"Ditching MDA Vario 4 Sony Ericsson, K800i?"

[Guest gadget007]

As above, am ditching my MDA Vario as sick of its unreliability. Going back to a plain old simple phone that actually works as a phone :)

As above, am looking at the k800i, which is a 3G phone. Obviously I will need to change my SIM to a 3G Sim, are T-Mobile happy to do this? I know when I used to be on Orange, I tried to do something similar but was told they would not hand out a 3G SIM unless I brought a 3G phone through them - do T-Mob do something similar, or hand 'em out if you ask for them?

Also, I have Web&Walk - not sure if this covers unlimited 3G data as well as GPRS?

[Guest chrisms_cotland]

I've just ordered an MDA Vario on web n'walk but I'm going be getting a K800 or N80 to use for my phone calls.

[Guest adchaffey]

As above, am ditching my MDA Vario as sick of its unreliability. Going back to a plain old simple phone that actually works as a phone :)

Quick question...

Have you updated your Vario to the latest ROM? I have mine, and it's solid as a rock. Not a single reliability issue whatsoever.

Not that it makes any difference, but the Vario is by far the best phone I've ever owned, and seems strange for someone to be ditching it for a k800i for anything but the fact the camera is probably better!

[Guest tsutton]

As above, am ditching my MDA Vario as sick of its unreliability. Going back to a plain old simple phone that actually works as a phone

What version it is?

I too had problems with my vario - rebooting ramdonly and slowness... until I upgraded to the latest version and it's MUCH better!

[Guest confucious]

I would stick with the vario, but to answer your questions:

1) I believe all new(ish) T-Mobile SIMS are 3G compatable - it's only the conmen at Orange that make you buy a 3G phone from them. T will ceratainly swap yours if it isn't.

2) W'n'W is 3G data as well - I use mine in my Exec and it's great :)

And one question that wasn't asked but I'll answer anyway...

The Vario II is 3G ( and HSDPA) and is due out next month :D

[Guest Twisticles]

And one question that wasn't asked but I'll answer anyway...

The Vario II is 3G ( and HSDPA) and is due out next month :)

Yeah, they been saying that since May! Do you have a source that has confirmed that the Vario II will launch next month now?

[Guest rockykabir]

Yep...similar situation here.

Got a Vario and can't wait to get rid of it. The MDA Compact was great...done its job and was fairly stable - but I wasn't really a fan of handwriting recognition for writing emails (my handwriting is terrible!).

The Vario was a huge letdown. Granted, the stability improved after the update - but it was still slow and laggy compared to the Compact :D

I'm guessing this is down to the low clock speed processor - but you get the impression that other OS' are likely to be more efficient (nothing new there Microsoft!). I'll like to go back to Windows mobile but definitely when they get all their bugs sorted and a phone is released which is fast and has good battery life.

However, I don't think I can go back to a "normal" phone after using a smartphone. I'm giving the Nokia E61 a try.....I'm hoping it'll be the perfect blend between the two :)

[Guest confucious]

Yeah, they been saying that since May! Do you have a source that has confirmed that the Vario II will launch next month now?

Don't know where you heard that from. August has aleways been the scheduled release date. No I doin't have a confirmed source but I was playing with the Orange version (M3100) the other day and it's just about ready for release.

I could be wrong, but....

[Guest pd.ryder]

No I doin't have a confirmed source but I was playing with the Orange version (M3100) the other day and it's just about ready for release.

I could be wrong, but....

I had this confirmed by Orange last week - the M3100 is 'imminent' although its not on their section of their website tonight so I wouldn't count on 1st August :)

[Guest agent.m]

Asked the guys at T-Mobile last week when purchasing the Vario they said version II was out arround nov

[Guest travisb]

I can kind of see where gadget007 is coming from.

I'm on my 3rd Windows mobile (C500, M2000 and now Vario).

The Vario is great, just the right size for data stuff (Push email, web browsing and sat nav), and only let down (IMO) by a slow processor, and flaky ROM's as supplied by T-Mob). An update to the I-mate version solved my issues quick enough, but it's not the best way to tempt the average mobile user over to the platform.

My last non Windows phone was a SE T610. I got it back from one of the offspring the other weekend saying it had broke. Removal of all the photos, and clearing of the txt folders soon got it working as it should again, but I kept it for a week and was reminded of how good it was at the basic stuff (phone calls, txts etc). It was also the best handset for synching with my Parrot car kit.

In an ideal world, I'd have a T-Mobile data only tariff for the Vario (why can't these be available to non-business users?) which I would use during the week when I'm away from home with no internet or personal e-mail access out of work hours.

But for the basics I'd have a phone like the K800i on a basic call & txt plan.

[Guest chrisbpr]

just moved from a vario to a k800i & the sim works no problem on 3g,connects to my pc a piece of cake & may even consider ditching my broadband account as i am getting good up/download speeds.

the thing i miss though is a good media player ala TCMP as i may need to convert my films that i have ripped from dvd.

all i all not missing the vario much at the mo...but you would if yu needed office file on the move.....