1 year later - do you still like your 9210?

[quote="Mooky"]I was just thinking, I had my 9210 for almost a year! I'll stick with it for a while longer, (ive seen a few people with the 9110 and they seem very happy with it still - even with that B&W screen! But, I've been 'looking around' - the slag that I am. I might wait to see what it's replacement is like? Dunno yet.

Things which annoy me about the 9210 are:

- the lack of application memory
- no bluetooth
- no MP3
- no Opera browser
- can't save all contacts to a CSV or simple TXT file
- slow CPU
- it's a tad thick

:-?

...but i still love the bright screen and the great keyboard! 😃
I won't upgrade to a 9210i (i dont personally think it's worth it - i'd sooner get a completely different device, like possibly a HP928/P88).

1) What's your verdict on the 9210?
2) What are you considering eventually replacing it with?[/quote]

Hmmm mine's almost 1 year and 4 months

a lil bit clarifications
- 9210 can save txt files using YEDIT
- its a tad thick, yeah, but elegantly designed
- MP3's can still be played... but sad to say it has an output of mono... (maybe a module can solve it at all?)

To answer the question.. yes I still love my communicator. Y? Because I never get bored of this device. Possibilities are somehow endless. I download and evaluate almost all applications and somehow I buy them if I liked them. 9210 has it all that's y I really love this gadget.

Hmmm Im thinking of replacing my 9210 if Nokia would be releasing a better communicator w/c would have MMS, GPRS, bluetooth, camera, stereo sounds, USB connection, and faster processor (like 9310 , 9650, ... and 9990 how I wish)... well, there are a'lot of rumors right now so probably we just have to wait... 😉

Only thing I don't like about it is the mmc instead of sd.
Stereo would also be cool.
I don't use mp3's because the wavs converted with MultimediaPro are smaller then mp3.

Yes, I still like my 9210 very much. I'm an oprimistic person, so I'm waitting for a bluetooth module, a portable radio module, a mms application, the full Greek localisation and an external devices module (you know: keyboard 😮 , mouse 😮 , hard drive 😮 and external monitor 😮 😮 :evil: ). OK maybe I'm rather dreamming than just being optimistic, but it's the only mobile that I have for more than a year. And I had a lot of them. I will only change it with a 3G one. Next year maybe... :roll: :roll: :roll:

I'm considering replacing mine with a 9210i as the 9210 is looking a bit tatty now. A year on and it still has no serious rival, some good software is still trickling out. As for size, compare the 9210 to a Series 5 or a Revo and it's a darn sight more pocketable.

I will be sticking with my 9210 for the forseeable future, but if I upgraded in the future, would consider staying with Nokia if they included USB and MAC support.

Also would be great if they could somehow incorperate a larger memory format like IBM's microdrive, imagine 1Gb memory, could store ALL currently available programs for 9210 I bet! (Althouh maybe too big for out pocket sized phone. LOL!)

I'm happy with my 9210 at the moment. However I'm hopeful fo a next generation WCDMA device in the near(ish) future.

with all the goods, the bads which never got mention by a funny east european guy who just never admit them are

too big it can be uch smaller-look at the un-uised areas
too slow
impossible to view at sun light
cannot open complex web pages
can not open many applications
lag simple functions such as open picture files sent from other nokia phones
earpiece is in the back and barely audible
not very stable in earlier firm wares
slippery cursor key
not very accrurate key board
no touchscreen
no camera integrated
no vibration, mms, bluetooth, answering machine
no light indicators
key board cannot be viewed in the dark
slow and some time useless sync softwares
etc

some could be corrected by third party sofwares but the important ones like theslow system the washout screen at sunlight, the slippery keyboard, the no-java scrip browser cannot

Lol I think I can make a list like that for every single piece of technology that excists on this planet.

I'm not even going to depate some of those issues 😛

Lol most of those bads didn't matter when you bought the phone as standards etc didn't exist for them, my screen is perfectly usable in daylight and lights up the keys fine in the dark. I agree that the Dpad can be dodgy at times. It can't be any smaller (what's "free" on the outside doesn't mean there's not stuff inside, open one up and it's packed in quite tightly. Never had any problems with it being slow. Complex websites, do you really wanna veiw them on a 640x200 screen???? And why open more than 1 or 2 apps at once?

dazler, apart from keyboad, big screen and web browser-each has its own weak points; what i list are BASIC STUFFS OF CHEAP PHONES. besides this is a forum, i aired my view on FACTS,u like it or not or want to debate or not is not the point, man.

switblaz, i cannot even open this site by 9210, who are talking opening two sites. i also cannot open certain pictures loaded to mmc. the screen is not transflective nor anti reflective, how can it be viewed in direct sunlight without wash out. yours must be a special one.

