Please Post a Rating Out of 10 for SPV

[Guest stillwaiting]

Please could the owners of SPV'S post a overall mark out of 10, it would be interesting to get a more rounded perspective, also people looking to purchase one can make a more informed decision.

Please feel free to include any other catergories you feel are relevant.

i'm stillwaiting

[Guest boinging]

Very early to tell, but I'd give it an 8 so far. Having had a Siemens SL45 for 18 months the menus are as quick as that especially the SMS ones. Just need to get a few things customised and I'll be uping my score!

[Guest markn]

Great idea.

I'd suggest that 5 is an "average" phone: reasonable battery life, not too hard to use, reliable. Anything better reflects better characteristics. Anything worse, the opposite. And scores should reflect how a phone fares today - not when it was released.

For instance: a Nokia 702 to my mind might score 5. A 6210 might score 7. A Motorola c520 would score 2. A Timeport might score 6.

So on that basis :D I'd give this phone 5. Lots of functionality but the telephony lets it down. God, I want to give it 3-4 but that'd be harsh considering what it does actually do (on top of being a phone that is).

It's subjective. But how on earth have magazines given it 5 out of 5? And they must have been reviewing early models. Good Lord...

[Guest Bazz]

5 out of 10? That's harsh!

I'd give it 8. It does everything that was promised. Yeah if you do it all at once the phone slows to a crawl, but what do you expect?

Yes things could be done better and people have suggested improvements, but it is still leagues above anything else out there - especially at the price.

Use it just as a phone and it's average - say 5/10. However you also have EVERYTHING else it does:

Outlook syncing

MP3 Player

Full Internet Browser

WAP Browser

Games Player

Voice memo recorder

Fully updateable over the air.

Downloadable software (yes less than expected, due to certification but it's still got loads of potential).

Then you look at the hardware:

Amazing Screen

SD/MMC Card

Camera (even though there isn't a decent program for it yet).

Speakerphone

And the Price!?!? it's a hell of a lot cheaper than a most high end phones and less than half the price of the xda. And I haven't even started on the £6 GPRS bundle...

I bet most of the issues people have (navigation speed, battery life, hanging os) wouldn't show themselves up at all if they used it just as a phone. Instead they are pushing it right to the edge using all features at once and then complaining...

As for why mags gave it 5/5, it could be because they saw early models and presumed all the bugs would be fixed. I think it's up there, but a couple of annoying niggles prevent me giving it - I still think I'm being harsh with 8...

Oh yeah, in case you haven't got the point - I like it!

Barry

[Guest markn]

Yeah if you do it all at once the phone slows to a crawl, but what do you expect?

Yes, it's a PHONE. If you want to be pedantic, it's a Smartphone - but not so smart it doesn't crash, or fail to tell you the size of your text message, or take you straight to the photo menu when you plug the camera in, or make setting an alarm easy, or providing an indication of data use...

I expect it to function like a phone - and everything else is secondary. Orange, it may be a-changin', but it's still primarily a voice-communications network.

Yes things could be done better and people have suggested improvements, but it is still leagues above anything else out there - especially at the price.

I have never disagreed with this. My gripe is that given just a little more time, our love would surely grow. Do you see?

Use it just as a phone and it's average - say 5/10. However you also have EVERYTHING else it does.

Yes, yes, it's vomit inducing. It's like teenage love. In fact, all the love in this room (forum) is teenage love. See past it. Discover the personality. Look for the depth. Keep this up and you'll be divorced in 2 years yet still the father of 4 children, wondering how you jizzed your life away.

The screen is lovely. Messenger is great. Windows Media Player makes beautiful music. But it's still a phone!

In fact I'll bet everyone who thinks it is the milk of God's own testicles has spent more time playing with the Smartphone than actually talking on it.

Because I've not been diagnosed with terminal sadness (I took a course of antibiotics) I can safely say I've tried to use this as a day-to-day item and that's where it fell down for me.

And day-to-day is a term you would never use about its battery.

And the Price!?!? it's a hell of a lot cheaper than a most high end phones and less than half the price of the xda. And I haven't even started on the £6 GPRS bundle...

Yes yes. Some whores are more cheap than other whores, but they're still whores. And I don't know if you've ever had a £6 bundle off a whore, but...

I bet most of the issues people have (navigation speed, battery life, hanging os) wouldn't show themselves up at all if they used it just as a phone. Instead they are pushing it right to the edge using all features at once and then complaining...

