M600i One Day Impressions

[gsibble]

I got my M600i yesterday and have been using it constantly since. I immediately updated the firmware before I even put in my SIM so I don't know about the original firmware. So far, it's pretty damn nice! It can be a little slow, but only if the application isn't already open. For that reason, I always make sure that the contacts and messaging apps are open. It's plenty fast then. I was used to a 7105 before which could be slow as hell at times so I don't mind so much.

In any case, the phone is very sexy. The screen looks INCREDIBLE and the different applications merge pretty well. UIQ 3 is looking very very nice. Unfortunately, I completely agree with another poster that the one handed operation without a stylus wasn't really completed. It's about 1/3 of the way to where it needs to be. You can't even answer the phone without touching the screen! I've resorted to just touching it with my fingers which is ok but not preferred. When the screen is on though, you can't even see the fingerprints so its not that bad.

Getting Exchange Activesync working was a PITA. SE doesn't include the CA certificates for Equifax or GeoTrust which provide our SSL certificate where I work. I had to find them and install them in order to get ActiveSync working. But now it works great!

Honestly though, how could they not include the capability to view exchange folders? I sort everything into folders almost immediately when I get the messages and now I can't access them at all! It feels like the exchange activesync software is more of a gimmick than anything else. Not fully implemented yet.

The only workaround I can think of is setting up my same account with IMAP and accessing the folders that way. It'll be annoying, but it'll work.

I'm going to use it for a week or so and then post a longer review with pictures. I was a crackberry addict before so I hope to give some insight to the transition.

-G

[plessdude]

This is a perfect case study in a first generation product that is just not ready for primetime. SE positioning this as a business device is so far off the mark I really have to wonder if their focus groups are just people who own a p800 or p900. Slap a camera on this phone...have it available in pink, and target teenagers who are looking for their first cheap smartphone.

[BillB]

Honestly though, how could they not include the capability to view exchange folders? I sort everything into folders almost immediately when I get the messages and now I can't access them at all! It feels like the exchange activesync software is more of a gimmick than anything else. Not fully implemented yet.

Question: Is that really the fault of SE or Roadsync? I mean, can Windows Mobile devices sync sub-folders? If no, then it is an MS activesync isue.

AFAIK, none of the smart phones or PPC phones are launched "ready for prime time". In the case of SE, going back to the P800, there has always been a lot of over-promising and under-delivering...

[plessdude]

I think that WM5 devices sync subfolders.

[gsibble]

I think that WM5 devices sync subfolders.

They do. And it's really roadsync's fault not SE. But SE promised ActiveSync and this is only a half implementation of it IMHO.

As a phone, this thing is really starting to kick ***. It blows the BB 7105 out of the water! Still, it feels only 2/3 complete. Hopefully more firmware updates will make the phone that much better.

[tkao2025]

I'm getting mine tomorrow....can't wait. The only thing that've read so far that's got me worried is the fact that it doesn't have a dedicated call and end button. I wonder how I'll get use to that.

Other than that, I've always liked UIQ. I find them better implemented than series 60. I'm wondering when they will release the BB connect for this thing as well??

gsibble when you say it is 2/3 complete what do you mean by that? Do you mean you still get crashes once in awhile? Other than that I'm glad you like the device.

[gsibble]

I'm getting mine tomorrow....can't wait. The only thing that've read so far that's got me worried is the fact that it doesn't have a dedicated call and end button. I wonder how I'll get use to that.

Other than that, I've always liked UIQ. I find them better implemented than series 60. I'm wondering when they will release the BB connect for this thing as well??

gsibble when you say it is 2/3 complete what do you mean by that? Do you mean you still get crashes once in awhile? Other than that I'm glad you like the device.

What I meant is that there are things that shouldn't be there that aren't:

-Answering the phone without touching the screen
-Unlocking the keys without touching the screen
-Can't change the key lock time
-Can't change ANY times (backlight dimming, screen saver start, etc.)
-No BBConnect yet
-Exchange ActiveSync stopping working every few hours and requiring a restart

Mostly just the customization and the one handed operation with the scroll wheel isn't there. I don't understand why they didn't do some things like answering with the scroll wheel. It's so simple!! It's still a great phone, but only 2/3 done.

To put it simply, I would say you get about 10-25% of the functionality from the scroll wheel compared to that of a blackberry. Half of the time, when you push it in, it doesn't even do anything! They just slapped it on there really.

[skagen]

What I meant is that there are things that shouldn't be there that aren't:

-Answering the phone without touching the screen
-Unlocking the keys without touching the screen
-Can't change the key lock time
-Can't change ANY times (backlight dimming, screen saver start, etc.)
-No BBConnect yet
-Exchange ActiveSync stopping working every few hours and requiring a restart

Mostly just the customization and the one handed operation with the scroll wheel isn't there. I don't understand why they didn't do some things like answering with the scroll wheel. It's so simple!! It's still a great phone, but only 2/3 done.

To put it simply, I would say you get about 10-25% of the functionality from the scroll wheel compared to that of a blackberry. Half of the time, when you push it in, it doesn't even do anything! They just slapped it on there really.

I dont have this phone but I'm considering it. I know what you mean here in general.

Sometimes a lot of these smart phones do not seem to have gone through even an elementaty common sense user ergonomics review. And there are people at all these companies who get paid A LOT OF MONEY and have fancy job titles to just this.

So where are they when these phones are developed? On vacation? It doesnt make any sense. If you are going to put out a product just do it right - you actually would get more customers....

