vB Easy Archive - Danger Sidekick (hiptop)

Pages: 1

Danger Sidekick (hiptop)
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: Nothrojan

Hi, I'm considering purchasing the danger sidekick (hiptop), the newer phone/messaging device from t-mobile. As far as I know, it's the only phone with a plan for unlimited data transfer (even though the 40.00 per month plan only gets you 200 peak minutes) and has a full keyboard. Does anyone know anything about or own this phone? I don't want to get stuck with a flashy gadget that turns out to be a terrible phone, but I'm very intrigued by the unlimited internet/email/text options (not to mention that it's a phone of course!). Any replies would be appreciated.

Jason

Posted by: Toyz

Check this out from CNET

http://electronics.cnet.com/electro...3-1.html?tag=ld

Posted by: enagel

Quote:

Originally posted by Nothrojan
Hi, I'm considering purchasing the danger sidekick (hiptop), the newer phone/messaging device from t-mobile. As far as I know, it's the only phone with a plan for unlimited data transfer (even though the 40.00 per month plan only gets you 200 peak minutes) and has a full keyboard. Does anyone know anything about or own this phone? I don't want to get stuck with a flashy gadget that turns out to be a terrible phone, but I'm very intrigued by the unlimited internet/email/text options (not to mention that it's a phone of course!). Any replies would be appreciated.

Jason

I own both the Treo 300 and the Sidekick. I find the user interface on the Sidekick to be far superior to that on any device I have used. Danger Inc., who designed the device, obviously put a lot of thought into it. The price plan that T-Mobile came up with (200 anytime minutes, 1000 N/W minutes plus unlimited data for $39.99/mo.) was well thought out for a data user. I use the Treo as my office phone and organizer and the Sidekick for data. Although with the rumors of SPCS going to unlimited data that may change. The phone quality is best using a headset otherwise you'll find the screen gets smudged with facial oil from holding it to your head.

It would have been nice for Danger to have done the unit with a color versus B&W screen. Although for a B&W screen, the resolution and clarity is very good.

One final thing to note, The Sidekick does not have a sync cradle for contacts and calendar. Instead, you have to export a tab delimited file for each from Outlook and import it into the Web Desktop Interface on the T-Mobile web site. Once loaded there, it propagates automatically to the Sidekick.

Posted by: Nothrojan

I am satisfied with many of the noted shortcomings (black and white, no physical sync), but I would like to know exactly how "bad" the phone function is. I am on a fairly limited budget and the sidekick would definately be my only mobile phone. I'm not a heavy phone user (I would very rarely exceed the allotted 200 minutes) but I do use a portable phone to make frequent quick calls (for which I would not use a headset most of the time). Will the sidekick be ok for a phone in light use? I really love all of its features but I have heard complaints about the phone function. The noted smudges would probably be annoying but I think I could live with it. I would appreciate any feedback,

thanks,

Jason

Posted by: ClearX

Ok!
Get up right now and go buy this thing ;-)

Please note that I am writing this from a sidekick.

Here is my story.
I am in a meeting as I write this, I was surfing howardforums when I read ur post.
after feeling bad 4 you because you don't own this phone allready I started righting this 2 let u know that this device is the best thing aince slice bread!
Ok, it doesnt have a collerd screen and u can oil the screen if u use it with out a the earplug!!
SO WHAT! Look at the great things this device could do.
I am in love with this thing and I will be 4 a long time to come.
I just wish that the browser supported javascript.

P.s: English is my 3rd langueg so please forgive my broken english

Posted by: Nothrojan

Thank you both very much for your extremely helpful replies. Does anyone else agree/disagree? I am pretty sold on the device, but I would like to hear opinions from users to help confirm my decision absolutely.

Thanks,

Jason

Posted by: Cablaje

Well I geuss I am not as Techafied as most people but I am very happy with my sidekick and plus I ahve dropped it several times the screen has yet to come off so that passes my test. Oh yeah it works very well.