Yes they would! My issues have only ever been about its telephonic abilities! I think everything else it does is great!

As for why mags gave it 5/5, it could be because they saw early models and presumed all the bugs would be fixed. I think it's up there, but a couple of annoying niggles prevent me giving it - I still think I'm being harsh with 8...

Er - at the risk of being a media tart, please don't believe everything you read. In fact, it's good advice to believe nothing you read. [That, by the way, is why I have had the phone to try out, on the basis it can be returned.)

Do you really think that journos don't know bugs when they see them, and know the likelihood of them being fixed before release? Even you haven't given this phone full marks and yet they did - twice - one of which was a handset the manufacturer itself cancelled. Give me strength!

Oh yeah, in case you haven't got the point - I like it!

So do I, but I have come to dislike it more. If I was Michael Jackson, holding it over a balcony, I'd um, and I'd arr, and then I'd drop it.

[Guest amo]

Id give it a 8.5 out of 10. What lets it down is the minimal battery life, certificate issues, and slightly slow menus at times. All of these (cept the certificate thing) I can live with though.

[Guest steddy]

If you'd have asked me this question a week ago when I got the phone, it would have been 5. If you'd have asked me four days ago it would have been 3.

But now I'm really used to it and learnt about its little foibles I want to give 8 out of 10. This phone really does grow on you and I can't imagine being without it now.

I would like slightly larger keys and sorting out the root certificate problem and it would have then received a 10. This has replaced my T68i.

Steddy

[Guest markn]

Yeah if you do it all at once the phone slows to a crawl, but what do you expect?

Yes, it's a PHONE. If you want to be pedantic, it's a Smartphone - but not so smart it doesn't crash, or fail to tell you the size of your text message, or take you straight to the photo menu when you plug the camera in, or make setting an alarm easy, or providing an indication of data use...

I expect it to function like a phone - and everything else is secondary. Orange, it may be a-changin', but it's still primarily a voice-communications network.

Yes things could be done better and people have suggested improvements, but it is still leagues above anything else out there - especially at the price.

I have never disagreed with this. My gripe is that given just a little more time, our love would surely grow. Do you see?

Use it just as a phone and it's average - say 5/10. However you also have EVERYTHING else it does.

Yes, yes, it's vomit inducing. It's like teenage love. In fact, all the love in this room (forum) is teenage love. See through it. Discover the personality. Look for the depth.

The screen is lovely. Messenger is great. Windows Media Player makes beautiful music. But it's still a phone!

In fact I'll bet everyone who thinks it is the milk of God's own testicles has spent more time playing with the Smartphone than actually talking on it.

Because I've not been diagnosed with terminal sadness (I took a course of antibiotics) I can safely say I've tried to use this as a day-to-day item and that's where it fell down for me. (And day-to-day is something you would never say about its battery.)

And the Price!?!? it's a hell of a lot cheaper than a most high end phones and less than half the price of the xda. And I haven't even started on the £6 GPRS bundle...

Yes yes. Some whores are more cheap than other whores, but they're still whores. And I don't know if you've ever had a £6 bundle off a whore...

I bet most of the issues people have (navigation speed, battery life, hanging os) wouldn't show themselves up at all if they used it just as a phone. Instead they are pushing it right to the edge using all features at once and then complaining...

Yes they would! My issues have only ever been about its telephonic abilities! I think everything else it does is pretty much great!

As for why mags gave it 5/5, it could be because they saw early models and presumed all the bugs would be fixed. I think it's up there, but a couple of annoying niggles prevent me giving it - I still think I'm being harsh with 8...

Er - don't believe everything you read. In fact, it's good advice to believe nothing you read.

Do you really think that journos don't know bugs when they see them, and know the likelihood of them being fixed before release? Even you haven't given this phone full marks and yet they did - twice - one of which was a handset the manufacturer itself cancelled. Give me strength!

Oh yeah, in case you haven't got the point - I like it!

So do I, but I have come to dislike it more. If I was Michael Jackson, holding it over a balcony, I'd um, and I'd arr, and then I'd drop it.

[Guest roger]

I'd give it 8.5 out of 10. Not perfect but far better than anything else I've used. Looking forward to some new software and upgrades becoming available + the portable keyboard

[Guest Cent]

Phone Features - 1/10

PDA features - 8/10

3rd party Software features - 0/10

Orange Software Support - 0/10

[Guest dom]

4/10 for me (this is subject to alteration as the phone develops - though I may be taking it back next week, so won't be able to update the rating without continuing to use the phone).

