tmobile mda IV

[loopy29]

Please take a look at this post at engadget:

http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000090030074/

Pro's:
-full keyboard
-VGA swivel screen (apart from the Z, I think this is the first example...)
-worlwide support probably
-Wifi, bluetooth AND gsm/gprs/umts
-looks pretty nice

Con's:
-No linux (Yet...?)
-No built in HD like the 3000

What are your thoughts?

I must say I applaud this effort. This hardware form factor is perfect for PDA/communicator form. Most importantly, you will be able to buy it in Europe and the US and receive support!
(Actually I was ready to order a sl-3000 some hours ago, but this made me doubt again...)

I must say, this is the device the openembedded/pdaXrom/... people should be targetting. I do believe this is a major blow to Sharp...

Edit: More negatives: no CF and not available for some months (available summer 2005 - first rumor was first half 2005, now July/August 2005)

best regards,
Jan

[davidmcnaught16]

Specs look great, shame the unit looks so ugly (From the linked photos, in my opinion).  Also, doesent look like the keyboard will be as good (Maybe a bit small for 4 finger typing), but will have to wait and see.

Probably very expensive, as it's a full decent PDA with phone too.    looks thin, be interesting to see how it is compared to the Z when it comes out.

Very interesting, could be great!

[Tyris]

Ugh. Can't wait for the viruses to hit that thing. Also, good luck getting an alternate OS on any cellular networked device. They'd never allow anything other than the ones they specifically approve.

Anyhow, I perfer my phones small, thin and simple, and my PDAs running linux.

-T

[nathanwms]

Please take a look at this post at engadget:

http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000090030074/

Pro's:
-full keyboard
-VGA swivel screen (apart from the Z, I think this is the first example...)
-worlwide support probably
-Wifi, bluetooth AND gsm/gprs/umts
-looks pretty nice

Con's:
-No linux (Yet...?)
-No built in HD like the 3000

What are your thoughts?

I must say I applaud this effort. This hardware form factor is perfect for PDA/communicator form. Most importantly, you will be able to buy it in Europe and the US and receive support!
(Actually I was ready to order a sl-3000 some hours ago, but this made me doubt again...)

I must say, this is the device the openembedded/pdaXrom/... people should be targetting. I do believe this is a major blow to Sharp...

Edit: More negatives: no CF and not available for some months (available summer 2005 - first rumor was first half 2005, now July/August 2005)

best regards,
Jan
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Not as robust as the SL-C3000 but definitely a big step up for most who are carrying both a phone and a Pocket PC/Palm device.  Obviously targeting that tweener market that want a converged device that is equally as capable as a phone and pda.  And the screen is large enough for decent video playback.  I think it will sell well, I love my Z though.

[offroadgeek]

OS aside, I would buy this to replace my sidekick but no way would it replace my 760.

it doesn't sound like it will come to the states anytime soon, which is good as I'm hoping that over time they'll ditch MS for something better

[Omicron]

OS aside, I would buy this to replace my sidekick but no way would it replace my 760.

it doesn't sound like it will come to the states anytime soon, which is good as I'm hoping that over time they'll ditch MS for something better
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I think this should be placed in another forum speciafically deginated for this unit.  After all, this forum is for "all things Z".

JK 8-P

[offroadgeek]

I think this should be placed in another forum speciafically deginated for this unit.  After all, this forum is for "all things Z".

JK 8-P
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actually, you're right (finally!  )... this should be in the off topic forum.

[amrein]

The device is quite interesting. At least french people and other european members will be able to use a  customised device with local language and keyboard.

The curves design is horrible. I hope that they will change this and use the form factor of last HP handhelds or the last Sony PalmOS device (the ones with black dress). The nokia 6260 design and colors are quite good too (it is more like a Yopy though).

Only way to insterest everyone: they need to release the spec + to add a linux rom. With both Windows Mobile + Linux ROM and with the present spec, they will certainly get a big market share (if they add MMC/SD-IO or/and CF).

