Well Done Motorola!

[Jerry Raia]

A little while ago I obtained a Motorola Q to evaluate. Now those of you who have read my words here know I have been beating on Motorola quite a lot, especially for the MPx220 fiasco. I played with my evaluation Q for about an hour and then had to go get my own. Now before you bring out the smelling salts hear me out. The Q impressed the hell out of me. This is what I expect from a company like Motorola. Not the pedestrian RAZR or SLVR. So far, I think Moto has done this right. They may have the Blackberry killer here. I won't get into all the details yet as a review from two of us here is coming. I will say that overall, Moto is on the right track. Yes there are little issues here and there as with all devices, but the Q was done well. More to follow. :)

[chandler]

Congrats! I'm glad you like the device. And while I'm tempted to say "I told you so :P" I'll just say that I'm glad the Q team produced a device that has impressed one of our harshest critics. Looking forward to a review!

[dgage]

I would have to agree that the Q is a great device. I recently switched from the Cingular 2125, which was a great phone. I really think that phone is better than the Q due to the size and battery life. If Cingular service were better, I would still be using that phone. I momentarily took a stop with Sprint's PPC-6700 but it wasn't a good enough phone. So then I switched to the Motorola Q with Verizon and besides the battery life I think it is a great phone. I recently had to take my first Q back because it wasn't charging correctly and I bought the extended battery while I was in the store. The extended battery is definitely noticeable and thicker but I actually like the heft a little better and it is still extremely pocketable. I think I might actually get through a days use. The only other issue is that the plans for the Q are EXPENSIVE.

[cortez]

A little while ago I obtained a Motorola Q to evaluate. Now those of you who have read my words here know I have been beating on Motorola quite a lot, especially for the MPx220 fiasco. I played with my evaluation Q for about an hour and then had to go get my own. Now before you bring out the smelling salts hear me out. The Q impressed the hell out of me. This is what I expect from a company like Motorola. Not the pedestrian RAZR or SLVR. So far, I think Moto has done this right. They may have the Blackberry killer here. I won't get into all the details yet as a review from two of us here is coming. I will say that overall, Moto is on the right track. Yes there are little issues here and there as with all devices, but the Q was done well. More to follow. :)

oh my gosh!!! i'll be interested in your impressions of the Q. i've had mine for about a month now and other than the less-than-expected-battery life with the standard battery, i've been impressed with "Mr Moto's" latest offerring.

[Rocco Augusto]

im curious about the screen quality. is it as sharp and crystal clear as the newest HTC devices?

[Jerry Raia]

The screen on the Q is brighter than both my 2125 and 8215. Equally sharp. I too got the extended battery and it still fits fine in my pocket.

[Kris Kumar]

Jerry, Jerry, Jerry - what happened to the script. You were supposed to be the Moto hater. :lol:

I agree with you Jerry, compared to the MPx220 fiasco, the Q is a very well designed unit. The Verizon's EVDO network is the perfect match for the unit.

Though I am very tempted to get my own unit, I still have strong anti-Verizon sentiments that prevent me from switching over. [mostly because of the price, and non-GSM network] But have to admit that Verizon and Moto have priced the unit well. And even though the service is expensive it is worth it if you can live with a CDMA network. [again nothing against the CDMA network, I just want a GSM unit for my trips abroad]

Getting back to the Q, there are some flaws. But we would like to hold off on that now otherwise no one will read our review.

BTW Jerry we should get cracking on the review. :lol:

[Jerry Raia]

BTW Jerry we should get cracking on the review. :lol:

I'm making notes! :D

[Kris Kumar]

I recently had to take my first Q back because it wasn't charging correctly and I bought the extended battery while I was in the store.

The Moto Q it seems doesn't like to get charged from the USB sync cable when connected with the PC, even though it shows the charging symbol in the icon bar.

Also the Moto Q does not charge with my 2125's wall charger. It will charge only with the Q's charger. :? The charging symbol in the icon bar comes on when I am using the 2125 charger but the battery doesn't get charged.

