Geekzone Explores the i-mate JAM

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=4103' target='_blank'>http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.a...?contentid=4103</a><br /><br /></div><i>"The i-mate Jam (also known as MDA Mini) is the smallest Pocket PC Phone Edition available on the market today. The first time you pickup the Jam you are impressed by how tiny it is. It fits so snugly in your hand that you could (almost) be forgiven for thinking that it is just a mobile phone."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050223-imateJAM.jpg" /><br /><br />More and more i-mate JAM reviews are appearing across multiple news sites. I previously <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=37624">posted</a> on a review by Geek.com, but this time, here's one by Geekzone. I love the JAM, and if it weren't for the lack of integrated Wi-Fi, I'd be rushing to buy one right now!

[bjornkeizers]

I actually sat next to someone who had one in the train today! 8O

It's the first time I've seen someone else with a PPC device, let alone a Jam. Suffice it to say, I took a good, long look at it :D Pretty nice looking thing in person, but you really shouldn't actually phone with it without a headset - it looked really silly, not to mention all the **** you get on your screen.

[Paragon]

but you really shouldn't actually phone with it without a headset - it looked really silly,

Why not? It isn't a lot different in size from your average cell phone? :confused totally:

http://www.devans.ca/imate/jamt610.jpg

[bjornkeizers]

It just looks weird. It's not your average cellphone after all. Plus, I use my PPC just as a PDA - so seeing someone talking into one is still a new thing to me. And the smudges...

As for cellphones - I actually don't put them against my ear. You can get terrible smudges on your phone's screen, cover, etc. They show up especially nice on my T610's black cover and other phones with a big screen. Therefore, I always use a headset or keep it close without actual contact.

[Paragon]

It just looks weird. It's not your average cellphone after all. Plus, I use my PPC just as a PDA - so seeing someone talking into one is still a new thing to me. And the smudges...

As for cellphones - I actually don't put them against my ear. You can get terrible smudges on your phone's screen, cover, etc. They show up especially nice on my T610's black cover and other phones with a big screen. Therefore, I always use a headset or keep it close without actual contact.

So what you meant to say was "You shouldn't hold a phone of any kind to your ear" :)

......screen protectors do a great job of hiding the smudges on all kinds of devices.

Dave

[rlobrecht]

Expansys USA has a 128 MB version for $749.95.
here (http://www.expansys-usa.com/product.asp?code=108654)

[wigglesworth]

I like the smaller profile of this device, and wouldn't hesitate to pick one up if it had either integrated wi-fi or a dual SD slot.

I'm not about to give up my 1GB SD card for a wi-fi card with less storage on it. Other than that I think this machine is so sweet looking.

[LarDude]

Expansys USA has a 128 MB version for $749.95.
here (http://www.expansys-usa.com/product.asp?code=108654)

Looks more like the XDA II, not the Jam.

[madbart]

I recently changed from an XDA II (128MB) to the Mini(64MB) and am very very happy. I don't find the memory an issue at all. It is now just a case of being selective of what I load in the RAM/ROM and what i load into my memory card.

It does not trouble me to pop out my SD memory card and insert my wireless.

For a unit that I carry on 24x7 basis you simply can't find a better product in the market.:D

[goofy166]

I almost bought one of these until I discovered that the ring tone is about as loud as the iPAQ 6315, which is awful.

[madbart]

I almost bought one of these until I discovered that the ring tone is about as loud as the iPAQ 6315, which is awful.

The ringtone works fine.....you just have to get the right one.

[goofy166]

I guess that is my point, you got to hunt down a loud ring tone to replace the one that comes with it, or as I did on the 6315, find one that jangles the nerves, pump up its volume with a wav editor, than copy it to the phone and live with the distortion.

[madbart]

I guess that is my point, you got to hunt down a loud ring tone to replace the one that comes with it, or as I did on the 6315, find one that jangles the nerves, pump up its volume with a wav editor, than copy it to the phone and live with the distortion.

As a side by side performance comparisson the pure speed of the Mini kills the HP which we all know is a dog.......realistically you can't compare the 2.

[freitasm]

As a side by side performance comparisson the pure speed of the Mini kills the HP which we all know is a dog.......realistically you can't compare the 2.

The chart below (from http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?ContentId=2028) summarises this well:

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/images/reviews/performance/performance.jpg

[bjornkeizers]

......screen protectors do a great job of hiding the smudges on all kinds of devices.


A screen protector doesn't protect my nice, shiny, just-polished case :D And the germs! Yugh!!!! :mrgreen:

You can if you want to, but I prefer a headset.

[darrylb]

I almost bought one of these until I discovered that the ring tone is about as loud as the iPAQ 6315, which is awful.

The ringtone works fine.....you just have to get the right one.

You can always set the thing to Vibrate too - thats useful. There is always the "Old Phone" ring tone, which is really easy to hear. :wink:

[darrylb]

I recently changed from an XDA II (128MB) to the Mini(64MB) and am very very happy. I don't find the memory an issue at all. It is now just a case of being selective of what I load in the RAM/ROM and what i load into my memory card.

The point is that you shouldn't have to do this. Besides the choice is sometimes limited - Pocket Plus for instance will only install to main memory.

It does not trouble me to pop out my SD memory card and insert my wireless.

The problem with doing this on low memory devices is that you lose a bunch of applications when you do this - I find this really annoying.

For a unit that I carry on 24x7 basis you simply can't find a better product in the market.:D

If you want a simple device that is small, but much more capable than a standard phone - this is a fantastic device. Awesome for light Pocket PC users who need a Pocket PC and a phone. Besides... you really cant walk past the uses for a Pocket PC Phone Edition device (http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=3428)

[hifiguy]

got mine last friday and have been enjoying it to the fullest. making calls with one hand can be a pain so hope the next OS supports voice dialing via a BT headset.

http://www.gaphix.com/gallery/albums/jam/CIMG0295.sized.jpg

[rlobrecht]

Expansys USA has a 128 MB version for $749.95.
here (http://www.expansys-usa.com/product.asp?code=108654)

Looks more like the XDA II, not the Jam.

You're right. I grabbed the wrong link. here (http://www.expansys-usa.com/product.asp?code=119052)