Sprint's PPC 6700 Pocket PC Phone Edition Reviewed

[Jon Westfall]

<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/sprint-6700-westfall.jpg" /><br /><br /><b>Product Category:</b> Pocket PC Phone Edition<br /><b>Manufacturer:</b> <a href="http://www.sprintpcs.com">Sprint PCS</a><br /><b>Where to Buy:</b> <a href="http://www.sprint.com/business/products/phones/ppc6700_allPcsPhones.jsp">Sprint Business Website</a><br /><b>Price:</b> Approx. $449.00 - $599.00 USD<br /><b>System Requirements:</b> ActiveSync 4.0<br /><b>Specifications:</b> 416 MHz Intel processor, QVGA Screen, QWERTY Slide Out keypad, 1900 / 800 MHz CDMA, WiFi, Bluetooth.<br /><br /><b>Pros:</b><li>Great form factor / Size for one-handed operation;<br /><li>Quick &amp; responsive;<br /><li>CDMA - Best pro for long suffering non-GSM users!<b>Cons:</b><li>Some users have reported problems with unit freezing up / semi-frequent resets.;<br /><li>Power users will miss screen real estate, especially if coming from a VGA unit;<br /><li>Battery life is that of a Pocket PC using a radio continuously - not that of a phone (Charge nightly ;) ).<b>Summary:</b><br />If you're not a GSM user, you are rather limited in which Pocket PC Phone Editions you can use. With Verizon's tendency to cripple everything, and the Treo 700w's lack of WiFi, many have looked to the PPC 6700 (or generically, HTC Apache) as a possible new companion. But how does it hold up? Was I impressed or depressed with my experience?<br /><br />Read on for the full review!<!><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>Opening Statement</b></span><br />I'd been waiting to get my hands on a review unit of Sprint's latest Pocket PC offering since late September. These things are hard to get! Anyway, arriving at my door, the packaging of this unit was very similar to most other HTC-based devices I'd seen (or most other devices in general!). Bucking a growing trend of the no-cradle packaging, we get a nice horizontal belt holster, cradle, USB charging / syncing cable, and mini-USB to wall outlet cable for charging. The adoption of mini-USB for charging and syncing is wonderful - and long overdue. Goodbye proprietary cables.<br /><br />Upon opening the box, you'll find a joyous plethora of things including:<li>Manual &amp; Quick Install Guide w/ CD (Outlook 2002, Demos, etc.);<br /><li>Horizontal phone holster case;<br /><li>USB cable &amp; AC charger;<br /><li>Headphones;<br /><li>Cradle;<br /><li>PPC 6700.<br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/westfall-ppc6700review-cradle.png" /> <br /><i>Figure 1: The PPC 6700 in its cradle. The cradle has an additional battery charging slot and 2 mini-USB connections on the back - one to the computer, the other to power.</i> <br /><br />The thing that blew me away the most about this device was the size. More on that later, but suffice it to say it made a BIG impression! Putting that aside, the device has very sturdy construction, and has a fair amount of weight. It is lighter at just over 6 oz than its often-complained about bigger brother, the JasJar (10.1 oz), but HTC seems to have accomplished this by using plastic quite a bit more than on the JasJar. Thankfully construction quality isn't sacrificed. The keyboard is the same style as the Universal's, unlike the round individual buttons of the K-JAM, and is backlit with white lights. The keys are responsive, have a nice feel to them, and leave only the desire for a full number row. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/westfall-6700review-backlight.png" /><br /><i>Figure 2: The PPC 6700's backlit keyboard in low light. The white color is a lot more pleasing to my eye than the red or blue on the Jasjar or K-JAM.</i> <br /><br />The soft buttons are placed next to the Q and P keys, causing them not to line up with the screen which can be a bit disorienting at first. The joystick (yes, joystick - it's raised enough to qualify) is very easy to use, and the addition of a Start &amp; OK button above it (missing on the K-JAM) is a nice feature. Moving away from navigation, the unit also has a dreaded antenna nub sticking up, which in use doesn't get in the way as much as it seems to get on the nerves. The unit's left side has an IR port, scroll button for volume, dedicated IE button, as well as record button. The right side has a camera button and the bottom houses a microphone, 2.5mm jack, mini-USB connector, &amp; reset hole. Finally the top has that horrible antenna (the device would be more beautiful in my opinion without it), a Mini-SD slot, and power switch. Where is the stylus you ask? In the antenna housing - it pulls out and is a fixed length. It has a tight fit, so I doubt it will fall out like a JasJar's or a K-JAM's. <br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>One Size Fits All?</b></span><br />A friend of mine, an avid PPC user since I sold him my original T-Mobile Pocket PC, was blown away by the size of the PPC 6700. Those unfamiliar with the Magician (JAM) or Wizard (K-JAM) will probably experience the same shock. Here's how the PPC 6700 stacks up against its brothers:<br /><br />HTC Apache (PPC-6700): 4.25 x 2.32 x 0.93 in (108 x 59 x 24 mm); 6.07 oz (172 g);<br />HTC Wizard (K-JAM): 4.25 x 2.28 x 0.93 in (108 x 58 x 24 mm); 5.64 oz (172 g);<br />HTC Universal (JasJar): 5 x 3.19 x 0.98 in (127 x 81 x 25 mm); 10 oz (285 g);<br />HTC Magician (JAM): 4.25 x 2.28 x 0.72 in (108 x 58 x 18 mm); 5.29 oz (150 g).<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/westfall-ppc6700review-compare.png" /><br /><i>Figure 3: The PPC 6700 along side an i-mate K-JAM, i-mate JasJar, and fifth Generation iPod (for those of you who carry an iPod but don't want a large PPC!).