T-Mobile MDA Vario review
(this device goes by many names. It is known as the HTC Wizard, Qtek 9100, i-mate K-JAM, O2 XDA mini S and T-Mobile MDA Vario)
The MDA Vario is a PocketPC Windows Mobile 5 Smartphone. It is a PocketPC device first: i.e. it has a touch-screen and no physical number keypad. It runs the Windows Mobile 5 operating system.
The Windows Mobile platform has come a long way since Windows Mobile 2003 and Pocket PC 2002. It is light years ahead of ailing Palm OS and a good length ahead of the Symbian/UIQ/Series-60 platforms. (Note: Symbian devices are primarily phones, with some “smarts” tagged on, while Windows Mobile devices are primarily PDAs with the added extra of a phone, while Palm is practically dead, but a simple, low-tech PDA)
WM5 does have some problems. For one, it crashes a bit too often. It’s easy enough to reset the device (takes about 80 seconds) and no data is lost, but it still is annoying when one’s mobile phone crashes.
It is also resource intensive and requires a powerful CPU. However, powerful CPUs drain batteries more quickly. The MDA Vario has a 200 Mhz processor in it: just barely powerful enough. Still, it can multi-task quite well. I can, for example listen to an MP3 while writing an email, but the music stutters when I try to download something from the web. However, basic functions work very well.
Here are the things I use the Vario for:
Listening to MP3s: the Vario has quite good built-in stereo speakers, so play MP3 lectures all throughout the morning. I get about one to two hours of listening in each day while I’m cooking, eating breakfast, etc.
RSS aggregator for automatically downloading podcasts: I switch on the WiFi on the Vario and it automatically downloads podcasts I subscribe to for future reading/listening. The Egress software is by far the best podcatcher software I’ve found for the device.
Watching videos: I download and watch interesting 5-minute photo critique videos from via RSS-feed from a website called radiant vista.
Voice recorder with AGC: I can use the voice record to record lectures. It has automatic gain control, so the volume adjusts automatically.
Checking email: email reader in my pocket for anywhere where there is Wi-Fi.
TODO list: one central TODO list that I can keep up to date and synchronized with various computers (both Mac and PC), as necessary.
Notes: compact notepad to record thought, questions and ideas. I also plan to use it to type out summaries of lectures I attend or listen to.
Calendar: I tend to forget about meetings and appointments, so this keeps track of them for me.
Address book: stores contact details of everyone I know (and their pictures, too).
Mobile phone: makes phones calls with a somewhat clumsy, but good enough interface.
Camera: a 1.3 mega-pixel digital camera takes some mediocre quality pictures. Better than nothing, but nothing to write home about.
Features:
Keyboard: the integrated QWERTY keyboard is great. I can use it write emails, notes and text messages. It slides out from under the screen (which automatically rotates to landscape mode). This means the keyboard is a big as possible; it takes full advantage of the size of the device. In contrast: the Palm Treo 650/700w and Blackberry keyboards are fixed under the screen, thereby necessitating both a reduction in screen size and keyboard width.
Screen: Very bright touchscreen with 65K colors (240 x 320 pixels). It can display 14 TODO list items at once (most normal mobile phones can only show 4 lines).
miniSD card slot: memory cards can be used with the device. I purchased a 2 GB mini-SD card for 80 pounds from MobyMemory. That’s enough to hold a whole lot of data and lectures (holds 500 songs or 100 hours of lectures). So: no need for an (overpriced) iPod. The iPod does not even have speakers, let alone any of the other features of this phone and is roughly the same size (although it is a lot tinner).
Stereo speakers: good sound for something this small with so much other stuff built-in. I can clearly hear the Vario from the other side of the room while cooking.
Battery life: very good (1250 mAh Lithium-Polymer battery). I can use the external speakers for about 6 hours. 8 days of standby. Recharging a drained battery takes about two hours. Charges via USB.
Size and weight: good size. Dimensions: 108 x 58 x 23 mm. It is a bit thicker than I’d like (probably to accommodate the keyboard), but the overall dimensions fit nicely in my hand and pocket (look at the pictures). However, at 160g it is a tad heavy.
