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Hey all! I just got the MPx220 about five days ago, and I'm actually impressed with it. Aside from not being able to hands-free voice dial with my BT headset, it's pretty darned feature packed!
I just wondered what the concensus was amongst the folks here. I know I haven't had it very long, but it's already become a big part of my geek arsenal.
I'm glad to hear it! I'm a combo Pocket PC and cellphone user. I just got the MPx220 as well, but I can't tear myself away from the Pocket PC. One of my main uses of the MPx220 was as a bluetooth modem for my iPAQ 2215. Unfortunately, the MPx220 on Cingular requires a manually-entered modem string from the Pocket PC to be used as a modem. This is a problem with 1.30.0.0 firmware on the MPx220 (apparently, the modem worked "hands free" with the prior firmware). This is a deal killer for me. As much as I enjoy developing for Microsoft products, I think I'll have to return it. I'm a 2-gadget guy. Right now iPAQ 2215 and SE T610 phone. Real soon I'm moving to a Fujitsu-Siemens Loox 720 and Nokia 6820. The combination of VGA and EDGE data is not coming to a single device until middle to late this year. Oh, and I am addicted to the Pocket PC touchscreen.
Now that I've dumped on it: for some, especially if you're a single-gadget person, the Windows Mobile Smartphone is hard to beat. The best thing about it is the development is fairly consistent with Pocket PC development (using Microsoft Visual Studio and the Compact Framework). This means there should continue to be decent applications developed for the platform.
Greg Smith
Author, FeederReader - The Pocket PC RSS reader and podcatcher
Catches video, too! www.FeederReader.com - Download on the Road
Thank you for the quick reply!
Actually, I have always had either a PPC or a Palm in my posession, and now is no exception! I just bought the HP iPaq hx2415 as well, and I also have a Palm as a backup.
But, the MPx isn't the "perfect" phone unfortunately. The main gripe I have is the inability of it to utilize hands free BT connection while driving for example. I had the Motorola BT headset with the v551 I had just before this, and it worked wonderfully. I just tapped the connect button on the headset, I said what I wanted to dial, and it dialed away! The MPx, however, uses the goofiest damned implementation of this I've ever seen! Not only can you NOT initiate a hands free call from a BT headset, but there is no way to just reach down and hit a button on the phone (on your belt for instance) in order to initiate a call...you first have to flip open the phone, then press and hold the "up" button on the side of the phone...then, and only then the lady's voice comes on and asks you to "say a command".
So, to make a long story short, if it weren't for the MPx's ability to do virtually every other thing I need very wonderfully, that would have been the killer for me. So, until I get a true hands free setup in my Jeep (i.e., a hard wired cradle of some sort and a mic), I guess I'll have to resort to flipping open the phone, pressing the "up" button and then closing the phone again. It's a pain in the arse, but at least I'm not using one hand to hold the phone while driving...
Well, after several days, it's been an overall good experience. Just like with anything Microsoft, though, there are little bugs and obstacles to overcome and learn how to conquer.
I like having most everything in one device and useability is pretty good for such a small form factor.
I'll post any info, either good or bad, that I come up with!
I first heard about the Mpx 220 last September when I was first thinking about trading in my old 6230i.
It got to the end of februray and I just got fed up with waiting for the MPX 220 to be released in the UK, I had also heard unpleasant reports about sound quality and the lack of hands free dialing.
So I bit the bullet and compromised by purchasing a Sony Ericsson K700i. I can report that I was very pleasantly surprised with the K700i, as it does all the functions I wanted (except sync with pocket outlook).
I'll be looking to trade the K700i in though when some decent clamshell design 3G phones with bluetooth are released. At the moment I understand the 3G coverage in the UK is not too good.
It still would have been nice to at least TRY the Mpx 220 though.
__________________ Afterism (n) - A concise, clever statement you don\'t think of until too late.
To err is human, but to really foul things up you need a computer.
I'm not familiar with that phone. Hmmm....
Anyhoo, the sound quality was fixed with the latest ROM update I believe. I bought mine post ROM anyway, so I didn't know what it was like before. As long as WM2005 is available sometime in the future as an upgrade, then I'll be happy. Motorola had been testing WM2005 on the MPx220 a few weeks ago when I emailed them about bluetooth voice dialing (not currently a viable feature of WM2003).
What attracted me most to this SmartPhone was the size and (lack of) weight. The color screen is quite crisp and has held up well, too. The only thing that gives away this unit's age (it's now about 10 months old) is the little marks that the keypad has managed to make in the screen -- very much like some of the earlier laptop designs. I'm sure this has to do with me carrying the phone in my pants pocket which would squish it a bit.
I went through a couple of units with Cingular before finally settling on one that seemed to have everything working properly. The first unit had the dreaded sound quality problem (I thought at first it was my hearing); the second unit couldn't seem to hold a connection. Three has been the charm but not without minor warts. I don't know if it's the Cingular network or the phone itself but I will frequently go to pick up the phone and see that it has "No Service." I work in Boston and live just outside the city so I know that it's not because I'm in some remote hole that doesn't get a signal. Numerous calls to Cingular tech support (a mixed bag, to be sure) have gotten me more answers -- all of them different -- so I never have really figured out what's going on. To Cingular's credit, they do offer to ship me a replacement unit when I call but the last time they did that I found by the serial numbers that they had shipped me a unit that was much older than my current handset. Thanks, Cingular -- not.
PROs-- form factor, size, weight, ActivSync connectivity REALLY works, availability of lots of software, similarities to PPC, one-handed functions REALLY only require one hand, great screen, expandability with mini-SD, battery life is actually quite good, lots of storage room built in, Motorola phone quality, etc. etc.
CONs-- screen is showing signs of damage, speakerphone gets distorted when volume is turned up, odd "No Service" quirk
In any case, the phone works for me because I find that with my numerous gadgets -- this is the one I grab going out the door. I'm not embarrassed/annoyed to stick it in my pants pocket the way I was when I demo'd the Treo 650. I've also got a Siemens 6600 and am currently demoing the Samsung i730 (a separate post will be going up for that).
Further points/proof in its favor -- the phone is with me right now, in my pocket.
I'm waiting, of course, like all the rest of the addicts on this site to see what's new and next to come along but I have to say, for the time being, Motorola got this one right. I've seen peeks though at the Razr SmartPhone that's due out early next year and I can say already that THAT one is on my short list (battery life will be a big question though since I've read numerous comments about the Razrs basically needing to stay close to their charging cords. 8-)
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