Not sure what the deal is. The charging symbol confuses me. The first day I was playing with it I was sure that the sync cable and the 2125 charger was charging the unit, because when the unit is powered off and is charging, the unit displays a fancy charging screen. But I don't see that charging screen when using the 2125 charger or sync cable. It does show up when the Q's charger is used. :evil:

[Jerry Raia]

I'll have to try that. It does, however, charge with my generic USB cable.

[Kris Kumar]

I'll have to try that. It does, however, charge with my generic USB cable.

It looks like it is charging, the icon bar shows the "plugged in" indicator. And if you unplug the cable after 15 mins, the battery level in the iconbar will look like the battery got charged. But the unit is fooling you.

Turn off the unit and then plug in the sync charging cable.

[Jerry Raia]

I'll have to try that. It does, however, charge with my generic USB cable.

It looks like it is charging, the icon bar shows the "plugged in" indicator. And if you unplug the cable after 15 mins, the battery level in the iconbar will look like the battery got charged. But the unit is fooling you.

Turn off the unit and then plug in the sync charging cable.

But I'm even getting that silly "Charging Complete" message. This is a hoax?

[Kris Kumar]

I find that the sync cable charge doesnt hold well but the wall charger charge lasts for a day. I would like to get to the bottom of this mystery.

Need more user feedback. Come on Q users, speak up. :)

[Jerry Raia]

Agreed. In spite of this mystery I am still quite impressed with the Q.

[encece]

I believe on ALL smartphones that I have used....USB charging holds less of a charge than if you charge via AC. And it seems to progressively get worse. I charge via USB everyday and only get about a day's usage out of the phone. But every now and then, I let the battery run almost all of the way down and charge via AC. I know the newer batteries aren't supposed to work this way....but I would swear that they do.

Also, I got the charging complete message as well and have never seen that before on any other Smartphone. Does that mean it stops charging once the phone hit's 100%? Does it pick up again eventually?

When the phone is plugging into AC....There is a full screen charging animation, again which I have never seen on any other Smartphone.

I would also like to know how Motorola/Verizon accomplish the animated Startup screens. Is it a series of gifs/jpgs or is it real animation?

I remember Mitac Mios had a two frame animation, but I think they used two seperate startup screens one after the other.

Anyone know for sure how this is accomplished?

[encece]

BTW...I also think the Q is a GREAT phone. If I were on Verizon, I'd keep the unit I have. Really well done and unique in it's form. For it's size it's very comfortable and the landscape screen is not great for homescreens....but works well for almost everything else (except in media player, which watching non-fullscreen video STINKS).

EVDO tempted me even more...but I cant be chained to CDMA. I need my GSM freedom. (So I bought a QTEK 8500...which I like ALOT is a whole different way!)

[Kris Kumar]

Also, I got the charging complete message as well and have never seen that before on any other Smartphone. Does that mean it stops charging once the phone hit's 100%? Does it pick up again eventually?

When the phone is plugging into AC....There is a full screen charging animation, again which I have never seen on any other Smartphone.


Both of the features are Moto speciality. I believe the MPx220 had the charging complete and the charging animation.

[Jerry Raia]

The "Charging Complete" message seems to be peculiar to Verizon Smartphones. When I had my i600 on Verizon it would give me the same message. I have never seen it on my Cingular Smartphones. I am now in both camps, GSM and CDMA. I don't have to chose! :mrgreen:

[drm]

Apologies if this is a double post. I am not sure what happened during my prior attemtp to post.

Regarding the comments about an MPx220 fiasco, I don't understand the strong sentiment (and I have read the comments in many other posts). In my personal experience, I have used an MPX220 since they firt came out. I love them. At work we even have the pseudo push technolgy and it works great. I even bought one for my wife who loves it as well. Never had the problems mentioned.

Regarding battery charging issues with the Moto Q, I have able to charge my MPx220 using the orginal charger, the USB data cable connected to any of a variety of laptops I use, and the USB data cable connected to a RIO converter or an Apple converter. At full charge, the MPX220 displays a charging completed page. I use Cingular as the carrier.