Connectivity: 802.11g Wifi (though Microsoft has decided that synchronization via Wifi is a security risk and disabled it in the latest version of ActiveSync), quad-band GSM, Bluetooth 2.0 (with a firmware upgrade), USB 2.0 (though file transfers speeds are more like USB 1.1 - I’m getting myself a memory card reader soon which will solve that problem)
Price: a 12-month contract (with 200 cross-network minutes included) from T-mobile got me the Vario for a grand total of 240 pounds paid over the year. That’s cheaper than just buying the device on its own, without a contract.
Other options I considered:
Sony Ericsson p990: UIQ 3.0 is due to be competitive with Windows Mobile 5. However, this device has been continuously delayed. Who knows when it will be released? Also, while its dimensions are very similar to the Vario’s, it feels a lot bigger due to its more square shape and bulky flip.
Nokia E70: good flip-over keyboard, excellent camera and super-high resolution screen, but no touchscreen and also fraught with delays: i.e. not yet available.
Palm Treo 650/700w: the only alternative that is actually available. These devices are more expensive than the Vario and have no WiFi built-in. The Treo screens (and keyboards) are also smaller than the Vario’s, both in size and resolution.
Blackberry devices and Motorola Q: thin, but no cameras and too tall and wide.
HTC Prophet / T-Mobile MDA Vario II: includes 3G, a video camera, faster 300 Mhz Samsung processor, improved 2-megapixel camera and jog-dial. However, it is first due for release in July and will likely cost an arm and a leg.
Summary:
A nice PDA smartphone with tons of features, good battery life and a very good price. However, an unstable operating system, middle-of-the road camera, lack of 3G, slightly underpowered processor and somewhat heavy weight keep it from being the perfect mobile device.
Check out the picture gallery for high-resolution images of the gadget.
April 29th, 2006 at 6:38 pm
[...] My new phone served me well. It enabled all the communication that allowed me to better serve my spiritual master throughout the day. I managed to chant 35 rounds throughout the day. Long car trips be thanked. [...]
May 21st, 2006 at 7:15 pm
I just bought a MDA Vario. I wondered if it is possible to get the software, for it to be synchronised with a MAC ? Thanks
June 22nd, 2006 at 9:38 am
T-Mobile UK has released a firmware update for the MDA Vario. It fixes lots of bugs.
July 25th, 2006 at 8:09 pm
[...] - - - I’m considering selling my MDA Vario, but must admit, would need some persuasion to do so! It is in full working condition, complete with instruction manuals, boxes, dummy storage card, spare stylus - plus there is a massive range of software available for free download online. Bluetooth® audio Bluetooth® data Colour screen Data compatible GPRS Games Includes digital camera Infra-red (IrDA) Instant email Java enabled Personal organiser Picture messaging (MMS) Polyphonic ringtones Predictive text Ringtones - downloadable Sync with PC Vibrating alert Video capture Video/audio player WAP One user http://www.deltaflow.com/?p=226], even goes so far as to list exactly what he does with the phone (grow up!), and how it compares with the competition: Listening to MP3s: the Vario has quite good built-in stereo speakers, so play MP3 lectures all throughout the morning. I get about one to two hours of listening in each day while I’m cooking, eating breakfast, etc. RSS aggregator for automatically downloading podcasts: I switch on the WiFi on the Vario and it automatically downloads podcasts I subscribe to for future reading/listening. The Egress software is by far the best podcatcher software I’ve found for the device. Watching videos: I download and watch interesting 5-minute photo critique videos from via RSS-feed from a website called radiant vista. Voice recorder with AGC: I can use the voice record to record lectures. It has automatic gain control, so the volume adjusts automatically. Checking email: email reader in my pocket for anywhere where there is Wi-Fi. TODO list: one central TODO list that I can keep up to date and synchronized with various computers (both Mac and PC), as necessary. Notes: compact notepad to record thought, questions and ideas. I also plan to use it to type out summaries of lectures I attend or listen to. Calendar: I tend to forget about meetings and appointments, so this keeps track of them for me. Address book: stores contact details of everyone I know (and their pictures, too). Mobile phone: makes phones calls with a somewhat clumsy, but good enough interface. Camera: a 1.3 mega-pixel digital camera takes some mediocre quality pictures. Better than nothing, but nothing to write home about. Features: Keyboard: the integrated QWERTY keyboard is great. I can use it write emails, notes and text messages. It slides out from under the screen (which automatically rotates to landscape mode). This means the keyboard is a big as possible; it takes full advantage of the size of the device. In contrast: the Palm