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View Full Version : AT&T's Audiovox PPC4100


Pat Logsdon
06-21-2004, 11:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.mobilegadgetnews.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=3557' target='_blank'>http://www.mobilegadgetnews.com/ind...iewtopic&t=3557</a><br /><br /></div><i>"I got mine last Wednesday - I was able to get it on a special pre-order from AT&amp;T Business for $224.99! What can I say about it? It definitely is worth it, even with a few of its drawbacks, I still think this device is a definite value. Before I go on, here are the pics of AT&amp;Ts rendition of what is also known as the Wistron's AnexTEK Pocket PC Phone SP230:"</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/logsdon_20040620_audiovox.jpg" /> <br /><br />Rey has a few high-res pics of this new Audiovox unit up on MobileGadgetNews. The cradle is interesting, but other than that, I'm a bit underwhelmed. Add the fact that Audiovox is dropping out of the North American phone market, and I think we've got a bit of a lame duck here. What do you think?

Paragon
06-22-2004, 12:07 AM
Sorry Pat....."Lame duck"...NO WAY! :) You are extremely hard pressed to find a standard Pocket PC for this kind of money. This is a converged device and it is selling for less than $300.00 USD. Is it feature rich? No. Does it have most of the features that most users (read, non-power users) want and need? YES, definitely. The biggest gripe we have heard about converged devices to date is the cost. This device addresses that issue head on. Does the average user want Bluetooth? NO. Does the average user want WiFi? No. Does the average user need 128mb of RAM? No. Does the average user want a camera? No. Nor do they want to pay for them.

Personally I see this device as a huge breakthrough. I see it doing for converged devices what the Axim X5 did for Pocket PCs. I think this device is going to be the one we look back on and say it was responsible for leading great numbers of people to converged PPC/Phones.

From what I hear AT&T are sold out of this device already.

Dave

foldedspace
06-22-2004, 12:10 AM
If I wasn't leaving for the Pacific in a few months, I'd buy one and swap my sim card back and forth tween it and my phone. ATT and TMobile might not have the best service, but they have the best phones.

Vincent M Ferrari
06-22-2004, 01:03 AM
This isn't the exact device that we saw in earlier drooly pictures. I guess when Audiovox branded it, they decided the flip down keypad was a bad feature. I personally thought it was the best feature, and I refuse to buy any pda that has a soft keypad. I spend too much time in the car to make that kind of sacrifice ;-)

jngold_me
06-22-2004, 02:06 AM
Does the average user want Bluetooth? NO

As more and more people find out that they can "unwire" themselves from a phone device, BT will become more and more desired by "non power" users.

Paragon
06-22-2004, 02:14 AM
Does the average user want Bluetooth? NO

As more and more people find out that they can "unwire" themselves from a phone device, BT will become more and more desired by "non power" users.

jngold_me

I think you are right, but this is available now....not sometime in the future when Bluetooth possibly catches on. ;)

Dave

jonlien2003
06-22-2004, 03:58 AM
I personally liked the Siemens SX-56 phone that AT&T decided to discontinued this year. It is true that these North American carriers will not likely bring over the much-hyped and very expensive XDA II aka i-mate because the typical users don't care for such features as bluetooth or 128 megs of ram as Paragon mentioned.

I happen to be in the minority as I went from the SX-56 to the i-mate. Both phones have there pros and cons.

thunderck
06-22-2004, 04:20 AM
I just I am not an average user because I am holding on for a posible MDA III from Sprint or even better Verizon. :devilboy:

ohh BTW is this the same unit that has 'reported' high radiation levels :?:

Dennis
06-22-2004, 04:37 AM
Does it have most of the features that most users (read, non-power users) want and need? YES, definitely. The biggest gripe we have heard about converged devices to date is the cost. This device addresses that issue head on. Does the average user want Bluetooth? NO. Does the average user want WiFi? No. Does the average user need 128mb of RAM? No. Does the average user want a camera? No. Nor do they want to pay for them. Dave

Dave, as an average user, let me answer your questions (please note that I don't live in the US - and I believe from what I read in this and other forums, that the basic consummer expectations are very different in the US and the rest of the world: I have the feeling that we expect (and get!) more...):

Does the average user want Bluetooth?
Yes!
For more than one year now, I do not buy a new device if it is not Bluetooth-enabled. The technology is now reliable, works pretty well, there are more and more devices that are available and allow smooth cable-free and easy communication between them (headsets, of course, but also printers, name it!).
For what I see, Bluetooth is quickly becoming a 'must have' standards as more and more users are adopting it (especially in the UK since the beginning of the year and the new law related to driving and speaking on a mobile phone).

