Re: Computer Talk!!
If you're talking about unlocked GSM-HSPA phone, its going to be very expensive. if its carrier subsidized it can be much cheaper. Sprint for example, offers its version of the HTC Diamond with EV-DO for only $199. This version has a customized back casing to Sprint's modifications one with a matt burgundy color, and the neon like symbols in the interface, courtesy of being more consistent to Sprint's logo, also looks nice than the standard symbols used in the Touch Flo interface. Compared to the international version, the Sprint version also has more memory, 288mb of working memory over 256, 192mb or even 128kb used in other HTC phones. Compared to the international version of the Diamond, the Sprint Diamond also has a larger battery 1340mah vs. 950.
How do I rate this phone? I would say, its nearly tops among Windows Mobile phones. The screen is among the best I've seen in sharpness, better than any other WiMo phone I've seen, better than Nokia's, better than the iPhone, and probably about equal with the Blackberry Bold, Storm and Curve II. The HTC supplied shell, the Touch Flo, seems better than any other WiMo shells I've seen. Tops in looks, and its relatively faster than any othe WiMo phone except another late HTC model with a 528Mhz processor.
But relatively faster is the key word, because WiMo phones in general, feels slower and less smooth than any Symbion, Linux/Android, Blackberry and not the least, the iPhone. Battery life is bad, The OS occasionally hiccups, and applications need the occasional turn off and turn on to clear the memory and restore performance. Its not idiot proof---you may think you close an application, but it really just stays in memory resident, and having multiple apps in memory slows down the phone and consumes battery life like crazy. There is a limit on installing applications too no matter how much internal memory you have, because only a small selected amount of memory inside the system is reserved for application use. if you got too many applications installed, you may have to uninstall the least used ones if you're to install new applications.
The pluses are, WiMo integrates well with your PC Windows. XP and Vista will detect the phone once you connect to the PC via USB, and will then sync with it. You can load and unload programs and data using standard folder drag and drop. No need for iTunes or any a special manager program.
WiMo also has multitasking, so you can launch apps that do multiple things at the same time. But as I mentioned, it is a double edged sword in terms of memory and battery life.
Opera Browser 9.5 is one of the best browsers for smartphones. Next to Safari in the iPhone and Chrome on the Google phone, Opera is probably the best mobile browser out there. Unlike Safari, Opera can save pictures off a webpage, which is another plus.
WiMo also has the hierarchical file structure of Windows, which is good if you're familiar with the Windows file structure.
If you got Microsoft Outlook, WiMo will sync automatically for calendars, appointments and email. The Professional version of WiMo has Pocket Word, Excel and Power Point to open attachments of Word, Excel and PowerPoint files and edit them. These are among the strong points of WiMo.
My conclusion is that if you're after a WiMo phone, go with HTC. Its no wonder they got 80% of the production of WiMo phones out there.
If you're choosing between the Touch HD and the Diamond, I would probably go with the Touch HD. Having more screen area is always a benefit for a touch screen phone. If you're more into browsing and surfing, go with the Touch HD.
If you're a heavy texter, I may recommend something with a physical keyboard instead, like the Touch Pro or the S740.
Touch HD however is expensive for an unlocked version. It has no carrier subsidies in the US but other countries might have so you have to check that out if you're not from the US.
HTC recently announced the Touch Pro 2 and the Diamond 2. Lots of buzz about it.
Now if your choice covers more than WiMo phones and you're considering phones of other OSes, you may consider Blackberry though the data rate plans may be off putting. Blackberry is the choice of Corporate America for good reason.
iPhone is always neat but some people don't like Apple's policies. Nokia and Symbion needs cool phones and it seems some of are coming already. The Google Android phones deserve a study.
If you're a technophobe, or just a person who don't have the time to fiddle, WiMo may not be the best choice. If you're a power user WiMo may get you what you deserve.
By the way, the Blackberry Storm is now only $99 from Verizon. Carrier subsidy prices are dropping really low across the board and not just the Storm, but of course, like with any subsidized phones, you have to sign a two year contract. If you want freedom with unlocked phones, you have to pay the price.
