Is the SE Xperia really that bad ? - XPERIA X1 General

I'm considering buying an Xperia, mostly because it is much cheaper than HTC Touch HD (I'd love to have this device). But after reading diverse reviews on the Internet, I found a lot of complaints about the performance of the device (too slow,..), on the whole the review make a negative impression on me
Apparently this is just a software/firmware issue, which should be fixed with a new firmware upgrade. But what worries me most is Sony Ericsson might not ever bother to bring a new upgrade, or they will do but eventually discontinue support for the device and switch to Android, because Windows Mobile was probably a failed start for them.
Nevertheless it is very likely that I will buy the device because I know there is site on the Internet which calls xda-developers . So I am looking forward to hearing your opinions to make my ultimate decision

SE has already released upgraded firmware and from my experience I have to say the phone is quick... very quick... I have had it for about 4 or 5 months now and it goes from strength to strength... the only down side I would say is the keyboard, its different from my Kaiser/TyTN II but I am getting used to it and its working out... GPS is very fast at getting a fix (sooo much faster than my old phone its like a biplane vs a modern jet fighter) and the internet is awesome... so over all thumbs up from me, however I bet you will find negative and positive reviews... depends on the person using it and the reason they are using it I guess...

I have been owner of the X1 for about 6 weeks now and I am very satisfied. Of course, as any other device, it has some problems. This is what I don't like about it:
-Camera takes too long to capture, images get blurry if you can't hold the phone without ANY shaking (Camera Button is hard to press, which makes this difficult)
-Panel performance is poor
-Original audio recorder was removed, I believe, There is, however, a way to record with the built-in software: As a Voicenote. But you won't get a WAVE file or anything like this with it.
I've installed a lot of software meanwhile and BASICALLY performance is very well. The display may take some time to rotate when you slide it open. The biggest problem is, from my point of view, that, when you are answering a text message, it lags and you accidentally send an empty message. So you hit the Reply-Button with your finger, phone doesn't react immediately, so you think it didn't get it and you touch again, and it activates the Send-Button which will come in place of the Reply button, so you send an empty message. This has happened twice to me so far (I've sent about 100 msgs).
No other performance issues.
I can really recommend the phone. Features are fantastic and very well worth the price... This device is next-gen, a piece of future.
EDIT: I forgot to mention, it has no Ctrl-Key on the Slideout Keyboard. That's bad.
EDIT2: And just to convince you, I have running WMWIFIRouter on my X1. My phone provides me with WLAN through 3 walls over a distance of about 20 meters. Signal Quality on the Notebook is at about 40%. Isn't this crazy?

Thanks for your quick replies.
I'm a heavy "business user" although I'm still a student , it literally means that I've been using windows mobile devices only for its business functions (calendar, task, note,email, web...) and never care about other multimedia features.
The main reason for which I wanted to switch to Xperia (from HTC Touch) is its high resolution screen, still the screen seems to be relative small (3 inch), in comparison to HTC TOUCH HD.
I use smartphone to read ebook quite often, since HTC Touch HD and Xperia share the same resolution, does it really mean that Xperia can display the same amount of content as the HD does ? Or with the same content we will barely see anything on the Xperia because the screen is too small ? In case of an ebook, does it mean that the Xperia can display the same amount of words on the screen as the HD does and the page on Xperia is still readable ?
And what about those cracks, they look scared, I've just found several auctions on Ebay from people selling their cracked Xperia ...

I've just "accidentally" won a 1 month old Xperia on Ebay for only 300euro. Nevertheless I'm still waiting for your diverse opinions Just in the worst case I can resell it and save money for other device
Truth be told, I really want to keep this device ... waiting for positive reviews

I use my phone for reading all the time... usually for about 4 or more hours a day... in English and Chinese and its simply brilliant... clear and crisp... I was originally worried about the clarity, especially for the Chinese but find its just that good I am very pleased... as for cracks... I have not yet experienced this and from the various polls on this board it looks like it might be a minority from a particular colour (silver) and a particular batch... I have even dropped my phone a few times (each time filling my shorts that I had ruined my phone) but so far (touch wood) its still good...

Shadowdh said:
as for cracks... I have not yet experienced this and from the various polls on this board it looks like it might be a minority from a particular colour (silver) and a particular batch... I have even dropped my phone a few times (each time filling my shorts that I had ruined my phone) but so far (touch wood) its still good...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dont think this is limited to specific batches,
im on my 3rd device from a third batch (week 52 this time)
I now have 2 cracks, one on the silver trim and one near the volume button - this appears to be the common one...
dont get me wrong, it's a good phone, but I would suggest this is not just limited to one batch.

rosebud said:
Dont think this is limited to specific batches,
im on my 3rd device from a third batch (week 52 this time)
I now have 2 cracks, one on the silver trim and one near the volume button - this appears to be the common one...
dont get me wrong, it's a good phone, but I would suggest this is not just limited to one batch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fairplay... I am just glad that mine is not one of them...

Any idea how these cracks could ever happened It is not from the manufacturing obviously but rather the cracks develop over time ... The reason might be the metal case getting bigger due to temparature , thus crack the plastic ones ...
I always take good care of my phone or any electronic device in general, my HTC Touch still looks absolutely new after 1 year of usage, if I ever experience those crack with the Xperia (hopefully not) then I'm going mad !!

xperia is not bad just not worth the high price. if your going to do a lot of reading and not in the u.s, go for the bigger screen hd.

c_legaspi said:
xperia is not bad just not worth the high price. If your going to do a lot of reading and not in the u.s, go for the bigger screen hd.
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Click to collapse
yes i agree with that, get a hd it's much better for your needs, the screen is so tiny in xperia you will regret later belive me.

Okay, HD and X1 share the same number of pixels. But X1 has smaller screen. So the conclusion is you will see the same amount of information on both devices. However, things will appear bigger on the HD - but sharper on the X1. For reading ebooks, the HD is probably the better choice. It depens on whetehr you are interested in a slide-out keyboard. I think that's quite useful for "heavy business users". And on the space in your pocket BTW I have no Cracks at all.

c_legaspi said:
xperia is not bad just not worth the high price. if your going to do a lot of reading and not in the u.s, go for the bigger screen hd.
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I paid half the price in Poland 'cause I bought it without Polish menu... now i have Polish ROM so I think I made a good deal

forumleecher said:
Okay, HD and X1 share the same number of pixels. But X1 has smaller screen. So the conclusion is you will see the same amount of information on both devices. However, things will appear bigger on the HD - but sharper on the X1. For reading ebooks, the HD is probably the better choice. It depens on whetehr you are interested in a slide-out keyboard. I think that's quite useful for "heavy business users". And on the space in your pocket BTW I have no Cracks at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I dont mind if things are smaller on the X1 as long as they are still readable. I've never used a device with a keyboard before but I'm getting annoyed with the on screen keyboard of my current device, so a slide-out keyboard must be a plus.
On my opinion, the bigger screen of the HD is good for people who want to use it like an Iphone with their fingers. I'm happy with the stylus, so I think I will go for the X1

the firmware updates for the X1 are making the Xperia better and better (and more like the kickass phone it was supposed to be - check out the R3AA rom extracts under the TOuch-IT 4.5 rom thread!). Yes the screen is tiny, but the new Panels coming out + dedicated ppl like itje making custom firmwares makes this phone worthwhile

remember people tend to post on forums when theyre unhappy about something so theres goin to be a lot of negative comments and not as many positive ones to counteract them. as to the screen size, i use the built in opera browser to surf the Three website and everything is nice and readable. id imagine an ebook or pdf would be just as legible. and if you use it in landscape mode then the screen isnt much shorter than the average paperback book page. the X1 has the extra advantage of the optical mouse which would be quite handy for scrolling through pages. id recommend turning down the sensitivity one notch though.
i think my main recommendation is to not be too disappointed at first, theres so much software available to tweak and improve it so consider it a blank canvas. i wasnt too impressed when i got mine but now ive had a chance to customise it im much happier. everyday i find at least one new cool program to add

Xperia is practically same hardware as recent HTCs. It has same speed issues as HTC and vice versa.
If you want keyboard, I think Xperia is better then Touch Pro because it has 3.5mm jack.
If you don't want keyboard, I think HD is better because of the display.
Touchlo is good system, better then panels (IMHO), but it can be ported to Xperia, and many people does not use it even on HTC.
I say wait .. in a year there will be new WM, new faster devices, new Palm, and new iPhone maybe too.

lamtung said:
Any idea how these cracks could ever happened It is not from the manufacturing obviously but rather the cracks develop over time ... The reason might be the metal case getting bigger due to temparature , thus crack the plastic ones ...
I always take good care of my phone or any electronic device in general, my HTC Touch still looks absolutely new after 1 year of usage, if I ever experience those crack with the Xperia (hopefully not) then I'm going mad !!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My personal opinion for the regular crack near the volume buttons, is that this is caused by stress from the battery cover / removing the battery cover. anyone with that crack, push down on the nearest corner of the cover to the crack, the crack gets smaller.
Cheers
Steve

Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 (Kovsky) is THE BEST HTC PHONE EVER
Want un-arguable proof ??
visit the link in my signature

gtrab said:
Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 (Kovsky) is THE BEST HTC PHONE EVER
Want un-arguable proof ??
visit the link in my signature
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Click to collapse
28% for X1 is really great
i think the X1 is a great device, it has alot of plusses, some minuses.
mainly, it's not a multimedia device so don't expect much on graphics (although they work perfectly, but you can expect some problems from time to time). all other features are great, panels are good.
i have been using it for about 4 months, i bought it for 1000$, and i would say if time goes back, i WILL buy it again
previosly i have been using P910 & P1, they are both good, X1 is the best so far.
SE are really supporting the device, releasing updates, fixing problems.
the device came with R1A ROM, 3 months later R2AA08 was released, then they fixed some other things and released R2AA10 few weeks after.
i think SE are doing a great job supporting the device, they are doing their best to keep us happy, and most of us are.
the only problem of Windows Mobile is that it has lots of configuration and tweeks, install the wrong one or modify something wrong in the registery and you have to make a hard reset.
i LOVE my SE X1, and usually i have alot of arguments with friends who use iphone and it mostly ends with them hating their phones
hope i helped.