Does the average user want WiFi?
No.... but wait!
Today WiFi is mostly a corporate-related functionality. It is very useful to connect easily to a local network.
But think about it: In your own house, you can create a local network with your family computers at a cost that goes down every six months or so.
You can expect to have every middle-class family and up (those who can offer to have more than one computer at home) to be WiFied in the next five years.
At that time, you'll want your PDA to be WiFi-enabled too.

Does the average user need 128mb of RAM?
Of course yes!
Does the average user want the 40Gb hard drive that come as standard with their new desktop, even if they'll never fill it up? Yes!
What's more, as a corporate user who never listens to music and never play games (boring!), I just bought a 256Mb SD-card to increase my device memory because I was running short.
'Basic users', even business basic users download music and games, only to keep themselves busy at the airport between two flights.
I travel a lot and observe my fellow travelers: most of them listen to music or play 'shoot them up' games to keep themselves busy.
The bigger memory capacity is therefore the better!

Does the average user want a camera?
I'm not sure...
I know that I don't want a camera on my device, only because I never feel like taking a picture.
What's more, there are countries in the world, or corporations in open countries that don't allow cameras in their premises.
Only for that reason should there be devices with and without camera - as PalmOne just did with its Treo 600 which is now available with and without camera.
Smart move, PalmOne!

dorelse
06-22-2004, 05:48 AM
Well, mine should be here tomorrow. Here's my thoughts on why I purchased it:

1) Convergence. Tired of lugging my Nokia 3650 & T3 around.
2) Price - $385-$50 = $335.00 for a PDA/Phone...yipee!
3) Function - PPC (Goodness) + Phone.
4) No Camera - NOT ALLOWED - where I work...a nice PDA/Phone W/O a D*$% cheap useless camera. AWESOME!
5) SDIO - Wi-FI when & where I need it.
6) Bluetooth? Don't care now that the 2 things I previously needed bluetooth for are together forever.

All in all, its a great device...its amazing how small it really is. Light too. Compared it to the Treo...decided for $115.00 less, I get a bigger screen, more processor power, PPC software...it was a no brainer.

I really had no interest in the keypad flip cover...from some early reviews, it was more in the way, than useful. I invested in a nice Martin Fields screen protector instead.

The XDA III looks nice...wonder how much it'll cost...that's also a potential future upgrade as well. I did see that the Audiovox isn't listed on the AT&T Wireless site anymore...is that because they're sold out? Or b/c Audiovox killed it already...I hope its the former...b/c its really a nice device.

Found it...its listed as out of stock: http://www.attwireless.com/personal/products/phonedetails.jhtml?id=3100013&titleNumber=1

Skoobouy
06-22-2004, 11:31 AM
Actually, I find Paragon's arguments compelling, and dorelse's list of reasons-to-buy make me think this is indeed quite the winner in terms of converged phone-PDAs; perhaps even a Treo-killer, if they only marketed the darn thing.

The worst thing about the device that I can see are the buttons. Skoobouy wants his games, darnit! But comparing this to the Axim X30, and I think the price is a steal.

DaleReeck
06-22-2004, 03:53 PM
Then again, does the "average" user want a PDA/phone combo? I would think that anyone geeky enough to want a converged device in the first place will also want bluetooth, WiFi, a camera and whatever else they want to jam in there. Of course, they may not want to pay for all these features, but that doesn't mean that they don't want them.

surur
06-22-2004, 04:39 PM
Of course, they may not want to pay for all these features, but that doesn't mean that they don't want them.

Of course I want a gigawatt laser also :)

Surur

mhoepfin
06-22-2004, 04:50 PM
How did you get this for ~$225? I like the size of this phone...

Mike

Paragon
06-22-2004, 05:23 PM
Does the average user want Bluetooth?
Yes!
For more than one year now, I do not buy a new device if it is not Bluetooth-enabled. The technology is now reliable, works pretty well, there are more and more devices that are available and allow smooth cable-free and easy communication between them (headsets, of course, but also printers, name it!).
For what I see, Bluetooth is quickly becoming a 'must have' standards as more and more users are adopting it (especially in the UK since the beginning of the year and the new law related to driving and speaking on a mobile phone).


Does the average user need 128mb of RAM?
Of course yes!
Does the average user want the 40Gb hard drive that come as standard with their new desktop, even if they'll never fill it up? Yes!
What's more, as a corporate user who never listens to music and never play games (boring!), I just bought a 256Mb SD-card to increase my device memory because I was running short.
'Basic users', even business basic users download music and games, only to keep themselves busy at the airport between two flights.
I travel a lot and observe my fellow travelers: most of them listen to music or play 'shoot them up' games to keep themselves busy.
The bigger memory capacity is therefore the better!



