The Gadgeteer reviews the T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/tmobile-review.html">http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/tmobile-review.html</a><br /><br />Julie Strietelmeier, the Gadgeteer, has had the T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition for several days and put it through its paces. For those of you who have yet to see one first hand, she has some great shots comparing the T-Mobile to the iPAQ 3800 series. If you are in the market for the T-Mobile, you should head over there and read this review. It is one of the most comprehensive reviews on the T-Mobile I have seen. It helps to have a broadband connection to see the review - she has tons of pictures and screenshots!<br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/xda-tmobile.jpg" />

[ThomasC22]

Well, after seeing Jason's ongoing review and reading this I have to say I'm softening on the XDA. I still wish it was a little better at being a phone but then again it took Palm manufacturers two generations to understand that making it a good phone counts and this is certainly better than the best 1st Gen Color PalmPhones (e.g. the Samsung).

Not that its an option for me right now, I like Sprint and am not about to jump ship now that they just went high speed, but who knows, by the time they release a CDMA model (the Microsoft Rep insisted was coming) I might pick it up just for data (with a separate phone).

[ThomasC22]

Oh, one more thing just so people know, the review states that its $549.99 with activation, its actually $499.99 with activation, $549.99 without (all US btw)

[Ed Hansberry]

Oh, one more thing just so people know, the review states that its $549.99 with activation, its actually $499.99 with activation, $549.99 without (all US btw)
No, it is $549 with activation, $499 with the $50 rebate. I don't see any prices on their site to buy it without a plan. Details on the rebate:
We're offering a $50 mail-in rebate on the T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition. The rebate coupon will be included with your shipment or can be printed by clicking on the form below. Rebate is available with activation of plans $35.00/month and higher (FamilyTime plans are eligible for 2 rebates). Rebates valid on above listed product purchased 7/31/02 to 9/15. Rebate form must be postmarked by 10/15/02. Not available for prepaid service. You must remain on VoiceStream Wireless/T-Mobile service for at least 60 days to be eligible. Limited to five rebates per name, address, or organization. Offer void where prohibited, taxed, or otherwise restricted by law. Allow 8-10 weeks for receipt of rebate.

[ThomasC22]

I found it here:

http://www.t-mobile.com/products/handhelds/default.asp

if you click on details it says:

Special Offer!

Purchase the T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition and any rate plan $35 or higher and receive a $50.00 mail-in rebate certificate.

The T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition is normally just $549.99, but with rebate you pay just $499.99.


That seemed to mean, at least to me, that the rebate was something you got for signing up for a plan and that without signing up for a plan it was the $549.99

[Ed Hansberry]

That seemed to mean, at least to me, that the rebate was something you got for signing up for a plan and that without signing up for a plan it was the $549.99
I think the rebate is almost a given through Sept. They just don't want you signing up for the cheapo $20 plan. You have to get a $35 plan to get the rebate.

[jpaq]

I don't get it!

All everyone moans about is expandability and screen quality. The Compaq's and the the Toshiba's.

Compaq Back-lit Screen
Toshiba Dual Slots and IO SD

Then you have the Space Needle, or whatever it's called this week. The screen isn't even 16-bit and, from my understanding, the one expansion slot isn't even an IO slot. I might be wrong about that but it only has one expansion slot none the less. That said, it doesn't even have a bulky jacket/sled option to attempt at better expandability.

Granted, it looks pretty and it has a built in phone. Great. But what about the basics folks?

:?:

[Will T Smith]

I don't get it!

Granted, it looks pretty and it has a built in phone. Great. But what about the basics folks?

:?:

Ahhh, well you just summarized it their. It's smaller than the iPaq and integrates a robust mobile phone. This is the first truly practical "convergence" device that the analysts have been pimping for the last year. (And the one I predicted 3 years ago.)

What about basic folks ... The device IS FOR basic folks. Basic folks just need something that's relatively simple and WORKS. No expansion Jackets, just enough RAM to be practicle (Remember this device has a 32MB ROM so it won't behave like the overwhelmed 16MB ROM/ 32MB RAM 2002 iPaq upgrades).

The other HUGE advantage is it's a MANAGEABLE platform. For example, you need not load down your PocketPC with EVERYTHING, as the GPRS capabilities will allow "on-demand" download. Many of the "service" oriented options in SmartPhones like the PCS Vision stuff is a natural FIT.

BTW, my buddy who Manages a T-Mobile store assures me that the phone comes standard with a very nice Case/Holster and swivel clip. No need to lay out an extra $70 to Vaja.

In a word what this device demonstrates, which Compaq fails to grasp, is SIMPLICITY. It comes out of the box, it works. No extra sleeves, adapters, doohickies, and extra costs for cases.

