Please help with my decision on a new phone (Sprint)

M

mmwiens

New member
Ok so I know everyone is tired of the debate over the PDA/Smartphones and Im not trying to add to the fire but, its time for me to get a new phone and I have done so much research and still am not sure. Let me give you some facts...
Any PDA/Smartphone would be so much better than what I have now which is a Sanyo 8200 (I know I know upgrade is way overdue)
I've done comparisons on the 6700, Treo wx and Treo P at phonescoop.

What I'll use it for...
Texting like crazy
Internet surfing
Email (yahoo, gmail)
some instant messaging (yahoo)
some windows based programs (but really not a neccesity)
taking and sending

What I'm looking for...
Ease of use but I dont mind learning the phone (never hurts to learn)
Good sound quality (so far Ive heard that the actual phone on the 6700 is crap, correct me if Ive heard wrong)
Things that fit what Ill be using it for
Durability
Battery life (I dont expect a miracle but something nice)
music maybe but hell I have an IPOD so it really doesnt matter


**Anything extra is a plus and I will learn and use it Im sure, I'm just so limited with the phone now and I have a palm pilot but it would be nice to have that all combined.

When I read some of the specs and comparisons I get a lot of jargon some of it I understand some of it I dont because Im new to the PDA/Smartphone world.

Any advice would be helpful in my decision making process thanks! I plan on getting a phone this weekend.
 
I would recommend either the treo 700wx or the ppc6700. I have personal leanings towards the tro, they have such an amazing reputation, and feel so nice in your hand, but go down to a sprint store and spend ten minutes with each one and see which you prefer, which feels nicest to you. But either one you get you cant go wrong. I love having a smartpohone, and I think you will too, if you are willing to take the time to learn how to properly use it. and dont forget once you do get the device, to spend a lot of time in the pocket pc forums, they will help get you through the learning period.
 
Great thanks!! I reallly like the 6700 but I have a lot of horrid stories about it! and the Treo has just been a matter the P or the WX but I will definietly take all this into consideration and read some more user reviews and definetely do a hands on test to make that final decision!
 
My only issue is that you have pay 50 bucks extra for the BB package dont you vs the $25 bucks for the power vision. Is that not true? Thats what made me rule out the BB.
 
Unless you are a business user who's company pays for it, Blackberry is prohibitively expensive, plus the PocketPC platform provides so much more functionality. and you can still get push email. I have the GSM version of the PPC6700 and for the last six months have been as happy with it as I have ever been with an gadget I have ever owned. Plus the sliding keyboard is just a cool thing to play with.
 
well keep in mind, my device is slightly different from the ppc6700, but the battery life in the beginning was fantastic, now after about 10 months it lasts the whole day but with about 20% left. That is with heavy web and email use, games and calling.
 
Different how? you mean because you have had it a while? I actually went to the Sprint store last night and Toyed with them a little. I quickly ruled out the Treo 700wx, the screen really is dimmer, also the ease of it is not that of the 700P or the 6700 in my opinion. I also made two calls each on the phones and both parties said there was a lot of background noise on the 6700 sounded like I was in a very crowded room when in fact there was only 2 people in the store at that time. As far as call quality the 700P was better but the set up of the 700P is so old geez Palm needs to upgrade the look of that (lol). The 6700 does have plenty of cool features but I don't know if Im too enthusied about using my upgrade to get a phone that is discontinued or at least will be in January and then Ill have to keep it for 2 years. So how is the quality of your phone? Thanks for helping me with this I hope to go make a final purchase tommorrow.
 
This is a user's review on the 6700 which I have heard quite a bit of the same. Do you have these problems as well...(the excerpt is below)...

"Waited for a month to get this phone for christmas and after 2 1/2 hours on hold with sprint over 2 day period found out that this phone is not compatiable with 2 very popular sprint services that I had on my previous phone that was 1/3 the price. First, Sprint TV and/or MobiTv does not work on this phone period and according to senior tech support it will never become available for pocket PC enabled phones on the sprint network. Secondly, you can not send pictures to other sprint users via the sprint picture mail service. This phone does not support this service either. You can send pictures from your phone through hotmail or the outlook mobile email clients but the only people who could receive those pictures mobily would be others with expensive smartphones that allow you to use these type of email clients. Additionally the speaker phone is pretty bad. I have spoken to 6 different people by phone and email over the last 2 days and every single on of them has told me different things and had me add or delete different services in hopes that the picture mail or the live tv streams would start working. They really need to educate these people better on sprint products and services!"

minus the personal issues this guy has do you know if his issues are valid? Thanks Im a research freak and I have to make sure I get something that I can hold on to. lol
 
I really can't comment on the Sprint services, but there are so many things you can do with this phone I am sure it makes up for them. In regards to the differences between the MDA (the one I have) and the ppc6700 (sometimes called the Apache), there are a few. Namely the MDA is gsm with a slower processor. I am also a research freak and understand what you go through before you make a big investment like a fancy phone. do a search in the pocketpc section of this site using the words apache, and ppc6700 for more device specific info. Dont forget the display units in sprint stores get pretty beat up and yours may not have those problems, and also remember to find out the return policy sprint has before walking out of the store with your new toy.
 
Sorry I guess I could have been a little more clear, both devices seem to have quite a bit of software but from looking around it seems that alot of the software for the 6700 you have to pay and most of it for the treo is free from the palm site looks like. I hope Im wording that right. Please enlighten me. Again thanks for all your help Im taking it all in...
 
There is lots of software (tens of thousands of titles) and a lot of it you have to pay for, for both devices. There are however very many freeware options available. Most of the software you have to pay for has a trial period so you can see if it is worth your while. I have tried a lot of it, but the only 2 I ever paid for was the sling player, and Tube-2 New York (when I moved here I needed help figuring out the subway) There are free games and utilities, and pretty much anything else you need for free. for the treo or the PPC6700. keep in mind that if you get the treo 700wx there is a very small number of programs that have trouble because the screen is a slightly different size and resolution than most of the Pocketpc devices out there.
 
Im leaning towards the P more than the wx. I played with that at the store and I dont think that one will fit my needs as much and it was alot dimmer than the P that was noticeable from the begining of me toying with them. lol
 
It is true that the P has a higher screen resolution. and I can appreciate your opinion whichever you decide. I just really like The windows Mobile platform, It is a much newer and advanced platform than the palm which is an OS in it's death throes. A big consideration is the Blazer web browser in palm has a fairly bad reputation, and the palm os also has a more difficult time dealing with the evdo data. But if you do decide on the P you will probably like it.
 
Ok that is one thing I really dont honestly get is the EVDO stuff? Sorry if Im dumb but Im learning I told you.lol not much you have to know with a 8200 lol and whats wrong with the Blazer web browser Ill have to look that up. Im excited a few more hours before I head out and make a final decision.
 
this phone is so cool ended up with the treo p I was still on the fence a little but whiile I was there one guy returned his 6700 and another guy was bringing his in for service for the 3rd time.
 
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