Related

Would you get one if you had the choice again?

Hi
I am currently using a O2 Mini S / HTC wizard and love it.
For the past few years, I have just upgraded and sold the phone on Ebay... now I have been offered this :
600 mins + 1000 texts (dont care about)... and unlimited internet! for £20 a month.
I have been offered a variety of phones including the Nokia 5800 and LG renoir... or if I spend £100, I can get a x1.
I just have no idea.
I went to a shop to take a look and find it generally ok, but I think the keyboard feels a bit... bad...
My wizard only has a 1.3Mp camera, but I am very happy with it. It does not lie... if I see a picture on the screen, I press the button and it takes fast. Is the camera here better than the wizard?
Anyway, I have an Exchange server, and just love the way it syncs.
The other thing I was thinking of is getting the nokia and selling it, then using the sim card in my wizard, however it is not 3g, and obviously really slow.
All I read here is people upgrading / reflashing their X1, is it really that bad?
I am just in two minds and have no idea what to do. What would you do?... should I wait for HTC touch Pro 2?
Thanks
William
MY PERSONAL OPINION
Hated the X1 at first, was all hyped up and everyone was raving about how good it will be and it just wasnt so
It WAS slow, USED to crash all the time, and the ui was appauling. I mean i nearly got rid of it several times and even through it across the house once cause it crashed during a very important call.
Now its awesome!
The update has made a huge difference, the software, tweaks and addons supplied by the users of this site along with other sites have made the X1 into a really powerful piece of kit.
YOU CANNOT get it out of the box and fall in love it takes some tweaking to customise it to your exact spec and needs.
Trust me its not easy at first but it will get better as you use it more. Plus more updates and tweaks from all users that i am VERY GRATEFULL for will make it even better.
just my opinion
I dont think the x1 keyboard is bad, it takes time to get used to any small keyboard - and/or the keyboard beds in - either way I find the keyboard fine now.
The camera has never been much good on my X1 - loads of lag and blurred pictures in low light, that could be a hardware problem - there are some roms with a new leaked cam from the R3 firmware which SE has not released yet, I dont know if this is better or not - any others comment?
I like everything else about the X1.
I'm another one that hated the phone....but it was my first smartphone.I had used Sony Ericsson phones for years and couldn't wait for it.
Was sooo disappointed until I found XDA....and then learned about flashing, and then....YOU WILL PRIZE MY X1 OUT OF MY COLD DEAD FINGERS!!!
I'm using Jack's ROM which I love (Mainly because TFL3D fitted my personality)
My only complaint is that it can't play Xvid's natively (They require conversion).
I will hang around and get an X2 (Whatever it may be) as long as they keep the same size phone and resolution. (Iphone is too large width wise)
I think X1 is good WM phone, if not the best.
But I realized WM is poor operating system for phone, if not the worst.
I bought X1 2 weeks before Palm Pre announcement. If I could decide now, I would leave my old stupid phone and unconnected PDA .. and I would wait.
THJahar said:
Was sooo disappointed until I found XDA....and then learned about flashing, and then....YOU WILL PRIZE MY X1 OUT OF MY COLD DEAD FINGERS!!!
I'm using Jack's ROM which I love (Mainly because TFL3D fitted my personality)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have heard so many people say this and I am just thinking, I should wait for the HTC touch pro, that would require no hacking to get this working...
The only real positive I can see for having the X1 is the screen, but the HTC pro 2 is also a high res screen... and being newer, it is more likly to have WM 6.5 in the future.... I know there are so many hacks here, but I would prefer to go via the manufacturer.
At the end of the day, a X1 will cost me £460 in 18 months time, where as having a 5800 or renoir will cost £360, or if I choose just to take sim only, probably around £40... I think I will not take a phone and in a years time, I will probably be able to get a HTC touch pro 2 or x1 on ebay for a fraction of the price.
Thanks to the guides here, I opened up my Wizard and was able to fix the vibrator so it really is perfect for me... I would LOVE to have 3g and check my email on the moove, but I have survived years without it... oh well!
I am still in two minds, but anyway...
If I remember correctly, the Wizard has Edge, right? If your operator (or another one) provides it, I think this is a good option in the mid term. It's almost as fast as the first version CDMA, only the latency is much higher.
Regarding the Touch Pro 2, it will be larger than the X1, quite a brick actually. It's actually a Touch HD with the thickness of the X1 - you can get an idea of it when you compare the two devices in a store. The Touch HD has quite a large screen area, but is not as thick as the X1. The X1 has a smaller area though. Combine the two, and you will get the Touch Pro 2. If you think you can put that into your pocket (together with its weight), then it may be the most powerful device that is upcoming. My impression is, that the Touch Pro 2's keyboard will be great and lot's better than the X1s.
The X1 keyboard is bad by the way, but you can learn how to write with it at acceptable speed. My Hermes keyboard was way better though.
Is it just me or everyone had a problem with X1's keyboard? When I push a button I either can't get any character or I get triple... where can I change the repeat rate and/or sensitivity?
Jasand said:
MY PERSONAL OPINION
Hated the X1 at first, was all hyped up and everyone was raving about how good it will be and it just wasnt so
It WAS slow, USED to crash all the time, and the ui was appauling. I mean i nearly got rid of it several times and even through it across the house once cause it crashed during a very important call.
Now its awesome!
The update has made a huge difference, the software, tweaks and addons supplied by the users of this site along with other sites have made the X1 into a really powerful piece of kit.
YOU CANNOT get it out of the box and fall in love it takes some tweaking to customise it to your exact spec and needs.
Trust me its not easy at first but it will get better as you use it more. Plus more updates and tweaks from all users that i am VERY GRATEFULL for will make it even better.
just my opinion
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You threw it across the house and it's still working!? Well, so someone has tested that the X1 can survive a big drop.
Fully agree with the first reply: Used to have Symbian business-phones like P1i, all Communicators which came perfect out of the box, I thought after unpacking the X1 and started it first time that X1 is a peace of crap. But never give up too early:
Found this wonderful site and started learning, tweaking and flashing my X1, and after several mistrials I ended up with cHarOns fast&lite rom, adding MS-voice command, Sprite backup, XTract and several nice apps, and it is now running like a charme. No reboots, no dropped calls, and everybody who gets a hand on my phone is really impressed.
I believe WinMob is NOT and will never be best for phones or handhelds, but if you like to fumble and make experiments, you jumped on the right train.
Huhh, experiments with a business phone? Yap, that is what gives you xperiance!
let me see... lousy camera
special keyboard producing triples or spaces or no spaces
slowness
high price
poor support (at least for my area )
N O
leobox1 said:
let me see... lousy camera
special keyboard producing triples or spaces or no spaces
slowness
high price
poor support (at least for my area )
N O
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Click to collapse
I loved it to begin with but hated windows mobile. Flashed the touch it rom and the phone is so much better, wouldn't trade my x1 for anything
You don't even need to tweak your phone to get touch flo 3d, you can install it as a cab and it becomes just another today item.
I love the phone so much. I definitely would have got the touch pro 2 if I could because I used to be used to the universal so a chunky phone was not a problem for me! However, having experienced the X!... its just a beautiful piece of hardware! Aethetics rarely interests geeks but once you get used to how it feels, the way it slides open, etc. I just love it. The keyboard is not great but definitely looks amazing and you can put it in your pocket and forget about it.
Definitely getting the x1 again if I am starting all over again...
There is no other phone on the market now that could think of to replace it with...
With the new roms I love it even more.
Have been using it since Oct, no regrets.
I think owning this phone just proved to me that 1. convergence is a very bad idea -- definitely carry separate devices for everything; and that 2. I'd be much happier with an iPhone.
So no, I'll probably just sell my three-month old X1 for 1/3 of the price I paid, because people are already refusing to pay anymore for a used one.
Did I mention the headphone jack left unsightly scratches on the plugs of every pair of headphones I own?
First I liked it... did loads of research and then went to a shop picked it up and played with it... loved the display...
Now I love it... never leaves my side and its simply indispensible... The keyboard does take some getting used to and I did have to upgrade my sim to a 3g one as they didnt send me one but its awesome...
I use the R2AA 10 ROM (very very good btw)and will upgrade to the R3AA when its here... as yet I have had no urge to flash different ROMs from the guys here... ok I have had the urge but as exams are coming up and I have a couple of dissertations to right I just dont have the time... sigh..
Finally where are you getting this deal? if you pay less up front (ie free phone or £50) is the deal more expensive?
I'd buy one again, though i'd be very tempted to wait for the Touch Pro 2 instead. A few months ago i was wishing i went for the Touch HD instead, but now i've got in to the Office side of things the keyboard is proving invaluable. I planned to buy a netbook, but it's really not needed because i can surf the web and run Word/Excel on the X1
One thing i do regret though is not putting a case on it straight away, it's scratched to bits. I'm actually tempted to "accidentally" drop it down the loo before my insurance runs out...
Thank you everyone here,
I have decided not to get it...
I really do love the look of it, however I went to the shop again, and I just can not stand the keyboard... I have so many small devices, but I just find the feedback so... soft (is that the word?) I like to know I pressed the key, and it just didnt seem to feel right to me.
At the end of the day, I would be on a 18 month contract, and in 18 months time, I will be £460 down on a phone that (By reading from here) may have cracks... not supported by SE, lousy camera, and general annoyances.
So many people talk about flashing their phones... imho, it should be perfect to begin with.
I know winmo has its flaws, but I really love it... the moment I am in wireless range of my network, I get all my emails and sync with exchange... or just link via USB or bluetooth to my laptop.
I love having one calander, contact list, notes and more... I know other phones can do this, but I just dont think it is as flawless or as simple.
Right now, I was offered a retentions deal which after credit, works out at around £45 at the end of 18 months... by then, hopefully I can pick up a older touch pro, or x1 from ebay for a fraction of the price, or a new x3 or whatever is out by then!
I would love any new smartphone, but frankly, I am happy with what I got... why spend a extra £415 (over 18 months).
Thanks everyone,
Wil
wilhil said:
Thank you everyone here,
I have decided not to get it...
I really do love the look of it, however I went to the shop again, and I just can not stand the keyboard... I have so many small devices, but I just find the feedback so... soft (is that the word?) I like to know I pressed the key, and it just didnt seem to feel right to me.
Wil
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I felt the same as you did about the keyboard when I first bought the phone (I order it over the net and never have the chance to test the device before buying it). And it took about 2 weeks to get used to. Now this keyboard is completely fine for me to type with
I used to use a iMate JASJAM and like the x1, the keyboard just feels alot easier to type than the x1 when I first bought it.
However after getting used to the X1 keyboard, I can't type on my JASJAM anymore haha............
Absolutely Yes, I would get one. I haven't had a single moment of regret. It's simply the best phone I've ever had.
Although I must say I waited enough to be sure that the software issues (lagging etc) were fixed.