Well Dennis,

I have to say for a great many people, average and power users alike, some right here on this site, Bluetooth just ain't here yet! It's coming, but why increase the cost of a device like this with it. If you are a person who wants Bluetooth, this isn't likely a device that you would choose anyway.

As for memory...you killed your own arguement when you said "I just bought a 256Mb SD card to increase my device memory because I was running short."

That is exactly what a device like this is designed for. A primary goal of design with this device is price. Why spend money on increased internal RAM when the customer can choose how much memory they need, and want and spend accordingly on SD flash memory, thus keeping the price down and giving the user the flexability. :)

Dave

reydiodj
06-22-2004, 06:30 PM
Add the fact that Audiovox is dropping out of the North American phone market, and I think we've got a bit of a lame duck here. What do you think?

Yeah I had some of the same thoughts, however, although this is branded as an Audiovox, remember that this same device was sold as the AnexTEK SP230 whose parent company is Wistron. Not sure exacly how this would affect future support yet, but I would hope Wistron would be able to step in...time will tell.

The price was the big kicker for me - very hard for me to pass up the $225 offer - which is a good amount less than some retail PPCs without a phone.

Dennis
06-22-2004, 06:42 PM
Dave, Bluetooth is here and well alive!
Let me prove it to you:

For instance, I'm typing this message on a Bluetooth keyboard (and move around my cursor with the Microsoft Bluetooth mouse).
Earlier, I sync my PDA/phone with my computer without having to do anything: with my Bluetooth connection all was done automatically, when I walked into the room.

During my off time, I don't like to carry around my bulky PDA/phone. So I also have a Motorola V600 phone. Both devices update their contact lists automatically via Bluetooth.

Of course, when I receive a call, I use my Bluetooth headset.
Before, I had one headset for each phone (expensive!), with the new and excellent Motorola HS810, I can pair up to 5 devices at the same time!
Now, the same Bluetooth headset allows me to receive/make calls from my two devices.

What else?
The other day, my girlfriend took a nice picture with her Sony DSCFX77 camera. She used Bluetooth to send it to my PDA/phone. Cool!
From my PDA, I downloaded it to my computer with Bluetooth.

You understood that I hate those spaghetti-like cables!
Even my printer is Bluetooth-enabled (HP Deskjet 995ck).


Bluetooth is well and alive, and I can't understand how I could live before Bluetooth (very well thank you, but with a big mess of cables behind the desk!)!

As for the device basic memory.
Sorry, but here again I don't agree with you :oops: ...
I remember, in the old ages, when PCs didn't have so much memory, I had my Iomega Zip (before Jaz) attached to my computer, because I constantly needed extra storage space.
And I was not able then to afford a high-end computer with a bigger disk.
Today, with the low+ end computer I'm using (sorry Mr. Dell!), I don't use my friends Zip and Jaz anymore. I don't need them: my hard-disk is big enough to hold all my files and programs.

I believe this is the same scenario with PDAs.
Today, a high-end PDA has 128Mb RAM. Not enough for me. This is the reason why I'm using the little brother of Zip: SD Card.
One day, PDA memory capacity will sky high, and SD cards will not be necessary anymore to increase memory/storage.

reydiodj
06-22-2004, 07:38 PM
FYI - I also have follow-up posts with screenshots available at the following URLs:

Part 2a: About, Memory, Power screens (http://www.mobilegadgetnews.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=3600)
Part 2b: Bluetooth? (http://www.mobilegadgetnews.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=3601)
Part 2c: WiBackup (http://www.mobilegadgetnews.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=3634)
Part 3: the 1 H/W button! (http://www.mobilegadgetnews.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=3638)

sharyncern
06-22-2004, 08:06 PM
Then again, does the "average" user want a PDA/phone combo? I would think that anyone geeky enough to want a converged device in the first place will also want bluetooth, WiFi, a camera and whatever else they want to jam in there. Of course, they may not want to pay for all these features, but that doesn't mean that they don't want them.
Actually, nope. I just want a PDA/phone combo that actually has enough power to run itself and gets four bars of phone signal. This does that. I've been in heaven ever since I picked it up. Not one dropped or missed call, out of memory message, or soft reset. :D

bit_bucket
06-24-2004, 11:26 PM
You know I consider myself to be a power user. Most of my past phones have included Bluetooth. I took a gamble on the 4100, and I won. I don't mind that it does not have this stuff integrated. I really consider this a Treo killer, as I have owned both and love this device far more. Does it have software glitches, yes, but I hear they will be fixed in a forthcoming firmware update.

