Related
Am thinking of trading my Universal for someone's Wizard. Was wondering what you guys think of that.
Thoughts?
Offers?
Thanks!
Cyb
Do it and dont look back.
Main reason? EDGE compatibility. Especially as your in the US.
Only thing the Uni has that I want over and above the Wizard is VGA. But I can live with the tiny QVGA screen on the Wizard. The VGA screen is the main reason the Uni is so sluggish anyway, as it uses the processor as its video controller instead of a seperate VGA chip.
Cya
Stot
I suggest you check the Pocket PC forum on HowardForums.com first. Quite a few people are extremely unhappy with their Wizards, while owners of Universals seem rather happy.
You are stupid...
change a ferrari into a bmw (normal version)
Responses!
bohr2005 said:
You are stupid...
change a ferrari into a bmw (normal version)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well I'm definately getting opinions! keep 'em coming...
Cyb
Ferarri - BMW.. Not entirely true.
The Universal on its face is a good device. But once you start using it it has its annoyances that can outweigh the VGA screen, the only great thing it has going for it. It has a faster CPU but its impacted by the fact that the CPU is drawing 4 times the screen real estate which slows it down a LOT.
Ram/Rom is the same
Both have a QWERTY K/B
Both have Bluetooth
Both have 1.3MP camera.
Also be aware that in the US there is no 3G WCDMA network, there is 3G EDGE rolling out tho, so the Wiz can go 3G out here.
Oh and the Wiz has Wifi b and g and will be upgradeable via rom to e and i too. Universal is b only.
IMO the Universal is a little too fragile also. Not sure about the Wiz as i havent got it yet but its on its way and I had a play with it. its seemed to be more sturdy.
So. Its more like comparing a Ferarri towing a caravan, looks great fairly slick and fast engine bogged down, to a Caterham 7. Looks great, bit smaller, less powerfull engine, fairly robust, No caravan.
Cya
Stot
i had a Wizard for a couple of weeks. to be honest i loved it but i found the screen too small for easy reading of mail, spreadsheets, internet browsing etc. As a phone it is definitely preferable to the Universal BUT, from my humble point of view, the Universal is the best all rounder i've ever used - it's awesome. Also, once you've tweaked the Universal it's realy fast AND reliable and it does mean that for short journey's abroad i don't need to take my laptop. oh yeah, the Wizard uses mini SD which means you are limited to a 1GB storage card and if you like music, video etc that just ain't enough!
Mikey Mike
i had a Wizard for a couple of weeks. to be honest i loved it but i found the screen too small for easy reading of mail, spreadsheets, internet browsing etc. As a phone it is definitely preferable to the Universal BUT, from my humble point of view, the Universal is the best all rounder i've ever used - it's awesome. Also, once you've tweaked the Universal it's realy fast AND reliable and it does mean that for short journey's abroad i don't need to take my laptop. oh yeah, the Wizard uses mini SD which means you are limited to a 1GB storage card and if you like music, video etc that just ain't enough!
Mikey Mike
The Wizard has a keyboard.....all right.....BUT, it doesnt have a separate row for numbers (0-9). It shares it with the qwert... keys, and that's simply bad!
IMHO, i think this is a handicap, and is a bad limitation for a device which claims to have a native hw based keyboard...
S
ferrari and BMW?
Think not you are giving the wizard too much credit.
Main problems with the wizard: Too small, it is a stuck up mda compact.
The processor is downright slow.
You are living in the US so yeah, edge is the only option for the 3g network.
Still I think you should not just throw it away and get the wizard.
Furthermore if you do change it is a waste of your money, as the wizard is much cheaper then the universal.
Offcourse there are problems with the universal... what did you expect.
The universal uses vga, which is not supported yet. It uses wm5 too which is not highly compatible with known programs either.
I suggest you wait a while before you do something I am sure you will regret sooner or later.
Thanks!
I want to thank you guys for your responses... I have decided to keep my universal and just continue to use my Sierra Wireless VOQ as a back up when the Uni is TOO MUCH
Now... let's begin with a new ROM...
Thanks again...
Cyb
Im down with the trade!!