Do you regret the X1?

I've been wanting and waiting to buy the xperia since it was released. I'm finally just about to buy it (had one ordered but the order fell through on their end, and so now have time to reconsider). I'm a programmer and very technically-minded, so I am not anticipating having any technical problems with optimizing/dealing with the phone. I'm looking for something powerful (and beautiful) that I can customize and use fully for a while.
However, I see many posts here about people regretting purchasing the xperia, mostly because of sluggish performance (and case cracks). When I go to the local Sony store to play with the display phone they have, I can definitely see that I would be very unhappy with a stock set, it's too unresponsive for me, plus the finger-friendly issues with win6.1. I know all about the different speed tweaks and touchscreen response tweaks available here for the xperia, but it's hard to get a feeling for just how well they work and how much a difference they really make.
But since I'm a regular xda reader, etc, I have hopes that some of the nice roms posted here will improve the system responsiveness, I'm especially looking at gtrab's set, mobilevu's v-lite and wild child's concept rom.
My question is: even if you continue to stick with the phone, do you actually regret getting the xperia?
I've been waiting for a long time for a real killer phone and while the xperia looks like it for me, I don't want to be disappointed even with custom roms... the hero looks like an option to me if the xperia isn't going to live up to my hopes.
thanks!
Absolutely I regret it. At the time I had just drowned a k850i, and bought another k850i to replace it. Then I saw a decent deal on an X1a, and I went for it. For the money, this phone just isn't worth it. I was happier with my SE dumb phones. I'm waiting for the Idou or whatever they're calling it now. This is after spending months waiting for the c905a...
best phone if you know how to use wm or if you are not too stupid to figure out how
some people are really dumb and should just get an Iphone though
DatDereX1 said:
best phone if you know how to use wm or if you are not to stupid to figure out how
some people are really dumb and should just get an Iphone though
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Absolutely.
I never had a single doubt about it.
My question is: even if you continue to stick with the phone, do you actually regret getting the xperia?
Yes, I regret getting the Xperia X1.
I've had an XDA of one sort or another for the last 4-5 years so I'm used to WinMo and it isn't the OS that's the problem. My perception is that it is too fragile for day-to-day use. My sig says changed twice due to cracks in the casing... make that three times as of today!
It is only the fantastic ROMs from the talented chefs here at XDAdev that make it bearable. Most of the ROMs have Rhodium enhancements, and since I really like those enhancements, I'll be looking at a Rhodium next time around.
Nope because I get every dollar (even with the discount) out of my purchase. I use ALL of the features on a daily basis lol.
I do not regret buying an X1. But, buyer beware, it is not perfect out of the box.
My fun was getting it perfect for my preferences. I enjoy having the option to dig in and customize my device with various software or settings tweaks.
It is a well made device and the R3 rom which was finally released for NAM yesterday has improved my reception as well as speed and smoothness running different programs.
I have also flashed it multiple times with custom roms from the chefs here at XDA.
While the price for it was, and still is, ridiculous, I am happy with the phone overall.
I would love to see a winmo 6.5 upgrade for it in the future but realistically, I don't expect it.
I have had mine for around four months, have no cracks in the case and protect my screen with a Martin Fields protector. I use a ICE-45 OEM case.
I would recommend this phone as long as you have disposable income.
It doesn't matter what you buy, in six to twelve months something better will be available. That can be said for all high tech devices.
i do regret it, i've been using sony ericsson for 3 years and lots phones: k800> k608> M600> W880> K850 > W960 >xperia1
somehow Xperia1 is not perfect to me
- camera isnot better even than k800/k850/w960
- music player is definitely worsen/ not friendly than k850/w960- this 2 phones were amazing at its onw strengths- camera/music
- xperia speed is somehow slow/ often hang
that all i want SE to improve and put effort on X2/3 which should have combination of k850 camera/ w960 music and speed. if they do it, their phone would be perfect all aspects
If you are not too concern about the lack of response, I would say its one of the better WM phone..
If you are not too concern about phone hanging once in a while, I would say its one of the better WM phone
If you are not too concern about the music quality, I would say its still one of the better WM phone
If you are not too concern about Window Mobile OS, I would say go get the X1
Do your research on the X1 and compare features before you decide..
For me, yes, I regret it and it has such a low resell value that I am stuck with it for a while now
xperiance said:
I've been wanting and waiting to buy the xperia since it was released. I'm finally just about to buy it (had one ordered but the order fell through on their end, and so now have time to reconsider). I'm a programmer and very technically-minded, so I am not anticipating having any technical problems with optimizing/dealing with the phone. I'm looking for something powerful (and beautiful) that I can customize and use fully for a while.
However, I see many posts here about people regretting purchasing the xperia, mostly because of sluggish performance (and case cracks). When I go to the local Sony store to play with the display phone they have, I can definitely see that I would be very unhappy with a stock set, it's too unresponsive for me, plus the finger-friendly issues with win6.1. I know all about the different speed tweaks and touchscreen response tweaks available here for the xperia, but it's hard to get a feeling for just how well they work and how much a difference they really make.
But since I'm a regular xda reader, etc, I have hopes that some of the nice roms posted here will improve the system responsiveness, I'm especially looking at gtrab's set, mobilevu's v-lite and wild child's concept rom.
My question is: even if you continue to stick with the phone, do you actually regret getting the xperia?
I've been waiting for a long time for a real killer phone and while the xperia looks like it for me, I don't want to be disappointed even with custom roms... the hero looks like an option to me if the xperia isn't going to live up to my hopes.
thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I regret getting the Xperia...
The Primary Reasons (In Priorities Order) That I Got Xperia:
1) Optical Mouse - All of the reviewers on the internet kept referring the D-pad as an Optical Mouse. I didn't want an Optical Joystick, I wanted a Mouse. Furthermore the effing reviewers rarely mentioned that the D-pad was horrible.
2) The keyboard - Everyone raved that the keyboard was amazing, so I thought that I'd enjoyed it. But I think even the HTC Touch Pro 1 has a better keyboard. Why? We all know the front D-pad on TP1 and X1 sucks so much. But atleast Touch Pro 1 is designed for text functionality and has a keyboard D-pad which Xperia lacks. I was at first content with the lack of keyboard arrows because I expected the optical mouse and D-pad to work flawlessly. The Xperia does not have good indicators for Capitalization or blue FN keys. You have to look at the screen and it is hard to tell compared to looking and typing simultaneously on the keyboard. I always capitalize or insert symbols/numbers unexpectedly. The number keys are hid behind the text and I have never used a keyboard on a phone before so I thought it was a smart move with the Xperia. But it's just totally not effective.
Furthermore I rarely use the front D-pad in portrait mode because that is when my stylus is out, and I learned that it is most useful to use it when you are in keyboard mode, except the optical mouse is hard to use and I want keyboard-like arrow buttons.
3) I never had a depressed screen before - I learned that I would rather have scratches on my phone than have a depressed screen. I remember on a few forums that I praised the X1 for having the "usefulness" of a depressed screen, and now I apologize and join the other side of the argument.
4) I thought the screen was big. I was wrong, I've never had any phone with 3 inch screens before and I thought that 3 inch was big. This is why I do not install Touch Flo roms on this phone because Touch Flo owns on a 3.5+ inch screen, but is pointless in a <3.0 inch screen
5) I expected the front face keys to be easy to press and enjoyable. Boy was I wrong.
6) I thought the chrome was metal chrome as well. I was wrong again. It is chipping off already and the D-pad is also chipping off is glossy paint. But I have to admit it that peeling that paint off makes the D-pad looks much more high quality at the cost of losing the shininess.
7) I thought that the silver battery cover was scratch less and easy to remove from the back. It took me 3 months to perfect the art of battery cover removal.
8) The CPU is slow, but I think there is something wrong with my Xperia. I have a Samsung SCH-I760 in which Pocket Player and Core Player is twice as fast as the Xperia X1 with optimized settings.
The only thing that is preventing my from selling my Xperia is the fact that I love the gorgeous R3A Media Panel and its interface and the 3.5 mm headphone jack and the Flash LED.
xperiance said:
My question is: even if you continue to stick with the phone, do you actually regret getting the xperia?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What none of the replies are saying is that it depends quite a lot on where you live and mostly work.