The phone is on the verge of greatness, but falls short in my opinion - different people have different expectations of a phone and one person's lemon is another's godsend. For some people the phone will be fine or great as it is, and will only be able to get better - for me it can get better, but it is neither fine or great at the moment. This can be remedied... the question is, will it be?

If you were to imagine this phone to be like Indiana Jones, it would have come to a chasm and be under pursuit at launch... it would have taken a run up and jumped to the other side of the chasm... it would have only just reached the other side and is now hanging on by its fingertips.... will our intrepid phone be able to haul itself up to safety and glory (or get a hand up) or will it fall screaming into the abyss?!!?? :wink: :D

Sorry, I'll shut up now :oops:

[Guest neilg]

I'll go 8,the more I use it the better it gets and some 3rd party apps (once available) will be well received.

I have had pretty much everything phone wise and for my purposes (a phone that you can surf the web, (not wap) to get maps and info, customise and sync with Outlook it ticks every box.

IMHO Nearest competitor was my Nok7650 which was bug riddled (I had 3 replacemtns all with different serious faults), huge, had no SD card and therfore no storage and limited memory for additional apps. Also wap rather than web browser was rubbish.

SPV beats 7650 for me.

[Guest sos]

I'll go 8,the more I use it the better it gets and some 3rd party apps (once available) will be well received.

I have had pretty much everything phone wise and for my purposes (a phone that you can surf the web, (not wap) to get maps and info, customise and sync with Outlook it ticks every box.

IMHO Nearest competitor was my Nok7650 which was bug riddled (I had 3 replacemtns all with different serious faults), huge, had no SD card and therfore no storage and limited memory for additional apps.  Also wap rather than web browser was rubbish.

SPV beats 7650 for me.

Bug ridden? Exactly what? I've 7650 and it beats SPV hands down on features and usability - with lot less bugs... Unless you install Doom or RealOne player to 7650 it has quite a lot memory for apps you most commonly use (e.g. I have at the moment few games and Wireless IRC).

[Guest sos]

I'll go 8,the more I use it the better it gets and some 3rd party apps (once available) will be well received.

I have had pretty much everything phone wise and for my purposes (a phone that you can surf the web, (not wap) to get maps and info, customise and sync with Outlook it ticks every box.

IMHO Nearest competitor was my Nok7650 which was bug riddled (I had 3 replacemtns all with different serious faults), huge, had no SD card and therfore no storage and limited memory for additional apps.  Also wap rather than web browser was rubbish.

SPV beats 7650 for me.

Bug ridden? Exactly what? I've 7650 and it beats SPV hands down on features and usability - with lot less bugs... Unless you install Doom or RealOne player to 7650 it has quite a lot memory for apps you most commonly use (e.g. I have at the moment few games and Wireless IRC).

But these are of course personal opinions...

[Guest podavies]

Ill give this phone a 5/10 rating, but im going to keep it though

the main problems ive found are battery life way to low, no hotmail in oulook. keys to small.

good points messenger, speaker phone, wav phone rings,colour screen,

with any luck HTC will release a larger a battery and MS/Orange will release a software update, im willing to wait till the P800 arrives.

[Guest Third_of_Five]

I'd give it a theoretical 9/10 for the features that do work, and all it promised to be.

I can't possibly give it more than 5/10 (and thats generous in my opinion) for it's effectivness in real use.

There are just too many niggling faults with it, and a few not quite so niggling faults with it that mean it should NEVER have been released and it is "not fit for the purpose for which it was intended" to quote our Consumer Rights.

Further more, it should loose points for being an Orange phone, due primarily to their poor customer support and being an Overgrown corporate machine!

[Guest neilg]

Hi Sos,

Perhaps I just suffered as I got one of the first UK versions but I had these problems, all of which the Nokia service centres acknowledged.

1) Hardware on Handsfree port - manufacturing fault on 2 phones meant the handsfree didn't work (phones from different manufacturing batches)

2) Java errors, not sure what the exact problem was but the JVM engine (I think) had problems meaning that new installed programs froze the phone and couldn't be removed. When thins was remidied by a F/W - S/W update every time a program was installed and then removed it left some trace on the phone memory and eventually fille dup all the usable memory even though nothing was installed

3) Broken radio - 1800 megs radio just died in software.