I would check your exec they are just as cheap. I dropped my orange variant and the case split open. I am unbiased as I have both and actually vga is supported nativly since wm 2003. So it is not a new thing manuafactures choose not to implement screens.
Wizard thogh a tad slower gets the job done, remeber the tortoise and the bunny. Besides have you actually looked at the benchmarks for the exec they are not that inspiring.
I guess I am British in that sense I am used to waiting, like British transport you will be waiting but it will get yo there though.
battery life
however the wizard is like a moped sipping vegetable oil compared with the universal like a mustang on premium gas when it comes to battery life...
Guys,
Here I am posting this thread coz those who are using Athena can share their view/review so others can see wether to have it or not.
Or you can post your suggestions or comments for Athena in compare with Uni.
Thank you,
I had my QTEK 9000 (Universal) well before Cingular (USA) launched their HSDPA. I travel and work at times in the UK so UMTS 2100 is great when I'm overseas. Sadly, Cingular's HSDPA is 1900 & 850, making the QTEK 9000 default (slowly) to GPRS .
The next device out of the chute with multi-band UMTS, VGA resolution, hign end processor, loads of memory and an upgrade path to WM6 for me was the Dopod U1000. It's a little bigger than the QT9000, but after geting used to carrying the 9k, moving up to the U1000 was no problem. It merely opens up new opportunities for other accessories, like the LG Style-I since you can't (won't) hold the Athena up to your face to talk. I've done the BT Headset thing for years and the Style-I is a nice 'eye-catching' gizmo along side the Athena. Both serve the same purpose, not many have ever seen them so the looks are frequent and numerous.
As for the features, the HSDPA in the US is excellent on the Athena and WM6 has been a joy. I have not had to carry (lug) a laptop to the UK as I can do all I need on the Athena. The 5 inch screen is a welcome expansion from the QT9000, and even that being VGA 3.8 inches was much sharper than the over done 320x240 devices which dominate the market. If you want to own one of these devices, IMHO, you want to differentiate yourself from the crowd. Your device speaks volumes about you without you saying a word.
Love the Screen, love HSDPA, love the storage.
Hate the keyboard, hate the lack of vibrate, hate the battery life.
Still can't get myself to get rid of my Universal but do love the Athena.
Satisfied.
Love the Universal keyboard and backlight. Everything else I think I love the Athena on. I won't go back the Universal....the Athena outperforms it so love the additional power.
Much more better....
Advantage compare to Universal:
positive side:
-bigger screen
-bigger memory (wich is difficult to make it full like in Universal)
-8 gb drive
-gps
-better camera
-joystick
-better speakers (now I can hear it)
-better software already instaled
-cabel 4in1 and its possibilites
-A2DP
-possibility to disconnect it from keyboard
-for me faster than Universal
negative side:
-much more bigger and heavy
-keyboard (no full keypad and no light in it)
-no vibritate (but Jabra 8010 can compasete lack of it)
-no easy to put in and out card slot like in Universal
-difficult to take battery out
i love it had universal n a few other pocket pcs this is the best untill the shift comes !! downside again need bt headset no vibrate a pain at work as is on sillent n its big but welll worth it
Im just about to finally part with my Universal (XDA Exec) as I am now happpy with the Ameo I have.
I'll miss the keyboard as the Ameo one is totally pants and very unresponsive - but im working on getting a small USB one for it soon so wont take the crappy one with me any more!
I love Athena more than UNI except the keyboard and the size. The rest Athena outperform my UNI.
cheers..
As far as I am concerned the Athena is very good. I use mine for a lot of things every day,and my only complaint is the un-lighted keyboard.
Now, if the Shift is anywhere near as good as this one is,I will be in heaven.......LOL
Later.........
No Contest!
I still have access to my wife's WM6 (Laurentis ROM) Uni, so can always do direct comparisons.
No contest whatsoever! Athena all the way for me.
Very Satisfied, but seriously wish it had the accellerator of the Axim....
Hate the keyboard, waste of time and has caused more scratches then I would have without one.
Love the possibilities on this thing though and having a 5" screen makes it all worthwhile...Universal does just not cut the mustard like the Athena IMHO.
You gotta be on crack to ask such a question.. who wouldnt be fully satisfied... It has way better performance and structure. I hate putting the Uni to my ear and this ones done it!