</i> <br /><br />As you can imagine, PPC users accustomed to a full size device will likely be very grateful to have this device in their pocket vs. a larger one. The phone also looks amazingly like... a phone! The one factor I've always admired about the Treo brand was that, when glancing at someone from a distance, they didn't look like they had a huge phone. They look like they're using a standard candJbar phone, and the PPC 6700 gives the same effect. <br /><br />So what's bad about the smaller size and less weight? Well, you're not going to have VGA on here as you would with the PPC 6700's bigger brother, and if you're a sysadmin tempted to carry around a device smaller than a JasJar, you'll notice this in terminal services. Check out the screen shots below of a terminal services session on the same box, the first screen is taken from a JasJar, the second from the PPC 6700. <br /><br /><img src=http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/westfall-6700review-jjarterm2.png><br /><img src=http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/westfall-6700review-6700term2.png><br /><img src=http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/westfall-6700review-jjarterm1.png><br /><img src=http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/westfall-6700review-6700term1.png><br /><br />"But Jon," I hear you cry, "I don't use Terminal Services, and I desperately want a smaller PPCPE - is VGA really that big of a deal?" Well, to be honest, unless you're doing something that takes advantage of the VGA screen, or just really like a pretty screen, you'll probably be OK with the resolution and screen size of the PPC 6700. Just make sure you get your hands on a unit to play with before you buy if you have any doubts!<br /><PAGEBREAK> <br /><span><b>Benchpressing</b></span><br />The dismal benchmarks of the WM 5 devices seem to continue. For the first time, all the devices listed are running WM 5, which probably is the best comparison for those of you who are in the market for a new device. Remember, with the change from files being stored in RAM to ROM comes an inevitable decrease in speed, and the PPC 6700's smaller size and slower processor don't help matters much.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/westfall-ppc6700review-benchmark.png" /> <br /><i>Figure 4: Overall the PPC-6700 edge's out the JasJar to prevent a last place finish.</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/westfall-ppc6700review-cpuspeed.png" /> <br /><i>Figure 5: No real surprise here. While the PPC 6700 has a 416 MHz processor, its numbers are lower than the E-TEN's. The JasJar at 520 MHz and the Axim at 624 MHz clearly show why those megahertz numbers are given. However, as we all know, speed isn't everything.</i> <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/westfall-ppc6700review-fs.png" /> <br /><i>Figure 6: This last benchmark shows my point that speed isn't everything. These numbers are on par for a WM 5 machine (remember that the Dell Axim x50v at 624 MHz running WM 2003 SE rated at around 1400 in the testing), and while they show the fundamental speed difference in WM 5, they also point out that the beefy Axim or a small PPC 6700 will still only show mediocre differences in some applications. The moral of the story? Faster device specs don't always mean best performance for your uses.</i> <br /><PAGEBREAK> <br /><span><b>A Conversion</b></span><br />Awhile back, I <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/index.php?action=expand,45048">asked you to tell me stories </a>of your own experiences converting others to our "dark side" of PPCs. The basis for this query was my own experience with a friend I'll name Mr. J and this device. <br /><br />Mr. J has been a geek ever since I met him, yet he always has stuck with computer hardware. He has the biggest and meanest toys on the block, but when it comes to personal electronics, he doesn't care much as long as they work. He resisted getting a pager, resisted getting a cell phone, and until recently, has very much resisted getting a Pocket PC. What's changed to make Mr. J want this device? What sold him on this? What points can you use to justify buying this device or use to convert someone else? In no particular order, here they are:<br /><br />1. Mr. J has recently been very busy finishing up his engineering degree. A hectic work schedule, many meetings, and new co-workers and project teammates mean he needs to be many places, talk to many people, and get back to others in a timely fashion. The value of an exchange-hosted calendar, contacts, and inbox becomes immediately apparent.<br /><br />2. Mr. J also has an active personal life, and cell phones just don't cut it when traveling frequently and needing to keep track of things. I've seen Mr. J, on numerous occasions, reach into his gadget bag and pull out some shriveled up piece of paper with important info on. This screams for the built-in notes application or any software with the word 'wallet' in it somewhere.<br /><br />3. Mr. J liked the camera, and since his good camera is still analog, a camera to take quick digital stills is needed.<br /><br />4. No one text messages quite like Mr. J. The keyboard will save his fingers much grief. After all, "I'll be there soon" is under 20 keypresses on a PPC 6700 (or less if you program it in). It's around 50 on an average phone!<br /><br />5. It's SMALL! Mr. J previously resisted Pocket PCs because of their size. Now it's small enough to fit in the console of his sleek Saturn Ion and easy enough to use one-handed. The stylus is firm, so it won't fall out as he jets around Columbus, Ohio, either.<br /><br />6. It's a Sprint. Mr. J doesn't want to switch carriers, after all, some of his best friends (like me) have just recently memorized his number. This has probably been a big kicker for many people - getting a decent PPCPE on a non-GSM network. Mr. J can use it on the familiar Sprint network, with minimal growing pains.<br /><br />These are just a few of the things we take for granted as PPC users, however, sometimes when we're frustrated at our friends' lack of desire to have a PPC we must remember (and point out to them) the basics. We know well how much these can do - we just need to take time to educate the poor masses who are stuck with ringtones &amp; wallpapers as the extent of customization they get!<br /><PAGEBREAK> <br /><span><b>Conclusions</b></span><br />The size, more than any other thing, took me by surprise with this device. I guess I had always assumed that devices like this, the HTC Wizard, and the HTC Magician couldn't be THAT small for viewing pictures. Rest assured, they are. This phone packs quite a feature set in a small package, including a very usable keyboard, great key layout, and a very readable and bright screen. In spite of a less than great battery life (especially for those of you who are used to charging a phone every few days vs. every day), and lack of VGA, this device is a winner - with many converts to prove it!<br /><br /><i> Jon Westfall is a full-time Graduate Student in Cognitive Psychology, a full-time system administrator for a small web-hosting company, and a full-time technology enthusiast. While not devoting 300% of himself to his hobbies &amp; work, Jon enjoys spending time with his fiancé Karey and various geek and non-geek friends around the Northern Ohio Area.</i>