Mine is harder to see in direct sunlight yes, but I can still see what I'm doing. I assume you are using the standard phone web browser rather than Opera with which this site is known to work. Certain pictures on the MMC, are you sure they aren't corrupted, too large or a wrong file format (the usual issues).

STILL LOVE MINE .....WOULD PERRISH WITHOUT !!!!

Complex webpages.....COME ON .... Like our dear switchblade points out at another topic ...
It�s a GIMMICK NOT A LAPTOP ...
No matter what you say it still beats a palmpilot or the likes ....
And as for the "unstable in early firmware" I can only say ....GET A UPDATE ...It�s free of charge ...4.13 r00x00r
So here 1 year later I can only say ....DEAR GOD ..let it hold another year 😉

True men sleep with their 9210 under the pillow .... 😉

Parted company with mine in July. I'd had it for over a year, must have been one of the first ones out.

I still liked it, but decided to sell in anticipation of the "soon to be released" P800 or 9210i. Below are my list of gripes that helped it go. Just to clarify, I liked it but didn't use it as often as I would have had these been resolved. Every device has its "issues", you get to know them after a year. Maybe all addressed in the 9310 (though I won't buy it, but will wait for the 9310i 😃 )

Reasons for selling it:

Lack of USB, file transfers were slow, hassle. Sync. for contacts, calendar was fine but email was slow.

Also related to the above, removing/replacing the MMC felt a little delicate. Kept worrying about breaking the access door. OK for occational use, but would not be happy doing it 100s of times while not taking care. (Not snap in snap out). Now if it had had USB, would not have had to do it often anyway.

No Opera (without Out of Memory issues). Addressed in 9210i

Lack of Executable memory/out of memory issues. Possibly addressed on 9210i (better memory management), would have been better if they just stuck another 8 Mb in there.

Sluggish opening apps etc. Faster processor would have been nice. Again possibly adressed in 9210i with faster memory.

No lit keyboard, I used to use my IPaq in bed with the lights out (wife was not happy). Difficult with the 9210.

Lack of Automatic file syncronization. Major gripe with the Sync. software. No way of saying sync or copy the following files on every sync.

Bluetooth would have been nice, but since the phone is built in, not a major loss. Might have got round the lack of USB though.

GPRS maybe, but it is only just starting to approach affordable(ish).

A little on the large side, but if the other issues were resolved, I could live with that.

I didn't miss a touchscreen at all, quite liked not worrying about smudge marks on the screen.

Now for an unusual one that probably really made me sell. Lack of a 3rd party Twin Sim convertor. I have 2 Sims, 1 work, 1 personal. Having to open the flip cover, remove the battery, change sim and then close it all and wait for the device to reboot was prooving too much hassle. With a normal phone I just got a twin sim convertor or battery and problem solved.

Anyway, 9210i is out but doesn't address some of the above.
Primarily, no USB or Bluetooth, so sync. and file transfer still an issue, auto. file sync. issue and the twin sim issue.

P800 is almost here, but still have a couple of concerns.
Doesn't have the hi-res screen of the 9210.
Still does not appear to sync. files. automatically.
Concerns about lack of volume sales (relative to standard phones), hence twin sim option not likely to appear for some time (If at all). Looks from photos like the battery needs removing for sim changes, hence I get reboot delays.

Now Work have given me a Bluetooth enabled 6310i for which I have bought a twin sim convertor. So now I'm looking at getting just a PDA with Bluetooth.

Penny for your thoughts.

Zuber

One of the reasons I was really keen on the 9210i is Opera. Complex web pages are perfectly possible. With a 640 wide screen & an Orange 28k connection, Web is quite a practicle (if expensive) option.

Back to my twin sim thing. On one card I can use High speed a t a reasonable cost, but on the other it's silly money. Can't switch quickly between the two.

Zuber

Re: jaggeraugustine
- Yeah Yedit is great but there's no 'Save all Contacts to...' TXT file or CSV in the Contacts app
- Sterio headphone socket would be good - I dont really care what format the file is as long as it's good enough to listen too

Re: Dazler
- Why is SD better than MMC?

Re: patrasjim
- You're not asking for much 😊 But seriously an 'expansion port' would be good. Maybe future versions of the Communicator will have a Nokia 'Pop-Port'?

Re: SwitchBlade
- Yeah, you're right. Feature to size ratio of the Communicator is amazing, considering it has a keyboard and a self-protecting screen (clam-shell design). That's one of the things I don't like about tablet devices, they need tacky screen protectors. Yuck! I used to use a Psion s7 before I had a Comunicator, so believe me I consider it compact!

Re: Guest (1)
- I think the earpiece is poor too. The trick is knowing that of the five holes, only one of them is THE earpiece the other are just moulded dents in the plastic - the real one is the hole on the far right.

Re Zuber:
- Yeah, I thought about bluetooth to PPC, but by the time you add the cost and size factor together I think the 9210i is much cheaper and actualy smaller too. Orange is a great network and they have a new price plan where they match the tariff of any other UK network, and you get fast data too.

