vB Easy Archive - Dash

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Dash - Keep or Not
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Posted by: howpomp

Hi there

This is my first post though I have been lurking around here for quite a while. Anyhow...

After lots of "research" I bought a Dash last week to replace my SKII. After five days of trying to get used to this phone I have two major problems which I am hoping someone can give me some feedback.

First is that I can not go through a day without recharging the Dash. Even with keeping minimal programs running, maybe 30 minutes of talk time and no pictures or video I still can not get through a day. Granted I did do a bit of web browsing but not nearly as much as I would have on my Sidekick. Anyone know if this is normal?

Email, I am using mail2web for push email which seems great. But on my gmail account which I have set up to check every 15 minutes there are times it works as it should and other times where a message will sit for almost two hours before it shows up on the Dash. Again anyone who has had similar experience?

I really do want to love this phone and was so excited, but at this point I am thinking of going to a BlackBerry.

Thanks to anyone who can respond.

Posted by: angrymic

The web browsing sounds normal. I have notice that after about 2 months of use that web browsing kills battery life. It was not as bad with the SK2 or SK3 (I owned both).

What data plan are you on? If you are using the $20 BB plan pm me with your email and I can send you a BB program for the Dash. It will notify you instantly whenever you get an email.

I also have a BB Pearl (yes, I have smartphone A.D.D.) and the Dash is the most functional phone that I have ever owned. You will be disappointed if you switch to a BlackBerry from the Dash. There are 20 times more functional apps for the Dash.

Posted by: sYnOnYx

dash is alot more functional than a blackberry ive had 3 BB's including the pearl. and i just made the change to an MDA and love it. and my wife has the dash. ive played with both and love em would never resort back to a blackberry. the only thing i can knock about the dash is its not touch screen which i love. i made sure the wife did 3 full discharge then recharge and her battery lasts about 2 days depending on the net surfing and her push email is only set to about every 2 hours. web browsing can kill it if you use it for awhile. i use my MDAs wifi net for about 30mins a day about 30mins to an hour talk time , and texting/email every day and still the battery lasts for 2 days....

i would try changing the push email time , and i have no clue exactly how much net surfing your doing tho, but i wouldnt give up hope just yet.

with windows mobile software you can do so much more.

Posted by: homobile

I usually charge my dash everyday,but if I didn't it would probably last 2 full days of use.I use bluetooth headphones on my commute to and from work,do alot of web surfing through the day,check emails as they come in,play a few games here and there,and do a decent amount of texting.I don't realy make a whole lot of calls though,and they're usually short.So I don't know why you can't make it through the day.maybe the web2mail updating every 15 minutes is the culprit.Or maybe you just got a bad battery,see if t-mo will exchange out the battery,could help

Posted by: howpomp

Thanks to all of you with input so far. I am no leaning more on keeping it since I was able to get through the day today with one bar left on the battery (7am to midnight). If anyone else has anything to add please do so, I have a few days left before I have to make a decision on keeping it or go the BB Pearl.

Posted by: Ago Vino Verita

If it was bought used the battery could be a crappy one.
Secondly, have you checked under dash tips on how to save battery. So you do not have programs running in the background, and such?

Posted by: howpomp

Actually I found that after my original post and that has helped a lot. Over the past day and a half The Dash and I have been getting along a bit better and I am pretty confident that I will be keeping this. There is so much to do with The Dash.

Posted by: MI_canuck

For how much $ are unlocked Dashes going for? I'm contemplating unloading the 8525, and the Dash might fill the gap.

thnx

Posted by: mbreuer

My $.02 - you might have a defective dash. I had this as well (among other issues). Swapped for a replacement (within 14 days at the store) and my problems vanished, battery life went from what you described to about 3 days before 1 bar.

Posted by: ANT64198

The battery on my dash last a good 2 days and i surf the web alot and talk on the phone

Posted by: SvB4EvA

Watch out for the Wi-Fi... If your phone is set to constantly search for a Wi-Fi connection, the battery will drain MUCH quicker then normal.

Posted by: derekedw

You can also get higher capacity batteries on ebay. I bought a 1050 mAh from ebay and it's been great. Also be careful how you charge your battery. I find that charging via wall outlet gets better charge than PC USB. Keep wifi off.

Also, as far as e-mail goes, why not just use T-mobile My Email? I use it and it works great. I have my work e-mail and gmail setup. They also do direct push (or very similar). I have very little problems with my dash. It's one of the best phones I've owned. There's not a friend or co worker who hasn't been thoroughly impressed by it. You'll keep it

As for the individual who's thinking of trading the 8525. If you're using 3g, dash won't work for it. You can only get edge (as far as I know).

Posted by: madgalaxy

I noticed when I got my Dash the IR was default to "on", I turned that off to save battery life. I use my dash for mostly email and voice. I have DirectPush on all day to sync with my Corporate Exchange Server. It checks Yahoo email every 15 minutes (sorry I do not use gmail so I can not comment).

I have to say I get better battery life than my Treo 700wx, granted the Treo has EVDO so it sucks up battery life like crazy!

Posted by: ChInEsE ChIcKeN

i would say keep because i changed phones like 3 times a month.... well at least i use too and i have ot say the dash was one of the most impressive phones i have used. especially when you do all your tweaks on it X-P

Posted by: howpomp

Thanks everybody! I really appreciated all the insight and ideas. I have decided to keep it, I am starting to love it. Now I just need to find a good push email provider...always something to work on