vB Easy Archive - A good replacement (upgrade?) for i-mate sp5

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A good replacement (upgrade?) for i-mate sp5
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Posted by: flyingbuick

Hi all,
I'd done a fair bit of research and the closest thing I can find is a Nokia E51 from a feature perspective but that runs Symbian, not Windows Mobile. Anybody have thoughts on this or suggestions on what might be a good replacement for my current i-mate sp5? Why replace? Just want to.

Have been having a hard time finding any new WM smartphones; the focus seems to be on PDA phones right now.

I don't want a QWERTY keyboard. Don't mind if it's candybar or flip so long as it's not bulky. I care a lot about solid phone quality,quadband GSM, contacts & calendar sync with outlook, bluetooth, half-decent camera and wifi.

Suggestions, thoughts, experiences and warnings much appreciated.

Thanks much!

Posted by: pachi

Get the N95-4 with US 3g. Youll never see a better smartphone on the market. Best camera, video, multimedia. Now if you want a business phone then get a Blackjack 2..Much better then E61

Posted by: wease

If you like Windows Mobile take a look at the HTC VOX S710 or S730, candybar with the unneeded Qwerty keyboard . The N95-3/4 will give you 3g on the ATT network.

Posted by: tamanaco

I'm on the same boat... I updated my SP5 to WM6 to prolong its useful life, but the phone is starting to look, beat up, dated and some of the functions keys don't respond as well as they used to. I want a slick form factor Smartphone with, at least, the existing connectivity features of the SP5 (Quad-Band, WiFi & Bluetooth) and with the following additional features 3G (UMTS/HSDPA), GPS, Touch Screen, full or 20-key QWERTY keyboard, MiniSDHC, at least a 400MHz CPU and more memory (256MB ROM and 128MB RAM). I might be able to live without the touch screen if the Keyboard also has an accurate and responsive navigation wheel.

Initially, I was attracted to the HTC S7xx series with full keyboards and no touch screens, but the S710 did not have WiFi and the users of the S730 were complaining abut performance issues. Then the HTC Touch series came along. The Touch Dual with 20-key QWERTY has the form factor I want and "most" of the features I mentioned above... (A new Quad-Band version has been recently announced) BUT!... it does not have "two key features" which I require in my next Smartphone... WiFi and GPS. Some folks say that the WiFi and GPS hardware is either already built-in, but disabled or easily added to the existing board. What was HTC thinking? With these two additional features the Touch Dual would give the iPhone a run for its money. I was also hoping that HTC was going to announce a new line of Smartphones or an enhanced Touch Dual at the recent CTIA Show, but nothing… not even rumors. Did anyone hear about any new HTC phones at CTIA?

Btw, I was also expecting the new Samsung Blackjack II to at least have WiFi, but again no cigar. Of all the Smarphones that I've seen the Blackjack II has the most responsive WM6 interface that I have tested.

The two phones in the "pipeline" that appear to have the features I want are the Sony XPERIA X1 and the Samsung i780 ("looks" a bit bulky). If there are any other small form factor Smartphones which I should consider as a replacement for my SP5, please post your suggestions here.

Thanks….

Posted by: flyingbuick

Thanks for the responses.

I did look at the Nokia N95 and I am impressed with the host features though many of them are not high priority for me. What turned me off was the thickness of the unit. It's almost double of the E51 and the only useful difference between the two is the better camera features and lens. Unfortunately, that's not an important enough feature for my requirements to sway me over. I am more concerned about how it'll fit in my pockets than being able to take nice pictures or play cool games on a phone.

Now the Xperia does seem to hold a lot of promise. Though it's got a qwerty keyboard which I really don't care for, the overall size (especially thickness) is still relatively small. Not sure how long I'm willing to wait though...

Looks like the E51 still tops the list for what I need in a smartphone. Too bad the Windows based devices appear to be more focused on "bigger device with a gadzillion features" instead of compact with "enough useful features".

Posted by: tamanaco

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingbuick

Thanks for the responses.

