- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 165 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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48 out of 49 people found this review helpful
4.0 stars
"Excellent device but a few SMALL flaws"
Pros: Stable OS (I've used about every feature extensively), easy to use keyboard, 802.11G, Bluetooth
Cons: Wish screen were physically larger (most people like the 2.x", I'm used to 3.5" however), color
Summary: I've been using the T-Mobile MDA Vario (USA) for a couple of weeks now, and it's much, much better than the iPAQ 6315 introduced by T-Mobile more than a year ago. This is so far the BEST Pocket PC Phone I've owned (out of four others from different US providers). Most people will like the physical size as it is a small but useful form factor (I prefer a physically larger 3" OR 3.5" display personally), features an easy to use slide-out keyboard, and runs the latest Windows Mobile 5.0 software. Coupled with Microsoft Voice Command (which blows any and every voice recognition software out of the water), this is a near-perfect device as stated by one of the first reviewers.
I have used it for nearly two weeks now, and it has NEVER crashed on me, syncrhonizes flawlessly, has good battery life, and not to mention, many of my friends who are Blackberry owners have ALL stated they want this as their next device.
Excuse the reviewer who gave it a 2, as it appears he mearly read the negative reviews about a manufactuer who sells these types of devices OUTSIDE of the official consumer rhealm. Even with that I have seen 85-90% reviewer satisfaction with imate.com's version of the T-Mobile Vario, dubbed the K-Jam.
So far I am very happy with it, despite the fact that I am using it in pre-consumer release form. I expect T-Mobile to add a few software cosmetic changes before actual release, but overall it is a solid device.
My only cons are cosmetic related, such as the color of the device (how come we can't have a sleek black color???), and the look of the phone dialer software. But these aren't important compared to the FUNCTIONALITY of the Vario.
Not perfect, but great device!
- 6 replies to this review
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Out of 10 this phone is about an 8. It does freeze up from time to time. It only happened 2 times in the 3 months I have owned the phone but overall it is a decent value and the windows operating system sync's in perfect with xp. Call quality and signal strength is a little above average but not great. If you are looking at the palm treo you might want to take a better look at the mda. Although the treo has better camera quality, the mda sync's a great deal better and just the way the phone operates is better than the palm i know someone with the palm 650 and the person said they like my mda better.
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There is not problem with the Keyboard. This device works wonders and I haven't received a problem yet. The Wi Fi is powerful and awesome. It has not crashed yet and works extremely quick and reliable for a smartphone. Tmobile did a good job on this one.
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This is a great device with a ton of option, video and camera, Media player, Word, PowerPoint and so forth. A few minor issues - I was used to a Blackberry and you can not use this device with one hand as you can with a Blackberry (not great when driving or walking through an airport). The keyboard does not stay lit long enough nor does the screen when you are on the phone. I have not tried the Wi-Fi yet but Bluetooth is easy. Note: Make sure you have the latest Outlook installed otherwise you will spend time and $ on the phone with Microsoft (T-Mobile is good, but will not support this).
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I am a T-Mobile customer and have used the iPaq 6315 since 10/2004. I was surprised to hear - not from TM thanks! - that this handset (500$ plus) was not being supported by them any longer (read - assurion insurance no good, no tech support and more). When I asked about replacing my iPaq due to its crashing (and tech support unable to fix) I was told about this device...the MDA. I was interested because it runs the Mobile 5.0 and can support my 3rd party software - but curious because the actual ORIGIN of the MDA seems mysterious. TM says they MAKE it. HOW? they are a carrier as far as I know. Who makes the device? I have yet to find a real answer to this question.
Also, the questions I have asked about actual hardware are not able to be answered by TMobile. Anyone know where I can find out more about this device before I lay down this much money for what is now the ONLY TM supported device able to run Windows Mobile? Thanks -
I must say that I'm curious as to how people get to pre-test phones before they are realeased. Do you work for T-Mobile? HOw are you selected?
As for the MDA...do you know when it will be released? Is it user friendly? I currently have a blackberry now and am looking forward to purchasing the MDA.
Thanks! -
I must say that I'm curious as to how people get to pre-test phones before they are realeased. Do you work for T-Mobile? HOw are you selected?
As for the MDA...do you know when it will be released? Is it user friendly? I currently have a blackberry now and am looking forward to purchasing the MDA.
Thanks!
