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View Full Version : Samsung i730 Wins CNET Best Smartphone Award


Ed Hansberry
11-15-2005, 01:00 AM
<a href="http://msn-cnet.com.com/Top_10_cell_phones/4520-6022_1-102337-11.html?part=msn-cnet&amp;subj=re_102337-11&amp;tag=netcal">http://msn-cnet.com.com/Top_10_cell_phones/4520-6022_1-102337-11.html?part=msn-cnet&amp;subj=re_102337-11&amp;tag=netcal</a><br /><br /><i>"The Samsung SCH-i730 manages a pretty impressive feat: It shrinks a Windows Mobile-based smart phone into a form factor that actually fits comfortably in your pants pocket and includes broadband wireless, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a built-in keyboard, and a speedy processor. Despite some irritating quirks in its wireless support, the Samsung i730 stays in the running for the "Treo killer" title."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2005/20051114-samsungi730.jpg" /><br /><br />The most interesting thing about this is it isn't the Treo 650. I've seen a few of these around town, more than any other brand of Windows Mobile Pocket PC Phone with the possible exception of the various makes based on the HTC device used for the PDA2K/Audiovox 6600. If it weren't for the fact that turning on WiFi basically turns off the phone, this would be an almost perfect device.

whydidnt
11-15-2005, 02:47 AM
I think the i730 is probably the one WM converged device that offers the best combined Phone + PDA experience. It is small enough to be used as an everyday phone. The sliding keyboard is quite useful, especially as a phone keypad, it's pretty fast. Samsung did a good job in the usability department. I wish it had a camera (sorry those of you that can't use one). My only other gripe is it seems to randomly reset about once every 2-3 days which is a bit irritating, but otherwise a very good converged device.

There may be better PDA devices with phones in them, but I'd be hard pressed to name a better converged device.

Charles Pickrell
11-15-2005, 02:48 AM
This is a well-deserved award. I've been using this phone for about 3-4 months now and I'm absolutely delighted with it. After owing the Motorola MPX200 which froze up all the time and was basically unreliable as a phone, with a super slow GSM network to boot I'm happy with the i730.

You should consider this phone if you want:

Pocket PC Power (full-sized apps, stylus access) 500+ MHz
Really fast internet access through EVDO cellular (check your area for coverage)
Integrated qwerty keyboard
Decent battery live with EVDO
Wifi and Bluetooth
Small size for everything it does
Stylish design that gets lots of compliments
Pretty reliable hardware

Most Verizon stores have these on demo. Go give one a whirl, you will be impressed, especially if you have an old slow GSM/Edge smartphone or Pocket PC Phone Edition to compare it with.

Mumin
11-15-2005, 03:02 AM
Very nice device. Close to perfect. What disqualified it for me though was low a mic volume. People on the receiving end couln't hear me as loud as in case when I was using my regular phone. For sure t wasn't network's problem( Chicago area, full bars). Forums' research confirmed that problem. Have you guys experienced it?

Ed Hansberry
11-15-2005, 03:21 AM
My only other gripe is it seems to randomly reset about once every 2-3 days which is a bit irritating, but otherwise a very good converged device.
Hard reset? :?

whydidnt
11-15-2005, 03:50 AM
No, not a hard reset. Believe me, I'd be screaming a little louder if it was. :D

There are a few other reports on pdaphonehome.com about the same thing. Many think it's somehow related to the SD card. I thought about it because it happened to me today right in the middle of Soduku game (installed to the SD card). I'm considering exchanging it to see if a new phone will solve the issue.

Don't Panic!
11-15-2005, 03:53 AM
Mine crapped out after a 2 months of use. I have to leave it on to recieve calls. But i haven't tried a hard-reset yet.

Other than that though it is pretty cool even without the camera.

JohnJohn
11-15-2005, 04:10 AM
Best device I have ever owned. How do I know this, because there is nothing else on the market I would rather have. :D

Don't Panic!
11-15-2005, 05:08 AM
A hard-reset fixed my call issue! Why oh why didn't I just KISS?

This is a great device!!! unless you're a gamer. The d-pad doesn't do diagonals so most action games are out.

MPSmith
11-15-2005, 05:40 AM
It's the best device I have ever used. I may actually hold onto it for more than a year (a personal best!) As for using the wi-fi and phone simultaneously, there is a solution that works great:

http://pdaphonehome.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&amp;postid=423860#post423860

My only "complaint" is the battery life. But considering that it gives me use of phone, BT, wi-fi, EVDO and PDA usage, I think the battery isn't really so bad. Plus the device comes with a standard AND extended battery. Pretty sweet!!!

threedaysdwn
11-15-2005, 05:47 AM
PPC-6700 is a better device. Should have won that award.