Why ? Because the X1 has a truly terrible GMS signal reception in marginal areas, irrespective of which radio ROM you have installed. I've tested this side by side with an HTC P3650 and an Acer DX900, using the same SIM in each device, directly after one another. The X1 works fine in the cities, hopeless in marginal areas.
Also the 3G UMTS (internet) capability is limited to 1900/2100Mhz in the X1. If you need UMTS 850Mhz in regional areas, try for an X1a.
The original battery is underpowered and heats dangerously with continued use of GPS or wifi while on charge.
Hmmm this is a hard one to tackle.... for me I always regret some part of the phone... maybe frustrated is the work I should use instead of regret. my phone progression has been
550 motorola flip --> Motorola TAC Elite --> Motorola QWERTY messaging phone (forgot the model) --> SE P800 --> BB 7250 & SE W900 --> BB 8830 & Nokia N95 --> BB 8830 & Nokia N85 -- BB 8830 & SE X1
the X1 marked a major change in the way I used my personal phone, primarily for e-mail and messaging, so my criteria have changed a bit. Although the N95/N85 were smart phones, i still primarily used them as phones, and not integrated messaging devices. The Blackberry was always for work, and has always primarily been a messaging device so I have drawn the baseline experience from that.
To answer your question in short: No. No serious regrets.
To answer you question in detail: Yes, I have regrets but the issues can be mitigated/X1 seemed to be the best blend of trade-offs:
1) Lack of free integrated international maps. Global data roaming costs and arm and a leg. Pay as you go in some countries don't include data, so Google Maps downloading data is a bit of a concern when i'm using the GPS abroad. This was a factor when I was deciding between the X1 or N97. I spend 9 of 12 months in home territory so i can probably manage without free international maps. (Garmin, Wayfinder don't have maps for Japan or other Asian countries that I spend time in, and you have to pay for maps unlike the free Nokia Maps app)
2) Windows Mobile quirkiness. WM 6.1 is slow. Weird things happen like accounts go missing, spontaneous reboots, lock ups, crashes, when you install different things. It's not as customizable (stock), I haven't found a voice dialler/voice synth, and the menu system is not intuitive. The messaging system is more robust however, and there is great aftermarket customization (ROMS and MODS from here), etc. I think some of these shortcommings can easily be rectified by the community, but they're still annoying. COmmunity and aftermarket support maturity ended up being a huge factor for me.
3) Form factor. It is slightly thicker than my N85, but thinner than my N95, just as wide, and only 1 cm or so taller. It is comfortable in my hand and is pocketable. The N97 is not much bigger, but the BB Bold is a lot fatter. Seemed like a good compromise.
4) Battery Life. Horrid. I could get 3-4 days normal use with my N85. I use 30% of the battery on a low usage day, and 50-60% on a moderate usage day. Mind you I use the data a lot more, which does suck up more battery, but I should get more than a day's charge out of it IMO. I'm going to chalk this up to my use of data, and hope that there is a future radio/rom upgrade that is easier on battery usage.
5) Functionality as a messaging device. I IM, e-mail, and SMS much more than I call. probably 8-to-1. I do find myself resorting back to my BB8830 for heavy IM usage sessions, possibly because I am more familiar with it, but realistically because I'm much more used to the keyboard. Heavily considered the BB Bold for this reason alone. Maybe things will change after a month or two getting used to the X1. The N97 which I also considered had serious issues as being a robust messaging device. It seemed adequate, and may have improved with further firmware releases/development, but S60 5th Edition seemed limited in more ways somehow.
6) Recessed screen. Pain in the ass. Not a deal breaker tho since I have thin fingers and am pretty dexterous. I can understand why this would be a larger issue for other people however. Definitely a poor design choice.
7) Volume. This is a quiet device. I'll have to amplify and re-jig all my custom call tones, and what not. Annoying, but manageable.
8) Poor camera. I'm used to a really good quality 5 MP Carl Zeiss lense that was on the N85. I didn't use it much but it was a nice thing to have as a backup. I feel a bit stifled by the camera on the X1, but since I'm not really using it that much, it becomes a lower weighted criteria.
So as you can see, for me, it was not a simple choice between a BB Bold, SE X1, Nokia N97, or waiting for the new Samsung B7610, HTC Touch 2, SE X2, or some other next gen device. Lots of factors, and yes I do have regrets around a lot of them, but you do the best you can and just move on.
I've found with some tweaking the X1 usable/tolerable, and meeting 80% of my needs. Nothing will ever be perfect, and if I follow the 80/20 rule, meeting 80% of my requirements for a decent price is usually as good a deal as I can ask for.
On reflection, yes... I regret it.
I resent the implication by DatDereX1 that somehow the phone's shortcomings are down to my stupidity. If it was a simple case of software, then all of the problems would instantly be resolved by a flash of the ROM - but that isn't the case. WinMo aside, the hardware is far from perfect:
* abysmal battery life
* poor responsiveness to touch
* recessed screen
* case suceptible to cracks
* poor external speaker
* reception is poor (compared to other devices in the same location on the same network)
When you throw in the stock software, you can add to that sluggish performance and poor usability. Out-of-the-box it is quite simply a device that is well below par.
With custom ROMs the situation becomes bareable but you still can't get away from the basic hardware issues... and even with the ROMs, performance is still far from lightening quick.
Even those devoted to WinMo would surely have to conceed it is not the best implementation of the OS on a device.
i bought it after selling iphone 3g...was tired of iphone's on-screen keyboard....and the phone was jus too wide...holding it made my palms ache.
other than that..the features werent elaborate
so i bought X1...X1 is everything i wanted in a phone..but it could do with many improvements.
some problems i have with x1:
1. Panels crash sometimes..very rarely..but when they do..i have to soft reset.
2. Camera is slow.
3. panels development not as fast as expected.
4. scrolling on windows mobile sux.
5. touch response....dont know if its windows mobile or hardwares fault...but it can be improved...iphone has a very good touch response.
i bought it after selling iphone 3g...was tired of iphone's on-screen keyboard....and the phone was jus too wide...holding it made my palms ache.
other than that..the features werent elaborate
so i bought X1...X1 is everything i wanted in a phone..but it could do with many improvements.
some problems i have with x1:
1. Panels crash sometimes..very rarely..but when they do..i have to soft reset.
2. Camera is slow.
3. panels development not as fast as expected.
4. scrolling on windows mobile sux.
5. touch response....dont know if its windows mobile or hardwares fault...but it can be improved...iphone has a very good touch response.
I only regret I have no Xperia. I bought one for my wife and she uses it greatly. I have no money currently to spend on another one. I'm stuck for 5+ years with my old trusted Nokia 6230 (not even 6230i) phone if you remember the one.
I know definitely my next phone will be some PPC with WinMo. Maybe X2...
i do regret buying the x1, because now i want something more powerful with more features, eye candy and sexier...but u know what? i am still yet to find the device.
i really want to replace my x1 but i cant see anything to replace it with, will never buy the iphone unless it comes with fm radio, camera light or flash, mp3 for ringtones and multitasking abilities...so im kinda stuck with my x1, lets hope the x2 is much sexier, or else i would be buying a future htc android device with sense ui
i have two problems with the x1 so far
1. the battery loses its paint when touched often
2. the battery life is worse than my p1i ...thing is that i did more on my p1i than i do on my x1
Not at all, I love it.
All phones have their faults, hell, I sold my E90 Communicator to get one of these.
I loved that phone too, but Nokia's support of it was abysmal (it took them over a year to release a firmware fix for the Bluetooth issue that they broke with a firmware release...) and it got to the point where it was becoming a pain to use.
With all technology, there will be problems, they are coded by humans don't forget
I'd rather have 'quirks' or little niggles that can be sorted with small apps or tweaks than to have a featureless brick any day of the week.
Plus, it gives me a chance to satisfy my *need* to play with the newest toys!
I love my Xperia.
I am sick of these threads.
I don't know why so many of you say that you regret buying it (even though one of you that said they regret it also said it was the best phone available).
If you are unsure about a product read more about it. If you regret buying an Xperia (especially since you are at XDA-dev) it's your own damn fault.
Hannigan174 said:
I love my Xperia.
I am sick of these threads.
I don't know why so many of you say that you regret buying it (even though one of you that said they regret it also said it was the best phone available).
If you are unsure about a product read more about it. If you regret buying an Xperia (especially since you are at XDA-dev) it's your own damn fault.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats so true.
It is just such a tiny little effort needed to put into the x1 to make it the most powerful phone of all.
Again I must stick to my phrase:
Regretting == Not being able to handle the X1

