Phonescoop reviews the Motorola Q

[Rocco Augusto]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/review_moto_q/' target='_blank'>http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/review_moto_q/</a><br /><br /></div><i>"The Q is definitely more pocketable than a BlackBerry, and certainly more versatile than one. With a camera and the ability to load a wide variety of applications, it is clearly not just for corporate users. But Exchange synchronization, the keyboard and the familiarity of Windows will make the Q a strong contender for corporate users as well. While the Q is still a looker, and worth looking at, it is no longer unique. It is a solid phone for many, but with so many similar models, there may be better options out there now - especially if you plan on using the keyboard quite a bit."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/augusto-2006.06.06-motoQ.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/><br /><br />Phonescoop has done it again, this time bringing us all a review of the ultra slim Motorola Q Windows Mobile Smartphone. Packed with a 1.3 MP camera, QWERTY keyboard, landscape QVGA display and voice recognition software, this is one sleek little device that should have RIM a little worried ;). All that beauty doesn't come without its own share of drawbacks though. To find out what those are, why don't you take a gander at the article 8)

[Pete Paxton]

I want three things that the Q just doesn't have.

1. Wifi
2. No Verizon
3. No Verizon :lol:

[Rocco Augusto]

I want three things that the Q just doesn't have.

1. Wifi
2. No Verizon
3. No Verizon :lol:

no CDMA, period! :)

[Jerry Raia]

I have to agree with those comments, NO VZW, NO CDMA

[Kris Kumar]

"No matter how much we used the Q, we never were able to type accurately with the keyboard for more than a few words at a time. The keys are smooth, have rounded tops, and are made of a very hard plastic. Unfortunately this is a recipe for fingers slipping and pressing a jumble of keys when you only intended to press one. Although the keys themselves are disappointing, the action of the keys is satisfying. Each key press has a noticeable click or pop to it that lets you know you definitely hit something, either on the QWERTY keyboard or the navigation pad."

I agree with the above totally. People will have love hate relationship with the keyboard on the Q. :?

[Jerry Raia]

I had the same issues with the 6515. Thumb keyboards like that are not very good in my experience. I always found myself using the soft keyboard on the screen and of course because of the screen size, most of the work area was then covered.

[Pete Paxton]

That's why I use the ThinkOutside BT keyboard. It's not that difficult to slip in my cargo shorts and then I can just type away. I just can't get used to the thumb boards.

[Jerry Raia]

So it's settled then, the Q is a bust. :clap:

Can I start Moto bashing now? :lol:

[robdam]

I want three things that the Q just doesn't have.

1. Wifi
2. No Verizon
3. No Verizon :lol:

Why no Verizon? Christ, Verizon rules in the NE. Cingular sucks for service.

* Edited for Langauge - MT *

[Rocco Augusto]

Why no Verizon? Christ, Verizon rules in the NE. Cingular sucks for sevice.

cdma technology is limited compared to gsm. especially if you dont like spending 20 minutes on the phone just the put your number on a different phone.

[Mike Temporale]

Why no Verizon?

Hey robdam, let's try and keep things PG ok? ;)

[Mike Temporale]

I want three things that the Q just doesn't have.

1. Wifi
2. No Verizon
3. No Verizon :lol:

Don't expect it to stay this way. If you take a read of my interview with John Starkweather, he mentions that when the Q is released on GSM it won't be the same features we have now. You can expect some improvements - hopefully WiFi is one of those.

[robdam]

Why no Verizon? Christ, Verizon rules in the NE. Cingular sucks for sevice.

cdma technology is limited compared to gsm. especially if you dont like spending 20 minutes on the phone just the put your number on a different phone.

What?

[Jerry Raia]

Why no Verizon? Christ, Verizon rules in the NE. Cingular sucks for sevice.

cdma technology is limited compared to gsm. especially if you dont like spending 20 minutes on the phone just the put your number on a different phone.

What?

Try switching a phone number from one CDMA phone to another, then try doing it with a GSM phone. It will become clear in about 20 minutes the difference. :)

[robdam]

Why no Verizon? Christ, Verizon rules in the NE. Cingular sucks for sevice.

cdma technology is limited compared to gsm. especially if you dont like spending 20 minutes on the phone just the put your number on a different phone.

What?

Try switching a phone number from one CDMA phone to another, then try doing it with a GSM phone. It will become clear in about 20 minutes the difference. :)

Why would I want to switch a phone #? I've had the same mobile phone # for over 10 years. Prior to that, I had Cingular and I was not a happy camper.

