Usual indeciveness...

[JoeKool]

Well..my cell phone plan is up..got a new job with a need to use a PDA..and well..heres the dilemna.

1.To get a cell phone AND a PDA or combine em. If I get seperate ones, I really like the little Samsung phones..but of course..they dont have Bluetooth.

2.If I combine em..Ive been looking at many types..Id prefer something as small as possible, and of course, with great net viewability and ease of use.

So..I have heard some great things about the new RIM Blackberry 7230..but theres no reviews on this site..

And then there is the P800..but thats nearly 2x the cost, and is about 8-9 months older...

And then there is some color Motorola one/..clamshell design..but I havent figured out the name..but I saw a B/W one on their website..but a girl I saw at my office has one in color (but she recently got fired before I could ask...)

So..essentially..what do you guys think? Any preferences...any good rumors about upcoming products..etc.

[The Roo]

O2 & T-Mobile are set to launch their PDA/Mobile combi's real soon.

T-Mobile's MDA II : (http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/3997.html)
Integrated VGA camera, Bluetooth, Windows Mobile 2003, Tri-Band, SDIO cards/accessories supported.

O2's XDA II : (http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/3763.html)
Same specs as T-mobile's.
The photo on this site is NOT the XDA II, but the first one. Click here (http://msmobiles.com/news.php/1134.html) for actual photo.

You might also want to look into Samsung's I700 and Handspring's Treo 600- but I was very disappointed to learn they are without Bluetooth.

PS. UK edition of T3 (issue 89, Sep 2003) highly rated the Blackberry 7230 giving it top marks in all fields. However, it has not got a touch-sensitive screen, not Bluetooth and not Mac-compatible. It is essentially a top-notch mobile E-Mailer.

[JoeKool]

Thanks for the info. Since I am in the states it is hard to find a copy of T3..though I have seen it and read it. Anyways..do you know how it reviews the web browser on the blackberry 7230..as well as being able to download a new borwser, games, any other apps..etc?

Im not against the P800..it seems to work quite well..but it isnt exactly what I thought I'd need. Hence my desire to know more about the blackberry or other models around.

I may be somehow screwed in that I want a small phone and a great pda..but the pda has to be able to view the web without going WLAN..which would mean essentially getting 2 phones :|
I think that what I want..and what I can get..are 2 seperate things!

Or I should just fly to Asia and get what I need there. I am sure it is available in Tokyo or Hong Kong :)

[The Roo]

Right then, JoeKool, since I haven't learnt how to stick a file/picture onto these forums I'm gonna have to do it the old fashioned way. Here it goes...
________________________________________


" Unlike most other devices that can receive email on the go, this one was born to do so. Yes, it incorporates a PDA and Tri-Band GPRS-capable phone, but these facilities are ancillary to the prime function: mobile email. The other unique quality of Rim's new gadget is that it works on a 'push' system- emails come to you without the need to log in to your ISP to get them.
Diminutive in its proportions, this handheld...comes equiped with a splendid positive-acting 34-key qwerty 'thumb' keyboard. An ear speaker and mic are built into the body while a hands-free (not supplied) can also be plugged in.
The backlit screen...is not touch-sensitive- all menu operations are carried out via a track-wheel & selector- but you soon get used to the method of operation.
...will sync with PC (contacts, appointments, tasks, emails)...via USB.
There's even a wireless service for attachments (inc. Word, Excel, PDF's among others), which enables you to view and forward them...
Web browsing is possible, but there's no Internet Explorer experience. You can, however, click on Web links in emails to save time launching pages.
...the device is J2ME-based, there's a stack of third-party software you can aquire...
The moment email arrives it alerts you (via tone, vibration or both)...
We managed to get nearly 4 days life out of our unit [never turned off] during which we received 600-odd emails... the Blackberry can even suck juice via your PC/Laptop's USB port.
Crucially, this thing works incredibly well as a phone. Call quality is excellent... [but ringtones are not polyphonic]. "
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Organiser functions: Calendar, Address Book, Tasks, Memo Pad, Alarm.

- 240x160 passive TFT LCD.

- 16MB flash memory/ 2MB RAM (NO EXPANSION SLOTS).

- Weight: 136g
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N.B. This was tested on T-Mobile's UK network.


More Info (http://www.blackberry.net/uk/products/pdfs/BlackBerry_Overview%20Brochure_English.pdf)

Official Site Product Info (http://www.blackberry.net/uk/products/handheld/blackberry7230.shtml)
(There's a very interesting product demo you can view on this site. It'll show you exactly how it accesses web-sites...)

