Big Review Of iMate JasJar

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.pdagold.com/articles/detail.asp?a=257">http://www.pdagold.com/articles/detail.asp?a=257</a><br /><br /><i>"The HTC Universal is one of the most eagerly awaited devices of the past few months (and perhaps years) among all fans of pocketsize computers with a Microsoft operating system. Bill Gates himself used this device to present a new version of the OS called Windows Mobile 5, which is "faster, more stable, more intuitive, more sophisticated and user-friendlier" TM than all the previous version combined. This would have wreaked panic among piggybanks had they have access to online tech news. Few had expected that it would take another four months for the threat to materialise when the device eventually hit the shelves."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2005/20051101-jasjarreview.jpg" /><br /><br />What is interesting to me is Motorola could have had a lock on this type of device with the MPx. I know this device is large for some of you, but you have to admit the functionality is pretty much unsurpassed by anything else out there, and to all those that lament the passing of the HPC form factor in 2001, this should more than fulfill your desires. :drool:

[stevelam]

"faster, more stable, more intuitive, more sophisticated and user-friendlier" TM

Can someone shed some light please. How can you trademark that?

[schwuk]

From the article:

However, it is not all praise: there are a few minor issues, too. One of them is the presence of just one SHIFT key (located on the left). If you want to type capital A or Z, you need to reach it with the other hand.

Not true. Press and release the shift or fn key, then press the key you want. I made the same mistake when I first got mine, but soon figured this out.

The keyboard is definitely more comfortable for thumb rather than finger typing, but I'm pretty sure that's what was intended.

[Sven Johannsen]

"faster, more stable, more intuitive, more sophisticated and user-friendlier" TM

Can someone shed some light please. How can you trademark that?

Not sure anyone else would want to use 'user-friendlier'. :roll:

[Gerard]

"faster" ? I've been seeing report after report from users of WM5.0 devices suggesting that overall performance is slightly slower, not faster. Which is it? I know (from a Microsoft reps own blog, for one) that writing to flash ROM is a bunch slower than to RAM or even to CF cards. What's faster?

As for being pretty much everything a lover of the old HPC could want... nah. What about touch typing? I just don't see it with the thumbs. One could, with years of training, become a thumb-only touch typist, just as one can learn to play the violin with the bow clamped between the teeth and the violin moved violently back and forth across the hair... saw that once in a hilarious video, a guy playing 'Flight of the Bumblebee' with a bunch of stuff balanced on his head at the same time. But impractical, generally speaking, isn't it? Unless one wishes to encounter severe tendonitis.

[Don't Panic!]

Early-Adopteritis is upon me again. This thing has to be better than the Samsung Sch i730. To bad there isn't a CDMA version available. I'd love to try it over the Verizon Network.

[Perry Reed]

to all those that lament the passing of the HPC form factor in 2001, this should more than fulfill your desires.

I definitely like this device! Or at least what I've seen and read so far.

But to compare it to the HPC is a bit of a stretch in my view. The biggest difference is that I could touchtype on my old Jornada 820. It was more like a mini-laptop than a PDA, at least in form-factor. In fact, it's pretty close in size to my current PC, an HP TC1000 Tablet PC.

To this day I wish there were upgrades available for the 820 to bring it up to modern standards, software-wise. It's still a heckuva little machine.

[Ed Hansberry]

But to compare it to the HPC is a bit of a stretch in my view. The biggest difference is that I could touchtype on my old Jornada 820. It was more like a mini-laptop than a PDA, at least in form-factor. In fact, it's pretty close in size to my current PC, an HP TC1000 Tablet PC.
THe 820 was a strange duck. I used one for a while. When most people think HPC they think of the HP 300, 600 and 700 series, which looks quite similar to the Universal.

[Perry Reed]

But to compare it to the HPC is a bit of a stretch in my view. The biggest difference is that I could touchtype on my old Jornada 820. It was more like a mini-laptop than a PDA, at least in form-factor. In fact, it's pretty close in size to my current PC, an HP TC1000 Tablet PC.
THe 820 was a strange duck. I used one for a while. When most people think HPC they think of the HP 300, 600 and 700 series, which looks quite similar to the Universal.

I used a 300 as well, specifically a 320. And you're right, those smaller models were much closer to the Universal.

Maybe it's just me then that thinks of the 820 and the larger form-factor devices when I think of an HPC. That said, I'd love to see one running WM5...

[whydidnt]

Early-Adopteritis is upon me again. This thing has to be better than the Samsung Sch i730. To bad there isn't a CDMA version available. I'd love to try it over the Verizon Network.

I own them both and never use the Universal as a phone. It is a great PDA, if a little lacking in the memory and speed department. The i730 is the first converged device I have been comfortably able to use as a phone, though.