Sony Xperia X2 Review Published - phonearena.com

If I am reading this correctly, it was published today
http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/Sony-Ericsson-Xperia-X2-Review-review-r_2377.html
EDIT:
Just for comparative purposes here is their X1 review: http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/Sony-Ericsson-Xperia-X1-Review-review-r_2072.html
Camera is really better than, say HD2. Just see the indoor picture, the floor tiles definition is far better. Outside X2 seems quite nice, better, but not as much (although one is taken in summer other in winter). But then it is sluggish taking pictures... Videos seem better defined as well.
It is a pity the performance is so uneven and that SE never finalizes its ROM. So, other functions seem to lag, and development, updates seem very unreliable. Really considered X2, but I'm about to head to HD2 (despite photo's quality, but, well, much better than my Kaiser)...
mbernstein said:
Camera is really better than, say HD2. Just see the indoor picture, the floor tiles definition is far better. Outside X2 seems quite nice, better, but not as much (although one is taken in summer other in winter). But then it is sluggish taking pictures... Videos seem better defined as well.
It is a pity the performance is so uneven and that SE never finalizes its ROM. So, other functions seem to lag, and development, updates seem very unreliable. Really considered X2, but I'm about to head to HD2 (despite photo's quality, but, well, much better than my Kaiser)...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah - my contract ends soon and i am definatley going for the HD2 - the x just looks so sluggish and i cant be bothered with a phone like that again
comeradealexi said:
Yeah - my contract ends soon and i am definatley going for the HD2 - the x just looks so sluggish and i cant be bothered with a phone like that again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me too. HD2 or LG Expo perhaps next, unless I jump to Android for the top notch Motorola cameras (really don't want to, but...)
The Xperia X2 looks nice, but I won't be going that route. It may sound weird, but as it is not made by HTC I will pass on it. Although the build quality may be questionable with the X1, I am very happy with my X1 and my previous HTC Prophet.
I will be probably jumping to the Telstra HD2 (I am also thinking iPhone or Android as well) however I won't be making my final judgement until the following:
(1) HSPL is able to be applied to the Telstra HD2 so that I can flash it with a generic ROM (I think you need HSPL to do so eh?)
(2) What is announced in February by Microsoft
(3) What Apple announces in June about a new iPhone (if any)
(4) Voice command (dialing) on both the Android and iPhone systems are equal to that of Microsoft Voice Command...great piece of software.
In the mean time, I love my X1i and I have no problems with it. The only thing I am looking to do is to get a NEW Xperia X1a so that I can use the 850 MHz 3G band...only eBay has them, but it's all good (maybe I might be able to get it crazy cheap!!)
Another review, very similar results:
http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_ericsson_xperia_x2-review-443.php
Let me quote my post from Esato:
"There's a significant difference - sometimes at least - between
user experience and reviews experience.
Reviews are needed but sometimes reality is different plus
the device usually gets updated/improved yet the review stays as it was....
I also read so many good reviews of devices which
turned out to be bad in every day usage.
Also, decisive factor is always user preferences...
X2 solves most of my needs,
We will see if X2 will get any optimising updates.
It's well manufactured and makes great photos what I really like,
plus - observe - they say that all the WM strenghts are there.
In the end I rather need a business than multimedia device,
I mean music is my core but I never watch films...
I also don't think WM 6.5 is much more resources hungry than 6.1.
Yet they just claim it's a bad processor responsible for lags - on what base?!
I have X1 on the same hardware and Flash Lite works fine until the buggy Opera 9.5 crashes,
but videos work fine and content too.
Just an example...
I learned my lesson - as MANY users were complaining how bad X1 was out of the box,
I'm still surprised that my X1 works 13 months now without single update nor tweak
and huge amount of installed software inside.
Flawlessly, fine.
We'll see, I will get it in Feb and see how it goes.
Truly, nothing else is interesting enough - for me - to switch my interest...."
Last paragraph from the GSMArena review:
"We can understand the predicament Sony Ericsson were in.
The original XPERIA X1 is not a device to give up on just like this.
But at some point they realized they needed to bring out an update before it was too late.
And as it was becoming obvious WinMo7 was going to take too long,
they decided to proceed with the XPERIA X2 as we know it."
The company is really relying on X10 now -> Android...
I think what they should do is to have a better sense of CONTINUITY...
Very good points. But reviews are good in the sense that these people who have access to many phones. They can compare performance etc. People like me who have to buy in the dark and can not return phone (in Brazil the phones are too expansive and get here 1 year later if they ever get here, so I buy my phones in trips to the US), need the more comments they can get. Another important point is, they take pictures in similar places and similar conditions so you can compare better photos performance. In this case the X2 performs very well.
I have a Kaiser and would be OK with some lag, etc. I rarely watch videos on my PPC (although with a screen the size of the HD2 it could change a little), so X2 could be fine with that. Other areas will be similar or slightly better than my Kaiser. But then, I bought my Kaiser more than 2 years ago. Do I still want (deserve ) to get these lags??
But now, my main concern is that support and development from SE seems to be soooo erratic for the X2. These delays and never officially released... They can't even update their UK page! It is still "expected Jan 10". From what I saw, WM 6.5.3 seems to be a real good update. Will they give it to us? Too many questions, too much confusion... And this not a 300 bucks machine. If it were I would just buy it and see, but it is not. Thus I'm less and less excited by it, despite its many attractives: hardware keyboard, good camera, size (screen could be a little larger, but it is good as it is), some hardware keys... Pity (for me, of course).
mbernstein said:
Very good points. But reviews are good in the sense that these people who have access to many phones. They can compare performance etc. People like me who have to buy in the dark and can not return phone (in Brazil the phones are too expansive and get here 1 year later if they ever get here, so I buy my phones in trips to the US), need the more comments they can get. Another important point is, they take pictures in similar places and similar conditions so you can compare better photos performance. In this case the X2 performs very well.
I have a Kaiser and would be OK with some lag, etc. I rarely watch videos on my PPC (although with a screen the size of the HD2 it could change a little), so X2 could be fine with that. Other areas will be similar or slightly better than my Kaiser. But then, I bought my Kaiser more than 2 years ago. Do I still want (deserve ) to get these lags??
But now, my main concern is that support and development from SE seems to be soooo erratic for the X2. These delays and never officially released... They can't even update their UK page! It is still "expected Jan 10". From what I saw, WM 6.5.3 seems to be a real good update. Will they give it to us? Too many questions, too much confusion... And this not a 300 bucks machine. If it were I would just buy it and see, but it is not. Thus I'm less and less excited by it, despite its many attractives: hardware keyboard, good camera, size (screen could be a little larger, but it is good as it is), some hardware keys... Pity (for me, of course).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mb'
If I were you, I'd seriously think about getting an X1 and saving $400. All-in-all, X1 is a very solid phone. The camera is actually excellent except for low-light indoor conditions, something I don't think the X2 fixes. I flashed williyung's WM 6.5.3 and it's very nice - just like a new WM phone. The lags aren't bad at all. I've had a few repair issues but I guess most phones have that? Otherwise, if you are going to spend $800, get an HD2 or maybe hold out for a phone upgradeable to WM7. When it comes out, bet many of us will be anxious to get it!
Just my random 2 cents!
Hey, thanks. Yeah, I'm 90% going on the route of the HD2. Just coming to terms of lack of HD Keyboard and a little too big size, but...
I actually think the X1 is pretty much the same for me comparing to my Kaiser, just a little bit better in few things. I would keep my good old Kaiser. I think its screen too small, kind of too flashy looking, and I never had any problem whatsoever with my Kaiser and many people report these built problems with the X1... Not for me, but thanks for the tip anyway. Appreciated.
The ONLY alternative I've seen around I'd think of
is HTC Trophy.
HD2 is a very powerful machine.
So sad it's disqualified for me
with so many lacks.
doministry said:
The ONLY alternative I've seen around I'd think of
is HTC Trophy.
HD2 is a very powerful machine.
So sad it's disqualified for me
with so many lacks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, lack of HW keyboard, resistive screen, and stylus are hard for me to get past. I think I could get used to them, but might be better to wait.
ring-bearer said:
Yeah, lack of HW keyboard, resistive screen, and stylus are hard for me to get past. I think I could get used to them, but might be better to wait.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would definitely wait.
I mean the capact. screen and lack of keyboard would drive me nuts.
Even if the screen is gorgeous and processor powerful...
doministry said:
The ONLY alternative I've seen around I'd think of
is HTC Trophy.
HD2 is a very powerful machine.
So sad it's disqualified for me
with so many lacks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Man that's a nice device...however HTC is starting to piss me off (although I still love them)
Why can't they make phones like the Kaiser when it comes down to the 3G bands...it's usually 900/2100 and then some variants depending on network request.
What I am looking for is 3G 850/1900/2100, or even 900/1900/2100 (1700 right now, for me that is, is not a priority). Very few HTC devices have it, oh well. Anyways, I am very happy with my X1
doministry said:
The ONLY alternative I've seen around I'd think of
is HTC Trophy.
HD2 is a very powerful machine.
So sad it's disqualified for me
with so many lacks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Won't the Trophy have a capacitative screen? Otherwise, looks great. Always wondered why no one makes a candybar with a really big screen!
But don't you have to think that HTC will put out a WM7 touch pro3? That would be the one to wait for.
ring-bearer said:
Won't the Trophy have a capacitative screen? Otherwise, looks great. Always wondered why no one makes a candybar with a really big screen!
But don't you have to think that HTC will put out a WM7 touch pro3? That would be the one to wait for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be honest I really eagerly wait for WM7!
And - hope SE would make a device with it....
Trophy would be nice.
Capactive is crap but it has also trackball so no bad...
But to be honest - I still think of X2.
Well, I was hesitant like all of you, but in the end got X2 the first day available (about two weeks ago) in our country. It's not such an improvement over X1, but in my opinion it's currently the best device with WM and QWERTY. Only that processor is quite a flaw. However, it's not just bigger screen, much better QWERTY, TV-OUT and all the other known stuff, but also probably the best volume rocker and camera shutter I ever had on a mobile device. Making sharp pictures with X2 is much easier than with X1. I might also mention the battery cover, whose opening is not a problem now.
On the whole, X2 removed all the small shortcomings, which you normally ignore, but when using X1 every day they really become a nuisance. I'm very satisfied, but X2's ROM is still quite slow even though not much buggy, so I'm impatiently awaiting an update. Yeah, not to forget, what sucks the most is the absence of Mass Storage mode for USB to PC, hope new ROM will have this feature...
Waco2 said:
Well, I was hesitant like all of you, but in the end got X2 the first day available (about two weeks ago) in our country. It's not such an improvement over X1, but in my opinion it's currently the best device with WM and QWERTY. Only that processor is quite a flaw. However, it's not just bigger screen, much better QWERTY, TV-OUT and all the other known stuff, but also probably the best volume rocker and camera shutter I ever had on a mobile device. Making sharp pictures with X2 is much easier than with X1. I might also mention the battery cover, whose opening is not a problem now.
On the whole, X2 removed all the small shortcomings, which you normally ignore, but when using X1 every day they really become a nuisance. I'm very satisfied, but X2's ROM is still quite slow even though not much buggy, so I'm impatiently awaiting an update. Yeah, not to forget, what sucks the most is the absence of Mass Storage mode for USB to PC, hope new ROM will have this feature...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Absence of Mass storage is a bummer
but than why on one of the reviews - GSMArena or Phonearena
they say it's there?!
the mass storage is a bit annoying. but i installed the active sync program and it can all be accessed from there without too much fuss. i turned off all the automatic sync functions so now it operates very similar to the X1 usb to pc. just click on "explore phone" and click on memory card and thats it. so maybe thats what they used in the reviews.
anothadave said:
the mass storage is a bit annoying. but i installed the active sync program and it can all be accessed from there without too much fuss. i turned off all the automatic sync functions so now it operates very similar to the X1 usb to pc. just click on "explore phone" and click on memory card and thats it. so maybe thats what they used in the reviews.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like no problem really.
However one of them precisely mentioned both ActiveSync and MassStorage...