I trust T3's opinion as I have agreed with them 9/10 times during the years I have been reading their mag.

Personally, I can't f**king wait for the SE P810/900 to be released. I really can't. But we won't be seeing it this side of Christmas...

[JoeKool]

Thanks for the scoop on the Blackberry, Roo.
I had read the P810/900 is almost identical to the P800 except for a few minor changes and fixes..the same OS, same body/shape..etc..
Do you have info to support or refute that? I'd be very interested in the 810 or 900 from Sony Ericsson, especially if they truly improved the 800. It seems it is very powerful, my only true complaint is the price at the moment. In the states it is $699.00 before service, headset..etc
Of course..once the 810 ships, I'd hope the 800 would drop in price...;)

[The Roo]

As I understand it, the camera hasn't been upgraded from the P800 (640x480- it hasn't quite reached 1 megapixel like in the Asian market, but it's still on a par with the current top-spec camera phones- although I wouldn't be surprised if this changes). It will run on an updated OS (Symbian UIQ 7. x / 8 ?), faster processor, has an updated touchcreen (65k as opposed to the P800's 4096), larger jog-dial, slightly smaller dimensions (definetly thinner than P800), a [better quality than Nokia's 7650 software] video recorder- something P800 owner's are having difficulty in finding for their own mobile, incorporates a 'real' PDA-like stylus pen, and it seems it will still use Sony's Memory Stick Duo (up to 128MB). But my guess is that part of the delay and the reason why SE have yet to announce it at all the past trade shows is that they would like to implement their new Memory Stick PRO cards into the phone, which can take memory up to 1GB. I also expect the styling to change ever-so slightly from its current concept form to the commercially produced end result.

A lot can (& will) change between now and its eventual release date. Have a look through MobileBurn's search engine & forums for more info. No doubt it'll be very expensive on launch, but thats the price you pay for new technology. Once you see the new model, you won't want to buy the 'out-dated' P800. Not saying it's a sh*t phone, not at all, but that's the way it goes.

Since you didn't mind the lack of Bluetooth in the Blackberry, I would really recommend you go for the Handspring Treo 600 (http://www.handspring.com/treo600/) . Great for Web-browsing, email, contacts, phone, etc. & it'll no doubt be cheaper than the P810/900 when it gets released, and it'll get released sooner as well. I haven't got any reviews on it though & I haven't got a release date yet- so don't ask! Just hit the links (http://www.handspring.com/newsletter/treo600_enews_archive.jhtml) I'm supplying and make your own judgement. Hope this all helps... and not confuse the situation further!

[JoeKool]

I have the Treo 600 on my list..the only negative thing I have heard about it is its not 65k colors or something..and that the display is much smaller than most other PDA/Phones..otherwise..it is supposedly pretty darn cool..I have of course read some articles on it.

Sounds like the 810 might be the way to go..if I can afford the price and wait ;)

[Michael]

The treo's screen is indeed smaller, but the resolution is the same. And since you are not relying on stylus input, I don't find that to be a problem.

[The Roo]

Breaks down like this:

If you're looking for a "combined PDA & cell phone" and "prefer something as small as possible" then it seems the Treo 600 is the one for you. You'd have to expect the screen size to be comprimised in such a small package, but even then the screen is still very usable.

You talk about money being an issue; wouldn't seperate PDA & mobile cost you extra? Not just to purchase them but the running costs & bills also.

Make a list of priority features in a PDA/Mobile, starting with essentials going down to luxury features: then go with the one that satisfies the most features on the list. You won't find a device that'll satisfy ALL on the list. So you may have to sacrifice a few luxury features and 1 or 2 essentials.

PS. Bare in mind that the P810/900 won't be around for about another 3-4 months...

[incognito]

I think you need to decide whether it's the PDA function that is more important or the cell phone that can act like (smaller version) PDA. Cuz both has its own advantages.. smartphone like the SPV or Qtek-7070 has the ability to do the PDA's job but with a smaller screen and u can't use stylus to input data, P-800 (or the new P-810/900) do more phone functions than PDA although it has touch screen and stylus like the PDA.. if you tend to need the PDA functions (correct me if I'm wrong), I would wait for the upcoming T-Mobile MDA-II (XDA II) -- or at least til Michael had a chance to review it. Cuz' I would like to have one too.. :D

:eek: Michael? any comment on this MDA-II?