Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1

[theoddball]

Sony Ericsson's first smart phone that runs the Windows Mobile OS.

As an owner of the excellent P990i, I am understandably buzzed about this. Engadget.com has the full story.

Also, check the official X1 page on Sony Ericsson's site.

[fizz]

Windows  Mobile sucks...period. Whether its Imate, HTC, Palm or even Sony Ericsson phones running it. This move to Windows is the same that Palm did with its 700 model a couple of years ago. Seems that most users familiar with the OS on their desktop prefer it on their mobiles as well. Not to mention, its easy compatibility with Exchange, Office etc.

Oddy, I was just reading about the new Concept P5 phone from SE that is due to be released in a few months...check out details here and here. I don't know, but something feels like they might just be the same phone!

P.S. Looks to similar to the model from HTC (also with Windows!!!)

[fizz]

This topic comes at a good time...I need to buy a good phone to replace my aging Palm 650. Any ideas? I need something that has the following:

 - Touchscreen
 - Full QWERTY keypad
 - Wifi
 - Camera
 - No Windows OS

As far as I know, there isn't any phone that has all of the above.

Palm has all of the above except Wifi. For some reason all of the latest Palm OS releases have been deprived of the functionality of Wifi. If they only had this one feature, theirs would be the best phone in the market. Their OS is still the most comprehensive mobile OS from the sheer volume of freeware/shareware available for the platform. Heck I've managed to get a complete strategy game (ala Red Alert) and Project Management Software loaded onto it, at no cost!

Anyway, back to topic - any recommendations are welcome.

[theoddball]

Well, the reason why it looks like an HTC product is because SE commissioned HTC to design the X1.

I'm no fan of Windows Mobile myself. PalmOS and Symbian are without doubt light years ahead in terms of functionality and robustness. This move from SE is purely driven by marketing forces and, as you said, end user convenience.

[kaytee]

Anyway, back to topic - any recommendations are welcome.

Sony Ericsson W960 is the only phone with almost alll your requirements.

[fizz]

Close...very close, except, I'm handicapped without a full QWERTY keyboard, ala Blackberry or Palm. I just saw this phone yesterday. Its sleek and very good, but again, no full QWERT option.

I've zeroed in on the Nokia E71 - but its still in concept territory, and a few months away from actual release. My entitlement from work means I have to purchase by April.

[kaytee]

The Blackberry is a very good phone, though the battery life is really bad.

[fizz]

Good option, and since touch screen is a compromise I am willing to make, it is a strong possibility. However....no Wifi (at least not in the models released by Big E here in Dubai!). Will see how this shapes up in the next few weeks.

[sammy]

fizz, bb's are great devices for email / connectivity. Not so great as phones.
This too provided your co. has a BES server. BIS (etisalat provided solutions) arent all that since u cant sync more then your email on the go. (i'm talking calendar / tasks etc)

wait for the s60 touch screen from nokia...but thats around 2009, or if your willing to test the waters a little, the Samsung Linux phone or LG Android are slated for later this year i think.

[fizz]

Sammy...thanks for the input. Our company does have a BB Server, but I'm not privileged enough to be given access to put my phone up for using it, even if i own a BB phone. This means, I will end up using BB only as a phone, which makes little practical sense, since I will be paying for something I won't benefit from.

Linux and Andriod phones I'm a little vary of since they are too new to have any meaningful softwares available. Linux perhaps less so, but only Motorola supports it in a big way, and I don't really like any of their phones.  Like I said, in the end, I might just give up and settle for a plain ol Nokia N71, which is still at concept stage, but rumous say it'll be a 2008 Q2 release.

[fizz]

And just when I thought decision making was getting easier, I find out about this - the new Blackberry 9000 to be released stateside during Summer:

[kaytee]

My only problem with the above BB 9000 and 8320 is that the numeric keypad is on the left and not the center, which make life extremely difficult. I got myself the BB Pearl coz I was just used to the excellent T9 it uses.

[fizz]

T9 is great for keypad phones, but doesn't make sense on QWERTY phones and I don't mind the extra typing, its part of the fun. About the number pad, I guess it just takes a little getting used to.