[Janak Parekh]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3278053.stm

"If you think big is beautiful then O2's newest mobile device - the XDA II - packs a heavyweight punch. It's sturdy and it won't go missing in your pocket But if you reckon the best things come in small parcels this leviathan PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) looks about as stylish as a donkey jacket."

A scary opening, isn't it? 8O But the author goes on to point out that if you need the features, and don't mind the idea of holding a Pocket PC to your ear, the XDA II is a very good choice. His kids don't like it though... :lol: I wonder -- how many of you like his offbeat reviewing style?

"This is for grown-ups. Grown-ups who appreciate big-screen entertainment, solid form and sturdy build, where function matters more than looks and where the convention for ever smaller devices is disdainfully ignored. Well done designers. I spit on those dinky little smart phones where pudgy fingers struggle to cope with undersized keys, where the phone rings and an all-pocket search is required to find it. Imagine trying to read War and Peace through a letterbox and you realise how risible the small screen challengers are. "

[Janak Parekh]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3278053.stm

"If you think big is beautiful then O2's newest mobile device - the XDA II - packs a heavyweight punch. It's sturdy and it won't go missing in your pocket But if you reckon the best things come in small parcels this leviathan PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) looks about as stylish as a donkey jacket."

A scary opening, isn't it? 8O But the author goes on to point out that if you need the features, and don't mind the idea of holding a Pocket PC to your ear, the XDA II is a very good choice. His kids don't like it though... :lol: I wonder -- how many of you like his offbeat reviewing style?

"This is for grown-ups. Grown-ups who appreciate big-screen entertainment, solid form and sturdy build, where function matters more than looks and where the convention for ever smaller devices is disdainfully ignored. Well done designers. I spit on those dinky little smart phones where pudgy fingers struggle to cope with undersized keys, where the phone rings and an all-pocket search is required to find it. Imagine trying to read War and Peace through a letterbox and you realise how risible the small screen challengers are. "

[Jon Westfall]

Is it just me or is the link missing from the title? Its black, not light blue, and goes nowhere. Am I going mad?

I'd love to read this review, as I agree with it so far...

[Janak Parekh]

ops: Sorry. Fixed now. I think it's about time I get some sleep...

--janak

[SandersP]

I love that review beside humorous, it essentially capture the problem with this super phone. What are we going to use all those computing power for?

The allied force won the World war II with a computer less powerfull than that. But then again, Playing NES emulator on your phone sure as hell is more fun than breaking german cryptography. :lol:

BTW.
It seems XDAII is really getting a good press. people actually like it. yikes... haven't they realize it's $850 unlock, scarry. the bubble must be back in europe and Asia already.
http://it.asia1.com.sg/newsdaily/news001_20031119.html

[Iznot Gold]

I've been considering changing my T68 & Ipaq 3870 for a Z600 & HP4XXX. My current service provider is going to charge me £100+ for the Z600 & £400 for HP or I could get the XDA II for £350 with contract. So it is tempting but I want to see one in the flesh before making any decisions.
Regards
David

[arebelspy]

My i-Mate (same as XDA II) should arrive here in California tomorrow. I can't wait.

As for the review: :roll: :roll: :roll:

Let's just make a few comments about what's in the quotes on the main page of Thoughts, even before I've read the article:
"the convention for ever smaller devices is disdainfully ignored."
Sure. It's smaller (dimension-wise) than the iPAQ 5000 series (even if you don't count the antenna on the iPAQ - which the XDA II has none, making it look very sleek, and a lot sexier than the orginal XDA). It is also lighter than either the original XDA, or the iPAQ 5000 series.

As for Janak's comment about you have to not "mind the idea of holding a Pocket PC to your ear": This is true. However, it does support a bluetooth headset for calls. As other users have commented (and what I plan on doing) is that you don't even have to take the phone out of your pocket to answer the call - let alone hold the XDA II up to your ear.

The XDA II is a great device. 128 MB RAM, 64 MB ROM, Bluetooth, IR, removable battery, always on tri-band GPRS, SDIO slot, integrated camera, etc. etc.

I'll be the first to admit there are some flaws (the bluetooth profiles on there are rather lacking - has no serial, so can't do GPS right now...lots of other misc. bugs as well), but none-the-less it's a great device.

Its biggest flaw is the price. It is expensive, to be sure. But for $20 unlimited, always on GPRS from T-Mobile, I'm willing to pay a lot for a converged device. I love always having the 'net on me.

-arebelspy

[arebelspy]

He says in the article that you get "double the memory" and in his little "XDA II Features" on the side it says "128MB RAM memory (up from 64MB)." I donno what XDA he had, but it musta been upgraded. You actually get four times the memory, up from 32 MB. Let me tell you, trying to fit all the installs you want on 32MB + an SD card is a pain. The 128 MB (especially on a phone edition) is awesome.

-arebelspy

[MaximumPDA]

You could do GPS via bluetooth here is a review: Routing the Competition... a review of Pharos' iGPS-BT and Ostia 6.0.2.51 and here Pharos Pocket GPS Navigator with Bluetooth

I ordered mine from Expansys.us and it should be in soon I hope, the wait is killing me. I was playing with one at the Mobile 2003 User Group Tour today and it really rocks. Awesome screen, smart design touches.

Bill Landon

[tach911]

Please note that Bluetooth GPS Receivers aren't supported yet by the O2 Xda II/I-mate/Qtek 2020. This is due to the fact that HTC did not use the Widcomm drivers but Microsoft's own BT drivers.

More information is available on: http://www.ppcw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?id=589

[jlp]

Originally Posted by Tachmy

Please note that Bluetooth GPS Receivers aren't supported yet by the O2 Xda II/I-mate/Qtek 2020. This is due to the fact that HTC did not use the Widcomm drivers but Microsoft's own BT drivers.

More information is available on: http://www.ppcw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?id=589

Bummer.

Didn't i see an SD GPS card? Or isn't it out yet?!

Couldn't we use a CF GPS card tho it would be awefully aweckward since HTC designed the CF back cover to have the CF slot opening facing DOWN