This is going to be a two part article because the phone is (hopefully) arriving later today. So this is about what I’m expecting and when it arrives we’ll see if it meets expectations.
I am currently a Palm 700p user but my old phone is falling apart, apps no longer work, support sucks and it’s time to get out of the PalmOs world. I considered the iPhone but decided not to for several reasons. I like Verizon and didn’t want to go back to AT&T. I need multitasking which, from what I read, the iPhone runs one app at a time. Having played with software keyboards, I decided I wanted a real keyboard. I need tethering without having to “jailbreak” the phone. I didn’t want a phone that was “jailed” in the first place and I don’t want to do business with a company that might turn my phone into a brick if they don’t like what I’m doing with MY phone. (I buy it – it’s MINE!) And I don’t need a million apps, I need 10 apps that actually work well.
I also decided I wanted a big screen so a full screen phone with a slide-out keyboard looked like the best of both worlds. I also want a stable platform that is going to be supported, lots of apps and isn’t going away, so I went with Windows Mobile. Not as sexy as the iPhone but I always seem to come back to Windows because Windows actually works. (I’m picky about the “actually works” feature. And I don’t have to join a cult to own it.)
Customer reviews are good so my expectations are very high for this phone. I’m thinking this is a phone I’m going to be really happy with so if it doesn’t work really well then I’ll be easily disappointed. The most common complaint is that the phone is big but I actually want a big phone. I’m a beefy guy and capable of lifting an ounce more than most people. And if I had a choice, I’d rather have something that was even bigger, like a netbook, but 1/2 the size. So I’m looking at this as a portable computer as well as a phone.
Will I be happy? Later today, when I get, it we’ll see. They are sending it to me with a new phone number so I’m going to need to get them to move my old number to it so that will be the first test to see if Verizon gets that right. So – will I be happy? What do you think?
Your squirrel is young: are you gonna teach him to use it?
“And I don’t need a million apps, I need 10 apps that actually work well … I also want a stable platform that is going to be supported, lots of apps…”
const int lots = 10;
#18 Proofreading may be for the weak, but I see someone went through and fixed the grammar and spelling errors. What a weakling…
#16 I guess you wouldn’t see my beef if it already got fixed.
Wow, an actual article about technology…amazing
I have the Verizon Touch Pro2 since Monday. I do like it a lot.
Opera is a good browser but I also did install skyfire too.
I am using WMWifiRouter to tether. I am not sure if you need to pay the $15 to tether if you are using this app.
The battery life is ok; I am considering getting the extended battery.
I recommend getting a micro sd card and install.
Here are some app that I find useful
Parlingo: All in one IM client
Qik: Live video streaming
Evernote: Note
Kinoma Play: A media player that can stream podcast and audiobook
The FEDEX guy came when I wasn’t here so I’ll have to pick it up at 6:30 tonight in San Jose.
#24 The extanded battery needs a new back cover because it’s thicker than the original. It won’t fit in the car holder with this. Better to buy 1 or 2 extra regular.
I had the thicker extended battery in my ipaq, but there was no problem to have it fit in most of the ipaq’s accessories. You might have that problem with the Pro2.
For media player with podcast & UPnP support, I got Pocket Player. I’ll give it a look at Kinoma
What’s tethering?
I also have a touch pro 2 (Telus) and love it. Great battery life! You’ll love it.
3 words
Blackberries are excellent
I’ve been through the same thing and there doesn’t seem to be a good solution. Trying to get a modern single device that will do everything that a phone will do and everything that a PDA will do, yet not cost you an arm and a leg in pointless monthly data charges… just doesn’t exist.
About the closest I can find is the Nokia N810, which is still an out-of-production device, but it runs the Palm desktop. Still a secondary device but it’s cheap and apparently it works. Might have to get one sometime and try it.
You will be happy when the windows mobile 6.5 Rom comes out for it. Its much easier to use and more finger friendly for quick items.
My solution ended up being a $200 Acer netbook and a dumb phone. Important email from people that actually matter get auto forwarded as IM to the dumb phone. It has a calculator and an alarm clock and a stupid little camera. That’s all I need. On the family plan it costs $35 / month.
If you are going to have to do ‘real’ computing with a real keyboard and a decent display, such as having to remote into your servers, I would choose a netbook with a cellular adapter any day over a smart phone.
I miss my old palm. Having it around to keep up with notes and my calendar was great.
#32 Another “finger friendly” whiner. If you were unable to handle a winmobile device with one hand, the problem is you.
My HTC Touch Pro was the biggest piece of garbage I have ever used. It’s like HTC never even used it before the shipped it. When a call comes in, the screen wakes and if you touch anything other than “answer” it loses the call. This happens 90% of the time its in a pouch, because, if the screen touches the flap you loses the call. After connecting a call the screen goes blank and you have to wake it and call up the keyboard to do anything else. Getting voicemail requires you to wake the screen three time to get your email. Four if you use a password. The default setting in email is “reply all” to use reply you need to access a menu. NONE OF THESE CAN BE CHANGED IN PREFERENCES. Next there is Windows Immobile. If the call log gets larger than about 50 calls the phone locks up for about 6 to 10 seconds after every call. Utter garbage.
My initial impression is not good. Goiong to look at it again tomorrow.
#36 Are you gonna keep on copying and pasting that crap? Man, none of the things you claim are true, not one!
There’s no default “reply all”; there’s no “touching anything other than answer”, unless you’re so moronic that you keep on pushing the Reject button; there’s no need to wake-p the device in a call.
Can you be more full of shit?
#37 Get rid of the start menu that’s in the pic you used for the article. It’s annoying to no end. I would have returned mine if I didn’t disable it.
Pedro. Absolutely everything I have said is exactly the case. If you doubt me, email Tac mobility in Vancouver and ask them why they exchanged at no cost, every HTC we have in our company for other smart phones. All with less than a year on the contracts. Perhaps other networks have different versions of the phone, but I can assure you the units being peddled by Telus is utter garbage. Oh, BTW fuck you!