T-Mobile Sidekick II user reviews

5.0 stars

"All I Can Say Is WOW!" on June 18, 2005 by wizwaz3

Pros: Most Everything

Cons: No Features for use with Camera, $20.00 a mo. for Sidekick Data Service

Summary: After reading the horrendous reviews people gave the Sidekick II, I still purchased the device and I have to say, people must have been looking for something wrong. The resolution on the built-in camera is low, and there are no fun features for pictures like other camera phones, but the camera is very good for the average cell phone. I get great reception even when the Sidekick displays only 1 bar. Or even zero for that matter. This phone was obviously designed with teenagers in mind, so I don't think that having no IR or Bluetooth will really effect it. Like I said, this device was obviously designed for teens, so the OS (Hiptop 2) is difficult to get used to and many adults don't even have time to learn. The Sidekick II is a great phone for teenagers, or adults who have the time to figure out the Hiptop OS.

4.0 stars

"Great phone but lacks pda usability" on April 4, 2005 by yzfdude1

Pros: Awsome phone, great contact list. Wonderful interface.

Cons: Needs SD Card, touch screen, and usb connectivity to pc.

Summary: This phone is a way better phone than the original sidekick, I went through 6 of those.

Unfortunately this phone needs better accessibilty, Danger needs to let go and give this phone more pda functionality and they will see people flock to it.

Ok a phone this great with no SD or memory cards? Who the heck dropped that ball! T-mobile backs up the device over wireless but I'd like the ability to do it myself. I'd also like to keep pictures on the phone, but your limited to 36?

I love the photo caller id, I hate only having a limited number of ring tones, plus the cost of the ringtones is outrageous, and really limited when compared to other phones like the treo.

One great thing is the ability to actually chat real time with aol and yahoo members, there is no lag, and nokia should take note on how to use this.

The navigation is second to none, once you learn to use it.

All in all i'd buy this phone again if I had the choice, but then new treo is closing fast in usability.

4.0 stars

"Very convienient, very cool, definite eye-catcher" on January 24, 2005

Pros: I like the fact that with the SKII I can have e-mail, IM, Web browsing, a "sheet of paper" (notes), a to-do list, a calandar, an alarm clock, a calculator, a camera, as well as games and other applications yet to come with me all at once all the time and

Cons: The biggest fit of mine is the fact that you can only download from "The Catalog" that is built into the phone I also don't like the limited space for ringtones....only 10 at a time! I had a Motorola V300 before this and I could store over 30 MP3 rington

4.5 stars

"The Sidekick 2: Never leave home without it" on February 6, 2006 by digital_blasphemy

Pros: QWERTY keyboard, wireless data sync, impressively fast web browser for GPRS, IM, both phone and speakerphone are crystal clear

Cons: no bluetooth, low quality VGA cam, backend server can sometimes be down for repairs (but its never very long and T-mobile re-imburses you if you call and complain)

Summary: warning: If you buy this phone, you run the risk of becoming addicted.

The best part about this phone is definately the Data Features. The other day while waiting in a long drive-thru line, I browsed the web on the HTML web browser, IMed my friend that wanted to meet up after work, and e-mailed my girlfriend that is out of town for the moment.

The Web browser does an excellent job of re-formatting web pages to fit the screen of the SK2 (although technically the reformatting is done on Danger's backend server). Most of the time, the speed of the web browser is slightly faster than dial-up during the day, and rivals DSL/Cable speeds in the early morning hours.

IM is truly instant, and AOL IM truly works the same on this device as on a computer. One can have buddy icons, custom away messages. and the SK2 interface makes it easy to switch between multiple conversations.

Typing SMS messages, IMing, E-mail, browsing web, etc. is easy with the qwerty keyboard that is miles beyond anything I've ever used. Much better than a blackberry (my previous phone)

The phone gets crystal clear reception, and the speakerphone is loud and clear. Several times i could put the phone on my dashboard, drive, and talk at a normal volume, and the person on the other end could hear me with no problems. Bluetooth would have been nice, but it doesn't really detract from my overall opinion of the phone.

Battery life, as expected with a phone with such a large display and the capabilites that this phone has, is so-so. You will need to recharge the SK2 every night. I'm on the phone for an average of 2 hours a day, 8 hours on the net/IMing/e-mailing.. One charge lasts me easily through the day and evening.

The camera is of a poorer quality VGA, so don't expect any masterpieces of photographical art, but it works for snapping pics on the go.

This phone is durable as well, there's a coating on the screen to help prevent scratches. I actually dropped my SK the other day face down.. I thought the worst, yet when i picked it up, there was only a small scratch on the screen which i was able to buff out.