It's great... For about 2 hours a day.
Battery life is atrocious. Using it the way I do, fpr MP3 player, GPS, calls, web browsing, Push Email, the battery dies on me in about 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Carry a USB cable or my charger with me at all times now... Love the device itself, tho.
skoop99 said:
Battery life is atrocious. Using it the way I do, fpr MP3 player, GPS, calls, web browsing, Push Email, the battery dies on me in about 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Carry a USB cable or my charger with me at all times now... Love the device itself, tho.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow that was certainly useful information. Thanks skoop99
Thanks to xda-developers
I love the device more and more as problems get solved. I believe the last major problems to be fixed were the Jabra BT8010 issues - thanks to the program Priority256_fix.
I'm sure I would not have liked the device nearly as much without the help of this forum.
Many thanks!
Use Plantronics FTW!
I also have the same feelings as other members have posted.After Update to WM6, I had been facing problem with Bluetooth Sound, I use this as my main phone.I get 100 calls a day and in some cases the caller cannot hear my voice.I use Jabra 8010.
Else, the device is cool.I hv tried disabling Microdrive and battery lasts for 3 days
Any one here can make/find disable Microdrive Programatically, then it will b boon.
Hi all.
I have a HTC Athena for daily use and others for developing and testing (Tynt, s200, p3300 and Universal) and I ve the posibility to get a cheap kaiser. My question (not easy)is..
"...Should I replace my Athena with kaiser??"
Athena strong points against kaiser.
1) SCREEN SCREEN SCREEN
2) a better Keyboard?
Athena weak points agains kaiser
1) Worst gps
2) very bulky.
3) My headsets makes me crazy many times.
4) touchflo?
I would like to listen other thoughts about it....
Thanks¡
I actually have both but am considering selling the Athena as it proved to be just a bit too big for my daily use... I just need to be able to put it into a pocket (even if it bulges out) every once in a while - something I couldn't do with the Athena, especially not in the leather 'case'. And I'm not a big fan of the 'quick-draw-western-style' holsters for the belt...
I've had the Kaiser only for a very few days and have found a few bugs, but they are not deal-breaking for me... and I'm enjoying the form-factor...
Functionality-wise I think they are very similar... apart from the VGA-resolution screen on the Athena.
Thanks Marcoma.
Apart of form-factor, do you appreciate more improvements in kaiser not present in athena (speed, phone speed, battery live, etc, etc).?
I think I would miss the vga screen too much
Dani
Well - the speed does seem a bit faster, but then again it is only driving a 320 x 240 resolution... I am able to watch movies again which is really nice (have to use an adapter for the headphones though since it doesn't have that nice 3.5" plug like the Athena) and I benchmark around 145 - 170% in Coreplayer.
Remember the actual CPU is slower than the Athena (520 - 620MHz if I remember correctly).
I don't find the phone a lot faster, but I didn't use the phone itself that often... the battery lasts about as long as I got out of the Athena... depending on the usage 1 - 2 days. if you watch movies, use GPS etc. it's a day - no more
What is very nice is the application that comes bundles where one just takes a picture of a business-card and it OCR's the picture and puts it right into contact - pretty darn accurate and way cool (and for me actually useful).
Overall, i feel it's like the Athena, just in a smaller package...
I had a HTC Advantage X7500. I returned that to mobileplanet for a full refund $1100. Now I own a HTC Kaiser TyTN II $750. I would call Kaiser the best available in its size group.
I disliked a few things in the HTC Advantage X7500. High Price, Battery not highly upgradable, Size, Weight, Portability,
When HTC Advantage X7500 prices drop I will go back for it. I love the fact that you can upgrade its microdrive and it supports miniSDHC. HTC Athena is a good device for modding.
I have seen a lot of people who are in the Kaiser community who are no more in the Athena community.
danielherrero said:
Hi all.
I have a HTC Athena for daily use and others for developing and testing (Tynt, s200, p3300 and Universal) and I ve the posibility to get a cheap kaiser. My question (not easy)is..
"...Should I replace my Athena with kaiser??"
Athena strong points against kaiser.
1) SCREEN SCREEN SCREEN
2) a better Keyboard?