I did look at the Nokia N95 and I am impressed with the host features though many of them are not high priority for me. What turned me off was the thickness of the unit. It's almost double of the E51 and the only useful difference between the two is the better camera features and lens. Unfortunately, that's not an important enough feature for my requirements to sway me over. I am more concerned about how it'll fit in my pockets than being able to take nice pictures or play cool games on a phone.

Now the Xperia does seem to hold a lot of promise. Though it's got a qwerty keyboard which I really don't care for, the overall size (especially thickness) is still relatively small. Not sure how long I'm willing to wait though...

Looks like the E51 still tops the list for what I need in a smartphone. Too bad the Windows based devices appear to be more focused on "bigger device with a gadzillion features" instead of compact with "enough useful features".

If form factor and looks is what you're looking for... the N95 is a brick and the E51 is not so stylish... The Nokia N78 might be a better fit in your pocket and out of your pocket $$ and style wise... if you know what I mean... http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/...erican-flavors/ This is another Smartphone that I considered, but having used MS Windows Mobile for quite some time, I've become dependent on PIM functions of MS Mobile Office via Activesync and WiFi/Bluetooth/USB communication utilities that as an technology professional I find indispensable. In my world a Smartphone without a "gazillion" communications, storage, Multimedia capabilities and PIM apps that sync with pseudo MS Office tools is not a real Smartphone. What I find lacking is the UIs (User interfaces) to these complex features. But... to be honest, the UIs are getting better. One of the issues with these Smartphone features is that the inherited UIs for some of these apps were originally designed for bigger screens, faster hardware and full size keyboards. A good example of this is the mobile web browser. IMHO, some of these apps were designed bottom-up for bigger hardware, but retrofitted (top-down) for PDAs/Smartphones. If the N78 had a larger touch I'd buy it in a snap. I'm going blind from using the SP5 to view web pages.

Posted by: ornithorynx

Flyingbuick, finally, a name that's even more exotic than my name.

I used to have a QTEK 8310, the same phone as the Sp5 and reading your post, it seems I could have written it because I am exactly on the same page.

I chose a bb pearl 8120, the one with Wifi and a 2mp camera. The camera is not bad. The overriding factors where the weight and size (91g) 14 mm thickness and the fact that it syncs perfectly with Outlook.

I have been loking at the Nokia N82 and N78. I find the N82 slightly bulky. The N78 has a better form factor, but you don't have a 5mp camera, only 3.5 I think. Some say that N78 has cheaper components etc.

Unfortunately, there is not small WM phone out there. The new HTC Diamond is interesting, but it is only triband, and has I understand it, no 850 band.

Posted by: TheGSRGuy

S60 is so far ahead of anyone else that you'll never want to leave. I'm sorry, but even WM 6.1 is not as good as S60. Why? S60 is quicker, more intuitive, and "less proprietary".

Posted by: ornithorynx

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGSRGuy

S60 is so far ahead of anyone else that you'll never want to leave. I'm sorry, but even WM 6.1 is not as good as S60. Why? S60 is quicker, more intuitive, and "less proprietary".

GSR, I see from your devices, that you have ben using the BB and I think a WM phone, so perhaps you can shed some light on one of my concerns. My key concern is the device's ability to sync with Outlook and incorporate all of the information in Outlook, including secondary mobile phone #, etc. WM and the BB OS do a great job in that respect. Is the S60 as good? I have been reading conflicting comments about the S60's ability to synch Outlook information to the same extent. I was looking at the Nokia N82 user's manual and I was search in the PDF for outlook and I could not find any information in the entire user's manual regarding outlook and which outlook features are supported by the N82. When reading the user's manual, you get the (false) impression that Outlook is not supported.