As far as the flip is concerned. This is modular. Audiovox simply did not include the "snap on" flip attachment. Right now I am trying to see if I can get one from the OEM manufacturer. To prove my point about modularity, stick you fingernail into the crack right above the words PocketPC on the button bar at the bottom. Now with gentle pressure this bar comes off and is just a module with 3 connectors on the back of it. For all of you P900 owners past/present this is the same concept as the flip for your phone.

jazzrome
06-29-2004, 10:11 PM
You never answered where or how you got your phone for under $300
As far as bluetooth it is here to stay i see no reason to use a phone without a headset and no reason to use a heaseset that has wires attached. They (wires) get it the way and you end up breaking the phone or the headset. A bluetooth headset in the log run will be more usefull and cost effective.
I would buy on of these if there was any way to add a bluetoth headset to it.

milkman dan
07-01-2004, 03:26 PM
I would have to say that I would rather a -$300 PPC/phone that has no bluetooth or wifi, then a device that DOES have those and costs $1000! If the audiovox thera worked on my cellphone network, I would snatch one up in a second! I have no idea why these devices are soo cheap, specifically the thera, I mean its a 200MHz strongarm, 32 megs of ram, and they sell for $100 on ebay! whats up with that?

Janak Parekh
07-01-2004, 08:29 PM
I would have to say that I would rather a -$300 PPC/phone that has no bluetooth or wifi, then a device that DOES have those and costs $1000!
Obviously, people have different budgets and are willing to spend different amounts...

If the audiovox thera worked on my cellphone network, I would snatch one up in a second! I have no idea why these devices are soo cheap, specifically the thera, I mean its a 200MHz strongarm, 32 megs of ram, and they sell for $100 on ebay! whats up with that?
Actually, the Thera is a very lacking device. It has about 8 hours of standby time (yes, standby) and about a half-hour talk time. It's also a reflective screen. People are trying to get rid of it.

--janak

23109VC
07-13-2004, 05:43 PM
I currently had a T616 and an Ipaq 1945. I am an "average" user...and use my device mostly for scheduling appointments and contact info. I do have some spreadsheets and large databases that I use for reference purposes. I have played around with the email capabilities, and have sent/received emails via bluetooth, but don't really have a need to be able to do that...

what are the benefits of getting a device like the ppc4100 over my current setup?

I like the idea of a converged device. It would be nice to have one item to pick up and take with me. although my current phone is pretty small, as is my ppc...my 1945 is very sleek.and in it's nice leather case, it is no big deal to put it on my belt. I can fit my phone practically in my coin pocket of my jeans...or my shirt pocket...

the 4100 looks like it's fairly thick..so size might be an issue.

how easy is it to send/receive emails on the ppc4100...how do you pay for theplans..the last time I played with sending/receving email my att bill was outrageious...i surfed the web a bit..and my plan didn't include lots of airtime so I got screwed...

do you have to pay for a voice AND data plan?

Janak Parekh
07-13-2004, 07:15 PM
what are the benefits of getting a device like the ppc4100 over my current setup?
You've got a phone integrated into your organizer. Take a look at this tour of Pocket PC Phone Edition (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/about/tours/ppcpe/2003/default.mspx) to get a better idea.

the 4100 looks like it's fairly thick..so size might be an issue.
That's something you have to decide for yourself. ;) Everyone has different levels of comfort on this subject.

how easy is it to send/receive emails on the ppc4100...how do you pay for theplans..the last time I played with sending/receving email my att bill was outrageious...i surfed the web a bit..and my plan didn't include lots of airtime so I got screwed...
You do need to get a data plan, as you would with your BT combo. Email is fairly straightforward, although I don't use my i700 for that often because I prefer doing it with a keyboard.

--janak

stoopid
07-26-2004, 09:19 PM
Then again, does the "average" user want a PDA/phone combo? I would think that anyone geeky enough to want a converged device in the first place will also want bluetooth, WiFi, a camera and whatever else they want to jam in there. Of course, they may not want to pay for all these features, but that doesn't mean that they don't want them.

In defense of Paragon's posts, I AM that 'average' user and I didn't need or look for any of those items (bluetooth, 128mb, camera, or wifi). I wanted a cell phone I could connect to the internet with and have some pda/windows functionality. This was the PERFECT match, and I'm more excited and pleased with my purchase each day I own it. :)

BTW, it isn't that thick or heavy!

Dan0Ryan
09-27-2004, 02:44 AM
Seems like a lot of people wish the PPC4100 included bluetooth, or a camera. Both of these can be added via the SD slot.