Athena weak points agains kaiser
1) Worst gps
2) very bulky.
3) My headsets makes me crazy many times.
4) touchflo?
I would like to listen other thoughts about it....
Thanks¡
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not used a kaiser but..
Worst GPS? Why?
touchflo?
better keyboard? not tried kaiser but prefer Universals.
Well, finally got a kaiser.
1) Screen is qvga, logically
2) GPS is much much better.
3) Fits in my pocket.
4) Keyboard is good but Athena's one is better.
5) I can forget my headset if not necesary
....
I am happy with It but I wouldnt pay 650€ for a kaiser if I already ve an Athena....
danielherrero said:
Thanks Marcoma.
Apart of form-factor, do you appreciate more improvements in kaiser not present in athena (speed, phone speed, battery live, etc, etc).?
I think I would miss the vga screen too much
Dani
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
speed? The Athena has clearly the faster processor and running the same OS (assuming WM6) why should Kaister be faster?
Im in a similar boat, T-mobile upgrade is due, using a hermes, considering the Athena, but feel the Kasier is what I need. I really love reading all the athena stuff, and feel its a great device but on a daily basis ill just go crazy. Found an old diary which is about the same dimensions of the Athena, and kept carrying it everywhere to imagine what it would be like using the athena. Anyways I am gonna pop into a T-mobile shop and see what deals are available on both and then decide. Its more like Loving this hot babe, but knowing you cant live with her... LoL..
if you are more of a talker then a smaller phone is for you
personally i am much more of a internet browser, video streamer etc so the Athena blows away anything for me at the moment.
Its more like a mini laptop that can make phone calls than a true phone which suits me just fine but is not for everyone
Spacecat I echo your point. I'm also more an internet browsing person, although I also watch movies a lot with its big screen. So for me the big screen, although bigger size, is the biggest advantage of Athena. I don't care about hardware keyboard as Tengo is working so well for me, especially on big screen.
After using real VGA at 128 dpi, I just can't imagine using QVGA. Its simply no longer acceptable anymore. A small VGA screen does not go well with realVGA even at 128 dpi( this is assuming that you do come across a smaller VGA enabled device)
Bottom line: BIG VGA screen is the single most important consideration for me. It's not the storage space or keyboard, especially when you can get 8GB microSDHC card.
Thank you spacecat and eaglesteve, for your inputs, I am gonna think this one out a bit more, but it always feels very re-assuring to hear first hand experiences.
I am a 8525 user and i will upgrade soon
but i'm not sure with one i'll choose
I have read lots of reviews of the athena,one thing I haven't found, is it possible to use it as a phone ( speak with it, with out a speaker phone or a bluetooth)
just placing it against my head and speak
and no vibration ... ? how do you get your mail or sms during a meeting ?
is it possible to put it in your pocket ... for exemple in a pocket of a jacket coat or a jeans ?
thank you
The phone works out of the box as a 'speaker phone'. If you plug in a pair of earphones you get privacy for the incoming side of the conversation and the mike will still work. This makes it similar to a regular phone. If you have a 3.5 plug headset that will work also as will bluetooth headsets.
I doubt this device would ever get in a jeans pocket unless you have a large cargo pocket on the outside of the leg. I have been using such pairs of pants and it is satisfactory but I think a pouch attached to your belt is the best way to go.
Brad
I do hold it against my face.
ariaguest said:
and no vibration ... ? how do you get your mail or sms during a meeting ?
thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not an issue for me. I simply go to sound setting and change the announcement for new sms and mail to a soft beep. I can always hear it but others don't really notice it. Or if they do, no one has said anything. You can do the same for incoming call before going into a meeting, just change the ringtone to a soft beep.
I do use the phone without bluetooth and hold it against my face. Does'nt bother me a bit. However,when using voip, I use a wired headset otherwise there will be echo at the other end as the other guy's voice coming out of the speaker feed into the microphone.
I use a diy belt pouch to carry it around without keyboard,and it's not big at all.
I also prefare X7500, althogh have just ordered Keiser fir m wife. The screen is most important. When in the car there is no comparison to any other device. I use it hardly as a phone, but also as data/info storage, mailing, internert and as access pont for my laptop, when on the move.