I'm typing this on my JasJar connected via bluetooth to my i730's Evdo network-- best of both world for me right now! :D

[Gerard]

THe 820 was a strange duck. I used one for a while. When most people think HPC they think of the HP 300, 600 and 700 series, which looks quite similar to the Universal.

While I agree that there is a certain similarity in appearance, in photos, the dimensions aren't even close. I tried a Jornada 720 recently, and though slightly too small for me (I am most comfortable on an older model Stowaway, and feel rather cramped on my current Belkin folding keyboard) it was possible to type without looking as on a normal keyboard. The unit was not conceivably pocketable in terms of shirt or pants pockets.
These little thumb-type deals are a whole other kettle of fish in scale. While fatter than an iMate Jam, and a little bulkier overall than many modern PDAs, this one is less than half the overall volume and scale of the 720. I don't have any recent experience of the other series' you mention, but remember them as not being all that much smaller; certainly not thumb-typable.

[Don't Panic!]

I own them both and never use the Universal as a phone. It is a great PDA, if a little lacking in the memory and speed department. The i730 is the first converged device I have been comfortably able to use as a phone, though.

I'm typing this on my JasJar connected via bluetooth to my i730's Evdo network-- best of both world for me right now! :DThat's the best news I've heard all day.

[threedaysdwn]

Why would I want this device over an HTC Apache (which I have and love) or an HTC Wizard?


Aside from the VGA screen, I don't think it has any advantages. It has disadvantages: It's bigger, it requires me to flip the screen around to get at the keyboard, and it doesn't have a CDMA/EVDO version.

[Darius Wey]

Aside from the VGA screen, I don't think it has any advantages. It has disadvantages: It's bigger, it requires me to flip the screen around to get at the keyboard, and it doesn't have a CDMA/EVDO version.

UMTS support? Maybe not a huge bonus in the USA, but in Europe and the Asia-Pacific, it's enough of a reason for this device to shine.

[Pdaholic]

Aside from the VGA screen, I don't think it has any advantages. It has disadvantages: It's bigger, it requires me to flip the screen around to get at the keyboard, and it doesn't have a CDMA/EVDO version.

-As for the size, what you people keep forgetting is that the Universal doesn't need a case! The screen is protected! Add a case to the Wizard, and you've already picked up size/weight.

-You don't have to "flip the screen around" to get to the keyboard. It's a clamshell, you simply open it up.

If any of you have tried WM5.0, you know it is SLOW. Particularly slow at screen rotation. If the wizard is constantly flipping between landscape and portrait to use the keyboard and hide it, then personally I think that would be PAINFUL. What I like about my Jasjar is I can flip the clamshell open, hit the power button, and I don't have to rotate when I want to use the keyboard.

My only dislike is the Jasjar isn't good for gaming. Lack of hardware buttons next to the joypad stinks!

[Don't Panic!]

@whydidnt-How did you go about setting up the EVDO conectivity? Just got mine and saw no services listed when I paired the two devices. JasJar > i730

[whydidnt]

@whydidnt-How did you go about setting up the EVDO conectivity? Just got mine and saw no services listed when I paired the two devices. JasJar > i730

There is a patch at www.pdaphonehome.com that enables you to use the phone as a bluetooth modem. Go to the i730 forum at the site, then search for bluetooth modem. One of the more enterprising members has posted a file that allows the phone to be used this way. You'll want to delete the existing partnership before installing the patch. Once installed, re-pair the devices and you should see the service. This site also has directions on using the phone as a USB modem, which achieves even better download speeds. This post is from my laptop at the Denver airport, connected via USB. Very nice connection speeds - I can watch TV via my Slingbox - not hi-def quality but very watchable.

[Don't Panic!]

I'll give it a shot later and get back to you. I didn't think that would work with another PPC just a laptop.

[Don't Panic!]

The hack works great!

Just to add to the review... This device has great sound through the headphones. Crystal Clear. Much beyter than the Samsung. It reminds me of Compaq era ipaqs.

[whydidnt]

Just to add to the review... This device has great sound through the headphones. Crystal Clear. Much beyter than the Samsung. It reminds me of Compaq era ipaqs.

I have to agree. I hadn't really thought of it before, but sound through headphones is really very good. In a lot of ways I don't mind that I can't use the device as a phone. My only wish is that they had built in a EVDO modem so I could use it without having to tie up my cell phone. It's too big for me to consider carrying around as a full time phone though.

[Don't Panic!]

I've carried the E-125 and the 38/3900 Compaqs with dual PCMCIA sleeves whydidnt. The JasJar feels slim to me. :)

[ctmagnus]

Just to add to the review... This device has great sound through the headphones. Crystal Clear. Much beyter than the Samsung. It reminds me of Compaq era ipaqs.

Perhaps my next Pocket PC! The audio quality of my iPaq 5550 through a decent set of headphones is simply amazing.

