US User Needs Guidance on SmartPhone

[Guest okie_tex]

You European users seem to have all the choices !! :)

I was looking at the new Motorola MPx200 as it seems it is the only SmartPhone [MS Based] that I have to choose from here in the US (unless I find something on an eBay or elsewhere a version of the SPV at a really high price).

I was really looking at the Handspring Treo 600 as a pda/phone combo because of the thumboard. I have used a Blackberry 7230 and really liked it and the thumboard and how it worked in terms of data (e-mail mainly) but the BB7230 lacked the form factor for using the phone (for me anyway ... plus, it broke!). The Treo 600 seems to be a good choice but I'm not big into the Palm OS. So .....

What I'd really like is a Treo 600 but with Pocket PC or the SmartPhone OS on it ... So, I guess I'm waiting for maybe the iPaq 4350 since it has the thumboard and when/if it might or something else like it that might get a phone combo on it.

What I'm wondering is how you guys use your SPVs and other SmartPhones. So, do you all use your SPVs etc... for a lot of e-mailing and are you using the T9 for that? I don't see doing a lot of typing using T9 other than maybe SMS/IMs.

Just curious how you use it and wondering if that Motorola MPx200 would be a good alternative until something is released with a thumboard/pda/phone/SmartPhone OS/PocketPC OS combos.

I do see the MDA/XDA II as an alternative ... however, it lacks the thumboard but I have heard of some software that makes a kb on the screen and then I've seen you all talk about these fabric type of keyboards. I'd really like it to be integrated in the device -- the Treo 600 is really close to what I'd like .. and may have to opt for it when the GSM version is FINALLY released.

Thanks for any opinions or thoughts in regards to this!! -ot

[Guest awarner [MVP]]

You could try looking at the VOX Smartphone that has a foldout thumbpad.

But it's not available at the moment, just depends how deserate you are to own a Smartphone?

[Guest okie_tex]

Are you talking about the Sierra Wireless phone called the VOQ (http://www.voqwireless.net)? If so, yes -- that one is a possibility as well but it won't be out until 2004 (and they say "first half...". That might be too long for me.

Is there a VOX too? If so,I haven't seen it yet.

thanks.

[Guest Paul [MVP]]

I use my phone for a LOT of mail, and of course I use T9.

I use it so much i'm probably as quick as a keyboard, it's awesome!

The MPx200 is a great device, you won't be disappointed, and a great price of $149 at Amazon!

P

[Guest okie_tex]

Hey Paul - well, I have an old Samsung phone now and it has T9 and I can handle doing T9 but for SMS ... I can't imagine typing on it for a lengthly reply to an e-mail ... maybe short and quick but if too long, T9 bogs me down.

NOW ... it might be because I don't use it that much and need more experience. I'll think about it -- but dangit, I want a SmartPhone ... really, really bad!

[Guest Paul [MVP]]

Why does it bog you down? Lack of practice, or something else?

P

[Guest yoos]

I can't speak for him, but T9 bogs me down a little on this device compared to another phone I've had in the past (I think it was a Motorola T720). The reason is because on the T720 I can just not even look at the screen and just look at the keypad and type away (still don't have it memorized which number keys are for which letters :) ) and then if an incorrect word was displayed I could just go up to that word and easily change it by cycling through all the options based on the keys I hit. With the MS Smartphone it's a little different because once you bypass the word and accept it you can't go back and cycle through all options you have to usually start the word from scratch or change it to letter mode instead of T9 and change half the word. That's pretty annoying... Would be nice if we could cycle through the words after we pass them. I believe I've seen this in the wishlist area, but it sounded appropriate to mention it in this thread as well because it bogs me down.

[Guest okie_tex]

Yoos described pretty much the same issues I have with T9 -- I'll be inputting in and get through to a certain place and look back and a word is incorrect and I have to go back and change to regular letters to fix it. So, some of that is just a pain ... plus, just having to "verify" if the word is right sometimes slows me down.

now - the other thing is practice -- i'm not a heavy user on my current phone but that's because all i can do on it is SMS... but with a smartphone or pda/combo phone -- i'd like to do data (email, sms, text msgs) etc... and I just can't see T9 really doing heavy inputting. NOW, I know my dad uses it all the time to SMS but it's short/sweet messages. So, using T9 for quick/easy msgs ... no prob. But, longer msgs seem to be much more uncomfortable to do on MY phone and using T9.

so -- i'm thinking of these options ... but really it's all up in the air as it's so hard for me to make these decisions because I want it to be the "right one"!!

SE T610 + iPaq 4350 (or another BT enabled phone + 4350)

Treo 600

Or ... still waiting for future MS phones!

thanks guys --