[Indighost]

^ After 24 hours with the device, I agree.

I'm letting a lot ride on the firmware upgrades, but there's only so much firmware can do; it seems a lot like someone forgot to throw two (or 3?) softkeys.

The only saving grace to one-handedness will be to have the jog-dial scroll to select the 'softscreen' buttons. This will improve the functionality in spades.

[plessdude]

I gave up and sold the phone. If the P990 is anything like this then SE might as well get out of the Smartphone business. I know this is a strong opinion for a first generation product but there are issues with the m600 that go way beyond the OS and firmware updates.

[shaolinmonk]

I gave up and sold the phone. If the P990 is anything like this then SE might as well get out of the Smartphone business. I know this is a strong opinion for a first generation product but there are issues with the m600 that go way beyond the OS and firmware updates.

what was you issue? i've been using it for a few days now and think it's great i don't see it being a primetime BB competitor... but an excellent update to the dated p900 series.

battery life is solid
screen is great
rf is great
touchscreen is responsive
keypad is great
UI is fast and fairly stable.. i get minor crashes here and there
(but i'm a cellphone/pda user... not an email junky)

only thing i would have wanted was the 5 way jog dial.. not a fan of the stripped down 3 way

i would compare it to a treo 650 but think the uiq is more verstile in multitasking but the dpad on the treo makes it handle a bit better

[plessdude]

Funny how two people can have completely different opinons on a phone.

1. Battery life very average especially if you have Exchange sync installed
2. Screen is below average in sunlight
3. Touchscreen I agree with you here. But is it a benefit that the touch screen works like it is supposed to?
3. Keypad is great although they are missing a few buttons that would have changed everything.
4. UI on my phone which I updated to world release 2 was buggy, slow, and crashed three or four times a day. I really think that UIQ 3.0 is pretty but needs major work when it comes to speed and one handed use.

I would compare this to a p910 way before a Treo 650. Yes the Treo lacks multitasking but have just about everything else going for it. I really wanted the m600 to be a good phone for me. It has the size and weight advantage over everything else I have used. Maybe SE will get it right the next time around.

[shaolinmonk]

Funny how two people can have completely different opinons on a phone.

1. Battery life very average especially if you have Exchange sync installed
2. Screen is below average in sunlight
3. Touchscreen I agree with you here. But is it a benefit that the touch screen works like it is supposed to?
3. Keypad is great although they are missing a few buttons that would have changed everything.
4. UI on my phone which I updated to world release 2 was buggy, slow, and crashed three or four times a day. I really think that UIQ 3.0 is pretty but needs major work when it comes to speed and one handed use.

I would compare this to a p910 way before a Treo 650. Yes the Treo lacks multitasking but have just about everything else going for it. I really wanted the m600 to be a good phone for me. It has the size and weight advantage over everything else I have used. Maybe SE will get it right the next time around.

well i think we're 2 very different users... which would explain why.

1)battery life improves over time.. did you have it long enough to go through the power cycles? (just asking) i don;t know email stuff.. exhange is done 2 ways right? via gprs and datacable. if you got it in the cable should it not also be charging?

2)hmm.. seems perfectly fine in the sunlight to me.. similar to most cellphones i've used recently. I cannot comment on how it compares to a bb8700r or e61 though. played with the e61 but not in the sunlight.

3)i rarely use the stylus, so when i say the touchscreen is good i mean it responds well to my fingers.. which not all phones do imo.

4)hmm..i think we're tinkering in 2 different spots. where are you getting slowdowns?
my mail seems fine (but all text messaged about 300 to date)
navigation and multitasking was fine.. a little wap, a little music, running through the setups

(were you using r1b?)

5)see the only thing i like about the treo is the dpad which is why i compared it to that.

i think we're just 2 very different users.. video, music, themes, running some odd ball apps, mainly use it as a phone/organizer and all those components work for me.

[plessdude]

Yes I agree. I use my phone as a mobile office. The m600 just couldnt cut it for that application.

well i think we're 2 very different users... which would explain why.

1)battery life improves over time.. did you have it long enough to go through the power cycles? (just asking) i don;t know email stuff.. exhange is done 2 ways right? via gprs and datacable. if you got it in the cable should it not also be charging?

2)hmm.. seems perfectly fine in the sunlight to me.. similar to most cellphones i've used recently. I cannot comment on how it compares to a bb8700r or e61 though. played with the e61 but not in the sunlight.

3)i rarely use the stylus, so when i say the touchscreen is good i mean it responds well to my fingers.. which not all phones do imo.

4)hmm..i think we're tinkering in 2 different spots. where are you getting slowdowns?
my mail seems fine (but all text messaged about 300 to date)
navigation and multitasking was fine.. a little wap, a little music, running through the setups

(were you using r1b?)

5)see the only thing i like about the treo is the dpad which is why i compared it to that.

i think we're just 2 very different users.. video, music, themes, running some odd ball apps, mainly use it as a phone/organizer and all those components work for me.

[gsibble]

Yes I agree. I use my phone as a mobile office. The m600 just couldnt cut it for that application.

I'm starting to agree. I think this is a great phone but it's not entirely there yet. Coming from a BB7105 which had 8+ years of software development behind it, the M600i doesn't really compare. Sad considering how much I really like it

As for battery life, I sync with Exchange every 5 minutes (I have to, that's what this phone is for!) and I BARELY get 24 hours out of it. Push will help with that but my IT director isn't very interested in installing SP2.