Travel Technology - T-Mobile Dash 3G - first impressions




ntamayo
Jul 27, 09, 8:03 pm
So I finally emerged from the 80's and decided to upgrade to a Dash 3G (T-mo's version of HTC's Snap). Having used it now for a couple of weeks, here are some first thoughts. Keep in mind I'm coming from a Stone-Age setup of Palm Tx + Razr V3, so some of the stuff below is probably old-hat to the iPhone or Crackberry users.

Stuff I like:
-Small form factor, easy to keep in my shirt pocket
-Having my mail pushed from Exchange and ISP
-3G available for quicker browsing and downloading
-Office file readers (XLS/PPT/DOC) for Outlook mail attachments
-Trackball makes me not miss my stylus/touch screen as much
-Built-in GPS works well with Live Search and GoogleMaps
-Integrated WiFi / Bluetooth and external SD card reader (as on my Tx)
-Syncs with Windows Media
-Lots of storage using a 16GB MicroSD

Stuff I don't like or could be improved:
-No UMA support, so I can't make calls via WiFi
-Can't create new Office files, only open existing ones.
-Doesn't sync Rhapsody playlists; have to recreate them on Windows Media Player
-Can't connect a standard headphone jack to it without attaching the included USB dongle, making it look pretty unwieldy.
-Chintzy alarm clock (I miss Palm's Big Clock app)
-No shortcuts for frequent text inputs (i.e. Graffiti shortcuts)
-MIDI-based ringtones from my V3 had to be converted to MP3 before using them

Other stuff:
-Keeping all antennae open (WiFi/BT/Phone), while web surfing and making regular calls during the day, I can go about 1.5 days before charging.
-I was initially concerned about its custom 11-pin USB port, until I learned that's an HTC-specific port used mainly for stereo headphones. Otherwise, a standard mini-USB fits perfectly if you just need to sync or charge.

All-in-all, I'd say the phone replaces approximately 80% of what I could do with my old setup. Why I still need to keep my Tx around:
-Can't sync my Outlook Notes
-A couple of my must-have Palm Apps are not supported on WM6.1 touchscreen phones: HandyShopper, Tomtom Navigator

Haven't yet loaded WM versions of other PalmOS apps I've used:
- AA Timetables
- Kinoma
- Opera
- Pocket Tunes
Any experiences with these apps (or equivalent) yet?

Got the phone at Costco, who has been running an in-store promo this month, including a rebate for adding the unlimited data plan, bringing the price down to $90, not a bad deal.


ScottC
Jul 27, 09, 8:12 pm
Good review! It is a shame they did this thing with Windows Mobile Standard instead of the pro/smartphone touchscreen version.

caspritz78
Jul 28, 09, 10:06 am
Opera is probably the best browser for Windows Mobile. I don't know about T-Mobile US but here in Germany the T-Mobile web&walk browser is Opera. Anyway Opera is light years ahead of IE for Windows Mobile.

In general about Windows Mobile (I have the HTC Diamond touch called MDA Vario IV Compact):
Windows Mobile 6.1 is a joke of an operating system. The WM Outlook client is an embarrassing badly version of the real Outlook. Basic functionality isn't supported for example the Outlook client won't show if you forwarded an Email or replied to one.


redburgundy
Jul 28, 09, 3:09 pm
I had the T-Mobile Dash. Now I have a Blackberry Bold. The biggest problem for travelers with the Dash (and other Windows Mobile devices) is that it takes about two minutes to boot up after you turn it on. Blackberries, on the other hand, start up instantly and start downloading mail while the airplane is still on the taxiway.



SEO by vBSEO 3.2.0