It's weird that I'm half-thinking of moving on from the 9210 cos I've met quite a few professional business people who still use the 9110 (yeas that's the 9110, not a typo) and they are completely happy with it! My 9210 still does everything it did when I bought it it's a great tool. Guess I must be a bit of a geek-gadget freak kinda guy (my girlfriend is always complaining about my tech obcession.

One of my worries is that the 9210i replacement will be a postbox format screen device without a keyboard :cry: Hope not. Keyboards rule for real data entry! 😃

"- Yeah, I thought about bluetooth to PPC"

Who said anything about PPC ? (been there done it).
Very little to make it a better option than a P800. Though I like the HP928 (Phone addition) well thought out hardware.
USB issue gone, Twin Sim still likely to be a pain (with phone addition). Main benefits would be File Sync. (big benefit to me) and Word, Excel edit (not so useful on small screen).

I was thinking more along the lines of Sony Clie NR70.

Check out http://www.med.unc.edu/~greena/back2palm/

With a bluetooth card of course. Total cost about �550 max. I would not be considering it due to cost, had it not been for the fact that I now already have a Bluetooth phone (Maybe I would have looked at IR or cable connection, but fiddly).
If you've not noticed, it has a 320 X 480 screen. A number of 3rd party apps. now support the hi res.

Only things holding me back are:
Rumours of new Palm OS5 devices with new 175+ Mhz processor due for release "any time now". With the change of processor, older devices will not be upgradeable.

Still not seen an actual real P800 yet. Would like to see it before taking the plunge.

Zuber

I still love my 9210. It is great and versatile and still cannot be matched for my needs.

There may not be much software for it, but the software that is there is top notch!

Think of how far it has come! I would never have thought of seeing Rayman perform so well on it, and the limits are being pushed all the time.

It's not dead, but its the software developers that are keeping it moving.

I'd like to ask; where's Nokia?

Where's the GPRS adapter?
Where's the bluetooth adapter?
Where's the MMS software?
Where's the compatibility with their hardware MP3 player?

As it is, the 9210 is great and still serves me faithfully!

Re: Zuber
- I'm curious about the HP928 as I haven't seen it for real yet. It's got a flip-up screen protector (which looks a bit clumsy to my mind). Many PPC users carry their unit in a leather or plastic-material case � that adds significantly to the size of the unit. Battery life has been criticised. The design is really excellent though (even if the design for the aerial looks like it was �stolen� from the Nokia Communicator). My main concern is with not having a keyboard. Using a stylus isn�t the same as I use my 9210 to write down loads of notes. At work we used a number of proprietary ruggedised PPC units with wireless feature. We had a horrendous lack of reliability, unusable battery life, high learning cure for the people being trained to use the machines, and they crashed literally every time people used them. What a nightmare, but I�ve played with other people�s iPaqs and found them pretty cool. The OS is quite �snappy�, I thought.

- The problem with Bluetooth and a separate device is that you still have to manually authorise the two separate units to connect together when you want to use mobile data � much like IR. So the main advantage for me with Bluetooth for me, is that unlike IR you don�t have to maintain a direct line of vision. It�s still a bit of a hassle.

- The question about the P800 is how FAST will it be? I hope SE don�t underpower the CPU rating.

(I'm sticking with my 9210 until something hugely better comes out.)

I don't want SD because it's better but it's just cheaper easier to get and available in 512mb 😊
It would be only a small update for Nokie if they want 2 because every sd reader can read mmc.

To see a real HP 928, go to the Vodafone retail stores. (See http://www.hp-expo.com/uk/eng/products/jornada/928.html for those wandering what it is.) Got to see a live one, charged, functioning and available for purchase (Unlike the P800, been talking about for ages, but still not actually seen one). Does not have Bluetooth, but you can use it as a phone with the screen turned off (and flip closed) using the small LCD and voice dialling. Perfect for battery saving and incar use. On top of which it has 64Mb on board memory and a CF slot. Also, I'm sure the 9210 is not the first device on the planet with a folding aerial.

Well thought out design, unlike the XDA. Could keep it in your pocket without a case etc.

But as I've said, for me, I'd probably be better off with the P800.

With the usual issues around a 2 device solution, the Sony NR70 looks quite good to me. If only it included Bluetooth in the hardware.

"The problem with Bluetooth and a separate device is that you still have to manually authorise the two separate units to connect together when you want to use mobile data � much like IR"

Not sure about that, from what I have read, once you get it to pair up, work for the first time it works fairly seamlessly (is that a word ?).

The nokia 6310i still seams to give respectable battery life even when I leave Bluetooth on continuously. Activating/deactivating simply involves Typing Menu 1111 or Menu 1112. Very quick.

