WorldOfPPC's High-Res MDA IV Pics

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://worldofppc.com/HWTests/mda4.htm' target='_blank'>http://worldofppc.com/HWTests/mda4.htm</a><br /><br /></div>This is perhaps one of the shortest articles we've posted word-count-wise, but it's droolworthy nevertheless. Fellow MVP Andreas Erle had the opportunity to take some high-res pics of the MDA IV (click on each of them on his site to see the full version). It's also interesting to see a picture of the device "closed".<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20050224-MDAIV.jpg" /><br /><br />:drool: :drool:

[powder2000]

What more can I say but "Cingular/AT&amp;T are you listening, please oh please come out with an 850 Mhz model". This is the new must have device in my opinion!

[cubed]

Perhaps it is just a matter of the camera angle, but doesn't this thing appear to dwarf all the devices in the background?

I'm especially concerned of it's size in comparison to the 6600 behind it.

[gorkon280]

Probably camera angle distortion...that and it looks like those are flat...as in pictures laying on a table. In any case I concur..... :drool: :drool: :drool:

[cesarfong]

and the question.. when there will be a "turn on" photo :?: :?: :?: :?:

[sundown]

Well it's cool and all but geez, that thing looks like a brick! Better get some belt keepers.

[surur]

Thats a nice keyboard on that unit, with a seperate numbers row. I hope the final finish is mode durable however. There is a number of scratches and paint chips on this unit already, and I have to think that it must be relatively new and not been abused too much.

I think the only real advantage to not having an external screen is not needing a case. If it does need a case to protect it would be really disappointing.

Surur

[R K]

Thats a nice keyboard on that unit, with a seperate numbers row. I hope the final finish is mode durable however. There is a number of scratches and paint chips on this unit already, and I have to think that it must be relatively new and not been abused too much.

If it's a demo or for-review unit though, it might have made its rounds enough to get scrated up.

[aerin44]

We will all love this device and drool over it until it is revealed that it only has 32MB or ram or some other disasterous marketing decision.

[andydempsey]

The device is not much bigger than the current HTC model with the slide out keyboard - the pics the other day on msmobiles.com give some great comparison shots (page 2).

Other than that, this device is the dogs. My first organizer back in the late 80's had the same form factor, my psion too. But ever since switching to palm (3xe) and then to ppc (dell x5) I have missed this form factor. The zaurus suffered from a lack of applications and the clie... well.... it's palm (or was, now that sony are killing it).

I want this device. Come one AT&amp;T /Cingluar.

[snayar]

I know it's a prototype and things can change dramatically over the next months, but c'mon!

- No external LCD? (at least put a small monochrome LCD with Caller ID and Signal Meter)

- No buttons on the flip besides de DPAD?

What if they just put the internal Video Camera just besides the earpeace/speaker and put at least a couple of buttons right besides the DPad? (for gaming and shortcuts)

Is that too much to ask? :cry:

I just hope all this MDAIV hype does NOT end up like the MPX reality... :roll: and that they don't save these "features" for the next MDAIVs or MDAV!!!

Oh and I hope they don't reduce it's size any more, since the screen and keyboard size is what makes this unit so functional.

We will see...

[R K]

What if they just put the internal Video Camera just besides the earpeace/speaker and put at least a couple of buttons right besides the DPad? (for gaming and shortcuts)

For gaming, all they need to do is to put the D-pad on the left side of the screen. Then you can use the keyboard and D-pad for gaming. I think this is a pretty solid prototype though (as it's already made its rounds to T-Mobile), so I don't think we'll be seeing any changes from the production version.

[jayman]

I am very interested in the VGA output function of this that was mentioned in a german magazine, anyone know more about this??

[griph]

I know it's a prototype and things can change dramatically over the next months, but c'mon!
- No buttons on the flip besides de DPAD?

Just what I was thinking - it will slow things if you can only access through screen taps to Contacts!

[farnold]

To me it seems pretty useless w/o the green / red telephone buttons or can anyone tell me how you're supposed to answer / end a call when the shell is closed like here :?: :?: :?:

http://worldofppc.com/HWTests/Pics/mda4/mda4_3s.jpg

Fiddle the pen out, hold it in both hands while you carefully hit the next tree or what???

[onepieceman]

The green and red buttons are accessible on the hinge. These are in addition to the ones present on the keyboard, so you can rest assured HTC aren't that dumb!

[dma1965]

Thats a nice keyboard on that unit, with a seperate numbers row. I hope the final finish is mode durable however. There is a number of scratches and paint chips on this unit already, and I have to think that it must be relatively new and not been abused too much.

I think the only real advantage to not having an external screen is not needing a case. If it does need a case to protect it would be really disappointing.

Surur

If it is anything like my SX66 it should be quite durable. I thought my SX66 was made of the same silver painted plastic as all my iPaq's were, until I dropped it and dented the casing. Sure enough, it is aluminum, which is ideed durable (but try not to drop it).

[snayar]

Here's a hinge close-up. You can see the green and red buttons. (also notice the Mini-USB and what seems to be a standard hearphone jack.)

http://www.sonyericssonfans.com/images/stories//mda-iv-compared-14.jpg

And a shot with MDAIII and MDAIV compared!

http://www.sonyericssonfans.com/images/stories//mda-iv-compared-1.jpg

[DAVIDY]

Is there a slot for SD / MMC cards?

None of the websites mention any flash cards which would kill the device.

To rely on the USB with card reader or USB key would be inconvenient.

[snayar]

It does have at least one SD/IO slot... Or so it seems... :?

http://www.sonyericssonfans.com/images/stories//mda-iv-compared-7.jpg

[gandi]

You may be interested in this post (http://www.golem.de/0502/36571.html) (german only) as well... 8)

[jlp]

A great news : at last a white keyboard that's much easier to read in low light conditions, which will happen in most situations. Anyway black on a white background is a) what the eye is most used to and b) much easier to read per se.