03-29-2006, 05:00 PM
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Executive Editor, Android Thoughts
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,233
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Sprint's PPC 6700 Pocket PC Phone Edition Reviewed
Product Category: Pocket PC Phone Edition
Manufacturer: Sprint PCS
Where to Buy: Sprint Business Website
Price: Approx. $449.00 - $599.00 USD
System Requirements: ActiveSync 4.0
Specifications: 416 MHz Intel processor, QVGA Screen, QWERTY Slide Out keypad, 1900 / 800 MHz CDMA, WiFi, Bluetooth.
Pros:- Great form factor / Size for one-handed operation;
- Quick & responsive;
- CDMA - Best pro for long suffering non-GSM users!
Cons:- Some users have reported problems with unit freezing up / semi-frequent resets.;
- Power users will miss screen real estate, especially if coming from a VGA unit;
- Battery life is that of a Pocket PC using a radio continuously - not that of a phone (Charge nightly
 ).
Summary:
If you're not a GSM user, you are rather limited in which Pocket PC Phone Editions you can use. With Verizon's tendency to cripple everything, and the Treo 700w's lack of WiFi, many have looked to the PPC 6700 (or generically, HTC Apache) as a possible new companion. But how does it hold up? Was I impressed or depressed with my experience?
Read on for the full review!
Opening Statement
I'd been waiting to get my hands on a review unit of Sprint's latest Pocket PC offering since late September. These things are hard to get! Anyway, arriving at my door, the packaging of this unit was very similar to most other HTC-based devices I'd seen (or most other devices in general!). Bucking a growing trend of the no-cradle packaging, we get a nice horizontal belt holster, cradle, USB charging / syncing cable, and mini-USB to wall outlet cable for charging. The adoption of mini-USB for charging and syncing is wonderful - and long overdue. Goodbye proprietary cables.
Upon opening the box, you'll find a joyous plethora of things including:- Manual & Quick Install Guide w/ CD (Outlook 2002, Demos, etc.);
- Horizontal phone holster case;
- USB cable & AC charger;
- Headphones;
- Cradle;
- PPC 6700.
Figure 1: The PPC 6700 in its cradle. The cradle has an additional battery charging slot and 2 mini-USB connections on the back - one to the computer, the other to power.
The thing that blew me away the most about this device was the size. More on that later, but suffice it to say it made a BIG impression! Putting that aside, the device has very sturdy construction, and has a fair amount of weight. It is lighter at just over 6 oz than its often-complained about bigger brother, the JasJar (10.1 oz), but HTC seems to have accomplished this by using plastic quite a bit more than on the JasJar. Thankfully construction quality isn't sacrificed. The keyboard is the same style as the Universal's, unlike the round individual buttons of the K-JAM, and is backlit with white lights. The keys are responsive, have a nice feel to them, and leave only the desire for a full number row.
Figure 2: The PPC 6700's backlit keyboard in low light. The white color is a lot more pleasing to my eye than the red or blue on the Jasjar or K-JAM.
The soft buttons are placed next to the Q and P keys, causing them not to line up with the screen which can be a bit disorienting at first. The joystick (yes, joystick - it's raised enough to qualify) is very easy to use, and the addition of a Start & OK button above it (missing on the K-JAM) is a nice feature. Moving away from navigation, the unit also has a dreaded antenna nub sticking up, which in use doesn't get in the way as much as it seems to get on the nerves. The unit's left side has an IR port, scroll button for volume, dedicated IE button, as well as record button. The right side has a camera button and the bottom houses a microphone, 2.5mm jack, mini-USB connector, & reset hole. Finally the top has that horrible antenna (the device would be more beautiful in my opinion without it), a Mini-SD slot, and power switch. Where is the stylus you ask? In the antenna housing - it pulls out and is a fixed length. It has a tight fit, so I doubt it will fall out like a JasJar's or a K-JAM's.
One Size Fits All?
A friend of mine, an avid PPC user since I sold him my original T-Mobile Pocket PC, was blown away by the size of the PPC 6700. Those unfamiliar with the Magician (JAM) or Wizard (K-JAM) will probably experience the same shock. Here's how the PPC 6700 stacks up against its brothers:
HTC Apache (PPC-6700): 4.25 x 2.32 x 0.93 in (108 x 59 x 24 mm); 6.07 oz (172 g);
HTC Wizard (K-JAM): 4.25 x 2.28 x 0.93 in (108 x 58 x 24 mm); 5.64 oz (172 g);
HTC Universal (JasJar): 5 x 3.19 x 0.98 in (127 x 81 x 25 mm); 10 oz (285 g);
HTC Magician (JAM): 4.25 x 2.28 x 0.72 in (108 x 58 x 18 mm); 5.29 oz (150 g).
Figure 3: The PPC 6700 along side an i-mate K-JAM, i-mate JasJar, and fifth Generation iPod (for those of you who carry an iPod but don't want a large PPC!).