[that_kid]

Nice writeup, I can tell you that I've been very happy with my 6700. At first I was somewhat worried because I was coming from the large screen of the ppc6600 but the keyboard, wifi, and more important AKU2 made me give it a shot. I have to say the latest rom release not only added MSFP but the device is much more responsive than before. At first I thought it was that "new rom feel" but after I stuffed the device with all the apps I had installed before the update I found that the device was just as responsive. I have to agree with you on the battery life and once you go direct push things don't improve. So I purchased a 2400mah extended battery. I figure I won't use the extended battery all that much, just on trips where I know I will be away from normal charging power. I'll probably get another standard battery as well, all in all this device is great and that's coming from a person who's been using a Treo 700 and JasJar.

[Tony Rylow]

After seeing this 6700 device in person att he time Jon was reviewing it, I was just blown away. After using the T-Mobile PPC Phone for a while I had a need for a more compact device. After going though a couple cheap phones, I switched to a Razr. Shortly after, the ppc phone suffered an unfortunate incident with some booze. I picked up a Dell Axim X30 a couple months later. After several months, I was growing tired of hauling both the PPC and razr. After initially seeing this phone, and shortly after, Jon's K-Jam, I just had to have one. I am the proud owner of a T-Mobile MDA now.

[rcclark333]

You must have gotten an early model of this phone. The lighting on the keyboard on the early (red Sprint logo) is white and the light shows through the red characters also, whereas the newer version (yellow Sprint logo) has blue back lighting and the red lettering on the keys are not lit up. I don't know why they changed this as it is real hard to use this in a dimly lit situation when you want to use the special characters.