There will always be "joe six packs" who won't be able to understand that the device is not a camera nor a videotape recorder nor a swiss knife nor a caffee machine... but as long as the device spec and software convince people, they don't care about stupid comments and know how to defend it.

[pakman]

Has anyone else seen the announcement of this device? Ideas that have been raised in these forums about combining a Z with mobile phone/3G capability would presumably give you something like this. Is this the way of the future?

Screen resolution is the same as a clamshell Z. No idea about the processor or internal memory, but it does seem to have a card slot of some type. Shame about the OS.....

P.

[loopy29]

At first sight the keyboard looks like the type they used on the Nokia 9500 communicator. That would be a bad choice. I tried it and it felt like a toy. No feedback at all, keys not spaced apart, although it were seperate keys (I think), it felt more like a membrane type keyboard. I am just glad more producers are adopting the swivel screen/full keyboard design. That's the way to go. Maybe it will inspire others to do the same/improve on it.

And to the moderators: I really feel this is a zaurus related post, but of course you are free to move this thread wherever you want. (somebody else just started another one on this topic...) Off topic would be something like the American elections, or tsunami-related threads, but of course that'is just MHO.

Best regds,
Jan

edit: typo

[soundwave106]

Cool. But if it's like other T-Mobile MDA phones, it won't be coming out in the US anytime soon. I swear, the United States is so frickin' behind on mobile phone technology....

[offroadgeek]

Has anyone else seen the announcement of this device? Ideas that have been raised in these forums about combining a Z with mobile phone/3G capability would presumably give you something like this. Is this the way of the future?

Screen resolution is the same as a clamshell Z. No idea about the processor or internal memory, but it does seem to have a card slot of some type. Shame about the OS.....

P.
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Yes, we have.  loopy29 posted about it yesterday...

(I've merged the threads)

[loopy29]

Cool. But if it's like other T-Mobile MDA phones, it won't be coming out in the US anytime soon. I swear, the United States is so frickin' behind on mobile phone technology....
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I think the actual hardware is produced by a company called HTC. They sell it to a lot of operators/providers. I imagine it won't be any different with this device. Perhaps you can get it through one of the other resellers in the USA?

[speculatrix]

Looks pretty cool! 3g + GSM triband, good screen... just have to wait for the linux port from Handhelds.org.

http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/5757.html

snippet:
"Offering a glimpse of things to come, the German division of mobile network operator T-Mobile today unveiled the latest addition to its venerable line of Windows Mobile based communicators, the MDA IV. Following in the vein of its powerful predecessor, the MDA III, the MDA IV offers not only GSM, GPRS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, but also adds support for WCDMA-based 3G.

A tri-band GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz, the MDA IV features one less band than its quad-band predecessor, but more than compensates for the fact by becoming the very first UMTS compatible communicator based on the Windows Mobile platform. Furthermore, the MDA IV is also the first communicator to sport a VGA display with a resolution of 480 x 640 pixels, and will be powered by a 520 MHz Intel XScale processor."

[offroadgeek]

Looks pretty cool! 3g + GSM triband, good screen... just have to wait for the linux port from Handhelds.org.

http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/5757.html

snippet:
"Offering a glimpse of things to come, the German division of mobile network operator T-Mobile today unveiled the latest addition to its venerable line of Windows Mobile based communicators, the MDA IV. Following in the vein of its powerful predecessor, the MDA III, the MDA IV offers not only GSM, GPRS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, but also adds support for WCDMA-based 3G.

A tri-band GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz, the MDA IV features one less band than its quad-band predecessor, but more than compensates for the fact by becoming the very first UMTS compatible communicator based on the Windows Mobile platform. Furthermore, the MDA IV is also the first communicator to sport a VGA display with a resolution of 480 x 640 pixels, and will be powered by a 520 MHz Intel XScale processor."
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3 other people have started a thead on the same topic... please search before posting!