Leo - To buy or not to buy - what you guys think?

OK - so aside from bias/ability to afford/shipping/tax/price or other logistical factor - can we have a show of hands as to who has already bought a HD2 and has something to say - particularly what about the device makes you happy, what makes you sad?
Let's try keep it away from supplier/delivery issues or local network/band/signal issues - just pure usability/hardware/software.
Personally after trying one out in a store last week I finally received the experience I feel you want when moving to a PDA from a smart phone. What does our community think after using it for a while?
noofny said:
OK - so aside from bias/ability to afford/shipping/tax/price or other logistical factor - can we have a show of hands as to who has already bought a HD2 and has something to say - particularly what about the device makes you happy, what makes you sad?
Let's try keep it away from supplier/delivery issues or local network/band/signal issues - just pure usability/hardware/software.
Personally after trying one out in a store last week I finally received the experience I feel you want when moving to a PDA from a smart phone. What does our community think after using it for a while?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
too subjective a question....for every person on here that says get it, there will be one that says don't get it.
the final decision must be yours....nobody here can make your decision for you. Make a list of the important things for you in a phone, then find the phone that matches those needs the best.
for example, I think the iphone has a much nicer interface, more apps, better screen (touch interface, not size or clarity), but for me it just doesn't handle business functions very well and that made me choose the HD2 since this was my primary need.
if you do the same process you might find the ideal phone for you
I got mine on Sunday just gone, was an upgrade from a Diamond. I loved my diamond, but as soon as I had setup my HD2 with contacts and apps etc I was loving this even more. Each time I use it I find something new, like facebook linking, then seeing in a contact card all communications with that person.
I'm yet to use the footprints, but look forward to trying it out.
The main thing for me was the screen size, I always had problems with the tiny diamond screen, but this is so crisp, easier to use and much easier to keyboard with.
Also the damn speed of the device is amazing, so fast, the OS loads so quick. I soft resetted it and put it down to expect a few minutes wait like on the diamond, but was rebooted so quick!
The one thing I would love to see is a facebook tab, like the twitter tab, shame they didn't implement that!
The specs that come with this phone are truely awesome, and that was the overall selling point for me, as I knew how good HTC phones were I just had to have something with the specs that this phone comes with.
twisted-pixel - good point about the subjectiveness. I suppose what I'm fishing for here are peoples post-usage horror/love stories - moreso with regard to hardware and usability. It's a nice big screen but it's also a nice big slab of tech - how do you find the size, whats the battery life like, do you notice anything bad about the capacitive screen, how often (if ever) do you feel the need for a stylus and say 'doh', does the headphone port become dodgy after use - or the micro usb port? I suppose because of this community we all have flexibility and solutions around software, so I meant to make this more hardware related I guess.
noofny said:
twisted-pixel - good point about the subjectiveness. I suppose what I'm fishing for here are peoples post-usage horror/love stories - moreso with regard to hardware and usability. It's a nice big screen but it's also a nice big slab of tech - how do you find the size, whats the battery life like, do you notice anything bad about the capacitive screen, how often (if ever) do you feel the need for a stylus and say 'doh', does the headphone port become dodgy after use - or the micro usb port? I suppose because of this community we all have flexibility and solutions around software, so I meant to make this more hardware related I guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I admit to loving the phone...with one exception...the sensitivity of the screen is a complete disaster for me. it's very difficult to type on, someones it responds to the slightest touch, other times it doesn't. accuracy is also an issue (that was to be expected on a screen with high resolution I suppose)
and yes, I've tried all the tweaks going before anyone suggests it (currently running v3.3 of the tweak with sensitivity on)
I think if I had come straight from my HD then I would have been impressed, but I come from an iphone where the screen was a delight to use.
however, the rest of the phone makes up for that small failing.
noofny said:
twisted-pixel - good point about the subjectiveness. I suppose what I'm fishing for here are peoples post-usage horror/love stories - moreso with regard to hardware and usability. It's a nice big screen but it's also a nice big slab of tech - how do you find the size, whats the battery life like, do you notice anything bad about the capacitive screen, how often (if ever) do you feel the need for a stylus and say 'doh', does the headphone port become dodgy after use - or the micro usb port? I suppose because of this community we all have flexibility and solutions around software, so I meant to make this more hardware related I guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, you will find more people venting than praising any device on this forum, as people only seek help when they have problems.
I must admit, I personally think it is the best device I have ever used.
For a quick overview from me (in comparison to the X1, but most comments are applicable):
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=5667230&postcount=6
I stumbled on this video on youtube;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-3Bi-Eg2gQ
...and love his brutal (albeit bias and sometimes naive) honesty, it helps you make a decision because it's not a rant. So far you guys are proving some intelligent feedback also - so thank you and let's keep it coming!
I got the HD2 the day it was available in my country (one of the first in europe) and despite all the fixes and xda-dev recommendations i couldn't have it for more then 1 weekend. I sold it on monday morning.
I hated typing (i did try the keyboard cab which should lower the sensitivity), loading sms with some exchanged texts already (loading was awful for such powerful device), visibility outside was horrible, battery,..
Maybe my rant will be understanded better if i mention i'm a blackberry user that likes to try out new "hot phones" (no matter which brand or type of usage).
I've also tried the Nexus One and would say i liked it a tiny bit better then HD2, but still couldn't have it for more then a week.
So, why am i writing this.. After MWC last week, i've kind of wanted to give HD2 another shot. For the following reasons..
I've came across some nice taskbar buttons (which make it look so much better..), I saw there is a fix for sms loading time, i guess i could always install a different keyboard,.. and most imortantly i got a very nice (cheap) offer for a brand new HD2. Yesterday i even ordered a nice case (didn't like the one that comes in the box) and a screenprotector (which might reduce the fingerprints, which i hated so much and a visibility outside,.. hope i'm not too optimistic).
If i somehow manage to be happy with HD2, i might even go for the exnteded battery. And i'm kind of feeling the hype for WinMo7 rom for this device.. Don't know if it will be any better or worse, i just know there is some excitement about it