I have had mine since early January &amp; I am loving it. It does what I want from this type of device.

[IpaqMan2]

Perhaps I missed it in the article, but was the review done with Sprint's recent Rom UpGrade for the PPC-6700? If not than I can honestly say that since upgrading to the newest ROM upgrade it has change my experince of using the PPC-6700. It's much faster and responsive. Gone is the delay or feeling of lag from application to application as well as switching from portrat to landscape and than back and rarely if ever does my PPC-6700 freeze or locks up any more. Defenitly worth the upgrade. At least for me it was like getting a whole new device again =)

[Kacey Green]

Its nice they got a decent PPCPE finally but it will take more than that to get me to switch to CDMA
If the wizard (MDA) doesn't need an external antenna, why does this one?

[ctmagnus]

I checked out one of these in a Telus store yesterday. I concur with IpaqMan2 about the speed in portrait &lt;--> landscape switching. Unfortunately, I also concur with Kacey Green about CDMA vs GSM. And I've standardized on SD. I have 3 - 1GB SD cards and I'm not about to toss them all to switch to miniSD. So, overall, this is a no-go for me.

[aristoBrat]

I'm really really *really* bummed about the battery life.

Using Sprint's Business Connect software (which pushes email to the device), I can unplug the 6700 from the cradle around 8am and have it be down to 60% of battery by 11am, having made zero phone calls.

I can charge it at my desk at work, but I'm not sure what I'd do on the days when I'm out in the field.

Other than that, I love (!!) the 6700.

[that_kid]

I can charge it at my desk at work, but I'm not sure what I'd do on the days when I'm out in the field.

Other than that, I love (!!) the 6700.

Do like I did and buy an extra battery, if you really need more power you may want to get an extended battery.

[Kacey Green]

but he made no calls just listening for push email, thats crazy, I'd call tech support just to be sure if thats normal.

[that_kid]

If the network admin didn't change the timeout interval on the firewall then what he's seeing is normal. The timeout should be set somewhere between 15 and 30 minutes. Before I made that change battery usage was high. Now it's somewhat back to normal but there have been reports of high battery usage with this rom over the original rom with/without push enabled

[Kacey Green]

eek :|

[Pony99CA]

You must have gotten an early model of this phone.
I wondered about that, too, when Jon said "the upcoming Treo 700w". The Treo 700w has been out for a while, so this review must have had quite a publishing delay. Or maybe Jon was too busy to fit writing the review in his 300%-committed day. :D

Steve

[aristoBrat]

If the network admin didn't change the timeout interval on the firewall then what he's seeing is normal.

Sigh. I'm responsible for 1/2 a data center of production servers, so I depend on email being pushed immediately. A 15-30 minute delayed notification that a server went down would definately mean my butt, and perhaps even my job depending on the server.

My CDMA BlackBerrys (with the same amount of emails pushed + light web surfing + 3-5 quick phone calls) always ended the day with around 90% of the battery left.

I knew WM used a bit more juice than that, but was still hoping to make it a whole day (with instant push email) without having to recharge/switch batteries.

The solution I was using to get push email on my 6700 was the Sprint Business Connection. Maybe when BlackBerry releases the BlackBerry Connect software for Windows Mobile it'll somehow be able to use a bit less battery?

[eddietiger]

Mr. Westfal has obviously been unduly influenced, in some fashion, by the cell phone services that sell the 6700 or by Audiovox a/k/a UTC Starcom, which manufactures (or distributes) it, to review the 6700. I had the first unit that was released to the market by one of the carriers, and, having previously used a 6600, can candidly say that this unit leaves MUCH to be desired. It is SLOWER on ALL Microsoft applications than either the 6600 or the Samsung i730; it is SLOWER when surfing the net using Wi-Fi; it is markedly SLOWER on the net when using EV-DO, than ALL of the Windows Mobile SE devices currently being marketed by Sprint and Verizon. It freezes for lack of sufficient memory (it is a hog) constantly, and, does not even have a sufficient version of JAVA to go beyond the initial accessing of certain websites; it will not permit certain "sign-ins" or searching within the search engines of certain websites, even though ALL the other Windows based Pocket PCs running 2003 SE are able to do so. Windows Mobile 5.0 has a LONG way to go before it is perfected or, even, suitably servicable in comparision to its predecessor, or for the power user who does e-mail and web surfing and uses Outlook, Word or Excel. In addition, its battery life is an abomination. Taken altogether, the SMART power user of a Pocket PC will steer clear of BOTH the 6700 AND Windows Mobile 5.0, until both the manufacturer of this device and Microsoft "get their act together". Wake up or straighten up, and tell it like it is, Mr. Westfal -- not the way the manufactuer and carriers WANT you to tell it.

