Dale Coffing: "MPx is SWEET"

[Pat Logsdon]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pocketpcpassion.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=40551&ksp=747' target='_blank'>http://www.pocketpcpassion.com/foru...d=40551&ksp=747</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/logsdon_20040418_mpx.jpg" /> <br /><br />"I have had the unique chance to play with the MPx since I have been able to show it around the world. I was able to show it in France in the Microsoft theater while I was at 3GSM and then again at CTIA in Atlanta. I don't know how long I can wait for this to actually come out so that I can use it as a primary device for some hard core testing. I must say though that everywhere I show it that it becomes an immediate crowd draw due to its very interesting and unique landscape hinged screen and full QWERTY keyboard. I heard from some people that the device I am showing is actually still an early prototype and that the keyboard is going through a change to provide better tactical feedback."<br /><br />Dale further mentions that he thinks it would be "beneficial if they just bagged the weird look to the QWERTY layout". I have to agree - while the keyboard looks kind of neat the first time you see it, I think it would be annoying to use on a daily basis. Points for trying, though! ;) Be sure to check out the article - Dale has pictures of the MPX turned on and in portrait mode, as well as a side-by-side comparison shot with the MPx100 and an SPV 200. 8)

[karlth]

I'd be interested to hear any reasonable comments on battery life.

The unit does though look very impressive.

[wesley762]

is it going to be a quad band phone? from what I have been looking there is not one yet. the one one that I have hear of is going to be the hp but it's not very good looking machine in my thoughts.

[Jason Dunn]

I'd be interested to hear any reasonable comments on battery life.

They're all still prototypes, so it's too early to judge battery life.

[JonnoB]

is it going to be a quad band phone? from what I have been looking there is not one yet. the one one that I have hear of is going to be the hp but it's not very good looking machine in my thoughts.

It is to be a quad-band device but in two versions of three bands each for euro and na markets.

[JonnoB]

One of the very interesting things I learned while at the MDC is the way that WM2003SE will be able to manage memory differently. It was something that Motorola supposedly pushed for. The MPx is slated to have a 32/32/64 memory footprint. 32 ROM / 32 RAM / 64 Storage. There will be not be a shared RAM/Storage disk as there is with the Windows Mobile devices of today. At first some shunned the limited 64mb reported size, but in reality, this is more like the equivalent of a 96mb device today.

[Fishie]

One of the very interesting things I learned while at the MDC is the way that WM2003SE will be able to manage memory differently. It was something that Motorola supposedly pushed for. The MPx is slated to have a 32/32/64 memory footprint. 32 ROM / 32 RAM / 64 Storage. There will be not be a shared RAM/Storage disk as there is with the Windows Mobile devices of today. At first some shunned the limited 64mb reported size, but in reality, this is more like the equivalent of a 96mb device today.

Actually isnt MS pushing for such configurations for ALL OEMs now in order to lengthen baterylife(especially in standby mode)

[ultraman]

Still there is no release schedule. Is there anyone know when will it be available?

[mbranscum]

Still there is no release schedule. Is there anyone know when will it be available?

Well I hope it's AFTER they get the QA issues worked out on the phone. They (Moto) have a bad, bad habit of releasing phones THEN working out the bugs.

[Rob Alexander]

Still there is no release schedule. Is there anyone know when will it be available?

Well I hope it's AFTER they get the QA issues worked out on the phone. They (Moto) have a bad, bad habit of releasing phones THEN working out the bugs.

Yeah, this is a really exciting concept, but it is really tempered for me by being Motorola. I've had two of their phones and both have been very poorly made. The current one (T720) needed a firmware upgrade just to work anywhere but under the tower, and now at 8 months old, it has a bunch of irritating little habits like turning on instead of charging when I plug in the power cord... stuff like that. I definitely wouldn't jump on this one until a bunch of you gamma testers suffer through all the bugs and walk Motorola through fixing them. :)

[David C]

I just wish that by the time the final release comes out, the technology will be good enough to give this PDA a 640x480 screen.

[pewter_tankard]

I heard from some people that the device I am showing is actually still an early prototype and that the keyboard is going through a change to provide better tactical feedback.

Urmm... surely "tactile feedback"...

...unless using a Pocket PC Phone is merely a tactic to you. To me it's a strategy.

[jlp]

I just wish that by the time the final release comes out, the technology will be good enough to give this PDA a 640x480 screen.