Posted by: hondaguy

i used to have the sp5 too and i loved it. i currently have the n95-4, with na 3g and i love it. if you are looking for something that syncs well with outlook and you dont want a qwerty board, i think you will like the e51. i was thinking about getting one as a back up as they are relatively cheap in price for the features you get.

i used to really love windowns smartphones as they do sync really well with outlook, and i like to keep my pim info and emails in sync by using activsync. you will find that by installing nokias mail4exchange program, you can wirelessly sync and get push email just fine on any newer s60 device. if you want to sync via a wire and pull your emails, that works well too. you can even sync over wifi, which wm wont let you do. the main difference that i have found is that wm does pim functions better and faster, but symbian does entertainment and lifestyle things better. thats why i am using the n95 right now, because the pim features work decent but the music player, podcasting app, picture gallery, video player, etc all work much better then wm. everyday i view spreadsheets, read and reply to a few emails, use the built in nokia maps to get where i am going, make a couple of hours worth of calls, surf the net (MUCH better then on wm)and listen to music. i think the e51 will suite your needs and is about the same size as your current phone.

Posted by: ornithorynx

Thanks Honda.
The pim functions are the most important thing to me beyond small size, call quality and battery life. I think I will need to buy a Nokia to try it out and chuck it if I don't like it.

Posted by: klowngoblin

Quote:

Originally Posted by pachi

Get the N95-4 with US 3g. Youll never see a better smartphone on the market. Best camera, video, multimedia. Now if you want a business phone then get a Blackjack 2..Much better then E61

except that it cant run Wm apps, if the OP had lots of customized apps he will probably need another WM phone

also i dont think symbian is the greatest with activesync push mail.

Posted by: flyingbuick

Thanks all for the thoughtful responses. It's been very educational for me.

Though I can't say I wish it's simple like the old days where transfering phone contacts via infra-red was a big deal but I do wish it was a little less complicated.

Gonna have to try a few out to see what "fits".

Thanks again.

Posted by: hondaguy

you said syncing with outlook was important, so transfering contacts should be a breeze if you pick any s60 or wm device. after thinking about it for a couple of days i really think the e51 will be your best bet. i think it is smaller than your current device, yet offers the same same business features with some better multimedia features as a bonus. the build quality is supposed to be great, too. i have a q9h also and i rarely use it. i put my sim card in once in a while, but never leave it in for the entire day. web browsing just sucks, no matter which browser i use, and i have just become too used to s60 due to my n95. you might even consider the n82, as it is small, candybar shape with wifi and it does have an incredible camera (i know camera is not important to you but you will be surprised at how much you will use it if when it takes great shots).

Posted by: klowngoblin

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingbuick

Thanks all for the thoughtful responses. It's been very educational for me.

Though I can't say I wish it's simple like the old days where transfering phone contacts via infra-red was a big deal but I do wish it was a little less complicated.

Gonna have to try a few out to see what "fits".

Thanks again.

why not upgrade your exsisting phone to WM6.1? you get all the latest features that most new phones have without walking out of your house.

the phone you have is actaully pretty good.

you can even get the new media slide interface,
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=375670

Posted by: mmmangoes

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingbuick

Hi all,
I'd done a fair bit of research and the closest thing I can find is a Nokia E51 from a feature perspective but that runs Symbian, not Windows Mobile. Anybody have thoughts on this or suggestions on what might be a good replacement for my current i-mate sp5? Why replace? Just want to.

I have just started searching for a replacement for my sp3 (lost it..sigh..i may just buy the sp5 actually) and came across the HP iPAQ 514 voice messenger & 614c Business Navigator- I haven't shopped for a phone in a long long time so I don't have a good idea of what written dimensions translate to in real life- may be a bit bulky for you, but at least you have two more options to consider- hth!

Dimensions 107 x 48.6 x 16.3 mm

Dimensions 117 x 60.3 x 17.5 mm

Posted by: ornithorynx

I agree that the E51 is an excellent choice for a smartphone. Given that the N78 is about to come out and is almost the same weight (and the form factor is fairly close), I'm thinking I should wait for the N78, it seems like an improvement over the E51 except for the thickness - am I missing something?
It's unclear how FP2 will be an improvement, but most Nokia users on this site seem to think that it is...