PDA/Smartphone recommendations/help please?

punky · 20-04-2006, 02:48

My dad wanted a new v3 so instead of him starting a new contract, I am going to give him mine and get a new phone for myself as I am tempted to get a PDA phone.

Now the features i'd like are:

1. PocketPC is best for me because it uses ActiveSync & Outlook so it'll sync with my old massive PDA. Plus it has MSN messneger. Plus I like it.

2. After using a V3, size is an issue so I want as small as poss.

3. Wifi is a must too.

4. Also, i'd like to use real web browsing instead of that scaled down WAP stuff, so is it a case of just getting a phone with a real browser instead of a WAP one? I am on a Tmobile PAYG tariff, but might go pay monthly if I find a nice plan.

Oh and one more thing. I am in the US until May 4th, so if the best phone & cheapest is in UK or US I can deal with either. Speaking of cheapest... No strict budget but i'd like it under $300 or 150 quid without contract.

Anyways, the best one I have found is the T-mobile SDA (US only, doesn't appear to be a UK equivilent) Size is great at only 0.69" thick. All other PDAs seem to be around the 1" mark which I want to try and avoid.

There is the Ipaq 6515 which is about the same at 0.71" thick, but wider and much more expensive.

Anyways, any better ones I have missed? Any advice for transitioning from regular phone to a smartphone?

Many thanx in advance.

punky · 20-04-2006, 05:33

Actually, I have just found out that that T-mobile SDA is the same as the Orange SPV C550 which is going on Ebay for like 40+ quid, or a C600 which I can't see much difference with thats about 100+ quid or so...

KingPhoenix · 20-04-2006, 08:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by punky

Actually, I have just found out that that T-mobile SDA is the same as the Orange SPV C550 which is going on Ebay for like 40+ quid, or a C600 which I can't see much difference with thats about 100+ quid or so...

Neither have wi-fi though... Ive used a smartphone for years now, and would never go back (i even converted caspar

) I bought a Qtek 8310 from expansys as i wanted wi-fi.... but obviously offline phones are extremely high priced.... the 8310 is the same as the imate sp5

Millay · 20-04-2006, 08:18

If only size wasnt a problem then I would suggest going for the HTC Universal AKA O2MDA PRO, Orange M5000, Jas Jar.. This phone is great it has VGA Screen 3G WiFi... but way to big for you.

How about going contract and getting.. an HTC Wizard they are pretty cool little smart phones found on T-mob called the MDA Compact

hope this helps

as for the C550 v C600 the 550 was really only a stop gap release, that focused more on multimedia then the C500 whilst they were waiting for the latest OS to ocme out.. The C600 is way better than the C550 for its best feature of having WM5.0 instead of Winodws Mobile 2003 SE.

Many people find phones a tactile thing so well worth a trip into a phone store to see how these things feel in the hand....

hope this helps

Chris W · 20-04-2006, 08:22

I would go for an MDA Vario (aka XDA mini) ... it's the one i've got... nice and small, but still features qwerty keyboard, wifi enabled, and has msn meseenger and outlook

Aragorn · 20-04-2006, 09:28

I have the HP hw6515 which I really like - not the smallest and sometimes quirky, but still great as a replacement for phone/pda/GPS (the GPS even works in Orlando

). The 6515 has been/will be replaced by the 6715 which is about the same size but has wifi built-in.

Derek · 20-04-2006, 10:26

The MDA Vario isn't being done on contract any more but the MDA Compact II is and you can chuck a WiFi card in the SD slot at the top if you need that.

You can get it on the web n walk tarriff and chuck opera on it which is far better than the bundled browser.

punky · 20-04-2006, 22:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingPhoenix

Neither have wi-fi though... Ive used a smartphone for years now, and would never go back (i even converted caspar

) I bought a Qtek 8310 from expansys as i wanted wi-fi.... but obviously offline phones are extremely high priced.... the 8310 is the same as the imate sp5

Thanx for the tip. I have just checked and the C550 doesn't have wifi, but the SDA definitely does. There doesn't seem to be much between the SDA and Qtek/imate... The SDA has a brilliant screen though.

Are these screen protectors any good? Can I put the phone in my pocket with my keys and change safely?

Tezcatlipoca · 22-04-2006, 23:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Millay

How about going contract and getting.. an HTC Wizard they are pretty cool little smart phones found on T-mob called the MDA Compact

I've just got an HTC Wizard from O2, with a new contract. O2 badge the Wizard as the "XDA Mini S".

Very nice Pocket PC PDA/phone

The Sony Ericsson P series Symbian-based smartphones are also very good. My new XDA Mini S replaced my old SE P900 smartphone. SE are bringing out the "P990" next month, which looks very nice.

GeoffW · 24-04-2006, 21:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn

I have the HP hw6515 which I really like - not the smallest and sometimes quirky, but still great as a replacement for phone/pda/GPS (the GPS even works in Orlando

). The 6515 has been/will be replaced by the 6715 which is about the same size but has wifi built-in.

I have one too, but was generally underwhelmed. The battery life is just too short. At least the cover stops your ear from terminating the call!

I bought a wireless SD card, and although I finally got it to work, its not really a good solution.