[Sven Johannsen]

I must agree that the Jasjar is an amazing device, but I have some reservations. I'm sure it won't change the mind of those that have to have one, but those of you that are on the fence with $1K in your pocket, I want to comment on something. Memory.

Take a look at the Memory screen in the review. Note that the Storage memory lists a total of 44M with 34M used. This is a 128M ROM device. Not sure what all was installed, but 44M available in the first place seems a bit skimpy. Then look at Program RAM. 48M Total, 28M+ in use. This is a 64M ROM machine. Not sure what the 48M total really means but out of 64M only about 20M are left. I'm presuming this is a fairly stock machine after a reset.

I have no other WM5 devices, or phone editions, and specifically VGA phone editions, so I don't know if these numbers are typical of this class of device, but I gather they are typical for the JasJar. They don't excite me.

I think if this was my first PPC of any sort, it wouldn't bother me as much. But I have a 128M ROM, 64M Dell Axim, that has 90+M available ROM for me (Built-in-Storage), and generally over 14Mof Program RAM at soft reset, and that's with half the RAM going to Storage and lots of Today screen apps.

[Don't Panic!]

I'm keeping my X50v for just about everything else but the phone function Sven.

I'm starting to look like Dale Coffing at an MS event with all these devices on my belt. 0X

[Sven Johannsen]

I'm keeping my X50v for just about everything else but the phone function Sven.
And you're using the Jasjar for the phone? I would like it better for the phone functionality if it had an external display, ala the MPX220 or Razr. I like to see who's calling and that is a bit awkward having to open the unit. I haven't loaded Voice Command yet but i hear it does a good job of announcing incoming calls, but I don't know if I want that. A BT headset with caller ID is an option too, but I haven't found a headset yet I really find comfortable.

[whydidnt]

Take a look at the Memory screen in the review. Note that the Storage memory lists a total of 44M with 34M used. This is a 128M ROM device. Not sure what all was installed, but 44M available in the first place seems a bit skimpy. Then look at Program RAM. 48M Total, 28M+ in use. This is a 64M ROM machine. Not sure what the 48M total really means but out of 64M only about 20M are left. I'm presuming this is a fairly stock machine after a reset.


You are completely correct regarding skimpy memory, though it seems most all of the WM5.0 HTC devices have badly mangled the alloted RAM. I posted a bit on this when I first obtained the JasJar, but was one of the few who really seemed concerned. There is a hidden partition in RAM used by the OS for "something" that takes up about 13-14 MB of space right off the get go - then WM5.0 loads into the rest of RAM, and it would appear our PIM databases are copied to it at the same time, so we are left with about 25 MB of RAM space (at least in equivalant WM2K3SE terms). As I understand the core OS is taking up about 64 MB of RAM, i-mate decided to steal another 20 MB of ROM for an extended ROM that includes 3 programs most of us don't want that could have just as easily been put on a CD, completely a waste of valuable storage space.

It seems we probably need something like a 192 MB ROM and 96 MB RAM to get back to previous levels since so much stuff ends up getting duplicated in ROM and RAM, not to mention WM 5.0 is obviously much more memory hungry.

It probably sounds foolish to many, but the keyboard is worth it to me. I am much more productive using the keyboard on the go. It just works. Sure I would have rather found a VGA device with similar keyboard for less money (or at least with better specs), but for me this just works the best.

[Don't Panic!]

MS Voice Command does a great job announcing calls even without contacts loaded. I haven't tried it with a bluetooth earpiece yet.

One downside to JasJar experience so far is that on speaker, callers tend to sound scratchy at high volume. Another thng is appears you have to open the device to accept a call. Using an earpiece should solve that though.

[Don't Panic!]

Even with the Bluetooth headset if you have the devices cover closed with the screen side down you cannot initiate a call.

I installed MS Voice Command. Used Tweaks2k2.NET to do the registry hack to make MS Voice Command the primary dialer and made a few calls with the JasJar in landscape. No problems. I then flipped the screen so that the screen side was up. Again no problems. But when I turned the screen face down and tried to make a call nothing happend. I did hear the MS Voice Command beep but no joy in mudville, the computerized voice had nothing to say. :cry:

[Sven Johannsen]

Even with the Bluetooth headset if you have the devices cover closed with the screen side down you cannot initiate a call.

That's a little silly isn't it? I have a similar experience. I have Voice Command assigned to the little recorder/voice bubble button on the front side. Works unless the device is closed with the screen inside...exactly the configuration it makes sense to have it talk to you. :roll:

Wonder if pointing this out at the iMate forums would do any good? I'll have to start a thread about what doesn't work when it's shut, if ther isn't one already.

[Don't Panic!]

That's where I found out about the cover closed issue actually, club-imate.

Anyway it makes a weird kind of sense in that with the lid closed you can't accidentally initiate a call.