Tempted by Treo 700p
My two year quest for a perfect QWERTY Phone has devolved into the lesser task of deciding on an acceptable device.
I want the Motorola Q so much I can taste it. The price is right at $200. Wow, that price alone should assure acceptance.
But a couple of things have cased me to disqualify the Q, at least for now:
1) As David Pogue of the NY Times put it, the Moto Q’s sharp-ish edges make it feel like holding a piece of tile in your hand. Not pleasant.
2) I am struggling with whether I can accept Windows Mobile for Smartphone as my operating environment. I know I can, the better question: do I want to feel a little grumpy every time I have to press two or three extra keys to get something done (vs. the Palm interface).
My remaining choices are limited. While I am anxious to see what Danger Research did with the SideKick III, it is not a Verizon device, and my employer is a Verizon shop. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I have generally good luck with Verizon coverage, although — wouldn’t you know it — it’s marginal at my home where I spend weekends.
Naturally, the T-Mobile signal is also weak at my home. I need to borrow a Cingular phone and see how they do. I have a co-worker who’s very happy with his HP 6515 from Cingular. I’d wait for the 6915 myself, which is “coming soon.”
Wait… I am worse than a drunk who staggers to the nearest bar right after attending the weekly 12-step meeting.
I can’t consider the HP 6915, otherwise a DELIGHTFUL QWERY Phone (with GPS, yet!) since it uses Microsoft Windows Mobile OS. I hate it when that happens.
I wonder if I have the patience to wait until Palm delivers a device that uses a modern, multitasking operating system? That would mean another year. Do I really want to keep waiting?
Here’s what I want: Motorola, PLEASE refine the physical design of the Q so it feels good when I grasp it. Then offer a version with Linux as the operating system.
Charge an extra $150 for that geek/nerd Q, i don’t care. I’ll be first in line when you ship ‘em.
I am puzzled why US carriers are so shy about offering a Linux OS for smart phones. There would be an explosion of clever little applications for such a device.
But while I wait for that fantasy to come true, I am starting to think that the Treo 700p may be GOOD ENOUGH. I’ll put SnapperMail on it (a delightful, in fact great IMAP mail client). I’ll install an IM client that speaks the AIM protocol.
I will be able to synchronize with our corporate Oracle Calendar (not wonderful, but it’s w what we have).
I will be at peace with myself, and you can stop reading about my struggle to select My Next Phone.
How prankle would that be?