[aristoBrat]

Hmmmm.

I find the 6700 quite responsive. It may benchmark slower than the i730/6600, but I don't find myself clicking on anything and getting irritated that it's taking too long.

Maybe I've been away from the Pocket PC world for too long. :)

[Enderet]

Mr. Westfal has obviously been unduly influenced, in some fashion, by the cell phone services that sell the 6700 or by Audiovox a/k/a UTC Starcom, which manufactures (or distributes) it, to review the 6700. I had the first unit that was released to the market by one of the carriers, and, having previously used a 6600, can candidly say that this unit leaves MUCH to be desired. It is SLOWER on ALL Microsoft applications than either the 6600 or the Samsung i730; it is SLOWER when surfing the net using Wi-Fi; it is markedly SLOWER on the net when using EV-DO, than ALL of the Windows Mobile SE devices currently being marketed by Sprint and Verizon. It freezes for lack of sufficient memory (it is a hog) constantly, and, does not even have a sufficient version of JAVA to go beyond the initial accessing of certain websites; it will not permit certain "sign-ins" or searching within the search engines of certain websites, even though ALL the other Windows based Pocket PCs running 2003 SE are able to do so. Windows Mobile 5.0 has a LONG way to go before it is perfected or, even, suitably servicable in comparision to its predecessor, or for the power user who does e-mail and web surfing and uses Outlook, Word or Excel. In addition, its battery life is an abomination. Taken altogether, the SMART power user of a Pocket PC will steer clear of BOTH the 6700 AND Windows Mobile 5.0, until both the manufacturer of this device and Microsoft "get their act together". Wake up or straighten up, and tell it like it is, Mr. Westfal -- not the way the manufactuer and carriers WANT you to tell it.

Seem like a troll.

[Jon Westfall]

You must have gotten an early model of this phone.
I wondered about that, too, when Jon said "the upcoming Treo 700w". The Treo 700w has been out for a while, so this review must have had quite a publishing delay. Or maybe Jon was too busy to fit writing the review in his 300%-committed day. :D

Steve

Yea, there was a bit of a hold up due to miscommunication on this one. If I remember right, I had finished that section right before the 700w was out and then missed it during the proof-read. I'll fix it ;)

[Jon Westfall]

Mr. Westfal has obviously been unduly influenced, in some fashion, by the cell phone services that sell the 6700 or by Audiovox a/k/a UTC Starcom, which manufactures (or distributes) it, to review the 6700.

Firstly, if HTC (The manufacturer) or Sprint (The distributor in this case) had paid me or used some "influence", I certainly was unaware of it. Maybe they spelled my last name wrong or something and I never got the bribe.


I had the first unit that was released to the market by one of the carriers, and, having previously used a 6600, can candidly say that this unit leaves MUCH to be desired. It is SLOWER on ALL Microsoft applications than either the 6600 or the Samsung i730; it is SLOWER when surfing the net using Wi-Fi; it is markedly SLOWER on the net when using EV-DO, than ALL of the Windows Mobile SE devices currently being marketed by Sprint and Verizon.

YOU had the FIRST unit? Wow. I guess you HAVEN'T seen the major differences between 2003 SE and WM 5 that GENERALLY show WM 5 devices to be slower due to FILES store in ROM vs. RAM. YOUR keyboard's CAPS LOCK also seems to be a bit spastic.


It freezes for lack of sufficient memory (it is a hog) constantly

Really, that must be why my test unit in the entire month of testing required only 2 soft resets. I just chalked it up to the fact it wasn't my daily driver, but I did have a lot of play time with it, and it was the initial ROM which is usually a bit buggy. I also never noticed that the device resembled a pig either, so I guess I'm just not that observant.

Wake up or straighten up, and tell it like it is, Mr. Westfal -- not the way the manufactuer and carriers WANT you to tell it.

Again, apparently there was a lot of missed communication between the PR firm that sent me the device (I did get their 2 emails regarding shipping information and return information though... odd) and my conscious awareness - yet as edietigger seems to think, my review had their hidden inuendos in it. I guess I should go visit a psychoanalyst to figure out how those thoughts slipped through my normally attentive consciousness.

[echernosky]

Is the screen too small for anyone else besides me?

[ctmagnus]

Is the screen too small for anyone else besides me?

