- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 101 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
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17 out of 18 people found this review helpful
4.5 stars
"No problems here..."
Pros: Not Available
Cons: Not Available
Summary: Unlike a few others, I had no trouble obtaining my SDA yesterday. I called my local store the day before launch, and they cheerfully held a unit for me. I paid $199 after $50 mail-in rebate, which is a very good price for a smartphone. HOWEVER, I was working with a manager, and she said there WERE pricing errors in the system, so others may have been mis-quoted. The only reason an existing customer would be required to pay full price is if a phone upgrade had already been purchased at a discount within the last 11 months.
As a traditional Pocket PC owner, this is my first smartphone, and overall, I am very pleased with the SDA. I had used the HP 6315 since its launch about a year and a half ago (my third iPaq; first one with built-in wireless capabilities), and this device is MUCH more streamlined. My only gripe is that most of my existing Pocket PC programs aren't smartphone compatible (obviously), but the included software bundle is certainly enough to get up and running. I've been a PDA user for 4 years now, so some of my software was dated anyway. Now I just have to do what all early-adopters do, and be patient for new Windows Mobile 5 SmartPhone programs!
Web browsing is a bit zippier with EDGE compatibility, and I really appreciate the ability to connect the unit to my laptop and use it as a modem for wireless internet away from a WiFi connection. E-mail functionality is highly integrated, and My Email triggers automatically download new e-mail from all four of my e-mail accounts. Obviously, typing out a reply is not a quick as it is with a full QWERTY keyboard, but years of text-messaging experience have quickened my thumbs, and it's still much speedier than tapping the screen with a stylus. Navigation is well thought out, and I don't miss the touch screen at all. One-handed operation is refreshing!
The BIG upside is that I can simply carry one device now, rather than having to carry a separate cell phone. I remember having to plug my Motorola P280 into my iPaq 3765 in order to download new e-mail or browse the internet (both painfully slow). The HP 6315 was a giant leap forward, but required an extra line, as I was not satisfied with its phone functionality. Amazingly, the representative in T-Mobile wireless data was able to transfer over my grandfathered data plan back to my primary phone number, so I could consolidate. This freed up an extra line on our family plan right when we needed it, so I am extremely pleased with my entire experience! This comes as no surprise to me, as I've been a T-Mobile customer since 1996 (back when they were VoiceStream), and I have always been treated well. Overall, great phone, great service!
