Vario vs. M500?

[Guest gz5ztg]

I am trying to decide between an M500 and the Vario, now I know the Vario has more recent windows, wifi and a keyboard but it is a bit chunkier and I didn't really want to leave Orange is possible.

Is it a far superior machine or is there not much in it?

I would appreciate any views, has anyone tried both?

[Guest brykins]

I am trying to decide between an M500 and the Vario, now I know the Vario has more recent windows, wifi and a keyboard but it is a bit chunkier and I didn't really want to leave Orange is possible.

Is it a far superior machine or is there not much in it?

I would appreciate any views, has anyone tried both?

I've not laid my hands on a Vario, but personally I'm not turned on by it. I like the size (it's not that much bigger than my MDA Compact but it is thicker) and the keyboard is nice, but I'm not sure I'd use it that often - I'd make more use out of a keypad that a full keyboard.

WiFi is nice, but can be added via the SD slot to an M500 (whatever phone you have now could probably be sold when you upgrade to over the cost of a wifi card).

WM5 - I keep reading bad stuff about it. Slow, odd things that that they have changed, incompatibility with software.

Me - my contract is up in Jan and I will get either a smartphone with a keypad or another free Jam if I can wrangle it. I figure another six months or so and we ought to see something the size of the Jam with wifi and vga screen (and maybe a keyboard - not too worried) and hopefully the bugs ironed out in WM5SE....

[Guest Emad]

Go to a store and try out the keyboard. It really changes the way you can work with a pda, even if you use software like calligrapher normally (best writing recognition out there).

[Guest azuma2020]

Not losing all newly installed progs when the battery runs out out is pretty good reason to go to wm5 imho :)

[Guest brykins]

Not losing all newly installed progs when the battery runs out out is pretty good reason to go to wm5 imho :)

Sprite Backup - does a whole backup for me every evening at 6:30pm. Having said that, I've never had a battery go dead on me....tend to get to a charger every day and very rarely use my MDA Compact for more than two hours between charges.

Persistant storage isn't a big deal for me. I'd rather MS developed the OS in more useful ways such as the stupid one folder deep restriction in the built-in apps, poor Internet Explorer, etc.

[Guest Pondrew]

Is the MDA Vario superior to the SPV M500? In my opinion yes. And not just because of the extra features nor the newer os.

In my opinion most modern Pocket PC Phones are superior to the M500 (although obviously not in form factor). Why? Because the SPV M500 has just 64meg of ram which is a small amount for a Pocket PC Phone running WM2003SE. It has been shown to cause stability problems.

If you were comparing the Vario to one of the HTC Magicians with 128meg ram (I-mate New Jam, Qtek S110, and apparently the forthcoming T-Mobile MDA Compact II) it'd be a much closer call...

[Guest adchaffey]

Is the MDA Vario superior to the SPV M500? In my opinion yes. And not just because of the extra features nor the newer os.

In my opinion most modern Pocket PC Phones are superior to the M500 (although obviously not in form factor). Why? Because the SPV M500 has just 64meg of ram which is a small amount for a Pocket PC Phone running WM2003SE. It has been shown to cause stability problems.

If you were comparing the Vario to one of the HTC Magicians with 128meg ram (I-mate New Jam, Qtek S110, and apparently the forthcoming T-Mobile MDA Compact II) it'd be a much closer call...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm with Pondrew there. Just got my Vario and really pleased with the speed of the thing. Got Doom working on there yesterday and was so impressed with how well it runs. I too wasn't too fussed on the keyboard, but for the sake of an extra couple of millimetres in depth I actually think it was well worth it.

And as for WM5, I've been quite impressed so far. As this is my first pocket PC I can't really compare with older versions, but I find it responsive, fairly intuitive and good all round really. No problems yet (touch wood...).

[Guest battletank]

I've owned most of the windows-powered phones at one time or another, and I'm (so far) loving the Wizard. The keyboard IS incredibly useful. Just try typing on a keyboard screen or using character recognition on a bumpy train ride, and you'll agree. I didn't think I'd use it much, but I find myself pulling out the keyboard the moment I pick the phone up, without really thinking. It's great for web browsing, messenger and texting. I also find myself using it for note taking, which I just wouldn't have tried doing with any previous PDA.

The built in wireless is important to me. Yes, you can add a card to a Magician to do the same, but then you lose the SD storage, which, with the Magician's limited memory, is absolutely critical.

My biggest gripe is software compatibility, but that's going away as new versions of all the best packages have been or are being released (come on Thunderhawk, keep up!!). WM5 is a bit querky, but it is worth the upgrade; it is better designed and better thought out.

I've upgraded from a Magician, and I won't go back. It'll gather dust, along side my Alpine, C500 and various other phones.

[Guest Peppermint Hippo]

The Vario isn't that much bigger than the M500. The keyboard is very useful. I'm finding i'm not using it much but its always nice to have the option. The Vario coupled with T-Mobile's Web 'n' Walk deals means i'm in heaven!