Posted: 8/19/2007 4:01:51 AM EDT
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What do you think about this unit as a all around mobile PC and wireless device? I am looking to go this direction rather than a laptop for mobile PC capabilities. link here |
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I have one with an unlimited PDA data plan. You can download your own programs to it, surf the web, check email, etc. With the PDA data plan you can tether it to your laptop via bluetooth or USB cable (Bluetooth personal area network or USB network card). Speeds vary. Using the EDGE network you get about double the speed of a 56k modem. On 3G I get about 400kbs (both of these measured through the 1Mbps bluetooth PAN). You can make calls while using data on 3G networks, but if you are on EDGE and you make or get a call your data connection gets cut off during it. The built in IE browser works but most web pages are cramped on the screen. You will do alot of scrolling. I installed putty (for ssh) and also VNC. Has windows remote desktop software built in. I also installed a 2GB flash card in it (under $50). Takes pics and video. About as good as it gets for a camera phone (2megapix). I use it to send and receive email on an SSL secured IMAP and SMTP server using the built in outlook program. The keyboard works and it backlit. It won't take much time to get used to it. Voice quality is good. Speakerphone is loud. I installed google maps on it. Works really nice. If you get the bluetooth GPS receiver you can use it as a navagator without having to pay $10/m. Also, there is a gmail app for it I also use. Works great! If you want to use AIM or any messenger for it i recommend you DON'T DOWNLOAD the official AIM client. If you do it treats instant messages like text messages. Depending on your plan these can be costly. I don't use text messages so I didn't buy a plan for them. Imagine my surprise when my bill came and it was $300 for 800 some IMs (15 cents a message to or from me). You can get unofficial messenger clients that use the data connection and if you have an unlimited plan then theres no charge. PLUS the official IM clients take 1-2 minutes to receive IMs from whomever you're talking to. It has built in wifi. The next version of windows mobile will allow you to turn the phone into an access point and share your data connection via it. ATT is supposed to be giving out a free upgrade to the next version for this phone. Lets hope they don't nerf that feature. There are tons of apps you can add to this thing. Whatever will run on windows mobile. If you have any questions ask away. -Foxxz |
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If you all you want is a rugged field computer, get one of these (TDS Recon). It's what I use and is pretty damn bulletproof. 
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