Sony Ericsson Announces The P910

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?ContentId=3040' target='_blank'>http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.a...?ContentId=3040</a><br /><br /></div>This is a pretty sweet-looking device -- they took the P900 and boosted it just a little bit. The most notable addition is a thumbboard underneath the dial pad -- in other words, flip it up and it feels like a phone; flip it down and you have a full PDA-sized screen with a thumbboard. There will be three different triband versions, including an 850/1800/1900 for North America.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20040715-SEP910.jpg" /><br /><br />My biggest problem with this setup is the seemingly-microscopic size of the thumbboard. I'm not sure how useable that's going to be. Nevertheless, I'd love to see more PDA phones try and adopt <i>both</i> keyboard styles. There's more info on the device in SE's <a href="http://www.sonyericsson.com/spg.jsp?cc=us&amp;lc=en&amp;ver=4000&amp;template=pc1_1_1&amp;zone=pc&amp;lm=pc1&amp;prid=1966">press release</a>; <a href="http://www.gizmodo.com/archives/sony-ericsson-announces-p910-017693.php">Gizmodo</a> has a few good pictures as well. I wonder if any wireless carrier here will ever offer it, though... and I'm not sure if I'd want a Memory Stick Pro Duo-capable device with no WiFi support. :|

[jonathanchoo]

It is sweet...I am a fan of Ericsson so I might need to check whether o2 will have this in stock by the time my one year contract is up and upgrade time ensues.

[Kati Compton]

I think having a combo phone-pad and alpha keyboard is fantastic! My first thought was that this was the coolest thing I'd seen in a while. BUT... with the user holding the "lighter" side of the hinge - doesn't that seem really prone to breakage? I also hope they have some sort of stopper to make that the farthest the hinge opens (which would probably also help structural integrity) so that after about 3-6 months of using it like that the LCD part doesn't just swing down.

I guess my current verdict, like with most new devices, is "I'll have to see/touch it in person". Not that that phone would probably be available in my cellular wasteland area.

[arnage2]

thats one slick unit. Its good to know that sony ericsson is still allive and well. (unlike the clie) if nextel carried it, id buy one.

[Janak Parekh]

I think having a combo phone-pad and alpha keyboard is fantastic! My first thought was that this was the coolest thing I'd seen in a while. BUT... with the user holding the "lighter" side of the hinge - doesn't that seem really prone to breakage?
That's part of the reason I picked that picture to post. ;) It's a weird setup, isn't it? And how would you hold something like that? Wouldn't it be terribly uncomfortable?

I guess my current verdict, like with most new devices, is "I'll have to see/touch it in person". Not that that phone would probably be available in my cellular wasteland area.
Well, given support for GSM 850, it might eventually be useable where you live. :)

--janak

[TheZodiac]

What would have made some sense stability wise, would have been if they made the keypad a "flip-and-twist" so it would be flush up against the screen for stable use and typing..... or at least an option to do so. Sure it would cover the screen up ... but at least you wont break the damn pad off! :)

[marlof]

I agree on the lack of WiFi support. One thing I really dislike about the Treo 600 I'm using is the lack of WiFi (and in that case: even Bluetooth). Yes it has SDIO. But no, there aren't any cards currently working in that slot. Sure, GPRS is a way to connect to the internet as well, but with the lack in speed, and the lack of a flat fee plan in my country, this is not my connection of choice for a good surfing experience, even with mobile sites.

[Jonathon Watkins]

Nice, but memory stick= deal breaker for me.

[whydidnt]

While I love the concept, and think that SE makes some of the best Cell Phones in terms of style and features, it looks to me that the thumboard is so small it will be next to worthless for anyone with average or larger hands.

Right now it still looks like the MPx will be the best blend of phone/PDA with keyboard out there....and don't get me started the Treo 600 - low res, small keyboard, no bluetooth, etc. I still don't get everyone's excitement over that unit.

[Zack Mahdavi]

Nice, but memory stick= deal breaker for me.

I agree completely. However, in general, this unit looks very nice. I'm wondering what it would feel like to hold and type on that keyboard. It looks like the PDA would be trying to fall out of your hand while you type... I just can't see that being a stable surface.

[Kati Compton]

That's part of the reason I picked that picture to post. ;) It's a weird setup, isn't it? And how would you hold something like that? Wouldn't it be terribly uncomfortable?
Torque => wrist discomfort. :(

[griph]

Nice, but memory stick= deal breaker for me.

I agree completely. However, in general, this unit looks very nice. I'm wondering what it would feel like to hold and type on that keyboard. It looks like the PDA would be trying to fall out of your hand while you type... I just can't see that being a stable surface.

I dont think I'd agree if it was JUST the memory stick issue.

The bit I'm hoping for is a drop in the price of the original P900 - £450 is still too much for me when sim free! Here's hoping! I dont need that thumb board - and as commented here it looks a little clumsy and fragile IMHO.

