When you have collected and still use a lot of different Windows Mobile phones, you often get asked about which ones you use when, and why. I recently had a "water cooler" discussion about this (mainly spurred on by female co-workers finding great amusement in a man taking about a "weekend phone"). This got me to thinking - I should put together my personal awards for different devices, documenting once and for all (or at least until another device is added to the mix) some of my favorite devices for certain situations. So, here goes -
- Best Overall Device.
WINNER: I have to give this award to the AT&T Tilt (HTC Kaiser) I use. When factoring in size, performance, reliability and usability, the Tilt ends up on top. In almost all of these categories there is another device in my arsenal that surpasses the Tilt, but none outperforms at all levels.
HONORABLE MENTION: My i-mate K-JAM (HTC Wizard) has definitely been the most trusted and reliable device I have used over the years. Whether it is for day-to-day use or application/OS testing, the K-JAM has always been there, ready to perform. - Best Pure Business Communicator.
WINNER: The Palm Treo 750 has been one of the best overall devices from a business communications perspective. While not the smallest, fastest or "sexiest" device, the Treo 750 does what is is supposed to do very well; provide effective and reliable business communication. The radio may be the most reliable of all of my devices, getting a signal in areas where all my other devices fall short. The UI and usability enhancements with hardware buttons can screen displays make the device highly usable for voice and e-mail. No other device has ever been more reliable for me with regards to Microsoft Voice Command, and trust me when I say I have used the product on just about every device I've owned. I have come to realize that the Palm Treo 750 doesn't get nearly as much love as it deserves, and I was partly at fault for this.
HONORABLE MENTION: While this may spur some controversy, my T-Mobile Dash (HTC Excalibur) has always been a great lightweight device that performs the business functions I rely on in proper fashion. I still find myself most productive on the Dash's keyboard when typing e-mail or chatting via IM. If not for the constraints on memory and processor power, the Dash might have been able to pull off the upset here. - Best Weekend Device With The Family.
WINNER: This may come as a shocker, but I have to give this award to my QTek 8500 (HTC StarTrek) gets the nod here. Clamshell form factor and very durable. I feel comfortable carrying this device when "out and about" with the kids, confident in knowing that a sudden kick, punch or flying object hitting the device in my pocket won't spell the end of my phone.
HONORABLE MENTION: If not for the lack of Bluetooth, this award would have gone to - my Motorola MPx200. Yes, my MPx200. OK - stop laughing ;-) If I created an award for "Most Indestructible Device", the MPx200 would win hands down. A bulky clamshell design by toady's standards, you could beat up on this device all day without worry. True story...
I didn't even use one of my MPx200's (I have more than one lying around) for almost 2 years. In that time, my two sons used it as a "play toy" (read - no SIM). They played with it indoors and outside. They carried it around and treated it like one of those Dollar Store play phones. Guess what - I am looking at that phone right now and (after cleaning it up) it looks great (no scratches) and runs fine. - Best Weekend Device (Still Keeping Functional).
WINNER: The Samsung Blackjack II (i617) definitely excels here. Looks like a stylish casual smartphone (I have the maroon model, BTW) but still packs the processing power, memory and keyboard for those moments when I need to get things done (IM, e-mail, etc). This phone allows me to still "travel light" without worrying about performance.
HONORABLE MENTION: The T-Mobile Dash. If not for the previously-mentioned processor and memory constraints, this device likely would have beaten out the Blackjack II. It's even smaller than the Blackjack II, but simply not as fashionable. - Lifetime Achievement Awards
- My i-mate JASJAR (HTC Universal) is affectionately referred to as "The Tank". This bad boy is only slightly smaller than the HTC Advantage, but still packs a great processor and large VGA screen, making it an awesome multimedia device. If not for the lack of EDGE (only GPRS and European UMTS), I might still be lugging this device around as part of my "daily package".
- My i-mate SP5m (HTC Tornado) has to get credit for simply surviving its most brutal product tester - my wife. She can destroy anything technology-related in days (and in any number of colorful ways). She has proven this most frequently with Bluetooth headsets, but phones run a close second. The SP5m is still in tact and running, with only a touch of Super Glue on the trim to show for the months of brutality it as endured.
Please note that the the devices listed here are by no means the total list of Windows Mobile phones I have owned. Maybe I should add an "In Memoriam" list... :-)