From time to time I am forced to make technical hardware choices.
Due to limitations of available funds (read low budget), price options and offers constructed/constrained by hardware industry, this tends to become frustration. At the moment I am in need of a HandHeldWithPhone... sure there is no exactly product like [http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=pdachooser HandHeldWithPhone.ideal]] , but I am looking at the way of how to get close to ideal of on-the-road productivity, more-less-continuous web access and information/contact-data integration.
REASONING:
- my prepaid bills in NL are big enough to be replaced by proper contract (around 30eur/month)
- laptop is to heavy and has short battery life (and can not just carry it everywhere)...
- roaming/traveling a lot and get stuck with missing info and end up paying costly net-cafe/terminals
- my context: Holland (for contracts)
- my habits: frequent travel to neighboring countries, some phone calls and SMSing, but lots of web use
= HARDWARE OPTIONS = == Google phone ==
- + running on free software Androind platform - nice (longer-living/free/faster-developing) environment
- + can be used for internet access of PC/laptop! (?only rooted)
- - not so nice quality display as iPhone or high resolution as new Win HTC's (Touch Pro2, Diamond2, ...black)
- 200807xx G1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTC_Dream (T-Mobile!)
- 200905xx G2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTC_Magic (Vodafone!)
- 200907xx G3 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTC_Hero (?T-Mobile) === Google phone with contract ===
- - contract is 2 years (for a phone of 1st generation), while new BETTER hardware models are expected in summer/autumn
- + can be legally unlocked through provider and activated with other SIM http://www.unlock-tmobileg1.com/procedures/activate.php
- - costly contract, but cheaper than iPhone
== iPhone with contract == - - contract is 2 years (for a single phone, that can not be upgraded in hardware), while new major hardware model is expected in early summer
- - weak camera optics, video recording/destructive editing, weak if any support for office formats or external hardware
- + better web browsing experience on small screen at the moment, good battery life
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone
- http://www.t-mobile.nl/iphone/abonnementen-zakelijk.html?WT.ac=sc_iphone2_zabbo
== iPhone Touch == - - big price for basically crippled product (iPhone)
- + could be cheap if purchased as second-hand
- - contact information and plans not integrated in same device
== Windows Mobile phone == - - same issues with any windows system (closed, restrictive, patchy...)
- + more nominal features then iPhone that are productivity oriented (rather then just fun, one can do .xls/.doc editing),
- + (external or on-device) keyboard option == Windows Mobile handheld ==
- - same issues with any windows system (closed, restrictive, patchy...), needs to be LINUX hackable
- - contact information and plans not integrated in same device
- + could be cheap if purchased as second-hand
== alternatives == - japanese options
- Panasonic P905i (mobile/tv-tuner/console/camera...)
- chinese clones http://gadget.blog.nl/software/2009/09/21/chinese-company-sciphone-opens-up-a-can-of-android-phones-this-fall
- hacked PDAs
- http://androidguys.com/?tag=android-hacks Axim x51v
- hacked Phones
- http://xda-developers.com/ (comparison of consumer options http://pdaDB.net/)
- 2nd gen HTCs (to be) hacked:
- + Blackstone http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=HTC_Blackstone
- - Touch Pro 2 http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=HTC_Rhodium
- - Touch Diamond 2 http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=HTC_Topaz
=== hardware DB === - http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=pdacomparer&id1=1330&id2=1750&id3=1469&id4=1751&id5=1495
= OS level = == REVIEWS/COMPARISON == - user perspective http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/19/mobile-os-shootout-iphone-os-3-0-enters-the-fray/
- developer perspective http://www.osnews.com/story/21179/Mobile_OS_Shootout_The_Cross-Platform_Developer_Point_of_View
- WIRED (faulty) http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/06/wireds-smart-guide-for-know-your-smartphones/
== Android OS == - + Canonical Developers getting Android Apps Running On Ubuntu
=== websites === - http://android-dls.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page#Android_General_Information
- http://www.talkandroid.com/
= RELATED =
- news:
- http://www.engadget.com/
- http://gizmodo.com/
- [HandHeldWithPhone.ideal]], [MobileApps]]