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Windows Mobile 6.5 leaves me un-impressed

I opted out of the Android, Windows Mobile, iPhone wars and got a Samsing Impression instead

By Ron Barrett on Wed, 10/21/09 - 12:42pm.

I have to admit that since Windows Mobile 2003, I have had a Windows mobile device/Smartphone. Call me a creature of habit but there has been something comforting about having a scaled back Windows OS in my hand.

I put up with the fact that Windows Mobile was lagging behind in the market and the fact that it took so long to get to onto a Smartphone. When the iPhone arrived I stood true and got another Windows Mobile device. This time it was an HTC with Windows Mobile 6 installed. The device did not have a touch screen but for the carrier I was with it was there 'best' WM 6 model. Let me say Windows Mobile on a Smartphone without touch screen is as useless as udders on a bull!

But I persisted and waited for the arrival of Window Mobile 6.5, I bypassed the Android, scoffed at the iPhone (just can't bring myself to buy an Apple product) and waited for what I thought would finally be the Windows mobile OS that would blow me away.

It didn't Windows Mobile 6.5 left me wondering why I waited so long. I just couldn’t go around fooling myself into thinking it would get any better. So I started researching iPhones last week as well. I decided to forego the entire war of the mobile OS and got myself a Samsung Impression.

It has a touch screen, QWERTY keyboard, supports all four email accounts (one account I need to view via the browser), web browsing is fast, and the phone has some cool features and a pretty big screen. So I will sit back and wait for Windows Mobile 7 (or maybe I’ll get over the whole Apple thing)...but one thing is for sure Microsoft needs to either get better with Windows Mobile or get out of the market.

My personal message to the Windows Mobile team...STOP TEASING ME and make a mobile OS worth buying.

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huh?

0
By Anon (not verified) on Wed, 10/21/2009 - 2:39pm.

So what was missing? What didn't work well? Why didn't you like it? For those of us who are ready to upgrade their phone and clicked on your article expecting some scoop on 6.5, this was extremely disappointing...

iPhone OS Problems

0
By Anon (not verified) on Wed, 10/21/2009 - 4:43pm.

It seems that everybody writes about what's wrong with Windows Mobile and about how much the iPhone stands above everything else out there.

I have been using the iPhone for about a year because of the need for active sync.
And all that time Apple was lying about utilizing active sync. But that is not what I am writing about.

Ever since they have upgrading the OS from 3.0 to 3.1, I have had persistent problems with the iPhone. In fact, every person I know that has an iPhone has had problems with the latest OS. Even Apple's 2 updates since have not fixed any of the problems.

Here is a list of problems that exist on all 6 of our iPhones:
1. IPSEC no longer works.
2. No ability to connect to the network appears regularly , through both ATT and wi-fi.
- Must reboot the iPhone to fix
3. Persistently drops off the exchange server.
4. While running apps, downloaded and standard, the apps will close on an irregular basis.

Contacting Apple support only results in their assistance in reloading the operating system which does not fix any of these problems. And even after all of this, they brush it off as a non-issue. They even went as far as lying to me saying that the phone's VPN requires a certificate from the VPN server. ( BTW - Pushing out the certificate and loading it does not fix that problem.)

I would happily give up my iPhone for any other smartphone that does not experience these major problems.

Windows Mobile Phones

0
By Billy (not verified) on Thu, 10/22/2009 - 6:03pm.

You should try any of the HTC Windows Mobile touch phones. We have a bunch of them and don't have any problems. They may not be flashy but they get the job done.

A disappointing article - what's so wrong with WinMobile 6.5?

0
By Anon on Sat, 10/24/2009 - 10:52pm.

You haven't gone into why Windows Mobile 6.5 was a disappointment to you.

I'm on a HTC Touch Diamond running WM 6.1. I agree the interface needs some work and it's grinds to a halt when you have too many apps running at the same time (you'll get that on any device), but short comings aside, it syncs beautifully with my PC and I'm not going back to a not Windows Mobile device.

The free MyPhone service by Microsoft allow me to backup all my data on my phone to the cloud. If my phone gets stolen, I can remote wipe my device, and more - just do a search to Microsoft MyPhone.

I strongly recommend you try a HTC touch phone, and then install the awesome SPB Mobile Shell - http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/

FYI - I have no association with SPB - just a massive fan of there software.

Regards,
Mark

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About A Better Windows World

Ron Barrett, Director of e-Strategy for ClipTraining , is an independent trainer, author and consultant. He has been a technology professional for over 12 years, working for several major financial services firms and dotcoms. Ron is a specialist in network infrastructure, security, and IT management. He is the author of Office Communications Server 2007 R2: How-To , as well as co-author of Windows Server 2008: How-To and The Administrator’s Guide to Microsoft Office 2007 Servers. Ron has been a co-author or technical editor for several other books on Windows administration. Along with book writing, Ron has contributed to several industry magazines such as Redmond, Datamation and Windows IT Pro. Beyond writing, Ron has spoken at several technology conferences for CPAmerica, AICPA and MCP’s TECHMENTOR. Recently Ron has joined ClipTraining as the Director of e-Strategy in an effort to further the company’s presence via the Internet and social networking channels.

Ron's latest book, Windows Server 2008 How-To has been selected as the September 2009 book giveaway on Microsoft Subnet. To enter the monthly book giveaway, visit the Microsoft Subnet home page.