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View Full Version : Itallian Wallaby Review


Jason Dunn
05-13-2002, 10:03 PM
<a href="http://www.pocketpcitalia.com/recensioni/hardware/wallaby.asp">http://www.pocketpcitalia.com/recensioni/hardware/wallaby.asp</a><br /><br />pocketpc italia.com has aquired a generic, non-branded Wallaby device (the same hardware as the 02 XDA). I can't read a word of Italian, but the pictures are pretty. No matter which Pocket PC you prefer, the Wallaby has dead sexy hardware design. It feels great in your hand, and the metal case adds a feeling of quality that most other Pocket PCs on the market today lack.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/review-wallaby.jpg" /><br /><br />You can read the English review <a href="http://babelfish.altavista.com">by using Babelfish</a>.

marlof
05-13-2002, 10:09 PM
Both iPAQ and Wallaby are made by HTC. One thing that is really a pity: although the connector on the Wallaby looks exactly the same as on my iPAQ, the internal pin out is different. That means you can't use iPAQ accessories with it. Having the same pin out would be a great way for the Wallaby to use all available iPAQ accessories, so I can only imagine that Compaq wouldn't have it.

entropy1980
05-13-2002, 10:18 PM
Is this the same as mm02? I guess i never realized they had an SD slot....what a odd spot for it! I wish more manufacturer's would follow suit on the real metal case, it really does make a difference in the perceived build quality.

feo
05-13-2002, 10:20 PM
This may sound like stupid question, but I am out of the loop on this.
Is this coming over to the states any time soon?

marlof
05-13-2002, 10:21 PM
Yes, this is marketed in the European O2 countries ( UK, Ireland, Netherlands, Germany ) as the mmO2 XDA. O2 does add its own software to it 'though.

marlof
05-13-2002, 10:23 PM
This may sound like stupid question, but I am out of the loop on this.
Is this coming over to the states any time soon?

Yes, Voicestream (http://www.voicestream.com/pocketpc/default.asp) will market this.

feo
05-13-2002, 10:41 PM
Damn..
Voicetream has no coverage in California...
Do you guys know if anyone else?

entropy1980
05-13-2002, 10:46 PM
feo,
you can probably get an unlocked version, and then use it with cingular (they are voicestreams partner)...

Steve Bush
05-13-2002, 10:57 PM
deVBuzz's Derek Mitchell did a review of the O2 XDA last week. Here's a link - http://www.brighthand.com/newsite/features/xda.html

Janak Parekh
05-13-2002, 11:08 PM
Damn..
Voicetream has no coverage in California...
Do you guys know if anyone else?
Voicestream will be offering service in California by July or so. They'll be using Cingular's network.

--bdj

Paragon
05-13-2002, 11:59 PM
I read enough Italian to see 4096 colours... say what?... 32MB of RAM?? Plus its only expansion is SD, all 128mbs of it.... oooppps!

Or am I being over critical?

Dave

fundmgr90210
05-14-2002, 06:26 AM
I read enough Italian to see 4096 colours... say what?... 32MB of RAM?? Plus its only expansion is SD, all 128mbs of it.... oooppps!

Or am I being over critical?

Dave

No...you're not, but I don't think those are the reasons why it (and the Treo, and the i300, and the Thera, etc) won't sell.

The consumers buying "paid for" phones (meaning those that are less subsidized or competely unsubisidized by the carrier) are buying tiny, hip, fashionable phones. They're not going to shell out $600, or even $200, for something they're afraid to take out around their friends (you may think this and other smartphones look cool but, trust me, most of the world doesn't agree).

Compound this with the fact that most PDA users still only use their units for basic PIM. Small cell phones are increasingly doing more and more in that area (or at least enough for most people). Why then would they need a unit like this?

For all the hype that "smartphones" get, the market isn't at all moving in their direction. Rather, it is producing increasingly small and fashionable models with modest features. Meanwhile, some manufacturers are adding more and more features at the cost of size and aesthetics. The market is speaking on these models though, and it isn't good.

I'm not trying to be negative here, but it's somehting to think about.

marlof
05-14-2002, 08:00 AM
I can tell you that the XDA has another look to it, then e.g. the Jornada 928. The latter truely is a PDA with added phone/data functionality. But the XDA really looks more like a phone, in most aspects. You should take one in your hands, and then judge what people think. I know most that saw it in real life were really impressed by its looks. Me too. I am just not too impressed with the specs, as I'm looking for something that could not only replace my T39m, but also my 3870. And the 3870 still has some things going for it if you compare the specs. But for people who don't use their PDA as much as me (or most of our readers) the XDA might be a great solution!

Paragon
05-14-2002, 01:35 PM
fundmgr90210 and Marlof

I have to agree that most people won't see the need the way we do. Or maybe better put...except the idea of having a PDA/phone. I do however have the feeling that the concept in some fashion, whether it is a Smartphone, a PDA, or something quite different will be as popular as cellphones are today at some point. I see us all having some sort of personal communicator/computer device that we carry with us everyday that will be much more compatible with our big boxes at home or the office.

Dave