I found it to be usable. Using the sip keyboard with standard settings was a bit tedious, but I find that to be the case on a 4" screen device as well.

[jmekstro]

The only point I disagree with is regarding the stylus. Mine has fallen out several times while the phone was in the holster. I wish there was some type of latch over it to keep it in place. Other than that, the it's great!

[Jon Westfall]

The only point I disagree with is regarding the stylus. Mine has fallen out several times while the phone was in the holster. I wish there was some type of latch over it to keep it in place. Other than that, the it's great!

Really? The one on my unit was held in pretty tightly. If all else fails you could put a small piece of black electrical tape over the top tape it down, albeit that's not the best solution.

[ctmagnus]

The only point I disagree with is regarding the stylus. Mine has fallen out several times while the phone was in the holster. I wish there was some type of latch over it to keep it in place. Other than that, the it's great!

Really? The one on my unit was held in pretty tightly. If all else fails you could put a small piece of black electrical tape over the top tape it down, albeit that's not the best solution.

A better idea might be to put a bit of scotch tape around the stylus to give it just enough friction to stay in the holder.

[Argelius]

I am a gadget-addict who has become increasingly bored with my Treo 650 which I've had for nearly 2 years. For me, that's like an alcoholic sipping off the same bottle of wine for 2 days...

I use Sprint with no major complaints (and their data plan in cheap), so I'm seriously considering the PPC-6700. If you would can you indulge me in a couple of questions:

[1] For moderate daily phone/pda/email/internet (non WiFi) use, will the battery die before the day is out? (All of the reviews -- here and elsewhere -- mention battery life as a con and now I'm scared...)

[2] I am sure the answer to this is "no", but has anyone tried the alpha of MissingSync http://www.markspace.com/testing/MSWM25_alpha.html#issues to sync with a Mac? Currently there is no way to sync WM5.0 with a Mac which bums me out....

[3] Anyone have a new BMW 3-series? Curious how the Bluetooth works...

[4] General WM 5.0 question: (It's been a while since I've had a PPC) I assume that software must be written specificall for WM 5.0? Is there much stuff out there yet?

Thanks for your thoughts!

[Pony99CA]

General WM 5.0 question: (It's been a while since I've had a PPC) I assume that software must be written specificall for WM 5.0?
Actually, I don't believe that's true. A lot of software written for older Pocket PCs should work on WM 5. Software written for WM 2003 and earlier probably won't take advantage of landscape mode, and software written for anything prior to WM 5 obviously won't take advantage of any new WM 5 features, but you should still have a lot of software that works.

In fact, pocketnow started a sister site, WM5FixSite (http://www.wm5fixsite.com/), to list software that worked with WM 5. Unfortunately, I didn't see a list of the earliest program version that worked with WM 5 for the programs I checked out, so some of the software listed as working may require updates.

Steve

[Jon Westfall]

[1] For moderate daily phone/pda/email/internet (non WiFi) use, will the battery die before the day is out? (All of the reviews -- here and elsewhere -- mention battery life as a con and now I'm scared...)


I'm assuming that you can probably get by without a spare battery if you don't intend on using WiFi all day. I've never had a Pocket PC die on me before the day is out without WiFi use. Charging nightly is a good idea, and since the device comes with a cradle, if you're at any one particular computer for a few minutes here and there, the cradle can recharge you during the day.


[2] I am sure the answer to this is "no", but has anyone tried the alpha of MissingSync http://www.markspace.com/testing/MSWM25_alpha.html#issues to sync with a Mac? Currently there is no way to sync WM5.0 with a Mac which bums me out....


Uh... no ;) I'm actually hoping someone has more information on MissingSync in general - it's a product we don't hear much about and I hope that it will be a reality for our Mac friends to sync in the near future. In the meintime, as far as sync'ing goes, you could always try a hosted exchange service to sync contacts, calendar, tasks, &amp; email with a central source.

[3] Anyone have a new BMW 3-series? Curious how the Bluetooth works...

Wish I could help you here, but unfortunately my car was built a fair time before Bluetooth graced this earth ;)

[4] General WM 5.0 question: (It's been a while since I've had a PPC) I assume that software must be written specificall for WM 5.0? Is there much stuff out there yet?

As was mentioned, most WM 2003 programs will work with 5, with some rare exceptions here and there.

[minimage]

A better idea might be to put a bit of scotch tape around the stylus to give it just enough friction to stay in the holder.

That worked once for me; now the tape is in the phone for all eternity. Not to worry, though, I did it days before reading this.