Sync Online Reviews the Sprint PPC-6700

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.synconline.com/articles/140/1/Sprint-PPC-6700-Review' target='_blank'>http://www.synconline.com/articles/...PPC-6700-Review</a><br /><br /></div><i>"The phone turned out to be very impressive and out of the pack from the current options available in the market. A 'Must' buy if you are shopping for Windows Mobile based smartphones. The Sprint PPC 6700 is the first Windows Mobile 5 based smart phone device to be launched in the US markets. The PPC 6700 comes packed with features ranging from EVDO and Bluetooth Wireless connectivity to embedded WiFi and a high end digital camera. It also features a slider Keyboard that makes typing on the go much easy and fun."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/ekkie_synconline_ppc6700.jpg" /><br /><br />Another review of the Sprint PPC-6700 (AKA - HTC Apache) has appeared. Similar to the prior reviews I've seen on this device, the folks at Sync Online give this a big thumbs up. The review is quite thorough, with analysis of nearly every feature available. So if you're considering this device, you'll definitely want to hop on over and take a peek.

[Sven Johannsen]

Hmmm, Smartphone? I think there is going to be more and more confusion surrounding this term. We all know that MS uses the term Smartphone for a particular class of devices that is primarily identified by not having a touch screen. Using that criteria, this is of course not a Smartphone. MS calls this a PPC Phone Edition device. Unfortunately a large part of the industry calls any phone with PIM or other features a smartphone, or even a Smartphone, since MS doesn't own that term (AFAIK).

You used to be able to tell based a bit on size. Smartphones were smaller than PDAs with phones in them. Now though if you hold the Motorola Q up against the HP6500, which one is a smartphone? (Hint the Q doesn't have a touch screen. ) How is the consumer supposed to know what they are getting if everything is a smartphone. I think the significant difference in user input method should somehow be indicated by the genre we file things under, but I don't know what is the right way to do that. Maybe Cell PDA vs Smartphone or something.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

Agreed. Even within the company that I work with, we sometimes have a difficult time defining a clear delineation between the between a Smartphone and a phone-enabled PPC. The latest models of both are almost making the distinction a moot point. If we're finding form factor and size to be more and more similar as we move forward, I wonder if it really worth continuing to distinguish them?

[Sven Johannsen]

I think we definately need to diferentiate them, but based on input methods more than anything else. There is a significant difference in the way a touch screen device is used in comparison to a purely key input device. The way programs need to be designed is distinct too. With the OS flavors supposdely comming together it is even more important. While there seem to be some movement to minimize the amount of screen tapping that has to be done, if you are able to load an app on both a Q and a 6500, there better be no tapping required. If tapping is required, there needs to be some easy way of defining what it runs on. A line in the hardware requirements noting touch screen, is likely to be missed.

[IpaqMan2]

I agree over all that the 6700 is pretty good. It has some minor issues but I think that has more to do with getting use to using WM 5 than entirely the 6700 ( though there is room for improvement with 6700 as well)

Over all I am happy with the 6700 ... and am using it now to post this message while I am waiting for my lunch to arrive :)

[tregnier]

I didn't notice any references to being able to add an SDIO card in the review. Did I miss it? There was reference to not having enough memory to open applications. Whazzup? :?:

[Darius Wey]

I didn't notice any references to being able to add an SDIO card in the review.

The PPC-6700 uses miniSD, so you won't be able to add any SD cards.

[Barrett1Boehm]

Is Sprint the only carrier for this device? for the US.

[Darius Wey]

Is Sprint the only carrier for this device? for the US.

For the moment, yes.

[cmdoran]

The 6700 is a very slick hardware package terminally hobbled by Windows Mobile 5.0. WM50 is ....s...l....o....w.... to the point of being barely usable. It will barely play MP3 files at 64Kbps and completely choke (hard reset required) on anything higher. The 6600, using the same processor and PocketPC 2003, has no such problems.

As a phone, the 6700 is cumbersome and barely usable. The bluetooth implementation is terminally screwed up on the Microsoft side and is barely usable.

I now find myself in the interesting position of carrying both the 6700 and my trusty old iPaq1940. Is this an improvement? Not really, but that is the price I pay for being an early adopter.

The 6700 is definitely a step in the right direction, but I would have to recommend waiting for the next generation.