Ouch, VGA on a screen 3 times as small as the Toshiba 805, no thanks, QVGA is small enough !! :(

[Ryan Joseph]

I just wish that by the time the final release comes out, the technology will be good enough to give this PDA a 640x480 screen.

Ouch, VGA on a screen 3 times as small as the Toshiba 805, no thanks, QVGA is small enough !! :(

As cool as the MPx is, I think this is what will ultimately keep me away from it. I don't think I could get used to a smaller screen than I have now. :roll:

[surur]

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/logsdon_20040418_mpx.jpg
Dale further mentions that he thinks it would be "beneficial if they just bagged the weird look to the QWERTY layout". I have to agree - while the keyboard looks kind of neat the first time you see it, I think it would be annoying to use on a daily basis.

I think they should keep the snazzy keyboard. Lets face it, with grey keys in nice rows, it will just be another Nokia 7600 copy, and we know that brick only appeals to the business market. I believe the shape of keyboard is to make thumb typing easier, and the fact that it lights up in blue will make it a much better sell to the consumer market, which is currently much larger than the business market for pocketpc's. The way its designed now, this could very well be the breakthrough product that will bring pocketpc's to the masses.

I think including features which appeal to the consumer market is very good. How many times have we been frustrated by a pocketpc "feature" like connection mangler, which is obviously only designed for the business market.

So I say, bring on the MPx!

Surur

[ale_ers]

Still there is no release schedule. Is there anyone know when will it be available?

From the Motorola web site: "....MPx is expected to be available in the second half of 2004."

Not much info there...I think the carriers will delay it a lot (they always do).

[joelevi]

I just wish that by the time the final release comes out, the technology will be good enough to give this PDA a 640x480 screen.

Ouch, VGA on a screen 3 times as small as the Toshiba 805, no thanks, QVGA is small enough !! :(

Sure, QVGA is small enough for a screen that size, but imagine the clarity of icons and text using a VGA screen at that size!

[gohtor]

I'm not the thumb typing kinda guy. I can see why this can annoy some users. but since you'll be scanning the thumboard while you're typing, the layout shouldn't really slow down your typing speed anyways.

[Thinkingmandavid]

surur wrote
and we know that brick only appeals to the business market

If you are speaking of the communicator that is correct. HOwever the newer communicator soon to be released is smaller and lighter, so such will not be the case.
Of course this motorola is still smaller, but I personally do not like motorola. I like landscape and the OS but motorola? mmm, hopefully nokia will continue to show why they are number one in cell phone manufacturing in the world.
It does take all the manufacturers to appeal to everyone and for everyones needs to be met.

[BengalBoy]

The new Communicator is actually much larger than a MpX in footprint. Here is a photo of the Communicator by my iMate and a movie of the iMate next to the MpX.... I agree, the MpX is a breakout device for bringing PPC to the public at large...

http://www.pbase.com/image/27242456.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/27242457.jpg

MpX movie...

http://www.jeffharris.com/mpx.avi

[surur]

Wow, that communicator is gigantic! Its even larger than the xda2!

whats the point of a clam shel if it does not reduce the size. Also notice how boring those keys look. Imagine trying to show that of :ladysman: :lol:

Surur

[Janak Parekh]

Wow, that communicator is gigantic! Its even larger than the xda2!
The Nokia Communicators have always been huge. :|

--janak

[Thinkingmandavid]

I know it is bigger than the motorola, I am saying it is smaller than the one before it, thinner if you will for instance. Not saying it is smaller than all the others :wink:

[Kacey Green]

would it make me too geeky if i buy one of these and a larger ppc with vga?

not that i can afford either at this point :wink:

[Kati Compton]

would it make me too geeky if i buy one of these and a larger ppc with vga?
Only if you wear a Star Trek uniform while using them, and keep saying "Scotty, beam me up!" into the MPx.

But then again, I may have a high tolerance for geekiness. I mean, I come here and all.

[ctitanic]

What about the price? I have read that it´s around 800 dollars while the new 6300 series from HP will have a price of around 600 dollars. That makes a big difference together with a bigger screen. :wink:

[Janak Parekh]

What about the price? I have read that it´s around 800 dollars while the new 6300 series from HP will have a price of around 600 dollars. That makes a big difference together with a bigger screen.
The prices we've heard are strictly speculative at this point, and in particular the MPx pricing has been ones overseas sites have picked up. That's too vague to translate into anything concrete at this point.

--janak