If you're talking about unlocked GSM-HSPA phone, its going to be very expensive. if its carrier subsidized it can be much cheaper. Sprint for example, offers its version of the HTC Diamond with EV-DO for only $199. This version has a customized back casing to Sprint's modifications one with a matt burgundy color, and the neon like symbols in the interface, courtesy of being more consistent to Sprint's logo, also looks nice than the standard symbols used in the Touch Flo interface. Compared to the international version, the Sprint version also has more memory, 288mb of working memory over 256, 192mb or even 128kb used in other HTC phones. Compared to the international version of the Diamond, the Sprint Diamond also has a larger battery 1340mah vs. 950.
How do I rate this phone? I would say, its nearly tops among Windows Mobile phones. The screen is among the best I've seen in sharpness, better than any other WiMo phone I've seen, better than Nokia's, better than the iPhone, and probably about equal with the Blackberry Bold, Storm and Curve II. The HTC supplied shell, the Touch Flo, seems better than any other WiMo shells I've seen. Tops in looks, and its relatively faster than any othe WiMo phone except another late HTC model with a 528Mhz processor.
But relatively faster is the key word, because WiMo phones in general, feels slower and less smooth than any Symbion, Linux/Android, Blackberry and not the least, the iPhone. Battery life is bad, The OS occasionally hiccups, and applications need the occasional turn off and turn on to clear the memory and restore performance. Its not idiot proof---you may think you close an application, but it really just stays in memory resident, and having multiple apps in memory slows down the phone and consumes battery life like crazy. There is a limit on installing applications too no matter how much internal memory you have, because only a small selected amount of memory inside the system is reserved for application use. if you got too many applications installed, you may have to uninstall the least used ones if you're to install new applications.
The pluses are, WiMo integrates well with your PC Windows. XP and Vista will detect the phone once you connect to the PC via USB, and will then sync with it. You can load and unload programs and data using standard folder drag and drop. No need for iTunes or any a special manager program.
WiMo also has multitasking, so you can launch apps that do multiple things at the same time. But as I mentioned, it is a double edged sword in terms of memory and battery life.
Opera Browser 9.5 is one of the best browsers for smartphones. Next to Safari in the iPhone and Chrome on the Google phone, Opera is probably the best mobile browser out there. Unlike Safari, Opera can save pictures off a webpage, which is another plus.
WiMo also has the hierarchical file structure of Windows, which is good if you're familiar with the Windows file structure.
If you got Microsoft Outlook, WiMo will sync automatically for calendars, appointments and email. The Professional version of WiMo has Pocket Word, Excel and Power Point to open attachments of Word, Excel and PowerPoint files and edit them. These are among the strong points of WiMo.
My conclusion is that if you're after a WiMo phone, go with HTC. Its no wonder they got 80% of the production of WiMo phones out there.
If you're choosing between the Touch HD and the Diamond, I would probably go with the Touch HD. Having more screen area is always a benefit for a touch screen phone. If you're more into browsing and surfing, go with the Touch HD.
If you're a heavy texter, I may recommend something with a physical keyboard instead, like the Touch Pro or the S740.
Touch HD however is expensive for an unlocked version. It has no carrier subsidies in the US but other countries might have so you have to check that out if you're not from the US.
HTC recently announced the Touch Pro 2 and the Diamond 2. Lots of buzz about it.
Now if your choice covers more than WiMo phones and you're considering phones of other OSes, you may consider Blackberry though the data rate plans may be off putting. Blackberry is the choice of Corporate America for good reason.
iPhone is always neat but some people don't like Apple's policies. Nokia and Symbion needs cool phones and it seems some of are coming already. The Google Android phones deserve a study.
If you're a technophobe, or just a person who don't have the time to fiddle, WiMo may not be the best choice. If you're a power user WiMo may get you what you deserve.
By the way, the Blackberry Storm is now only $99 from Verizon. Carrier subsidy prices are dropping really low across the board and not just the Storm, but of course, like with any subsidized phones, you have to sign a two year contract. If you want freedom with unlocked phones, you have to pay the price.