As you can imagine, PPC users accustomed to a full size device will likely be very grateful to have this device in their pocket vs. a larger one. The phone also looks amazingly like... a phone! The one factor I've always admired about the Treo brand was that, when glancing at someone from a distance, they didn't look like they had a huge phone. They look like they're using a standard candJbar phone, and the PPC 6700 gives the same effect.
So what's bad about the smaller size and less weight? Well, you're not going to have VGA on here as you would with the PPC 6700's bigger brother, and if you're a sysadmin tempted to carry around a device smaller than a JasJar, you'll notice this in terminal services. Check out the screen shots below of a terminal services session on the same box, the first screen is taken from a JasJar, the second from the PPC 6700.
"But Jon," I hear you cry, "I don't use Terminal Services, and I desperately want a smaller PPCPE - is VGA really that big of a deal?" Well, to be honest, unless you're doing something that takes advantage of the VGA screen, or just really like a pretty screen, you'll probably be OK with the resolution and screen size of the PPC 6700. Just make sure you get your hands on a unit to play with before you buy if you have any doubts!
Benchpressing
The dismal benchmarks of the WM 5 devices seem to continue. For the first time, all the devices listed are running WM 5, which probably is the best comparison for those of you who are in the market for a new device. Remember, with the change from files being stored in RAM to ROM comes an inevitable decrease in speed, and the PPC 6700's smaller size and slower processor don't help matters much.
Figure 4: Overall the PPC-6700 edge's out the JasJar to prevent a last place finish.
Figure 5: No real surprise here. While the PPC 6700 has a 416 MHz processor, its numbers are lower than the E-TEN's. The JasJar at 520 MHz and the Axim at 624 MHz clearly show why those megahertz numbers are given. However, as we all know, speed isn't everything.
Figure 6: This last benchmark shows my point that speed isn't everything. These numbers are on par for a WM 5 machine (remember that the Dell Axim x50v at 624 MHz running WM 2003 SE rated at around 1400 in the testing), and while they show the fundamental speed difference in WM 5, they also point out that the beefy Axim or a small PPC 6700 will still only show mediocre differences in some applications. The moral of the story? Faster device specs don't always mean best performance for your uses.
A Conversion
Awhile back, I asked you to tell me stories of your own experiences converting others to our "dark side" of PPCs. The basis for this query was my own experience with a friend I'll name Mr. J and this device.
Mr. J has been a geek ever since I met him, yet he always has stuck with computer hardware. He has the biggest and meanest toys on the block, but when it comes to personal electronics, he doesn't care much as long as they work. He resisted getting a pager, resisted getting a cell phone, and until recently, has very much resisted getting a Pocket PC. What's changed to make Mr. J want this device? What sold him on this? What points can you use to justify buying this device or use to convert someone else? In no particular order, here they are:
1. Mr. J has recently been very busy finishing up his engineering degree. A hectic work schedule, many meetings, and new co-workers and project teammates mean he needs to be many places, talk to many people, and get back to others in a timely fashion. The value of an exchange-hosted calendar, contacts, and inbox becomes immediately apparent.
2. Mr. J also has an active personal life, and cell phones just don't cut it when traveling frequently and needing to keep track of things. I've seen Mr. J, on numerous occasions, reach into his gadget bag and pull out some shriveled up piece of paper with important info on. This screams for the built-in notes application or any software with the word 'wallet' in it somewhere.
3. Mr. J liked the camera, and since his good camera is still analog, a camera to take quick digital stills is needed.
4. No one text messages quite like Mr. J. The keyboard will save his fingers much grief. After all, "I'll be there soon" is under 20 keypresses on a PPC 6700 (or less if you program it in). It's around 50 on an average phone!
5. It's SMALL! Mr. J previously resisted Pocket PCs because of their size. Now it's small enough to fit in the console of his sleek Saturn Ion and easy enough to use one-handed. The stylus is firm, so it won't fall out as he jets around Columbus, Ohio, either.
6. It's a Sprint. Mr. J doesn't want to switch carriers, after all, some of his best friends (like me) have just recently memorized his number. This has probably been a big kicker for many people - getting a decent PPCPE on a non-GSM network. Mr. J can use it on the familiar Sprint network, with minimal growing pains.
These are just a few of the things we take for granted as PPC users, however, sometimes when we're frustrated at our friends' lack of desire to have a PPC we must remember (and point out to them) the basics. We know well how much these can do - we just need to take time to educate the poor masses who are stuck with ringtones & wallpapers as the extent of customization they get!
Conclusions
The size, more than any other thing, took me by surprise with this device. I guess I had always assumed that devices like this, the HTC Wizard, and the HTC Magician couldn't be THAT small for viewing pictures. Rest assured, they are. This phone packs quite a feature set in a small package, including a very usable keyboard, great key layout, and a very readable and bright screen. In spite of a less than great battery life (especially for those of you who are used to charging a phone every few days vs. every day), and lack of VGA, this device is a winner - with many converts to prove it!