[Jerry Raia]

Why would I want to switch a phone #? I've had the same mobile phone # for over 10 years. Prior to that, I had Cingular and I was not a happy camper.

No, as in moving your phone number from one CDMA phone to another you just got from ebay for example. That's what we are talking about.

[Rocco Augusto]

not switching your number. switching devices, but moving your number from one device to another.

[Jerry Raia]

I have heard and can't confirm, that VZW makes you sign for a new contract when you do this.

[Janak Parekh]

I have heard and can't confirm, that VZW makes you sign for a new contract when you do this.
That's incorrect. To switch an account between devices, you go to Verizon's website, type in the IMEI/ESN of the new phone, and program it via *228. Done, and no new contract or activation fee. Not quite a SIM card, but not nearly as hard as you make it out to be. ;)

And I agree with robdam -- as a New Yorker, Verizon service is fantastic. I haven't used Cingular lately, but with the Treo 700w, I'm not immediately inclined to anyway.

Back to the article: I don't agree with all of Eric's conclusions on the keyboard. For instance, the location of the period is the exact same as on the Treo. It just takes some time getting used to the layout -- and I'd say it's more than one week. I can't comment on the Q keys' feel, though.

--janak

[Jerry Raia]

I have heard and can't confirm, that VZW makes you sign for a new contract when you do this.
That's incorrect. To switch an account between devices, you go to Verizon's website, type in the IMEI/ESN of the new phone, and program it via *228. Done, and no new contract or activation fee. Not quite a SIM card, but not nearly as hard as you make it out to be. ;)
--janak

Well then that is good to know, I haven't been with Verizon for some time. However, for exposing my ignorance in front of all my Smartphonethouhgts admirers, I'm going to have to take back my Happy Birthday wish. :lol:

[Pete Paxton]

Three complaints I have with Verizon. First they are expensive compared to what I have with Tmo. For a similar plan, I would have to pay $10 more per month and get less than half the minutes I get now. I just don't think they need to be that expensive. Second, (and perhaps this depends on where you live) where I live the service sucks big time. My wife is forced to have verizon from work. The local service is just terrible. I admit that could be my local experience though. And third, I own more than one phone and I want to be able to switch my sim card whenever and where ever I want. If the Q goes gsm and wifi - that may become a very tempting device.

I gotta admit though, Verizon's coverage kicks my butt. My wife gets much better cell coverage at the beach or in the mountains than I do. Thank goodness I spend most of my time in a metro area so for me it really doesn't matter.

[Jerry Raia]

As always if it works where you are, the coverage is fantastic, if not well you know...

[Stinger]

Verizon coverage, and CDMA coverage in general, is terrible where I live. ;)

[nskgti]

I want three things that the Q just doesn't have.

1. Wifi
2. No Verizon
3. No Verizon :lol:

Why no Verizon? Christ, Verizon rules in the NE. Cingular sucks for service.

* Edited for Langauge - MT *

I'm just going to laugh at this... I've heard nothing but complaints from my friends that have Verizon. On the other hand, all my friends that have Cingular have been very happy recently. They are all in the NE. Additionally, Cingular beat out Verizon on retainability and reliability in NYC a little while back. Keep drinkin' the Verizon Kool Aid buddy. Their coverage is that much better in the NE (if at all).

[nskgti]

It's not that difficult to slip in my cargo shorts

Spoken like a true PacNWer... I miss my home (Seattle)...

[gcherian]

I thought we are having a discussion on the device and not the cellular service. Cellular service should be the discretion of the user, as to where they live, what kind of discounts you get from the company you work for, and what your friends and family are on. It is apparent that every ones taste would be differernt and can we all respect that and have for once a decent discussion on the phone, its features and its drawbacks?

[macattack]

I thought we are having a discussion on the device and not the cellular service. Cellular service should be the discretion of the user, as to where they live, what kind of discounts you get from the company you work for, and what your friends and family are on. It is apparent that every ones taste would be differernt and can we all respect that and have for once a decent discussion on the phone, its features and its drawbacks?

Unfortunately, a discussion of the Q at this time is tightly tied to its carrier. Since Moto saw fit to only release this device (with a feature set likely to differ from the GSM version) on a single CDMA carrier for the time being, means that any discussion of the THIS Q's functionality is also a discussion about the merits/drawbacks of its only carrier.