My temporary Blackberry on the other hand (long story, and short use) would only charge using the wall charger.

I am looking forward to testing the Moto Q if it comes to Cingular mostly for the additional speed via EDGE or some other fast protocol. The i320 TechFaith clone looks interesting as well.

[dgage]

Regarding my taking back the Q due to charging issues, I was using the wall charger that came with the Q. One night I plugged it in but when I woke up the unit was off. I turned it on and a little while later it turned off. I plugged it back in and let it charge some more. An hour or two later I unplugged and was on a call. While on the call I tried to bring up something on the phone but it wouldn't respond, wouldn't show anything on the screen, and generally acted like it was turned off. If it weren't for the fact that I was still talking on the phone, I would have sworn it was off. After finishing the call I had to take the battery out to turn the phone back on. This same issue with the dead phone during a conversation (was able to finish the call) happened later the same day. I then returned it for a new Q. Let's hope that was an anomaly.

[dgage]

Regarding my taking back the Q due to charging issues, I was using the wall charger that came with the Q. One night I plugged it in but when I woke up the unit was off. I turned it on and a little while later it turned off. I plugged it back in and let it charge some more. An hour or two later I unplugged and was on a call. While on the call I tried to bring up something on the phone but it wouldn't respond, wouldn't show anything on the screen, and generally acted like it was turned off. If it weren't for the fact that I was still talking on the phone, I would have sworn it was off. After finishing the call I had to take the battery out to turn the phone back on. This same issue with the dead phone during a conversation (was able to finish the call) happened later the same day. I then returned it for a new Q. Let's hope that was an anomaly.

[Rocco Augusto]

The screen on the Q is brighter than both my 2125 and 8215. Equally sharp. I too got the extended battery and it still fits fine in my pocket.

hmmmm, i might have to give this mythical device a try :)

[cortez]

i'm using the USB cable to charge my device and it appears to be working without issue. i will periodically receive the "charge complete" message and the battery is fully charged. in fact, when i'm working, i keep the Q connected to my laptop via the USB cable.

regarding the wall chargers, i've found that some of the other Moto USB chargers will work but they take much longer to charge the phone. i suspect it has something to do with the amps (?) or output of the charger. i know for sure that my Qtek (T-Mobile) 9100 charger will not charge my Q.

[kaps]

I also have a Q and only charge it using the USB cable and it works perfectly.

I think that the Q is the best phone out there currently. I have had an i600, i730 and XV6700 in the last year and had problems with all three. So far the Q is working flawlessly, fingers crossed.

Karl

[Jerry Raia]

i will periodically receive the "charge complete" message and the battery is fully charged.

I wish I knew of a way to get rid of that message. It bugs me. :evil:

[cortez]

i will periodically receive the "charge complete" message and the battery is fully charged.

I wish I knew of a way to get rid of that message. It bugs me. :evil:

does it bug you or scare you??? or, do you not trust that it's telling the truth? :o

[Rocco Augusto]

does it bug you or scare you??? or, do you not trust that it's telling the truth? :o

the correct answer is:

"oh, motorola!" :roll: :wink:

[Jerry Raia]

does it bug you or scare you??? or, do you not trust that it's telling the truth? :o

It just gets in my way! 8)

[Mike Temporale]

The Moto Q it seems doesn't like to get charged from the USB sync cable when connected with the PC, even though it shows the charging symbol in the icon bar.

Also the Moto Q does not charge with my 2125's wall charger. It will charge only with the Q's charger. :? The charging symbol in the icon bar comes on when I am using the 2125 charger but the battery doesn't get charged.

I told you guys that there was an issue with this. And you just thought I was crazy! Ha! Double Ha!

I think the problem has to do with using HTC charge cables on the Q versus the Moto charge cables.

[Mike Temporale]

compared to the MPx220 fiasco, the Q is a very well designed unit.

I'm working on getting some background information on this very topic. Stay tuned to the front page. ;) (should be a couple more weeks or so)