As I say I ws probably just unlucky but it was enough to put me off although I accept any newproduct will have its fair share of bugs - I lost count of the number of F/W updates for my T68.

So far for me, the useability of the SPV just suits my needs better than the 7650 did, and it fits in my pocket better!

[Guest Rob.P]

I'd give mine a 8 out of 10, I'm still doing all the things I was doing with my Nokia and PDA but with more pocket space.

Does everything I expected it to, bugs n all, it can only get better.

At the end of the day what do I care, I got it for free.

[Guest moreymach]

I only got mine yesterday but so far Id give it an 8.. but can certainly see the points about its ease of use. I guess it depends on what your expected use is likely to be.. for a gadget lover like me who makes only 1 or 2 calls a day its great though.

[Guest elementalist]

You have to give it 2 scores, really. As a phone - and if you use your phone quite a lot - it is pretty awful. Low battery life is a fundamental problem for a modern mobile. Also, the occasional lock up and bug is a nightmare for your average mobile user (i.e. someone who is definately not necessarily technically minded). For a hard-core phone user SPV scores a 5/10.

On the other hand... For someone like me it scores a 8.5 to 9. I have been sooo wanting a phone-sized PDA that can handle the odd bit of internet use and pick up and send emails every now and again and the SPV does that. Also, I'm pretty technically minded, so the odd problem I get around or solve pretty quickly. And I love all the customisations, just for a bit of fun.

Oh, actually - lets give it 3 scores. For the technophile who wants to run his whole office through it? 7/10. It has the basic abilities, but doesn't go far enough. But, then, I don't think it was really supposed to - hey - go get a laptop and a 'proper' phone :)

To summarise (phew, what a waffler!) If you bought this phone expecting it to be all-powerful and fault free, MORE FOOL YOU! It has Microsoft stamped on it and anyone knows what that means: it'll be alright after a few patches and some hefty manual reading and configuration. And if you didn't know that then you shoulda waited until you did know. If you're like me you're pretty damn happy with your SPV and looking forward to what is to come (and enjoying not carrying around a PDA and a phone). Enjoy!

[Guest mortenharkett722]

10 for features, the apps installed and the pc connectivity. 2 for the battery. 3 for bad t9 software. 5 for the camera. 8 for the screen. Overall I give it 7 since the features weighs more over the battery life

[Guest awarner [MVP]]

That must have taken some digging to find this post :)

Interesting to soo how views have changed (if any)

[Guest AngelOfRage]

ive had my SPV for about a month now, adn overall im pretty pleased with it. Used mainly for keeping in contact with friends, the SPV expands on the phones ive had before by allowing me to contact friends via MSN and email aswell... it has also come in usefull while on holiday, allowing me to check train times (via P.I.E) and to send pictures to other friends.

compared to the other phones ive used in the past 12 months (Alcatel 511, Nokia 3310, Nokia 8210 and SE T300) this one is *more* than a phone. although i sometime experience slowdonws on the menus and it has locked up once or twice, i dont have anyother problems with it. the slightly quicker draining battery is not an issue as long as you dont play alot of games, surf the web or play media. Design wise The screen is the best quality one ive seen on a phone. I find the size and weight of the phone ideal and the keypad and joypad to be ok aswell (all though others disagree)

i am still discovering something new about this phone everyday.

overall id give it a 8 compared to my other phones:

Sony T300 - 7.5

Nokia 8210 - 6.5

Nokia 3310 - 6

Alcatel 511 - 6

[Guest Calicobasin]

New to the SPV however far from a full functioning pda . I relate this to the lack of software and support, Smartphone 2002 was for geaks, 2003 will be for consumers only if more applications are available. Otherwise people will just stick to their v60 moto's and free phones.

4/10... But will stick with it unless someone wants it for $400

[Guest jaguarxse]

6/10

Good:

Lovely screen

Nice build quality

Plenty of features and software

SD card slot

Windows compatibility (hey, I work in a Windows office...this is a good thing until we go Open Source!)

Price

Bad:

Battery time...I know, I know...

Stupid egg timer square thing...I want the OS to be transparent, not tell me it's doing something and ruining my high score on SPVMan!

Menu speed, sometimes ok but mostly too slow

Sound breaks up when even trying to play mono 64k CBR Windows Media files....don't even think about playing MP3's....and yes, I have cleared the memory first