Hope my rant / "long mess" didn't bore you too much
+1 to buy with eyes closed.
OK, this will be quick because I'm supposed to be doing something else right now but anyway...
I've just sent my HD2 back because of a problem with the microphone so if anyone should be telling you to think of other alternatives - it should be me.
But I can't because I love the phone. It's fast, responsive, it's got most of the features that you could ever want (minus USB host), the screen is gorgeous and the interface is pretty damn usable.
It's not perfect however... Customising it is more trouble than it should be. There is a slight pink hue in the middle of the camera when the contrast and saturation are turned up high enough to make the colours look half lifelike and when the screen is completely white, at certain angles you can see the grid dots that make the screen's matrix.
So to resume, if you don't mind spending some time on it and you're not completely obsessive about things being absolutely perfect (I am and I can still get to sleep at night) then you should be very happy with an HD2.
NeoGreendawg said:
There is a slight pink hue in the middle of the camera when the contrast and saturation are turned up high enough to make the colours look half lifelike and when the screen is completely white, at certain angles you can see the grid dots that make the screen's matrix.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The pink hue is solved with an update from HTC (here)
The dots are also visible on an iPhone, its down to the technology, not the device alone.
rp-x1 said:
The pink hue is solved with an update from HTC (here)
The dots are also visible on an iPhone, its down to the technology, not the device alone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I'm sorry but the HTC hotfix did slightly improve the issue but it certainly didn't resolve it in my case. I love the phone believe me but I somehow doubt that anyone who isn't employed by HTC or affected by Daltonism could honestly claim that it has completely solved the issue.
Edit : Not trying to be rude or make out that it's a deal-breaker but I know that as a potential buyer I'd want to know about it.
I've had the HD2 for three weeks and use it every day. I also end up resetting it every day. I've come from a Nokia N96 and before that the N73, so I'm comparing it to the N96. I am very pleased with the speed of the phone and how operations take way less than a second to perform, instead of several seconds a la N96.
The phone itself is a bit too big. Perhaps a 4 inch screen would have been enough. Even though I have big hands, it's just too big to walk around and hold the phone with one hand. I'm scared of dropping it. The headphone port's on the bottom of the phone - it causes the cable to tangle up around the phone when in a pocket.
I have found plenty of bugs in the stock O2 1.43 firmware and know how to deal with the main ones.
I didn't realise the phone had an FM tuner until I found it after a few days on the Start menu - I used the N96 FM tuner almost every day. Unfortunately the tuner on the HD2 is really poor. It is unable to obtain a good quality signal. Sound dips out. There's an awful lot of interference in places where the N96 would have relayed a good quality signal. In places where the N96 got a poor signal, the HD2 has static. BBC Radio 1 has the most powerful signal in my area, yet the HD2 fails to get consistent reception. There's just too much interference and I often just shut the radio off. A huge let down; I wonder if it's hardware or software at fault.
The N96 music player was very well featured, but incredibly (pathetically) slow. In contrast, the HTC Music app has no such delays, is very fast but somewhat basic in comparison. A lot of cool N96 features are missing; there's no way to call up the keyboard to locate tracks, track details can't be edited, tracks can't be deleted, backing out of an album takes you to the top of the album list and not to where you were. There's no hardware buttons to change tracks when the phone's in a pocket (a swipe up/down on the lock screen to change tracks would be nice). Volume control has too few stages so is either too loud or too quiet; volume within the Music tab has more stages but doesn't always work (error in Services.exe). General audio quality is rather poor - even the iPod classic 5G sounds better! Occasional unexplained sound dips and audio which lacks in bass and treble. The oddest thing is the shuffle feature tends to replay swathes of tracks that have already been played.
Video playback is very impressive because of the screen size. Can't fathom why the Windows Mobile OS cannot play WMV. Get quite a few dropped frames and put that down to the poor quality 1.43 ROM and perhaps not-fully-developed decoders. Video viewing in general is very nice, although an afterthought within HTC Sense, as the video playback has essentially just been tacked on to HTC's photo viewing app.
I do like the phone, it is good enough to stop me wanting to go back to my last phone. I'd get one, but the HD2's not quite the tech lover's wet dream that some of the big review sites make it out to be. Having bought it from the O2 network, I'll seriously doubt I'll ever be able to officially upgrade the firmware (HTC isn't even listed on their software upgrade pages), so I'll have to learn alternative methods one of these days to see if I can iron out some of the bugs!
Wish they would just whack a snapdragon and capacitive screen in a HD and re-release it....think that would satisfy a lotta folks. Cheers all for your input, it's really helping me to set realistic expectations.
I was contemplating on whether I should buy a Nexus One instead of the HD2, but I decided to go for the HD2 instead because it was cheaper, had a nice screen resolution, specifications don't differ much between both devices, and i'm looking forward to the Windows 7 release on the HD2
i am currently contemplating to switch from HD to HD2....is it worth it?
Buy it!
I come from the HD. The HD2 is what the HD should have been from the first instance.
Fantastic:
- speed (and I am using a stock French Orange ROM based on 1.43!)
- screen
- usability
As far as precision is concerned: I need a phone to check and type (even long) emails, and read documents. XT9 works just great, but even in ABC mode in landscape the accuracy is pretty good (and I type fast!).
If you need to play around with programs using stylus-based input, yes, then it gets really annoying (try to edit your registry in Total Commander and you'll get crazy).
In summary: if you want to tweak it like crazy all the time or intensively use older programs with small menus, then consider buying an alternative with a resistive screen and a stylus. But if you actually want to USE your phone with the standard applications, just buy it and you'll get the best of the market today imo!
to buy or not
i have it for a month after the trinity.
sorry but it hasnot voice call
no handwriting recognition
battery ends quickley
no video call
no .chm file reader
all of these were on the trinity.
so i am sorry buing it
Mastoid said:
I was contemplating on whether I should buy a Nexus One instead of the HD2, but I decided to go for the HD2 instead because it was cheaper, had a nice screen resolution, specifications don't differ much between both devices, and i'm looking forward to the Windows 7 release on the HD2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope you do realize that there may eventually never be a WP7 release for the HD2?
rottttman said:
i have it for a month after the trinity.
sorry but it hasnot voice call
no handwriting recognition
battery ends quickley
no video call
no .chm file reader
all of these were on the trinity.
so i am sorry buing it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U'd better search for infos about the phone after buying it

