MTekk Reviews the O2 Xda Atom Exec

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.mtekk.com.au/Articles/tabid/54/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/713/O2XDAAtomExecReview.aspx' target='_blank'>http://www.mtekk.com.au/Articles/ta...ExecReview.aspx</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20060805-xdaatomexec.jpg" /><br /><br />Those of you with a hankerin' for O2's <a href="http://www.seeo2.com/product/XdaAtomExec/template/Product.vm">Xda Atom Exec</a> should head over to <a href="http://www.mtekk.com.au/Articles/tabid/54/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/713/O2XDAAtomExecReview.aspx">MTekk</a> for a rundown of what this device can and cannot do (admittedly, not much with regard to the latter). It's only available in the Asia-Pacific, but hey, that's nothing a quick import can't solve. ;)

[x51vuser]

.... but this is another clone !

1. No keyboard
2. No VGA
3. No SD slot
4. No 128MB RAM
5. No front camera
6. No HSPDA

[rassah]

I noticed the Exec comes with a rather sleek and sexy looking IR keyboard. (think small keyboard with Moto Razr phone style laser cut keys). I asked this in another post (which I deleted since it's probably more appropriate herE), but can someone tell me how this phone stacks up to the Tytn? Keyboard I guess is not much of an issue, since they both have one (although IR is probably flaky). There's an FM radio, plus, but no front video conferencing camera, minus (doubt US will have providers that let you use it any time soon. Especially on the East coast). Atom Exec also has more memory, and it seems a standard miniUSB port (the pictures of the Tytn show their USB conector as being weird/cut off on one end).
Is there any other major differences I should consider if I was decding between the Atom Exec and the Tytn? Both are about $750, and I want to make sure I make a good decision before droping that amount of money on something two weeks from now.

[rassah]

Ugh. Just noticed two more things the Atom is lacking: Bluetooth 2.0 and Wifi 802.11g (both available on a TyTN).

[alese]

I noticed the Exec comes with a rather sleek and sexy looking IR keyboard. (think small keyboard with Moto Razr phone style laser cut keys). I asked this in another post (which I deleted since it's probably more appropriate herE), but can someone tell me how this phone stacks up to the Tytn? Keyboard I guess is not much of an issue, since they both have one (although IR is probably flaky). There's an FM radio, plus, but no front video conferencing camera, minus (doubt US will have providers that let you use it any time soon. Especially on the East coast). Atom Exec also has more memory, and it seems a standard miniUSB port (the pictures of the Tytn show their USB conector as being weird/cut off on one end).
Is there any other major differences I should consider if I was decding between the Atom Exec and the Tytn? Both are about $750, and I want to make sure I make a good decision before droping that amount of money on something two weeks from now.

TyTN has 3G (UMTS) and possibly HSDPA, Atom has only EDGE, so if fast data connection is something you need TyTN is much better.
Also TyTN has built in keyboard, that Atom lacks.
Atom on the other hand has much more FlashROM (192M) than TyTN (128M) and it's smaller (both shorter and thinner).

[Darius Wey]

.... but this is another clone !

Another clone of...?

[Darius Wey]

Keyboard I guess is not much of an issue, since they both have one (although IR is probably flaky).

Before nailing specs, I think you should consider usability first. You'll be using this device day to day, so what matters most to you? Ease of use? If so, the keyboard plays a key factor here. When you're typing an SMS while walking, the TyTN's slide-out keyboard will help a lot. With the Atom, you can't afford to setup an IR keyboard. It's just too messy, and so you'll have to rely on tap-typing on the screen. Which do you prefer? Are you a strong tap-typist? If so, then a keyboard may be something you don't really need.

[angler]

Before nailing specs, I think you should consider usability first.
I second. On screen keyboard justify the balance of effective input method and the form factor of PDA. More RAM will inevitably drain the battery faster unless the device carries a large battery. Jasjar is one of the example in the market which not even looks like a PDA.

[x51vuser]

.... but this is another clone !

Another clone of...?

You know ... i-mate JAM, JAMin ... I am not sure what were HTC model names. Few minor upgrades and that is it

[Darius Wey]

You know ... i-mate JAM, JAMin ... I am not sure what were HTC model names. Few minor upgrades and that is it

Well, the Xda Atom and Xda Atom Exec aren't even based on any HTC devices. They were built by Quanta. A clone? Perhaps, but then we must not forget that the current range of devices are more evolutionary then revolutionary, and that a lot of devices now bear similarity to their predecessors, and even devices manufactured by other companies. I think Quanta did a good job with the Atoms. They introduced an FM radio (something the JAM and JAMin don't have), they made it a lot smaller (even smaller than the JAM and JAMin), and they also packed a 262K-colour screen as opposed to a 65K-colour one. I wouldn't call those "minor upgrades". The 520MHz processor and 192MB ROM - sure - but the aforementioned I would consider more significant upgrades.

[ppcsurfr]

.... but this is another clone !

Another clone of...?

You know ... i-mate JAM, JAMin ... I am not sure what were HTC model names. Few minor upgrades and that is it

Nope... they are not related in anyway... different manufacturer, different look, different hardware... etc.

A parallel device though from the same company (Quanta) is the HP 6828 which is cosmetically different from the original Atom... This one is a souped up Atom.

Mabuhay! ~ Carlo

[stylinexpat]

I will be buying a new PDA next week and am debating wether to buy the new Atom Exec or the new Doopod 838 Pro. What do you guys think? I don't want any dropped calls, echoing or crashes.
Here is an article on the 838 Pro
http://www.cnetasia.com/reviews/handhelds/0,39001703,39268469p,00.htm

[x51vuser]

You know ... i-mate JAM, JAMin ... I am not sure what were HTC model names. Few minor upgrades and that is it

Well, the Xda Atom and Xda Atom Exec aren't even based on any HTC devices. They were built by Quanta. A clone? Perhaps, but then we must not forget that the current range of devices are more evolutionary then revolutionary, and that a lot of devices now bear similarity to their predecessors, and even devices manufactured by other companies. I think Quanta did a good job with the Atoms. They introduced an FM radio (something the JAM and JAMin don't have), they made it a lot smaller (even smaller than the JAM and JAMin),

I see ... on the pic it looks comparable to JAMs in size.
Well I wrote about things important to me ... I would like also cradle.
The separate keyboard mentioned in other post is nice although it
lacks some support to hold the phone ..... but I would like device with integrated keyeboard like Treos.

[Muntasser]

hi, this device looks incredible. whats the word on battery life?

[Darius Wey]

hi, this device looks incredible. whats the word on battery life?

According to the reviewer, it's comparable to that of the JAMin, which usually offers a lot of hours per charge. It's hard to give an exact figure, since it depends heavily on usage patterns - e.g., frequency and duration of calls, use of Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi, display brightness, day to day applications, etc.

[ctmagnus]

hi, this device looks incredible. whats the word on battery life?

According to the reviewer, it's comparable to that of the JAMin...

And I've seen anywhere from 8-14 hours reported usage on my JAMin.

[Janak Parekh]

Ugh. Just noticed two more things the Atom is lacking: Bluetooth 2.0 and Wifi 802.11g (both available on a TyTN).
If my memory also serves correctly, the Atom also does not support the GSM 850 band -- which makes it less useful for North American users.

--janak