to the
Screen
My one hesitiation about buying was the screen- it is a bit small for a smartphone, especially when compared to the treo or the cingular 8525, however it is vibrant and BRIGHT. The resolution must be great, because the screen, while small, is just fun to look at, even at a low brightness. It is a bit inhibitive when it comes to reading long websites but if reading large text files is not somthing you do on your phone, then this screen is perfect.
Final Impressions
And one last thing. The Size. This thing is tiny. Maybe a tad thicker than the closed RAZR and the same thickness as my 5g 30gb ipod, it is quite light and fits easily in my pocket. It does have a rather irritating bulge at the top where the camera is, but I can certanly live with that. My other minor problem is that that unlocking the keypad takes a 3 button combo, but again, not major. I got a great deal and am very happy, and I hope this mini-review helped a bit. If you have any questions please ask away and I'll try to answer as best I can.
PS. I haven't tried yet syncing with OS X or the windows partition on my MBP but I will update this over the weekend as I try different syncing options.
EDIT: The device does not sync with OS X on its own. The missing sync has been suggested, but I will not be purchasing. Syncs perfectly through windows.
EDIT 2: Pictures added (Post 28, page 2)