Zuber

Re: Zuber
"Not sure about that, from what I have read, once you get it to pair up, work for the first time it works fairly seamlessly (is that a word ?)."

I haven't used Bluetooth so I don't know. I was guessing that you still had to set up a connection with the phone (in the same way as you do with IR). Is it "automatic" then. Once authorised it connects up seamlessly 'in the background' without having to switch it 'on' or 'off'?

It could use this:

😉

Mooky,

I'm not sure if it is automatic, since I only have 1 1/2 of the equation. Phone, but not the PDA. But from what I have read, that is the impression I get. Once you have it all set up that is (can be tricky in some cases).

Also, if you look at the way the 6310i works, it implies that you don't keep initiating it.

e.g.

For Infra Red, I enable it, but after a short time it disables itself. Unless it is active and communicating.

If I enable Bluetooth, it stays on (little logo indicating it is on). Even after a day or so it is still on. At least I assume it is, havn't got anything for it to communicate with to see if it is actually doing anything.

Finally, with it enabled, if I switch the phone off and back on again it is still active. Likewise for removing and replacing the battery.

Assuming the pairing device is the same, then I can't see why you would have to keep initiating it. Perhaps you might have to set your sync. software to run on fixed intervals rather than on connection or something, but other stuff like dial up etc. would "I assume" be automatic.

Only issue is that there is an increase in battery drain, so might tend to disable it when you don't intend to use it for some time.

To some extent, it probably depends on how it is done on the hardware. I know that some people have complained about it requiring initialising for use with the Nokia 7650, but that may be due to lack of understanding or software not remaining live or something. But on the 6310i, when it's on it's ON.

I think you get the idea.

Zuber

I get the idea.

Like the cartoon Dazler 😃

For sake of discussion, let's assume that with BT you do have to 're-initiate' your connection prior to transfer, then the only difference in BT and IR would be speed. And what would that difference be if there is one?

I do know that when I sync my T68 to my desktop (BT dongle) I have to re-initiate (establish a connection) prior to synching. When using my BT headset, and assuming the phone is in ON mode, the phone will ask where I want to take the call... Phone or BT headset. So, re-initiatting with BT may depend on what you are trying to do with it.

Being a newbie 9290 owner, I am still trying to figure out what I NEED versus what I WANT in the unit. So far, I NEED GPRS. 9.6K is a real drag (pun intended)!

Bluetooth doesn't just give you speed, you don't need line of sight either. Real hassle if you havn't got a desk handy.

So, you could start your connection, place your phone back in your pocket or briefacase or whatever and carry on using the PDA. Likewise, as the phone always stays with bluetooth on (see earlier post), I assume you would only need to reinitalise the connection on the PDA side (again assuming that is actually necessary for the sake of disscussion). Hence if you leave Bluetooth enabled on the phone, you don't even need to take it out of your pocket, briefcase or whatever. Potentially quite useful.

If you get all the gear (take out a bank loan), that is bluetooth headset as well (check out bluespoon for really small headset), you could more or less get away without ever seeing the phone except when you want to charge it etc. In effect, using the PDA, Headset combo. as the phone/modem.

Having said all that, I actually picked up a Psion IR Modem the other day off eBay. They have stopped making them, so I thought I'd nab one while I can. Could be great with a PDA when a landline is available (Cheaper and faster than Orange High Speed data). Known to work with Sony Clie as well.

Also, regarding speed difference, as far as internet/email access is concerned, speed difference between IR and Bluetooth would be minimal. The bottleneck lies elsewhere.

All this is hypothetical I should point out. I don't have the gear (yet).

Zuber

[quote="jaggeraugustine"]Hmmm Im thinking of replacing my 9210 if Nokia would be releasing a better communicator w/c would have MMS, GPRS, bluetooth, camera, stereo sounds, USB connection, and faster processor (like 9310 , 9650, ... and 9990 how I wish)... well, there are a'lot of rumors right now so probably we just have to wait... 😉[/quote]

Completely agree! But this one described just some row up is the perfect phone! 😊
At least gprs!!!!!! It's really incredible a business oriented phone is so slow in connecting to the network.

How can you do well email?

And then trial band....

[quote="Mooky"]Re: Zuber
- I'm curious about the HP928 as I haven't seen it for real yet. It's got a flip-up screen protector (which looks a bit clumsy to my mind).[/quote]

Well forget about the 928 if you don't want to go out with three batteries like 7 years ago with the first gsm phones....

[quote="Mooky"]The problem with Bluetooth and a separate device is that you still have to manually authorise the two separate units to connect together when you want to use mobile data � much like IR. So the main advantage for me with Bluetooth for me, is that unlike IR you don�t have to maintain a direct line of vision. It�s still a bit of a hassle.[/quote]

Once you paired the two devices you don't have to authorize every time the connection...
I use bluetooth every time and it's really great....