I always use my Jabra stereo headset and keep it on a belt. This way I do not have to bother to get it out when the call rings. People usualy do not know wheather I am on the pohone or am talking to them. This is the only problem. Jabra aso works great when on voip.
same doubts. I'm on the 3 pieces bandwagon. A tablet (IBM X60) which is the main office, a very slim/small/cheap cell (LG KG320) and a WM hardware. Until few days ago I use a HTC TyTN and went to HKG looking for an Athena. Find only the old Dopod version and get disapointed with the white looking and price. So, got a Kaiser. Very good machine, no questions. BUT, when I want to work light the Kaiser is not enough to show products to a client. The screen is just to small for a more professional use. On the other hand is too expensive and bulky for a constant use as a cell (which I carry even for jogging). I think that if you choose the 3 pieces approach for a mobile work the Athena is probably the best. I had a look on the UMPCs and find many nice and even well priced. Problem? Vista. Who wants a mobile hardware with slow boot and all the problems Vista related (plus anemic processors) and a battery that does not last a full work day? I will try to get an Athena from USA where the prices are more reasonable.
Hi,
I already have a Qtek 9090 (3 years old, used during 2 years) and a MDA Pro (1 year in my possesion - purchased used at ebay).
I like to use my birthday to get myself new devices and because I like my MDA Pro / Universal so much, I am considering getting myself another one as a backup.
While I liked my Qtek 9090 very much, the truth is that I am in love with the VGA display and never want to go back to 320x200 resolution.
Now the question: I can get a Universal at ebay for less than 200 Euro. A Athena costs about twice as much. Still I was wondering if it is worth it: should I get a Athena instead of a second Universal?
Why I like my Universal so much:
- WM6
- great VGA screen
- fast processor
- 4GB SD card
- fit's in my back pocket of my trousers
- voice command, which works with my car kit
- keyboard
Why I have doubts regarding the Athena:
- screen is bigger but same resolution (should be 800x600...)
- device is huge - will it fit in my trouser's pocket?
- isn't it strange to have a phone which has to be used with a bluetooth headset (cable is out of the question for me)
- can it be mounted in the car, so I can make use of the GPS?
I would appreciate your feedback, as I am not convinced. On one hand, I would like to have a different HTC device for my (small) collection, on the other hand, the Universal is cheaper and seems to be more practical.
Cheers,
vma
Why get another Universal? I loved mine but prefer my Athena. The screen is much biger and better and using a Brodit mount in the car with CoPilot7 makes most dedicate GPS devices look pathetic.
it fits in my pocket - but I have big pockets. The lack of vibrate is a biut annoying but the big screen and massive storage (my 8Gb drive is suplimented by a 4Gb card) make it ideal for me. You also get HSDPA which you don't with the Universal - but it eats battery life.
I still have my universal but it is kept in a drawer. The Athena is not for everyone but with WM6 / 6.1 is a fantastic device - does everything the Universal does but bigger and better.
Your choice.
PS Happy Birthday
vma said:
Why I have doubts regarding the Athena:
- screen is bigger but same resolution (should be 800x600...)
- device is huge - will it fit in my trouser's pocket?
- isn't it strange to have a phone which has to be used with a bluetooth headset (cable is out of the question for me)
- can it be mounted in the car, so I can make use of the GPS?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I recently switched to the Universal and also thought long about getting the Athena...
Full VGA resolution on the Universal sometimes was annoying for me. Using the Uni in PDA mode needs much concentration and is limited in speed, because you just can't hit some buttons precisely while walking.
So to me the bigger display would be a plus, but only you know, whether this is true for you or not.
The size of the Athena is just a bit too big for some applications. The Uni also fits in my rear trousers' pockets but the Athena definitely wouldn't. I'd be willing to accept that, if the screen would be bigger and had a higher resolution, but as it is the Athena is just too big or too small.
Get the measures off the net and wrap something around your Uni until it is as big as the Athena, then shove it up your.. err... pocket
It is strange to have a phone you have to use with a BTHS. But if you watch yourself in the mirror with the Uni, you'll also realize how funny you look with such a brick at your ear. I tend to see this feature of the Uni as a backup, in case my BT800 runs out of juice, gets stolen or whatevercouldhappen.