Jon Westfall is a full-time Graduate Student in Cognitive Psychology, a full-time system administrator for a small web-hosting company, and a full-time technology enthusiast. While not devoting 300% of himself to his hobbies & work, Jon enjoys spending time with his fianc� Karey and various geek and non-geek friends around the Northern Ohio Area.
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03-29-2006, 07:38 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 651
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Nice writeup, I can tell you that I've been very happy with my 6700. At first I was somewhat worried because I was coming from the large screen of the ppc6600 but the keyboard, wifi, and more important AKU2 made me give it a shot. I have to say the latest rom release not only added MSFP but the device is much more responsive than before. At first I thought it was that "new rom feel" but after I stuffed the device with all the apps I had installed before the update I found that the device was just as responsive. I have to agree with you on the battery life and once you go direct push things don't improve. So I purchased a 2400mah extended battery. I figure I won't use the extended battery all that much, just on trips where I know I will be away from normal charging power. I'll probably get another standard battery as well, all in all this device is great and that's coming from a person who's been using a Treo 700 and JasJar.
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03-29-2006, 07:55 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 214
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After seeing this 6700 device in person att he time Jon was reviewing it, I was just blown away. After using the T-Mobile PPC Phone for a while I had a need for a more compact device. After going though a couple cheap phones, I switched to a Razr. Shortly after, the ppc phone suffered an unfortunate incident with some booze. I picked up a Dell Axim X30 a couple months later. After several months, I was growing tired of hauling both the PPC and razr. After initially seeing this phone, and shortly after, Jon's K-Jam, I just had to have one. I am the proud owner of a T-Mobile MDA now.
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03-29-2006, 10:02 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1
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You must have gotten an early model of this phone. The lighting on the keyboard on the early (red Sprint logo) is white and the light shows through the red characters also, whereas the newer version (yellow Sprint logo) has blue back lighting and the red lettering on the keys are not lit up. I don't know why they changed this as it is real hard to use this in a dimly lit situation when you want to use the special characters.
I have had mine since early January & I am loving it. It does what I want from this type of device.
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03-30-2006, 02:08 AM
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Theorist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 260
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Perhaps I missed it in the article, but was the review done with Sprint's recent Rom UpGrade for the PPC-6700? If not than I can honestly say that since upgrading to the newest ROM upgrade it has change my experince of using the PPC-6700. It's much faster and responsive. Gone is the delay or feeling of lag from application to application as well as switching from portrat to landscape and than back and rarely if ever does my PPC-6700 freeze or locks up any more. Defenitly worth the upgrade. At least for me it was like getting a whole new device again =)
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03-30-2006, 05:44 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,097
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Its nice they got a decent PPCPE finally but it will take more than that to get me to switch to CDMA
If the wizard (MDA) doesn't need an external antenna, why does this one?
__________________
Please see www.grlt.com "Tech with a twist of lime!"
The Midlands Hybrid Club MidlandsHybrid.com
Current: Kacey's Wing, T-mo Wing Past: GCM_T, T-Mobile MDA |
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03-30-2006, 11:18 PM
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5000+ Posts? I Should OWN This Site!
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,616
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I checked out one of these in a Telus store yesterday. I concur with IpaqMan2 about the speed in portrait <--> landscape switching. Unfortunately, I also concur with Kacey Green about CDMA vs GSM. And I've standardized on SD. I have 3 - 1GB SD cards and I'm not about to toss them all to switch to miniSD. So, overall, this is a no-go for me.
__________________
iPhone 4! ☠☠☠ Mid-2010 15" MacBook Pro! ☠☠☠ Gateway LT2102h! ☠☠☠ Dell XPS M1210!
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03-31-2006, 10:58 PM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 540
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I'm really really *really* bummed about the battery life.
Using Sprint's Business Connect software (which pushes email to the device), I can unplug the 6700 from the cradle around 8am and have it be down to 60% of battery by 11am, having made zero phone calls.
I can charge it at my desk at work, but I'm not sure what I'd do on the days when I'm out in the field.
Other than that, I love (!!) the 6700.
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04-01-2006, 12:06 AM
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Sage
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 651
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by aristoBrat
I can charge it at my desk at work, but I'm not sure what I'd do on the days when I'm out in the field.
Other than that, I love (!!) the 6700.
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Do like I did and buy an extra battery, if you really need more power you may want to get an extended battery.
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04-01-2006, 03:10 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,097
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but he made no calls just listening for push email, thats crazy, I'd call tech support just to be sure if thats normal.
__________________
Please see www.grlt.com "Tech with a twist of lime!"
The Midlands Hybrid Club MidlandsHybrid.com
Current: Kacey's Wing, T-mo Wing Past: GCM_T, T-Mobile MDA |
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Linear Mode
