i600 vs.t650?

[Scorpion9k]

Has anyone used both of these phones and can tell me a little about the i600 and how it compares to the t650. I need a PDA phone and im looking elsewhere because my t650 is picking up background noise more than my voice when im talking. People are thinking im at a party when im just driving in the car.

[dukenewt]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; PalmSource/hspr-H102; Blazer/4.0) 16;320x320)

I have used both phones. From my perspective, both are excellent devices. I prefer flip phones, so I got the I600. Love the integration of windows mobile with the phone functions. Did find it somewhat difficult to do sms, email etc. without a built in keypad. Other than that, the only other draw back is no bluetooth. One other thing, I found reception inside buildings and in fringe areas to be weak at best, not deal breaker but something to take note of.
I switch to the T650 for the bluetooth and DUN.

duke

[Fabulas]

Has anyone of you even used the I600? I have and although was anticipating it's release, It's VEEEEEEEEEEEERY lame compared to the 650 or 600. The phone needs a stylus and a keypad like the treo to even compare. The thing is very awkward IMHO! :eek:

[bjork_rules]

i600 has no BT and no DUN of any kind.

[BillybathGate]

uhh... what's a "dun"? :huh:

[MrTchMan]

uhh... what's a "dun"? :huh:
Dial up Networking

[BillybathGate]

Dial up Networking
Thanks! lol Should've known that, since I work in the "IT dept." :D

[bjork_rules]

what's "dept?"

Kidding.

[imtravis]

what's "dept?"

Kidding.

What's IT??
:hee:

[MisterFuhrman]

I thought all Vision phones could be tethered into DUN by dialing #777 and using "web" for both the username and password. Am I wrong on this?

I've got a T600 but never tried it.

[bjork_rules]

I thought all Vision phones could be tethered into DUN by dialing #777 and using "web" for both the username and password. Am I wrong on this?

I've got a T600 but never tried it.
Yes, you are wrong. The i600 is one of the few that doesn't work. No one has been able to hack it yet.

[gedansky]

Why in the world did MS Smartphones get designed with no suitable data input method? Without QWERTY or a RECO engine, they might as well be simple J2ME or Symbian phones. It's not that hard to teach a phone to sync with your PC, so someone could easily write a program to sync any OS phone with an Outlook schedule or Lotus etc.

I played with my brother-in-laws phone, and MS Smartphone 2003 OS is huge overkill unless you are also running and viewing office apps, multimedia, and entering data. My Sanyo 5300 does just as much for proportionately half the price.

There's no reason why, since Samsung made the i500 palm flip phone with a Graffiti pad and a touch screen, that the i600 couldn't be the exact same design, but updated and running Windows. And, for $600, they should have.

[harmerme]

Why in the world did MS Smartphones get designed with no suitable data input method? Without QWERTY or a RECO engine, they
...
Graffiti pad and a touch screen, that the i600 couldn't be the exact same design, but updated and running Windows. And, for $600, they should have.

We actually have a totally different view of the i600. First, the i600 is as others have said a Microsoft Smartphone based device, as opposed to Palm like the Treo. As such the two do not compare well. It is kinda like comapring a Windows based PC to a Apple OSx based PC. They are VERY different.

As far as the keyboard not being very usefull, that is matter of how you intend to use the phone. We have had great sucess using T9 word input for composing multi paragraph messages. As it does not need the big keyboard, it is MUCH smaller that a typical slab phone. (Standard Pocket PC/Palm based phone) We were a little worried about the lack of a stylus, but in the end it has proven usless to have one. The interface is simplified considerably.

Drawbacks :
You can not edit word, excel, or powerpoint documents.
15 minute sync's kill battery life
Application support is more limited that on Pocket PCs

Advantages :
Small
Integrates into a Microsoft based network with ease.
Native wireless sync with Exchange Server, particularly 2003
Simple interface
Focused, you just can not run all those little 'helper' apps. Instead your forced to do e-mail, contacts, and calendar. (hmm Blackberry ish)
Can VPN inside corprate firewalls if company polocy allows it

We are adding them left and right. The users are really liking the fact that they can get the calendars while not in the office.

[bjork_rules]

I'd love to see the replacement for the i600 include BT and DUN. I always liked the form factor on the i600 and would have gotten one if it hadn't been for the lack of DUN.

[monkeyboy]

Why in the world did MS Smartphones get designed with no suitable data input method?
There's no reason why, since Samsung made the i500 palm flip phone with a Graffiti pad and a touch screen, that the i600 couldn't be the exact same design, but updated and running Windows. And, for $600, they should have.Well, like it seems you already know, it is part of the design spec for MS Smartphones not to have a touch screen/stylus. The Smartphone software base was intended for CHEAP phones, and hence the $600 i600 is somewhat of an anathema as a Smartphone, competing with the $200 Smartphones like the MPx200/220. For $600, the i600 really should have included the PPC software base instead, along with a touch screen/stylus. It is indeed difficult to justify a $600 price on the i600 when the $200 MPx200 is pretty much the same phone, feature and software-wise (on Amazon, the MPx200 is now just $50 and the MPx220 is $175).