Most certainly yes! There surely is some device available, that can take it.
I was very close to buy the Athena, but at the end the size mattered. For half the price it got all the features I wanted and kept the option of leaving the house ready to work without any bag or case.
If you don't mind the size and the price, what's keeping you with the Uni?
If it is the vibration, get the right headset.
Thanks for the replies.
I was in a store today and they had an Athena in display: it is substantially bigger than the Universal.
What's even worse is that a used one costs twice as much as a used Universal. I think I will be getting myself another Universal as a backup device, which I can flash at will...
The Athena will have to wait for next year - hopefully it will be available cheaper then.
Cheers,
vma
The Uni is a great device, not sure if I'd buy a second one tho. If the Athena is not for you why not try something different? Maybe a kaiser?
Good luck with whatever you decide.
The key difference is the 5 inches VGA screen which allows you to use RealVGA meaningfully in 96dpi. No other devices would have this capability. This allows you to surf internet with unmatcheable pleasure, same goes for excel spreadsheet, etc, etc.
This is the key difference. Do you want to see more?
Don't get me wrong: I would prefer to have an Athena instead of a second Universal. But the price for a used one is still to high, specially considering that I won't get that much difference. I simply am going to wait another year to see if the price drops to an acceptable level.
What's makeing me consider a second Universal now is that I am afraid that my current one could get broken (can't live without it) and the fact that I would like to try more firmwares. Having only one means that I am under time pressure to get everything working again, before the next working day...
Still, I'd love to have an Athena!
Cheers,
vma
i considered getting a universal again as they're so cheap! Hsdpa is no concern for me as there is no difference between rendering times with hsdpa over standard 3g since opera and i.e can only render to a certain speed anyway. The only time hsdpa is handy is for internet sharing, but as stated it milks the battery VERY badly. The screen is bigger on the athena but the same resolution - so no extra screen real-estate compared to the universal, just bigger icons. I like the fact that you can use the universal against your ear properly, and that the screen is protected. I also think the keyboard is a hell of a lot better than the athena's. The athena does have an 8gb drive, but an sd card is fine for me, and i'd sooner use a sirf 3 external gps than an internal one, though internal ones are handy for on the go. I don't think the athena is worth twice as much as a universal, though the screen is very nice.and big. It is pocketable so long as you don't attach the keyboard though
I had a universal for a while then I got an s620 because of the whole size issue. However, I just couldn't stand not having a touch screen.
I gotta say, the bigger you go, the crappier they get as a phone. The smaller you go, the crappier the functions get. I love my advantage, but I don't use it as my primary phone.
If you ask me, both the universal and advantage are huge phones. The universal makes a better phone while the advantage is a far better pda...well...it's kinda big for that too.
One thing I hate is compromising. In your situation, you're going to compromise something if you go either way. You already have a universal and know what it's good for. Why not try the advantage. If you don't like it just sell it.
I have a universal, athena, and kasier and many others. The universal is a great device, clear nice screen and a great keyboard. My issue with the universal as that as I live in the US, i could not use its 3g data. So I bought an Athena. The universal is a much better phone than the athena, but the screen and data usage is so much better on the athena.
The best pda for a phone I have used so far is the kasier, has same memory and ram as the athena (twice that of the universal and hermes). But the athena just can't be beat for data/pim usage and surfing the web on a pda.
But the universal has the best keyboard i have used on a pda. I wish the athena had a keyboard as good as the universal.
I carry my Athena in my jeans jacket, trench coat and other jackets, no problem ( just the device not the keyboard which I don't use anyway), yea the device is big but has not been an issue for my at all, but the screen is great for GPS and you can mount it in the car and whenever I use public transport it is great for e books or just browsing.
Bluethooth headset is a must, I used to carry a in ear device but I wasnt happy about it, now I carry a pendant type and you wouldn't know its there, luckily i didnt have problems with entangled wires.
I f you worry about cost, then yes the UNI can be bought at reasonable price, if it is size or other functionality perhaps a Portege, but I am very happy with Athena so far.
Hi,
I am considering to get me an Athena and I need some help and advice.
I already own:
1x Blue Angel
2x Universal
1x HP iPaq 514 Voice Messenger
1x VDA GPS (aka Toshiba G710)
I also have an Asus eeePC 701.