[Janak Parekh]

However, for exposing my ignorance in front of all my Smartphonethouhgts admirers, I'm going to have to take back my Happy Birthday wish. :lol:
Well, in my defense, I made that post at 12:01am on the 7th (EDT). :lol:

--janak

[Jerry Raia]

However, for exposing my ignorance in front of all my Smartphonethouhgts admirers, I'm going to have to take back my Happy Birthday wish. :lol:
Well, in my defense, I made that post at 12:01am on the 7th (EDT). :lol:

--janak

Fair enough, Happy Birthday reinstated. :lol:

[mpaquette]

Keep drinkin' the Verizon Kool Aid buddy. Their coverage is that much better in the NE (if at all).

Why do people make blanket statements like this about ANY provider? Kind of sounds like "my dad can beat up your dad?" If someone is happy with Verizon and they like the Q and that happens to be different than how you feel, how about if you just let them enjoy their phone? I've had locked and unlocked phones on Tmobile and Cingular and have used devices on Verizon. As far as I'm concerned they are all evil corporations that care nothing about their customers and only care about the almighty $$. Why are people so eager to blindly defend their mobile provider?

Back on topic.......... Nice review, very informative. I haven't seen a Q in person, but from the reviews I've read, it sounds like a solid device. I always wished my old SP3i had a QWERTY keyboard, so I may have to give the Q a spin at some point.

[seaflipper]

Interesting comments in this thread. I hate to see this turn into a "my Verizon's bigger than your Cingular" thread :lol:

The Q's keyboard takes some getting used to after coming over from the Treo 650, it's true. It's a little harder to press. You have to adjust to it. Some of the buttons are actually more intuitive to use than on the Treo after you get used to it. I do keep hitting the shift key thinking it's the return key though....but I will get used to it.

For me I really find this to be a good device. A very good combination of features, speed combined with a fantastic form factor. As a long time user of Smartphone OS phones including the MPx200 when it first came out, the Q provides many of the feature updates/uprgrades that I alwasy wanted. The Treo650 was an excellent interim choice for me, the 700w just a little to cludgy to use (and that screen was just not sharp enough for me). I actually don't miss the touch screen at all - no more stylus to use!

Of course as a current Cingular customer who might be switching to Verizion I will miss the ability to just buy about any GSM phone I want and popping my SIM in. That is a very nice feature. With Verizion I will fee a little more locked in. But then again at the $199 price point if any really really good HSPDA phone comes along on Cingular that $175 early termination fee on Verizion is a lot easier to swollow and switch back!

[Jerry Raia]

Keyboard issues aside, it is nice to see that Moto hasn't laid another egg. At least it seems so initially.

[Janak Parekh]

Why are people so eager to blindly defend their mobile provider?
I think it's a combination of herd instinct and the isolation of bad experiences. It doesn't just happen with providers; for example, the Mac vs. Windows or the Linux vs. Windows debates as well. :| I've got to agree with you, I don't like this attitude either.

--janak

[Ben]

Fanboys defend everything from airlines to gaming consoles to service providers. It is worth reading and sometimes the points are valid, but lots of times it is just repetitious statements of personal experiences and preferences that cannot be disputed. In the end, I see why people develop brand loyalties and want to defend those brands and don't have a problem with listening to (or reading) their reasons.

That all said, I like GSM and I wish the Q had a hinge in the middle of it. Why don't we get more clamshell WM5 phones to choose from???

[nskgti]

My intention in defending Cingular was purely based on the claim that "Verizon is SOOO MUCH better in the NE."

I could care less what carrier other people use, similar to the fact that I could care less what device/OS people use. My only point was that Cingular provided studiest from an independent industry analyst. Verizon's claims are all based on "internal" studies.


So there is no blindly defending "my provider". Just asking for some accountability from the carrier that has no real leg to stand on.

Oh well... I'm just sitting patiently waiting for either the Star Trek on Cingular or the Hermes when it drops. Either way, you will never see me leave a GSM carrier.

[Janak Parekh]

So there is no blindly defending "my provider". Just asking for some accountability from the carrier that has no real leg to stand on.
The problem with even independent studies is that you have no guarantee of its accuracy. How are they testing it? Are they trying calls from the city center, or in a steel building? What time of day? etc.

I think, ultimately, you should throw the studies out the window and try the service yourself. Verizon actually does have a good network in the Northeast -- it's the legacy of Bell Atlantic Mobile and its predecessors -- but that doesn't mean anything in a practical sense if your house happens to be in a Verizon deadspot. Ditto for Cingular.

--janak

[kaps]

I just got mine today and so far it is just an excellent phone. I changed over from a UTStar 6700, which was one of the worst phone on the planet!

I had an i600 a while back and didn't like the Smartphone platform on that devise but the Q version is very workable. The thumb wheel and back button on the side really make a difference. GREAT Screen and so small &amp; light!!!

The Q is gonna be a killer device!

Karl