Smartphone with Wi-Fi - C600 vs. iMate SP5?

[Guest DeejUK]

Hi All,

I'm all a bit confused. I currently own a C500, and have been waiting for ages for the C600. I've also just got a wireless network set up in my flat, and I'm looking forward to all manner of crazy connectivity between various computers, media centers and soon an XBox 360.

I'd like to extend this wireless love to my phone, but obviously the C600 doesn't support wi-fi, and I'm a bit unimpressed with its specs generally.

I wouldn't mind getting a PDA, if it means I could have wi-fi and a phone that's generally less pants, but I'm on an Orange contract at the moment, and upgrading would be a bonus, as I'm spending all ym money on afore-mentioned XBox 360 and HDTV next month.

Any suggestions of decent and/or upcoming Windows PDAs that would be worth investing in, and if so, what networks would they be on? Any ideas of cost?

-Edit-

I've just been looking at that iMate SP5 jobby... Wi-fi aside, how does it compare with the C600?

Edited November 1, 2005 by DeejUK

[Guest gilesjuk]

On the whole I would imagine there's very little difference between the SP5 and C600 when it comes to hardware. What HTC have probably done is used the same circuitry but rearranged the components into a different layout (casing is different).

The lack of wifi on the C600 may be due to space constraints, the C500 is smaller than the SP5 and the C600 probably doesn't have room for the wifi part, the qvga screen might add some bulk.

I feel sorry for those on an Orange contract at the moment as it seems they're just getting a C550 in a C500 case, but with WM5.

PDA wise, not sure, they're not so popular these days. HP were always small and light.

Edited November 2, 2005 by gilesjuk

[Guest wingnutLP]

All tornado variant phones produced by HTC have wifi built on to the board. I think that the general consenus is that it is up to the network operators or resellers to decide wether to have it active or not. It looks like orange will keep it deactivated for the UK market as they have done for the French market. They will probably blame battery or other testing issues rather than the fact they would prefer to charge you for GPRS usage.

When Orange failed to give a sensible answer as to when the C600 would be available I jumped ship after 5 years and have gone to Vodafone. This was not a lightly taken decision as I had negotiated a contract with 500 free minutes and 120 texts for £25 but they are taking the mickey with the C600 as far as I am concerned.

[Guest trevormuk]

Is Wi-Fi really that important for you to lose a great contract?

I'm interested in your logic...

;)

[Guest Pondrew]

All tornado variant phones produced by HTC have wifi built on to the board. I think that the general consenus is that it is up to the network operators or resellers to decide wether to have it active or not. It looks like orange will keep it deactivated for the UK market as they have done for the French market. They will probably blame battery or other testing issues rather than the fact they would prefer to charge you for GPRS usage.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not convinced that's correct. Are you sure you're not just looking at the specs for the OMAP processor and the fact that it's capable of controlling wifi? This is apparently not the same as having the wifi module needed and all reports I've heard state the HTC Faraday does not have a wifi module included