Why I am happy with my Xperia

After having read one too many "I hate my Xperia and wish I had an iPhone" thread I thought I'd make a thread for people to remember why they bought an Xperia.
Does it have it's issues? Absolutely, but it makes up for it (for me at least) in many other ways.
I originally bought the Xperia X1a because it was the ONLY 3G capable WVGA device available for AT&T bands (850Mhz and 1900Mhz). It has a nice feeling keyboard, it has a beautiful display, and it has a very nice hand-feel. Even when I pick it up now it just feels so good in the hand. In fact I haven't had one that felt so good to hold since my old SE W810i. I had the Hermes and Kaiser and both were clunky and unenjoyable to hold.
The Xperia keyboard has a very pleasant keyboard. Its clicks are well defined and the arc slider's spring assist makes it a real joy to slide out. Also my battery life has been superb. Even running 24/7 Push E-mail and a separate IMAP account I still get over 48 hours of power.
Also it came with SPB Mobile Shell for FREE. SPB is, arguably the best Windows Mobile Shell available and it was a sheer joy to use, and while the default SE Panels were rather unimpressive I love that I can switch from Titanium/Sense, to SPB, to PointUI, as well as the absolutely gorgeous Growing Panel with just two presses.
While the processor is unimpressive it has been consistently able to run AVC Video at WVGA resolutions (some ROMs worked better than others, actually).
Sony also added a pretty good Xt9 SIP keyboard (I prefer TouchPal anyway) and with custom ROMS bringing Titanium and Sense to my Xperia I wonder why I would get anything else.
Pros:
1) Very High Res screen (More than double the lowly iPhone)
2) Latest UIs (I got SPB MS 3 from Korean site )
3) Great hand-feel
4) Great 3G performance (if you are on U.S. AT&T Xperia X1a is the best, for now)
5) Long Battery life
For those of you who might say I am glossing over some of the downsides, well sure, but this is a why I am HAPPY with my Xperia thread. (I have found most of the complaints to either be largely due to user error, or what I would call "making mountains out of molehills", but that's just my opinion).
Anyone else feel like their much maligned X1 has been getting unfair treatment feel free to offer some positive feedback for the device that, hopefully, we all still love.
P.S. - I got this idea from flamingsamurai
I am loving this phone right now.
*Opera mini feels as fast as my LEO and 3gs.
*The ability to use panels is a good point too.
*HTC Kaiser and TP2 were nice but chunky phones for me (bricks).
*The screen is just about as wide as the iphones and the device is much smaller.
*The hardware keys come in really handy. The optical sensor is good for menus.
*The keyboard is nice with good width for keys.
*Its a beautifully constructed metallic device.
* I am using vakleryire firestorm leo with htc sense activated in the home menu and it feels like a compact leo.
*No accelerometer but I use left softkey remapped to rotate screen.
* Android and Ubuntu are in deep progress as far as I can see (3 OS in one!).
Many more too.
Swap with 1ghz, increased ram/rom and the 0.2 inch for the screen and you have one of the best devices out there!
I like my X1 because it actually 'feels' like a communication device rather than an MP3 player with a call function. I honestly think the iphone looks and feels really dopey. I also have to agree that it feels great in the hands too. The way the keyboard springs open is just incredibly badass. The weight and the metal fascia just feel so classy. The panels are fun to change up every now and then, and I think it's just cool to have windows on such a tiny device. I thought my itouch felt like I had a little computer on me at all times, but the X1 is even more so. I feel a lot more organized on the X1 than I think I would with an iphone.
I had a hard time choosing between the X1 and iphone, but in the end, I couldn't justify paying the same price for a device (3G) with far less inferior hardware specs than the X1 just because of what it is. I generally hate apple products and didn't want to give in to their supremacy by getting and iphone. Sure apple's touchscreen is awesome, but I didn't feel I needed it for a phone; that's where my itouch comes in.
I found that apple's accelerometer annoying sometimes when I'm using it in weird angles, i.e. lying down in bed. I think I'm just glad to know that my X1 would be vastly superior in outer space than an iphone. You know, space-proof, just in case.
In the end I'm glad I made my decision to get the X1 and keep my itouch for my apple needs, rather than combining everything into one device. I'll use my itouch for video, music, and games; my X1 strictly for communication and productivity.
I actually love my X1 and think that it was the best phone I could get. After learning about the potential physical short comings, I'm going to do my best to baby this phone to make it live forever. If she dies, I'll revive her.
Sony eirccson is a pretty cool guy. eh is better than teh ifone and doesn't afraid of anything...
A message to the OP; when did you purchase your X1? Was it brand new. refurbished, or used?
Anyways, if the device was increased to the scale of having a 3.5 inch screen, I would definitely have kept my device.
Absolutely agree with everything said, especially about the X1 being space proof =D
Also people complain about WM, and I have no problem with it, its perfectly logical, and if you use a rom which you like, then it runs fine. Someday you'll be able to jump ship to android. Anyways I'll always love it, its fun to fiddle around with, rather than be a boring symbian phone, where you have no control.
And wheres the fun in having a phone everyone has?
Great thread Hannigan
I wouldn't call the phone cracking by itself user error. It's true, the phone does have good points, but it doesn't get the basics down.
If I have to keep the phone in a safe vault for it to not crack, what use is it?
I like the optical sensor and having the ability to choose between the optical sensor and physical clicks for directional input. However, I hate the feel of the keyboard.
Finally a thread where people actually enjoy the phone
What I like about the X1:
The Professional look and feel of the phone
Screen size and HD Res.
Modding capabilities and Hacks and the Different UI's you can put on it.
Camera front and Back and video recording
Optical mouse pad
Keyboard
Speed of phone, yes thats right I said Speed.
Wifi
GPS
HD games/PS1, sigh....... I miss Call of Duty 2 but I just couldn't go back to Sh!ty 6.1
And most of all The fact that their very little people that have heard of or seen this phone where i live. Actually I'm the only that owns one I don't know anybody with this phone in Auburn,NY .
@Rydock I'm glad to see your enjoying your X1 so far.
I'm still getting use to my X2 (just got it this week) but over all the more I get use to it the more I love it.
Single greatest reason why I love my X2 is .... Keyboard! =) (I hate typing on my ipod touch, nor do my fingers allow for a smooth scroll on the screen).
My only hope is the 2 up and coming firmwares fixes the little minor issues I have.
poetryrocksalot said:
A message to the OP; when did you purchase your X1? Was it brand new. refurbished, or used?
Anyways, if the device was increased to the scale of having a 3.5 inch screen, I would definitely have kept my device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought mine new on eBay from an Australian retailer selling a Telstra NextG model (it comes unlocked). Only U.S. sources I could find had significantly higher prices for the X1a. I received it in February or so I think? About 1 year old.
Why do you ask about age and status? I presume you had one and are on U.S. AT&T. Were you curious since it is so rare in U.S.?
P.S. - I would prefer a bigger, flush screen. Then again it is still the largest screened phone I have ever had. And for me the physical keyboard is a huge benefit (Had Hermes and Kaiser before so I like them side sliders).
My X1 is still my favourite phone, the modding capabilities are what does it for me.
I like the fact it's my phone, I've customised it to how I want it to work, I can't do that to any other phone I've owned.
The screen is great, it runs smoothly, i can get push email from multiple accounts no problem, I sync my contacts and calendar, vide oplayback is generally good, ther are a few files that is has problems with, but that's pretty rare.
Sound quality is great, shame abut the speaker, but I generally have it on silent and use a bluetooth headset or headphones.
It looks great, the build is solid, it's been dropped countless times now, ther are a few dents, cracks and scratches, but I expect that after the battering it's had over the last months!
I love having a QWERTY, but I wish it was more friendly for single hand use.
I've found myself using titanium over any panels, and things like the wifi router abilities, even torrents, mean i can do anything I want on it.
The X2 with a 1GHz processor would probably be my ideal phone! Just wish that looked more like the X1.
I'm happy to see that there are at least a few of us who are more than satisfied with the Xperia
It's always good to hear some positivity for a change. Thanks for the input, to all of you.
It's been a year since I last used my Xperia regularly. I would like to use it more, because I really enjoy the QWERTY keyboard (it has four rows and a dedicated @ button, etc) and it's a very versatile device. There are some great ROMs out for it now as well: Sense 2.5, Windows Mobile 6.5.3, X2 and what not.
But what keeps me from going back to it is the Xperia's tiny screen, in combination with the high resolution. WVGA is mainly used on 4, 3.7 and 3.5 inch displays, and not on merely 3 inches. In fact, is there even another 3" WVGA device in the world? It looks great, sure, but everything is so petite that it hurts my eyes
I think such a small display also puts a lid on the overall user experience. If the Xperia had a 3.5" display, or even 3.2", I would have used it *a lot* more. Because as pointed out in this thread, it does have plenty of strengths.
Hi all,
in fact I just BOUGHT an X1 afresh!
I'm using an HTC Touch HD with customized ROM as my primary device, and still think that's the best setup for me. The only things that bugged me were the width and the absolute lack of any tactile experience.
So I shopped around ...
In fact I actually ordered a Motorola Milestone: I wanted to see if I liked Android, the reviews are enthusiastic, and it has a hardware keyboard.
Guess what: I sent it back the day it was delivered. (but that's another story)
And so I went back to Windows Mobile.
My new X1 (and in fact it is brand new) has everything that I was looking for. It sits well in your hand, and I mean as a phone it feels just right. I'm quite happy with the keyboard, and I love the rich feel of the slider. And finally: Hardware buttons hooray!
Other than that it's got pretty much everything my Touch HD has, minus the G-sensor (and I can live with that).
So I use the HD for business (because it's lightweight and discreet to carry in a jacket) and for navigation (big screen!) and the X1 for leisure. Btw, the media panel is just amazing in terms of audio output!
All in all I've fully returned to WM thanks to the X1, and I don't see myself migrating to Android, WebOS, iPhone or Symbian any time soon. Windows Phone 7 Series (or whatever it's called) is downright scary in its restrictions, so I'm glad that 6.x will still be around for power users like us.
Bliss.
N.

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