[jimtravis]

@Gerard

Totally agree about the Toshiba e830. I like the device so much I still use it daily. I will be sad the day apps I want to use will no longer work on PPC 2003SE.

I used the Toshiba e830 with a very small SE T610 phone via Bluetooth. The connection was slow due to the phone only supporting GSM (this was before Edge or 3G were available). I liked the combo because the phone was small, and remained in my pocket when using the e830. When I needed to make a voice call, I had a nice small device, not a huge PDA/smartphone. I wish a small clamshell phone was available with 3G, and Bluetooth. Probably would have to use this wished-for 3G small clamshell phone with the HP210 since my beloved e830 supports bluetooth 1.x.

The e830 had many firsts - 4" VGA screen, Bluetooth and WiFi, graphic processor, 128MB memory standard, USB, and optional VGA out. I did several presentations (PowerPoint, and display mirror) at the local PDA User Group using the VGA out from the e830 to the classroom ceiling video projector. Quality of projected image was excellent. I have purchased an extra e830 via eBay, and some spare batteries. The e830 has been super reliable for me, and so far, most apps I want to use still work with PPC2003SE.

I always credited Toshiba for being the innovative vendor for PPC, and Sony for being the innovative vendor for Palm OS. I was sorry to see both leave their respective platforms.

[jimtravis]

@Gerard

Totally agree about the Toshiba e830. I like the device so much I still use it daily. I will be sad the day apps I want to use will no longer work on PPC 2003SE.

I used the Toshiba e830 with a very small SE T610 phone via Bluetooth. The connection was slow due to the phone only supporting GSM (this was before Edge or 3G were available). I liked the combo because the phone was small, and remained in my pocket when using the e830. When I needed to make a voice call, I had a nice small device, not a huge PDA/smartphone. I wish a small clamshell phone was available with 3G, and Bluetooth. Probably would have to use this wished-for 3G small clamshell phone with the HP210 since my beloved e830 supports bluetooth 1.x.

The e830 had many firsts - 4" VGA screen, Bluetooth and WiFi, graphic processor, 128MB memory standard, USB, and optional VGA out. I did several presentations (PowerPoint, and display mirror) at the local PDA User Group using the VGA out from the e830 to the classroom ceiling video projector. Quality of projected image was excellent. I have purchased an extra e830 via eBay, and some spare batteries. The e830 has been super reliable for me, and so far, most apps I want to use still work with PPC2003SE.

I always credited Toshiba for being the innovative vendor for PPC, and Sony for being the innovative vendor for Palm OS. I was sorry to see both leave their respective platforms.

[Russ Smith]

I work in an electronics store (so keep in mind that demographic) and I've noticed that I'm seeing a lot more smartphones in general. People are constantly checking online prices and information before they buy a motherboard, processor, or hard-drive. The odd thing is that the iPhone is present, but not in a majority. I see as many WM devices as Blackberrys as iPhones.

One of my fellow employees even remarked lately that he wishes he'd been able to afford the unlocked WM phone I got instead of his iPhone. (Expandability was the key there.)

I'd agree with the folks that say that marketing is most of the problem. Apple has had two major successes (iPod and iPhone) by catching a rising wave and marketing by implying that there's nothing like their products. I can smile when I say "Mine has done that for a few years now." but that doesn't change the fact that most consumers don't know that.

So far my "loyalty" to MS has been that, when I compare all the features I want, WM has the only devices that do it. The list of distinctives is getting smaller though. MS not only needs to get some real marketing chops, but do some more innovation if they want to stay in the game.

[TheBigCheese]

I have a Touch Pro (my 2nd Windows Smartphone) and aside from the terrible marketing, there are other reasons all the latest apps comeput for the Crackberry and iPhone and second for Android, third for Pre, and finally, the smallest segment for Windows.

1. Usability-very few people want the Windows interfrace on a cell phone. Too many clicks to do common things

2. Battery life - my Touch Pro gets at most 10 hours on a charge, often 6 hours if I'm in a poor reception area.

3. Stability - at least once a week, my phone locks up. About 10% of the calls, if I don't answer within a fraction of a second of the 1st ring, it goes to voicemail. Why does it not riung until the caller hears 4 or more rings? It lights up but doesn't ring!

4. Inconsistent interface. Some programs use windows scroll bars, other you touch and drag your finger. Some support cut and paste but others don't (Skyfire and Microsoft's own Facebook app).

5. Non-working update. Click on the windows update button and you always get an error message. Why did Microsoft add the feature and then never release any updates. Speaking of updates, The carriers always abandon existing users when there is an OS update. My Q was stuck in 5.0 forever. My Touch pro will never see 6.5. Apple users have been able to update.

I have not gone with an Iphone for several reasons, mostly economic: I have a $30/month Sprint plan that would cost me $100/month on AT&T or Verizon if I was ever willing to do business with either of these companies.

[jimtravis]

Respect your opinion, and no doubt you have experienced the less than stellar performance you described. Just want to offer a different user experience.

I keep hearing about the extra clicks for WM. I do use an iPod touch to experience the mobile Apple platform (iPhone too feature deficient for my needs), and have found the iPod touch takes as many steps, if not more, than the Touch Pro. If the devces are off, the iPod touch takes at least 3 steps, power button, slide to unlock, and then your selection. If selection is not on first screen, another step or two. One of the reasons I like physical button on a device is the one step to start the desired app. With the Toshiba e830, just press one of the hard buttons, and the app starts even if the device is off. Except for maybe a setting you change once or twice a year, I have found my Touch Pro takes the same, or less strokes than the iPod touch, and my hard buttoned WM PDA's take significantly less steps than the iPod touch.

I like Touch Flow 3D a lot. Also like SPB Shell 3, one of the best, slick interfaces I have seen on a mobile device. For me, SPB Shell 3 is slicker than Apple's. I usually use the hard button on the Touch Pro for scrolling, so inconsistent scroll bar use is not an issue for me.

I did purchase a cradle for the Touch Pro, so when I get home, in the cradle it goes. Battery life not an issue for me, and it is nice that the battery is replaceable on the Touch Pro unlike some other popular devices.

The inconsistent interface for 3rd party apps is something I actually like. After using the iPod touch for awhile, I find it boring that all apps have the same interface. I appreciate others may want a consistent interface, but I like the variety.

I do not receive many calls, but all the calls ring about 4 times before voicemail. I use Sprint, have you contacted your carrier?

My Touch Pro is very stable, and rarely requires a soft reset, and never a hard reset. Maybe a "rogue" 3rd party app is causing your stability problem. I sometimes go more than a month before soft resetting, and then the device is still running, just thought it would be good to reset once in awhile.

Don't use the Facebook app, and I suspect (but don't know) that the reason you cannnot copy/paste with Skyfire is the pages are condensed to reduce bandwidth, and are being served via proxy. Since you can view just about any media with Skyfire - definitely more than any other mobile browser - small price to pay IMO.

I do agree with you about the lack of upgrading. I do not necessarily care if the Touch Pro is ever updated to 6.5. As stable as I find the Touch Pro to be, it would be nice to see an update or two to correct minor glitches, and maybe add a new feature or two.