vB Easy Archive - Getting sick of 8525

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Getting sick of 8525 - options??
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Posted by: MI_canuck

After 3 weeks, the novelty of the 8525 is starting to wear off. It's a powerful device no doubt. But I think it's shear bulk make it a pain to bring everywhere. And although I love the functionality of the full wide sliding keyboard, it makes the phone feel less than solid. Oh, and I'm noticing that while I like the touchscreen aspect, I hate pulling out the stylus for inputing stuff (sometimes a finger will do, but sometimes it won't).

I had a Blackjack for a week, but traded for the 8525. The Blackjack seemed limiting at the time (one of my biggest gripes was lack of touchscreen - which might not actually be such a big deal afterall, short batt life (fixed with extended) and hitting the wrong keys while typing or using the navigational pad - that is a bigger problem.

I could back to the Blackjack. There's the Treo 750 which I loved the ergonomics and feel, but can't stand the 240x240 screen. I could wait for the Moto Q9 - who knows when that'll appear. There's the 8800 - although not sure I'd like the BB format. Nokia E61 - but it's too crippled (no 3G, no Wi-Fi, and it seems overly wide to me). If there was a Treo w/ 320x320 w/ WM6 & Wi-Fi (apparently it's coming), that could be an option. But I'd like something now, while I can still sell the 8525 for a decent amount before it gets banged up too much.

Any other suggestions?

thnx

peace

Posted by: petard

Wirelessly posted (HTC Wizard (Cingular 8125) WM6: SAMSUNG-SGH-I607/I607FG1 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows CE; Smartphone; 320x240))

try the blackjack again, you get used to the keyboard and the extended battery lasts a long time!

Posted by: marcosv

I've had similar misgivings with my 8100. The sliding keyboard made the whole thing feel flimsy. When opening the keyboard, you might have to wait for the screen to flip orientations which was a drag. Taping phone numbers with the keypad on the touch screen was awkward to use.

I really love the Blackjack form factor and ease of use of the keyboard. What I'm really annoyed with is Samsung who decided to mess up the phone's bluetooth stack and didn't provide a voice dialing utility. I'd consider an unlocked HTC Dash since it does support WM6 and is more open to mods (being made by HTC), but, that phone doesn't have 3G.

I'm going to stick with the Blackjack. There's still that very slim chance Samsung & Cingular will come out with a WM6 upgrade with restored Bluetooth stack...

I was tempted by the Treo, but, it was a bit thicker than I would prefer and had that square screen. Still, the WM5 based Treo might become popular enough that all the apps I'd ever want to run on it will be fully compatible with the Treo screen.

Posted by: tdawgmd

I like the blackjack, but I agree with the sentiments of marcosv--the bluetooth stack sucks. Every time you switch devices, you have to remind it to do it. You can't use your a2dp headphones, then hop in your car that has a bluetooth system and it will work. It also uses the pan network profile, which sucks for us mac users. Otherwise, I love it. Lots of functionality packed into a slim and attractive form factor.

Posted by: mikewchandler

I had the same love/hate relationship with the 8525. I've owned 4 or 5 of them (can't remember now exactly). I finally settled in with the treo 750. I didn't need/use wifi so no biggie for me. The form factor is really nice for what all it does. There are some trade offs with the smaller keyboard but I'm pleased.

Posted by: MI_canuck

I might consider a Dasn/S620.... Anyone have experience with them (unlocked, on Cingular)?

cheers

Posted by: MI_canuck

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikewchandler

I had the same love/hate relationship with the 8525. I've owned 4 or 5 of them (can't remember now exactly). I finally settled in with the treo 750. I didn't need/use wifi so no biggie for me. The form factor is really nice for what all it does. There are some trade offs with the smaller keyboard but I'm pleased.

It is totally love/hate! One day I'll tell myself, this is the greatest device ever!

Other days, it's the biggest POS brick known to man.

Sometimes I flip-flop my opinion multiple times a day.