BTW, every source confirms that Battery Life is superb. For a device operating as a PocketPC AND maintaing a cellular link this is INCREDIBLE. It put's Compaq's legendary poor battery life to utter super-shame.

Regarding the 12-bit screen. The difference between 12-bit and 16-bit is fairly subtle on a device this size. It's absoluetly undetectable outside or in underlit conditions. This thing effectively has the same type of display as the original iPaq. Everyone raved about that. Exactly what application has emerged since that takes those extra colors and makes them indespensable on such a small screen.

So as you see this phone is aimed squarly at BASIC folks. It reduces the number of gadgets for the "mobile" type and integrates the power of both.

Does it have the latest and greatest in ALL categories ... NO. But what do you expect for such a groundbreaking device. One must make compromises in order to get it "out the door" and keep the cost under control.

When the original iPaq was released, I didn't really care about the poor battery life, poor fit and finish, flaky software, and 12-bit color. It was color, extrarodinarily thin compared to similar devices, Curved so that it fit in pockets. It was remarkably ground-breaking. At the time I was unconcerned because nothing else delivered those essential, super-practical features. The market place agreed with me as it spawned an army of clones and prompted Microsoft to Standardize on the Strong-Arm processor for PPC 2002.

T-Mobile is not a uber-everything PocketPC. About the closest to that is the Jornada 928 WDA which likely won't be released in the US (I love Jornada). It is a groundbreaking device that delivers convergence without sacrificing basic PocketPC funtionality.

That being said, I'm sure that more "upscale" models will emerge in future iterations with ...

* Bluetooth &lt;--- Of utmost importance to a data phone. Wireless Headset use and wireless synchronization.

* Removable/Upgradeable battery. Allow users to tote higher capacity or extra's. Possibly even a high-capacity Wi-Fi battery. Leave the SDIO for memory expansion. The modular battery is a universal concept in Cellular and a universally wished for (Only Jornada delivers) option in the PocketPC world.

* 64MB of RAM. 32MB is just enough, it's like a Civic. I'd like to stretch my shoulders in a Camry. 128MB of Mini-Van space would be nice when the next PocketPC version (with native support) is released.

Regarding SDIO support ... Once Bluetooth is integrated (properly, not like Compaq) there is little need extra I/O from a device that can already place cellular calls and communicate on GPRS networks. Bluetooth can handle ANY type of device (save perhaps live video) through it's serial profile. It's even feasible that it could drive still presentations wirelessly eliminating the need for a MARGI type CF/SDIO product.

Perhaps they could make SDIO (or memory stick) available through battery options. It certainly frees the manufacturer from overworking the base product while still providing maximum expandability.

-----------------------

The T-Mobile convergence device is an absolute winner. This thing will have Compaq headaches. In my opinion, it's likely that the decision to release the Jornada 928 in Europe is a direct response the early availability of this phone in Europe. Compaq iPaq has no equivalent and their GPRS pack is just now coming to fruition. Even at that the iPaq with GPRS pack will be HUGE. The T-Mobile integrated is already substantially smaller than the iPaq even without the iPaq GPRS BRICK.



OFF TOPIC HEW-PAQ BASHING

Jornada fans ... Let's hope this device Freaks Hewlett-Paqard into resurrecting the Jornada Form Factor for good. I have no problem with it being labled "iPaq Jornada 570". After all iPaq is really just a product branding that encompasses a range of Compaq Appliance like devices.


The PocketPC space is going to get REALLY tough for H-Paq. The design of the iPaq while originally novel is proving to have very impracticle side effects. It's form factor is now too bulky and delivers too little in return. It's quality is questionable, and every day new problems keep popping up.

When iPaq was the only kid on the block, they could get away with this. However, stiff competition from the new players, Fujitsu-Seimens, XDA, ASUS are poising to clean iPaq's clock. iPaq is coasting and quickly losing steam. Soon, they will no longer be able to count the Jornada 560 as part of their market share. It was an extremely strong contender, especially in the business/enterprise market. Without the new competitors this little adopt "iPaq" strategy may have worked. However, users now have many more choices and iPaq will LOSE an already HALVED (no more Jornada) marketshare.

[kettle]

gee Will, tell us what you really think :wink: .

[ojlittle]

Everyone (most everyone on this site anyway, critics are uninformed) is raving about this phone, but I can't get one because of the coverage. T-Mobile has coverage where I live, but the surrounding areas are non-existent. I'm talking about other smaller towns 20 miles away. Do you all have the same problems? How are you dealing with that? It seems as though you have to be in the dead center of a metropolitan area or on a major highway to use the thing.

[Jason Lee]

That's my problem as well. That is why I am still stuck with Sprint... :?