Laptop Magazine Looks at the MPx220

[Mike Temporale]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://laptopmag.com/Review/Motorola-MPx220.htm' target='_blank'>http://laptopmag.com/Review/Motorola-MPx220.htm</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Thanks to a snowstorm that knocked out our power, the MPx220 was our sole source of Internet access for nearly 2 days. Data performance was abysmal, and despite Motorola's claim of "harnessing the power of a desktop," we couldn't wait to get back to our PC. Simple, low-graphics Web pages typically took nearly a minute to download. On the plus side, voice quality was good on both ends of calls."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20050330-LaptopMPx220.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />Sadly, I think this is the case for most devices. At least until high-speed wireless becomes the norm - which I don't expect to see happen any day soon. I don't expect many people try to use a Smartphone to fully replace their personal computer. It's a wonderful addition, but by no means is it a replacement. Overall, Motorola's second attempt at a Windows Mobile devices squeezes by with just 2.5 stars out of a maximum of 5.

[Kris Kumar]

At least until high-speed wireless becomes the norm - which I don't expect to see happen any day soon.

The thing that annoys me the most is that, the CDMA carriers in US have faster networks, but the only Smartphone choice is the i600. :-( And the GSM world has all the cool phones but slow speed. :-(

[ARW]

Quite a conundrum isn't it. The only near term hope is the i640/5, which may see light of day once VZW has enough of their EV-DO network lit up. The only problem is that the phone appears to be nothing more than a minor refresh of the i600 with EV-DO thrown in.

Course, time will tell, maybe VZW will surprise us with something cutting edge like bluetooth.

[busytraveler]

But as a general business tool, the mpx 220 rocks. If you can afford the phone, you should be able to afford a decent laptop with wifi for web work. I was tired of searching for my palm everytime I needed a number or address and the 220 really blurs the line between the palm and a phone. I do visit many mobile enabled sites with ease, bout as fast as a dialup modem on the old PCs.

[Jerry Raia]

I have to agree. Cingular GPRS is agonizingly slow and often I can't even connect.

[skibee]

I just wanted to affirm what the poster above me said. The MPx220 isn't designed to be used for primary internet access. The outlook contact and email functions enable the phone with tons of great pocket pc functions in the body of a regular cell phone and the browser does work well for mobile enabled sites. I don't think this is a device that ever attempted to replace your laptop and the technology is going to have issues until it becomes more widespread. patience is a virtue.

[Bushrod]

Internet works a lot better with Opera!

[rzanology]

this guy is a clown....harnessing does not mean replacing. If moto said replacing the power of your pc...thats one thing, but they said harnessing . How do these reviews still keep their jobs these days? So you shoot down a mpx but praise a treo????? ignorance.

[Pete Teoh]

GPRS is too slow to be useful in today's environment where broadband is prevalent and you're used to upwards of 1Mbps speeds. That's where EDGE comes in. At a theoretical 3x the speed of GPRS it brings the mobile web experience a little closer to broadband speeds. Unfortunately there isn't a Windows Mobile smartphone that supports EDGE currently on the market. That's one reason I reluctantly switched camps and bought a Treo 650 that has a quad-band EDGE capable radio. I've had a great experience using it as a standalone device and as a Bluetooth modem for my laptop. Averaging 90kbps and bursting to 150kbps makes the wireless web bearable.

Before you jump down my throat for being a WM h8er ;) I'd like to disclose that I've been a long time WM user and have been disappointed with the choice of hardware available currently. Maybe some day there'll be a worthy device.

[Ned]

The article's author, Tim Kridel, is in my humble opinion, basically an idiot. Did he actually expect a GPRS based phone of any kind, brand, etc. to actually be a substitute for a PC?

I wonder if he has any idea that the MPX220 is supposed to be a phone, not a computer.

His review of the MPX220 was essentially worthless. Not only did it offer nothing in the way of new information, some of his rant was totally absurd.

[busytraveler]

I wonder if he has any idea that the MPX220 is supposed to be a phone, not a computer.


Here, here!