My SIM has an internet contract included (100 MB download/month) and I have an USB Internet adapter which I can use i.e. with my eeePC.
Having said this, you probably understand I am a nerd and I like to "collect" phones and gadgets. The reason is simple: I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't waste money on anything, so at least, I think, I can get me some nice phones from time to time. All were bargains, most I got from eBay. The reason I like smartphones is that i carry them around all the time, so I can really have a benefit of owning them. A PS3, for example, may be a nice piece of hardware, but I would not have much time at home to really make use of it.
What do I want to know?
Basically, if you guy's can use the Athena as a phone. Do you REALLY use it as your sole mobile phone, or is it too big and clumsy (specially having to use BT headphone) to make calls?
The Universal is big, but it does fit nice into my back pocket of the jeans - how do you carry the Athena around?
What are the real advantages of an Athena, compared to a Universal? The screen resolution is the same (I guess having a bigger screen, will make the RealVGA usefull - on the Universal things get far too small), the CPU speed can be the same, by overclocking the Universal (actually not overclocking, but letting it run at full speed), the GPS is nice, but can be overcome with an external one (like the one I have).
I know these are lame questions, but 250-300 Euro is still a lot of cash and I want to make sure i don't regret it.
My major concern is that the device is not usable as a phone. I hate carrying two devices with me and that is exactly the problem I have with the eeePC: it's screen is too small to replace a proper laptop and to replace the MDA Pro, I would have to carry two devices with me. That's too much.
So any feedback is appreciated, as I am wondering what would be more USEABLE on a daily basis: an eeePC 1000 (10" screen, 1.6Ghz, 160 GB HDD, battery up to 6 hours...) for around 380 Euro, or an Athena second hand at eBay for around 300 Euro.
The eeePC 1000 has the advantage of replacing a laptop, but the disadvantage of not replacing a phone.
I know, long post, but please shed some light into this.
Thanks,
vma
x7510 a great device
vma said:
What do I want to know?
Basically, if you guy's can use the Athena as a phone. Do you REALLY use it as your sole mobile phone, or is it too big and clumsy (specially having to use BT headphone) to make calls?
The Universal is big, but it does fit nice into my back pocket of the jeans - how do you carry the Athena around?
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I was a proud owner of a Blueangel for 4 years and loved it. I started to get tired of it a couple years ago and then I found xda-developers and discovered how to upgrade and turn my old WM2003SE device into a top notch WM6.1 device. Needless to say with all the smaller screen, slower CPU devices on the market I stayed with my trusty BA. That is until I found the x7510. My BA lives in a drawer in the bedroom now, I keep it charged so I have it if I need it, and I use my Athena exclusively for all my phone/PDA needs. I carry it in the back pocket of my blue jeans and it fits fine.
My major concern is that the device is not usable as a phone. I hate carrying two devices with me and that is exactly the problem I have with the eeePC: it's screen is too small to replace a proper laptop and to replace the MDA Pro, I would have to carry two devices with me. That's too much.
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I have not regretted my upgrade from the BA to the Athena for a second. The only reason I have not sold my BA yet is becuase I have had the Athena for less than 1 month and am keeping it as a backup. I plan to go this weekend to the local market and have a custom belt carry case made for it. I am in Kuwait and it will not cost me much at all for this. The only reason I am doing this is for the added convenience not becuase it is required.
7501 is my everyday device
If yoi look at my sig. I also own quite a few devices. Since acquiring my 7501 6 months ago, I have not used any other of my devices. I used a BT headset with all of my oyher devices anyway. The 7501 is by far the best device I have ever owned.
You can turn the volume all the way down and hold it like a regular phone, with the mic hole by your mouth. Its not perfect and not private in a quiet room, but its useable. I also hate carrying a BT headset all the time for private conversations, but my Jabra BT8010 also gives me caller ID and vibrate, "fixing" several of the major problems with the Athena all at one time. Also gives me a decent stereo headset for MP3 and radio streaming.
I've had mine a year now and will never be able to go back to a smaller phone. The screen is just so much more useable than most other pdas or phones.
Thank you for your replies.
I think I will keep it on hold, though.