I'm past my 30 day trial, so whether I get rid of it now, or live with it a while longer, doesn't really matter. I might grow to like. Or maybe I'll hate it so much I'll throw it out the window.

peace

Posted by: importluva

I dislike the 8525 due to the sliding keyboard design. It's just not that great. That's why it's being sold. I'm sticking with my Treo 750 during the week and my Blackjack on the weekends.

Posted by: Krash7172

Dumped my 8525 for a Trinity and love it!

Sounds like you are having more of a smart phone vs PDA delima. If you are willing to tweak, there are many apps out there to customize your device. I hate using a stylus myself. I set everything up for my left thumb. The scroll wheel is priceless.

Posted by: RF9

The main reason I went form the 8525 to the Treo 750 is that my 8525 broke after 2 weeks and rather than exchange it for another, I decided to return it and wait a month to try out the Treo 750. Which I did, and decided I like the 750 more.
Had I still had the 8525, I might have still bought the 750 in addition and still made the switch.

But it is a tough choice. As you know I sacrifice a few things going to the 750. But what it came down to is how I use it.
The keyboard on the 8525 is great. I really did like it when I used it. But what did it for me is that every time I needed to enter a web site login/password or wanted to respond to a little quick text message, I had to flip open the keyboard to do it (or use the stylus.) I soon found out this is just not harmonious to being a person on the go that really can't be bothered with deploying a keyboard for these trivial operations.

By way of comparison, the Treo 750 as you know has that exposed keyboard which is so much more convenient. In addition to that, I use the keyboard as navigation and menu shortcuts a whole lot.
Open file explorer and you need to get to the files that start with "S" you just click "S". Or to check for new email it's "Menu" + "S" (send/receive.)

It's not just about the keyboard. Palm's teaks to WM5 really help. It's going to be hard for me go move away from the 750 if someone comes out with a similar but superior device.
Let's say HTC came out with a Treo 750 like device on steroids with Wifi, GPS, better screen, etc. It would be hard to switch because it would be back to standard WM5 (or WM6 I guess.)

But the sacrifices aren't unnoticed. I miss Wifi. I miss the powerful processor of the 8525. I miss the beautiful 8525 screen from when I watched videos. But those are the only 3 things I miss.
Web and email on the small screen aren't an issue with me. Of course I wish it was bigger, but it's still fine.
The processor just can't multitask as much. It's a bummer, but really how often do I really need this power.
No WiFi really sucks. I get by by having blue tooth active-sync available at home and work to attach to, but it still really sucks to not have it.

But 95% of the time, the way I use it, I'm glad I have the 750 over the 8525. It's those 'sit down and play with it' times I miss the 8525.

Sorry this is so wordy, but how else do I describe 'why?'

Having said all of that. I see the Motorola Q9 on the horizon and I can't help thing the grass is greener over there. But it's a smart phone... I don't know if I can deal with that.

Posted by: fsuscotsman

I've got an 8525. I had the 750, twice. The 8525 is such a better device that it isn't even funny. I've not had one problem with mine yet, and I had nothing but problems with the 750 including it dying because of the weak battery every day that I had it. Sure the 8525 is a little big and you have to slide out the keyboard....big fat hairy deal. When did anyone get to be in so big of a hurry that they couldn't do that? Treo? NEVER AGAIN!!!

Posted by: RF9

I've had the opposite experience. 0 problems with my 750 for about 80 days now and I get better battery life than the 8525.
And when you use the keyboard 50-100 times a day, it gets old sliding that sucker out.
But I will agree that other than the keyboard difference and phone call quality (which is better on the Treo,) the 8525 os over all superior.
But superior doesn't necessarily mean better for an individual's particular use. It's almost apples & oranges.

Posted by: fsuscotsman

I've got to agree about the apples and oranges thing. I have big hands and the Treo keyboard sucked for me. I don't mind pulling out the keyboard on the 8525. I do mind having to use the stylus for some things when I can't remember what to do, but that may be just because it's new to me.

I'll be darned as to how you can get a Treo battery to outlast the other though!!!