[dazz]

I am reviewing the P900 right now and just tried holding it to see what it would be like with the thumboard.

The flap on the P900 feels a little mushy while being forced to the bottom of it's swing but still pretty solid. I think with a tweak it would feel more solid.

The P900 is not very heavy and, as such, wouldn't take much to balance the unit while using the keyboard. I all had to do was put my index fingers on the side and slightly on the back of the P900 to balance. It feel like it would be pretty comfortable to use it this way.

Still, that thumboard is VERY small!! We'll have to see how useful it is. As soon as I can get one from SE I will review it.

[snowlion]

speaking of memory-sticks...if a company ever should get an award for persistence - it should be sony and the inventor of memory-stick...never gives up!

[outdoor]

in that pic that guy is probabaly gonna snap his p910 soon. its a cool design, but man, just i was about to buy the p900, another one comes in!

[Janak Parekh]

but man, just i was about to buy the p900, another one comes in!
That's technology for you. It's very hard to stay current without spending lots of $. :| That said, the P910 has been announced, not yet released. Don't expect it to show up everywhere until Q3 of this year...

--janak

[DrtyBlvd]

As a P900 owner, I would comment that the keyboard looks to be as much use as a bicycle is to a fish. :lol:

[jlp]

Not only torque means pain and the thing is bound to break within a few month of using it but this setup binds you to constantly squeeze this thing with one of your hand or it'll fall down. In other words with an MPx you can have both your thumbs up because your other fingers hold the device. But because you have to constantly hold this device at least with one hand squeezing it between your thumb and fingers this a) means more fingers pressure b) hence less clicking precision and c) slows down your typing efficiency dramatically. :evil: :evil:

Even if you let it go a fraction of a second it's broken on the floor before you realise it. :evil:

Plus given the tiny keys even this female hand's figers covers 9 keys at a time :(

[bucho]

Man... I just bought my P900 a month ago. The flip on the P900 and P910 is different - it's thicker and the spring is much stronger. Frankly, after using the P900 for some time now, I think a thumb keyboard on the reverse side of the flip was just about the only thing missing along with more RAM (so looking at the P910 specs brought tears to my eyes)... Anybody wants my P900 for half price? :)

Hmm, I wonder if they will offer the new flip as an add-on replacement for the P900. That would be nice.

[4ru]

As a P900 owner, I would comment that the keyboard looks to be as much use as a bicycle is to a fish. :lol:
it realy looks like… but in real life the keyboard is quite usable :) You may download video here:
http://www.mobile-review.com/review/sonyericsson-p910-en.shtml

[DrtyBlvd]

4ru - Are you Eldar? Great review.

Note your comment on how you'd get used to it - but the video clip showing it's usage doesn't make it look too easy! :D The ending almost seems to be a relief!

I don't understand why anyone would want to use it when they can write on-screen - unless maybe it's usable single-handedly?

Perhaps the advent of differing languages is important to that though... I have no idea how difficult it is to 'write' Greek, or an Asian script... :?:

[jlp]

Note your comment on how you'd get used to it - but the video clip showing it's usage doesn't make it look too easy! :D The ending almost seems to be a relief!

I had the exact same feeling :)

You can't hold the device like the lady does.

O the video, the guy holds the phone halfway in the back, not just the flap; this way it's better balanced, but still your thumbs get all tightly closed and it's not comfortable at all and you tire quickly. He holds it more and more with his left hand and use his right hand almost exclusively.

The most comfortable way would be to hold it firmly with one hand like any other phone and use the other exclusively to struggle on the tiny keyboard.


The Motorola MPx is still much more capable, has a larger and more comfortable keyboard and using it is more comfortable too.

It has many things the P910 lacks:
Wi-Fi
a much larger application base
and the so much more standard SD card slot
and it's IO (SDIO) capable too
full screen protection
external color screen
a 1.3 MPix digicam
with a flash
AND it's a PocketPC :D

[marlof]

don't get me started the Treo 600 - low res, small keyboard, no bluetooth, etc. I still don't get everyone's excitement over that unit.

Neither did I, and spec wise I think you're completely right. But I got an offer to get one for very little money with my contract, so I got one to see things for myself. And much to my amazement, in spite of all the specs I didn't like or felt were missing, I have been using the Treo every single day since. In my experience this form factor rocks. The keyboard takes some getting used to, but even I with my sloppy typing can do it. The screen for sure could be better, and I'm still not a fan of the PalmOS (where's real multitasking and an understandable file structure?). But I have to be honest: the Treo is a great phone.

[Stake]

If anyone is interested:

https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/oet/forms/reports/Search_Form.hts?mode=Edit&form=Exhibits&application_id=166067&fcc_id=PY7FB021012