News + Articles
Sign In
Create Account
0
I really want to like the Smartphone. It is so close to being great it hurts. Unfortunately its shortcomings let it down badly.
It promises features that really excite me – web browsing, Messenger, email, a music player. It delivers these with various levels of success.
I love, for instance, the speaker phone. It works really well. But then that’s negated by the fact that last night two different people (on 2 different landlines) said, that when I was using the handset normally, I sounded really echoey and distant.
But then again the Smartphone holds a signal like nothing else I’ve known. If I go to my kitchen, any other phone gives up the ghost. Not this one – not only have I had no calls drop, they haven’t even broken up.
That’s why I love and hate this phone in equal measure.
Then there are simple gripes like; where is an alarm clock? I want to set one easily and quickly – my Nokia did it in 8 key presses – and that includes the digits of the time. It took about 5 seconds to set my Nokia alarm.
I need to change between my Line 1 and Line 2 several times a day. On the Nokia I held down # for a couple of seconds. On this phone, it’s several laborious menus deep.
Battery life isn’t fantastic either. Yes, you can just about get a day’s use out of it. But a single day is never a problem: it’s when you need two days you get stuck. You see, I go home most nights so I can charge the battery if I need to. Sometimes I go away on business, but this is usually for one night away. But that means I need two days’ battery power. With a current [no pun intended] phone that isn’t an issue. My 6210 is still good for a day on one bar of battery power. And don’t forget that someone is likely to have a Nokia charger wherever you go. A Smartphone charger? You might as well ask for a six pound note.
And finally, where is the GPRS usage counter? I know we’re “unlimited” on Orange for now but that won’t last forever and unless prices fall massively, I won’t be going anywhere near GPRS without some way of quantifying my use. I know you can buy a third party applet. I don’t expect to have to: not on a phone so designed around internet access. Be honest with me, Orange. For heaven’s sake, you are being vague enough right now about the definition oif “unlimited access” to scare me into rushing for an ancient Motorola Startac.
I’ve banged on about the Nokia and the Smartphone. The Nokia was clearly always a telephone. The Smartphone isn’t, despite Orange/Microsoft’s claims. I’ve even read reviews saying that the Smartphone is a phone first and a PDA second. Hmm. This from the same reviewers who gave a Sendo Z100 4 out of 5 [for those who don’t know, also a Smartphone variant]. This same phone was regarded as being great by reviewers, but unfortunately cancelled at the very last minute by the manufacturer. Don’t start me off on this one, but please don’t let’s be hyped along by journalists. This phone is good – but it’s not great, and it certainly is not a finished design.
For a final piece of perspective, I have had a 6210 since it was released on Orange. In that time have never wanted anything else. It’s never failed me. The battery has been predictable. It’s easy to use. But the point is I’ve had it for TWO years and even now I don’t want to give it up. Even the most ardent Smartphone fan must admit they’ll be expecting more of their device in six months time – let alone 24.
So with regret my Smartphone is going back. I’ve touched the future but it’s blown a raspberry in my face. I might get one – this model or another – in a few months time when the technology improves. But right now, I’m happy to just talk.
Mark.
PS. As much as all of us here, I love new tech - but ask yourself - is all this fuss simply a case of the Emperor's new clothes?
It promises features that really excite me – web browsing, Messenger, email, a music player. It delivers these with various levels of success.
I love, for instance, the speaker phone. It works really well. But then that’s negated by the fact that last night two different people (on 2 different landlines) said, that when I was using the handset normally, I sounded really echoey and distant.
But then again the Smartphone holds a signal like nothing else I’ve known. If I go to my kitchen, any other phone gives up the ghost. Not this one – not only have I had no calls drop, they haven’t even broken up.
That’s why I love and hate this phone in equal measure.
Then there are simple gripes like; where is an alarm clock? I want to set one easily and quickly – my Nokia did it in 8 key presses – and that includes the digits of the time. It took about 5 seconds to set my Nokia alarm.
I need to change between my Line 1 and Line 2 several times a day. On the Nokia I held down # for a couple of seconds. On this phone, it’s several laborious menus deep.
Battery life isn’t fantastic either. Yes, you can just about get a day’s use out of it. But a single day is never a problem: it’s when you need two days you get stuck. You see, I go home most nights so I can charge the battery if I need to. Sometimes I go away on business, but this is usually for one night away. But that means I need two days’ battery power. With a current [no pun intended] phone that isn’t an issue. My 6210 is still good for a day on one bar of battery power. And don’t forget that someone is likely to have a Nokia charger wherever you go. A Smartphone charger? You might as well ask for a six pound note.
And finally, where is the GPRS usage counter? I know we’re “unlimited” on Orange for now but that won’t last forever and unless prices fall massively, I won’t be going anywhere near GPRS without some way of quantifying my use. I know you can buy a third party applet. I don’t expect to have to: not on a phone so designed around internet access. Be honest with me, Orange. For heaven’s sake, you are being vague enough right now about the definition oif “unlimited access” to scare me into rushing for an ancient Motorola Startac.
I’ve banged on about the Nokia and the Smartphone. The Nokia was clearly always a telephone. The Smartphone isn’t, despite Orange/Microsoft’s claims. I’ve even read reviews saying that the Smartphone is a phone first and a PDA second. Hmm. This from the same reviewers who gave a Sendo Z100 4 out of 5 [for those who don’t know, also a Smartphone variant]. This same phone was regarded as being great by reviewers, but unfortunately cancelled at the very last minute by the manufacturer. Don’t start me off on this one, but please don’t let’s be hyped along by journalists. This phone is good – but it’s not great, and it certainly is not a finished design.
For a final piece of perspective, I have had a 6210 since it was released on Orange. In that time have never wanted anything else. It’s never failed me. The battery has been predictable. It’s easy to use. But the point is I’ve had it for TWO years and even now I don’t want to give it up. Even the most ardent Smartphone fan must admit they’ll be expecting more of their device in six months time – let alone 24.
So with regret my Smartphone is going back. I’ve touched the future but it’s blown a raspberry in my face. I might get one – this model or another – in a few months time when the technology improves. But right now, I’m happy to just talk.
Mark.
PS. As much as all of us here, I love new tech - but ask yourself - is all this fuss simply a case of the Emperor's new clothes?
Back to top
, both were free at the time, I don't buy unless it's cheap or free 
As much as I like the jiffy bag/lemon gag, it's a bit harsh to call it one. 