I have been researching the Ameo and basically understand that the 7500 and 7501 are basically similar and feature a real Hitachi Microdrive HDD.
The 7510 has a different keyboard and a 16GB SDD Flashdisk and requires a different ROM. I believe it cannot be SIM-Unlocked either.
There seems to be a problem with the Microdrive failing and having read-errors. This is a turn-off for me, when buying from ebay, as this fault is not easy to detect and proove, but surely may be a reason to get rid of such a device at ebay... Yeah, call me a suspicious guy...
The 7510, on the other hand, lacks the joystick and I definitly require that for my ebook reading, which I love. Paginating by touching the screen all the time is not very appealing.
Then there are those who say: go for the 7501, forget about the HDD and just get a 16GB SDHC. The point is: I can get that for my Universal!
So now I am wondering what REAL benefits I would have from an Ameo and I guess I will wait for either a superb bargain at ebay, a new one on sale at a local store (doubt that, however) or until the prices drop further at ebay (below 200 Euro).
Thangs again.
Cheers,
vma
Hi,
I have purchased an Athena these days and here is what I have to say to all those considering the move from the Universal to the Athena.
1) The Universal reached the 100 Euro mark at eBay, while the Athena (7500 version) is being sold at 200 Euro. These are the prices at ebay.de for the MDA Pro / T-Mobile Ameo versions.
2) First impression: the Athena is big. And when I say big, I mean it! I already had played with one in a store, but actually owning one is different, because only then you notice it won't fit in any of your pockets! After using it for 2 days, I picked up my Universal and found myself smiling at the "small" size of it!
3) Second impression: damn! It is a huge device... I will have to carry it in my hand if I want to take it with me. I mean, other people carry a book or a filofax. I now carry this super phone...
4) Funtionality: there is everything you can think of. You get highspeed mobile internet, WLAN, Bluetooth, all possible GSM standards, motion sensor, huge ROM/RAM memory, 8GB microdrive, GPS, ... The Universal not only lacks onboard GPS, it is struggeling with having only 64MB RAM. That is a limitation for the upcoming WM 6.5 firmware releases being cooked. And even with WM 6.1 some limitations exist. Soldering extra 64MB on my Universal is too expensive in my opinion.
5) Screen: the screen is fantastic! Compared to the Universal, though it has the same resolution, it is big enough for the eyes to take advantage of small fonts. After using the Athena, I now look at the Universal screen and I have to admit it is a little bit too small for such a resolution.
6) Keyboard: despide several online reviews stating the opposite, I do like the touch and feel of the keyboard. i would have prefered separate numeric keys, though. Also, I like the Universal's keyboard design better. Having a separate magnetic keyboard is less functional, I think.
7) Pros of the Athena:
- big screen
- speed: fast device
- speed: internet is very fast, pages load much quicker than on the Universal
- GPS: nice to have everything in one device
- memory: yeah! 128 MB RAM plus 8GB storage, plus Mini-SD slot... That rocks! And you can always use a Micro-2-Mini SD card adapter to use the cheaper and more available MicroSD cards
- overall exquisit looking noble device: if you are a hacker, you will survive a lonely day in a hotel room with this beast!
8) Cons of the Athena:
- too big to fit any pocket, specially back trouser pocket...
- keyboard is a bit odd
*** CONCLUSION ***
So, is it worth the change from the Universal?
No.
You should not want to CHANGE from the Universal to the Athena.
You SHOULD have an Athena as a second device, which you use on special days:
- boring days in the office/mother in law/waiting rooms
- meetings (this 200 Euro second hand device will kill all the attention normally spent over iPhones and similar phones at over 600 Euro)
- trips (planes, train and hotels)
Plus, it is simply a gorgeous device, which does appeal to any hacker!
Hope this helped anyone considering which phone to get...
Best way to carry the Athena: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=344605
Just buy it and try it out , it will not cost you an arm and a leg !! If you find it not suitable for whatever reasons , just sell quick it away at 30% loss , you probably bought many devices already , one more wont make you suffer that much i am sure , but many of advantage owners from day one it launched till now really do love it , some to the extremes too , so are you one of us ? , only you can answer this yourself , cheers , take care and enjoy - ok ?