[bjork_rules]

I would love to seen an MPx on Sprint, but that isn't going to happen. Smartphones are few and far between here.

[scarletk]

it should work actually now it doesn't with the i600 because the computer does not recognize the modem in the i600. Samsung says sprint will not support or some bull**** like that but basically it is on sprint. I have downloaded a procedure where you rename a file in your program files for infor-red-access and to use that as a modem but have not been able to get it to work.

[scarletk]

I thought the 650 was huge but really not that bigger than the i600 and thinner. You have bluetooth a bigger screen.

don't know if you have access to your entire outlook database or dial someone's number by just typing out their name and the number pop up once enough letters of that person's name singles them out.

and it is palm os, never used it not sure what the downside is

but you do have bluetooth and I suppose you could hook up to the internet from your laptop

can't do anything that's not already on their with the i600

[vermag]

There is not much comparision between a PDA phone and a smartphone - a Windows smartphone is a regular phone with extensive PIM capabilities, sync capabilities and networking. It is not supposed to have a QWERTY keyboard or writing recognition. Its capability to run third party or add on programs is limited. It cannot run Windows PPC programs, you have to have a separate version. The I600 is a good smartphone, but way overpriced by Sprint / Samsung. For comparision, the HTC produced Audiovox branded SMT 5600 (GSM) is priced around the $250 range (it is mostly free if you sign up as a new customer), and is a solid smartphone.

[mowog]

If you're used to palm OS then take a look at the i500 for about $89. I just got one for my wife and I like it. Has grafitti only interface for entering data but if you're used to it its ok. No bluetooth but so far good reception and sound. Comparing the i500 to the T650 is more apple to apple comparison (for the PDA part) then with the i600 IMHO. I don't want to learn a new OS so the i500 was a perfect fit with my T650 and older palm devices. I can't comment much on the vision services as my wife doesn't show any interest yet in using them.

[jnmarshall]

Yes, you are wrong. The i600 is one of the few that doesn't work. No one has been able to hack it yet.

Thought this thread should be updated, the i600 DOES work. Samsung hid the code for sprint. To access the missing menu(that's available on the verizon version), enter the following code:
##8778#
Under the USB setting, change it from 'Active Sync' to 'External Data Call'
Leave the UART setting as 'phone'
Press Done,
Plug your phone, and instead of active sync firing up, assuming you have the drivers installed, a Samsung CDMA Modem now appears!

Enjoy!!

NOTE: to sync your phone again, remember to repeat the steps above, but set it back to 'Active Sync'

[Gary G. Little]

Thought this thread should be updated, the i600 DOES work. Samsung hid the code for sprint. To access the missing menu(that's available on the verizon version), enter the following code:
##8778#
Under the USB setting, change it from 'Active Sync' to 'External Data Call'
Leave the UART setting as 'phone'
Press Done,
Plug your phone, and instead of active sync firing up, assuming you have the drivers installed, a Samsung CDMA Modem now appears!

Enjoy!!

NOTE: to sync your phone again, remember to repeat the steps above, but set it back to 'Active Sync'

Ah ha! So that is what ##8778# does. However, if one has Sprint, where does one get the Samsung CDMA driver that Windows HW Wizard is going to request? I'm assuming that it will be modem driver for the USB port.

Gary

[jnmarshall]

Ah ha! So that is what ##8778# does. However, if one has Sprint, where does one get the Samsung CDMA driver that Windows HW Wizard is going to request? I'm assuming that it will be modem driver for the USB port.

Gary

I'm using the standard Samsung CDMA drivers that came with an old version of future dial software I used to sync my old VGA1000/a620 with. Do a search on this site, I've seen postings around that had links to the same drivers.

[Gary G. Little]

I'm using the standard Samsung CDMA drivers that came with an old version of future dial software I used to sync my old VGA1000/a620 with. Do a search on this site, I've seen postings around that had links to the same drivers.

Got it, and installed it, but ... XP SP2 locks up during the install of the CDMA modem. My first thought was to find updated drivers which are not on the Samsung site. But the problem could be that I did not tell ActiveSync to quit using the port.

Gary

[jnmarshall]

Got it, and installed it, but ... XP SP2 locks up during the install of the CDMA modem. My first thought was to find updated drivers which are not on the Samsung site. But the problem could be that I did not tell ActiveSync to quit using the port.

Gary

Possible, I have my activesync set for IR and network only. The USB option is unchecked.

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