Posted by: Bagbklyn

Well I disagree, I just returned my sidekick on the 13th day. I guess you can say I was asking a lot but I just think it was some common sense issues.
1.One being to make a phone call while driving is not the easiest thing if the sidekick is in ur holster and ur drive manual.

2.Second is U have no way of knowing if ur on mute or not. If U are somewhere you have no way of muting quickly with out pulling it out and being seen.

3.The next problem is if you call somewhere, for example a credit card company or even t-mobile you have to enter numbers unless U have earpiece, you ahve to keep flipping the phone back and forth opening and closing the screen.

4.Not having control is a huge factor, danger is basically a parental control to you. U want upgrades and have to wait for there over the air updates, while with a treo U have the control to install apps urself.

5.This is really against t-mobile but standing in one spot and having ur signal strength changge like a roller coaster

Well there is always 2 sides to each story
1.The sidekick is ur sidekick, anytime U have a little time U always jump on it and go on the internet(Whenever U have the GPRS signal).
2.It's a head turner, everybody can't believe it's a phone. it pick up all the ladies.
3.Danger has a great future and I will probably come back once they have color.

I think what persuaded me to return the sidekick was the fact that sprint was realeasing it's unlimited vision plan which in my area has stronger singal strength. I hope this helps for me the drawbacks really outweighed the benefits.

Posted by: SANDOVAL

Quote:

I think what persuaded me to return the sidekick was the fact that sprint was realeasing it's unlimited vision plan which in my area has stronger singal strength.

When? Where did you here it will be unlimited?

Eric

Posted by: O_loung1

Bagbklyn brings up some very good points. my suggestion is you should always use an earpiece when driving. especially a manual. i bought a new manual last january, so when i first started driving and using the phone i was thinking, WTF? how do i do this?

imagine someone driving manual, drink coke, smoke and talk in the phone the same time without an earpiece. i dont know how they do it, but i dont think its too safe. the voice dial functions on phones are always a time-saver, even if the phone cant understand you the first time. this also reduces distractions on the road. my Plantronics M1145 headset has both voice and earpiece amplification as well as mute button. its nice but expensive and the ear hook likes to get tangled up in the car.

i dont know if the danger has voice dial, i would think so, i just like borrowing my friends sidekick to surf on the go. as soon as it gets color, im getting one.

Posted by: spicoli1

They actually have a new rate plan that is $59.99 a month for 500 weekday minutes unlimited nights and weekends!

Posted by: AEguyNYC5

I just purchased my sidekick yesterday and I love this dam thing....I was at home last night and I was doing almost everything I do with my computer on the internet with this thing.....except chatting in rooms I guess it doesnt support javascript, I hope I can update that somehow....Im thinking of adding a call plan......hmmmm

Posted by: O_loung1

the new color is out! but budget is small, i still like the design
vs the other "smartphones".

Posted by: macfreak

It's a seriously good deal.

Have enjoyed mine greatly.

Posted by: Aleks

I don't think your problems are too valid...

1. you should not be making phone calls while driving. You wait until you're at a red light or stopped to dial. You can pick up the phone while driving, but you don't dial the phone in rush hour traffic, that's why a lot of places are outlawing cell phone use in the car cuz people pay more attention to their phone than the road causing a lot of accidents.

2. When going into an area where you need to mute it (meeting, class...) you do it before going in. It's just being polite and thinking about others.

3. I don't have one so I can't really comment, but how often do you call credit card places? You could simply set up an automatic dialing squence instead if this is something you do often.

Quote:

Originally posted by Bagbklyn
1.One being to make a phone call while driving is not the easiest thing if the sidekick is in ur holster and ur drive manual.

2.Second is U have no way of knowing if ur on mute or not. If U are somewhere you have no way of muting quickly with out pulling it out and being seen.

3.The next problem is if you call somewhere, for example a credit card company or even t-mobile you have to enter numbers unless U have earpiece, you ahve to keep flipping the phone back and forth opening and closing the screen.

4.Not having control is a huge factor, danger is basically a parental control to you. U want upgrades and have to wait for there over the air updates, while with a treo U have the control to install apps urself.