Treo 650/700w and Blackberry keyboards are fixed under the screen, thereby necessitating both a reduction in screen size and keyboard width. Screen: Very bright touchscreen with 65K colors (240 x 320 pixels). It can display 14 TODO list items at once (most normal mobile phones can only show 4 lines). miniSD card slot: memory cards can be used with the device. I purchased a 2 GB mini-SD card for 80 pounds from MobyMemory. That’s enough to hold a whole lot of data and lectures (holds 500 songs or 100 hours of lectures). So: no need for an (overpriced) iPod. The iPod does not even have speakers, let alone any of the other features of this phone and is roughly the same size (although it is a lot tinner). Stereo speakers: good sound for something this small with so much other stuff built-in. I can clearly hear the Vario from the other side of the room while cooking. Battery life: very good (1250 mAh Lithium-Polymer battery). I can use the external speakers for about 6 hours. 8 days of standby. Recharging a drained battery takes about two hours. Charges via USB. Connectivity: 802.11g Wifi (though Microsoft has decided that synchronization via Wifi is a security risk and disabled it in the latest version of ActiveSync), quad-band GSM, Bluetooth 2.0 (with a firmware upgrade), USB 2.0 Other options I considered: Palm Treo 650/700w: the only alternative that is actually available. These devices are more expensive than the Vario and have no WiFi built-in. The Treo screens (and keyboards) are also smaller than the Vario’s, both in size and resolution. Blackberry devices and Motorola Q: thin, but no cameras and too tall and wide. HTC Prophet / T-Mobile MDA Vario II: includes 3G, a video camera, faster 300 Mhz Samsung processor, improved 2-megapixel camera and jog-dial. However, it is first due for release in July and will likely cost an arm and a leg. [...]
November 14th, 2006 at 12:03 pm
Have had a Vario for about a year now, and am of split mind: on the one hand the feature set is great! Everything you’d need and more: phone capabilities work fine, support for Office products, multimedia, productivity, great form factor relative to features, battery, keyboard, screen….very pleased!
However, I’ve been experiencing way too many repeating resets, including, recently, self triggered ones by device. It’s getting more and more annoying and results in me not trusting the device to perform when I need it. I hope it will settle down soon cause I’d hate to give it up on it.
Regards.
December 9th, 2006 at 5:02 pm
I’m not a.tech head but wondered for what reason I can’t get onto chat is there a program I need to download or is it beyond the capabilities of the phone anhy advice gratefully received. thanks
December 16th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
1) how do I do a firmware upgrade on the MDA Vario II?
2)Reason for the upgrade is to be able to use a 4GB memory card. the link is below
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4GB-SD-Memory-Card-for-Sat-Nav-Digital-Camera-MDA-PDA_W0QQitemZ300059665728QQihZ020QQcategoryZ18871QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
June 7th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
I have just got my mda its new tec to me and I find it easy to use apart from it changing its layout without any actions from me its 50/50 on the camera but I’m sure that they will remove the flies
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:49 am
The mda phone is a hightech phone; part computer, part phone. This phone is good for testing because if your stuck on a parking lot with no phone access use your text to get help. Also for using the internet, if your in school and need to look up for info you can sneak up and use it also if your bored . The phone slides up because it’s a touch screen. The buttons are touch to dial and had a high tech button to hang up. It has a keyboard like a computer which allows you to type like if you where at home. This should be like your mini laptop. It has window media player incase you are bored and its silent you can play your favorite music by using a USB core and connect it to your cpu. Also you can watch movies if you add one to the phone. The volume is loud you can hear the music from one black away that is how good the volume is. The screen is touch screen. Its good because instead of using the buttons to get into a program you just click on the screen icon and gets you to the program. This feature is good because if you’re a business person you can add your appointment and it notify you when it start and is over. The phone also has instant massager which allows you to be at home and chat on your cpu and need to go out you can log out and then log back in using your phone and continue your conversation. The bad thing is if you are using too many programs at ounce it can freeze your phone and you’ll have to restart it. Overall one more reason why I recommend this phone if you’re a student, business person you can save your documents in this pone like your business letter or your résumé