I converted 2 people to it last weekend and they both like it :)

whydidnt
11-15-2005, 06:35 AM
PPC-6700 is a better device. Should have won that award.


Interesting, what makes you say it's a better device? Have you used both? I played with the PPC-6700 at a Sprint store for about 20 minutes last week. I like the landscape mode as a PDA, but like the portrait keyboard available in the Samsung a lot better. It also seemed to me the 6700 felt and looked a little "cheaper", a matter of opinion I'm sure, but it doesn't seem to have the same fit and finish of the Samsung.

Charles Pickrell
11-15-2005, 07:31 AM
I think the Samsung got the award simply because it has been out longer and therefore has had more exposure than the 6700 which seems to be a fine device is itself. I'd still rather have my i730 over the 6700. What I'd really like is the i730 but with a hard number pad instead of a qwerty keyboard.

CoreyJF
11-15-2005, 06:01 PM
Not at all, I have been using the phone since August and sound has never been an issue.

Very nice device. Close to perfect. What disqualified it for me though was low a mic volume. People on the receiving end couln't hear me as loud as in case when I was using my regular phone. For sure t wasn't network's problem( Chicago area, full bars). Forums' research confirmed that problem. Have you guys experienced it?

Don't Panic!
11-15-2005, 06:27 PM
Very nice device. Close to perfect. What disqualified it for me though was low a mic volume. People on the receiving end couln't hear me as loud as in case when I was using my regular phone. For sure t wasn't network's problem( Chicago area, full bars). Forums' research confirmed that problem. Have you guys experienced it?That's one issue I didn't face either. I wonder if it's just a Chicago thing or was the mike muffled by the case you were using? I've been carrying it without a case. Just the plastic cover thing they included in the box. Most of the time I don't even use that. It's actually kind of rugged for a PPC.

Mumin
11-15-2005, 07:08 PM
Don't Panic and Corey, thanks for your feedback guys. I think I should try another unit. Although I could hear people perfectly loud and clear there were complaints on the other end about speech/call volume. I checked it out and it seemed to be true. No case/pouch used at all.

Thanks again.

Don't Panic!
11-15-2005, 07:24 PM
Heck it's always good to hear the other side of the story Mumin. Not all of these units come from the same assembly line or production batch or whatever, so there is definitely a possibility that a deective unit could pop up in the mix. Goota love that CDMA data speed though.

[Cruzer]
11-15-2005, 08:38 PM
I converted over from at xv6600 and I'm glad I did. defintely an almost perfect device. Just wished it was the same design as the MPx300. I prefer clam shell type phones. But this was damn close. What I didn't like about the xv6600 was no wifi. yes I know I could have easily stuck in a sd card but there goes my memory. and the sandisk combo didn't work at the time,not sure if it still does, but I didn't like that I had to swap those out. So i'm glad it got an award.

Richie

LynnPritchard
11-19-2005, 01:25 PM
I absolutely LOVE my Samsung i730...so much so that when my husband and I went on an extended driving vacation, he made me agree to limited "visiting hours". The Samsung had to stay in the trunk except for once a day visits. When it's near me, I can't help myself: I'm always using it for something.

I have found both the phone and PDA functions to be almost completely reliable. I have not experienced the sound issues referenced by the Chicago user. I tend to use the speaker phone a lot. I had some issues with the Motorola Bluetooth device until I lost it and am going to try another Bluetooth device this time. I may have been using the first device wrong, but I couldn't hear well enough through the ear piece.

In any case, I'm over the top on the new Samsung and like it so much better than the i700 I had earlier. Beautiful screen and very quick performance. I don't miss the camera much, as its photos were pretty bad anyway.

Did I read somewhere that Samsung is going to offer a free upgrade to Windows Mobile 5.0 to i730 owners??

Ed Hansberry
11-19-2005, 02:21 PM
When it's near me, I can't help myself: I'm always using it for something.
Ok guys... back off!!! She is already married. I am sure there are other gadget geeks of the female persuasion out there. :lol:

jawjuh
11-21-2005, 03:01 PM
Another phone? I seem to buy a new, expensive device every year. :? I bought the Verizon Treo 650 as soon as it came out and it was a step forward in that I could eliminate my PDA. Would like to get back onto Windows however because I don't like the TomTom navigator sofware but I do like iGuidance navigator. A couple of questions. Anyone know how the i730 would compare to the Treo? and is there an update to the i730 right around the corner? (that's another way I get caught. I buy one then a month later the latest and greatest comes out. Thanks in advance! :lol: