caleon's Full Review: Sharp Sidekick II Smartphone
--Updates (Jan 10, 2005)--
1. I seriously take this thing everywhere I go. Indispensable.
2. Hardware still working perfectly with no reason to send in for replacements. The screen, however, is beginning to be scratched, despite it being in my pocket with nothing else in it. Heard of a friend whose screen broke while simply resting in pocket. Oh, every once in a while the backlight on the keyboard flickers off, but it happens rarely.
3. There is no alarm feature!!! I was absolutely flabbergasted when I found out that a cell fone wouldn't have a basic alarm feature, and for that, you need to pay about $10 for an optional download called Time Traveler.
4. I use my SSH client a lot, and it's alright except for the lagged input, and occasional hangups.
5. I've accidentally deleted a few photos from the camera, and I really wish the web-interface would automatically store all past images even if they're deleted from the unit.
6. From what I discovered, you also get unlimited text messaging, a big plus.
7. Internet service wise, I do lose service occassionally, but I learned to cope with it, hoping that in the future, T-mobile and Danger will improve their networks.
8. Battery usage wise, I've had days when it would nearly run out within 24 hours when I use this excessively, meaning several phone calls, constant AIM, and constant web browsing. On the average the battery is at about 1/4th of its capacity by the end of a day.
9. OH YES I FORGOT: you cannot be on the Internet and talk on the phone at the same time!!! Yes, you heard that right. Not just because your phone's against your head, but even with speakerphone or earpiece, the wireless network turns off when you're on the phone!
--END UPDATE--
I'd been considering buying the Sidekick ever since it came out (the black and white version), which soon got replaced by a color version, which got replaced by this new version. I'd read reviews here and at Amazon.com and also pored through the hiptop forums for research. Hiptop is the operating system maker for the handheld which is produced by Danger. Currently T-Mobile is the only carrier supporting this device. This is a review after a couple days of intense usage.
Most notably the design of the Sidekick II (SKII) is changed.
1) Slimmer body. The older versions were thicker because the pivoting screen jutted from the body. In SKII the screen is level with the rest of the body when the screen is put back into place.
2) Longer. To compensate the unit is longer/wider, but this is really no big deal. In my opinion it's as small as can be without sacrificing usability (in terms of ability to type comfortably
3) Built-in camera. Seen from the back view, it looks just like a camera. Features a small mirror for self-portraits. Display acts as viewfinder in camera mode.
Activation
I inserted the new SIM card and booted up the thing (no significant boot time) and waited for the device to be activated by T-Mobile. It may take 48 hours, but mine happened within 5 minutes. Set up was fast and simple. I was on the web and AIM within a matter of minutes.
Phone
When closed the unit's left side (where the directional pad is located) is used for the earpiece, while the right side has a little microphone hole. You can dial in a closed position by using the right-side scroll wheel to scroll through the digital number pad, or use the scroll wheel to select recently dialed or phonebook entries. In my opinion, it's not too much to ask to open up the device to input the number with keys. Sound is great, so's the speakerphone. Loud and clear.
People complain about the awkwardness of holding the device to your ear, but it's really no biggie. Use the included earpiece if you're that self-conscious.
You use the external buttons to shift up and down the volume hierarchy (loud, normal, soft, minimum, buzz, silent) in that order. You can use the built-in camera to take a picture of your friends in your address book to display their picture whenever they call you.
Organizer applications
There is a calendar, a to-do list, and a notes functionality. It's nothing like a PDA (it won't replace my Zire 31), in fact I probably won't even use these functions on the SKII. The calendar allows you to input events, specify repetitions and reminders. The basics and essentials. If you're fine with these rudimentary organizer functions, you might want to consider using these just for convenience's sake, being built-in applications on the unit.
Voice mail, text messages, and email
I have yet to use the voice mail, but I've received text messages. The inboxes for the text messages and email are similar with multiple folders. Allows sorting (as with address book), and a notable feature that's handy is it grabs from the message what it considers to be a phone number, an email address, a URL and presents it to you as a link. This is good because if you're in an AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) conversation, you don't have the luxury of a mouse to select the link and paste it into the browser.
There have been complaints of the unreliability of the email server, but so far as I've used it, the transmissions were instantaneous. If you had taken a picture, there's a direct option to email it to an address. There is also a primitive select/copy/paste functionality by holding down the scroll wheel in many instances.
Web
You can view basically any website that is coded with HTML and not stuff like JavaScript or Java. Pages specifically catering to WAP-interfaces look the best, but the ability to see virtually any page is a big advantage. There is no side scrolling so everything is stacked vertically, which means images that are supposed to connect and display together horizontally will often be broken up.
Scrolling such long pages might seem like a hassel, but the buttons above and below the scroll wheel (normally the call and hang-up buttons) also serve as page up/down buttons. You can't browse multiple windows, so you may end up having to use the back key a lot (which is the external-top-left button or the bottom right button on the unit, normally the OK/Done button).
Links and images can be emailed, once again. Display is great for pictures, despite having to scroll. I use the browser for news, stock research, blogging, restaurant-searching, movie-searching.
When entering sites with frames it gives you the option of picking which frame to display. There is a history, a cache, and secure socket, the first two of which you can clear manually.
AIM
People described the SKII as most indispensable to the obsessive instant messenger. As one myself, I have to agree. Once logged into your AIM screen name, it imports your buddylist. When conversing with people you see one conversation at a time, so you'll be flipping through conversations often. It might seem like a hassel but it has some clever perks to make the experience enjoyable. For one, when you're chatting with person A but person B messages you, a significant part of B's message will appear and scroll in a horizontal bubble at the top right corner like a stock ticker. If you're in the AIM application, a tiny bubble will also show up towards the top right corner. That number represents the hotkey number assigned to that particular convo. To switch, you can manually go into the menu and select that person's screen name, or you can hold down the menu key (top left button of unit) and hit the number. You can also see the scrolling text while in other applications, because in SKII you don't really quit applications; they're always on.
You have no option of seeing others' or even modifying your own profile. It's not capable of direct connects for media transfer, but it's a perfectly satisfying instant messaging client. The sound effects are identical to the desktop effects. It's amusing to be walking around outdoors and hearing the familiar IM sound effects in your pocket.
Camera
Let me just say, just pretend the SKII doesn't come with a camera and consider it a minor bonus that you discover when you receive it in the mail. It's definitely the weakest link in this package. By no means is the resolution comparable to even the lowliest of digital cameras out there. Flash is weak and almost nonexistant, and the resolution's something like 640x480 (not even a megapixel). Results are very gritty indeed. Another thing that I'm curious about is that it seems to give me space for 36 pictures (probably allocated like that to limit disk usage), so even if you wanted to use the camera simply to take mugs of contacts who'll call you... Oh yes, no zoom.
Case
The package comes with a leather case that can be strapped to your belt. You'd have to insert the unit vertically instead of horizontally (for horizontal, you'd need to buy another case that they sell). It's got a velcro flap to keep it in place, but most usually I stick the flap into my pants so I can quickly pluck the SKII out of its case.
I worried a lot about not damaging the unit because of the complaints I'd read about and horror stories with them, but there shouldn't be a problem simply keeping it in your pocket, as long as there's no metallic item in it.
Customization
A common gripe is the inability to customize the background images. It's really a petty complaint. You can customize the ringtones (very good quality, like 12 voices of polyphony) and you can download ringtones from the Fun section for $1.99 a pop and hear real (albeit low quality) hit songs. They carry a decent selection. There is a maximum of 10 tones you can download. For applications they also alot a certain number of units (120?) from which each new application takes like 9 units. I paid $9.99 for a Terminal client so I can SSH into work servers. There isn't as big a selection for applications.
The directional pad slash earpiece also lights up multiple colors in many instances. Very catchy (:
Physical-customization wise, I assumed the colored bumpers would be included in the package but you have to purchase those separately. If you're into that kind of thing you might wanna check out nycpeach.com among many other such sites to trick out your unit with jewels. Personally I think that's just ridiculous. Airbrushed units looked better, from what I've seen.
Top right display
On the top right of the screen, you see the date and time (automatically sync'ed with server), and below is a small set of indicators. From the right: battery, phone signal, internet signal. To the left of that are application-specific things. If you're on the web and there is a pending AIM message, the AIM icon will remain until you check it. If you're on AIM and a web page finished loading, the web icon will remain until you check it.
Service
I'd used T-Mobile at home in Orange County and at Berkeley (East Bay area) and phone service wise I really have no complaints (other than when I'm indoors). The internet service is separate from the phone service, so while your phone might be working, the internet might not, if Danger's server is malfunctioning. But if you're in the subway, it's just logical that neither of the services would work. In what I consider a result of the service's immaturity, there are times when the internet is very slow, while other times it'd be fast. I'd had awesome speeds past 2am, but slow connections during prime times. I had taken the unit to San Francisco for a night out and experienced horrible internet connectivity in the city. In an effort to search for a restaurant I'd request a page, close the unit and put it in my pocket, and a couple minutes later open it up when I hear the notification (sound and light) telling me the page has loaded. You can check your network status which tells you whether or not you're signed in and the network strength.
Usability
It sure as hell beats typing on a normal cell phone with its 3-letters-per-number system, or even using a stylus on a PDA. For most people the rubber keys should be spaced enough for comfort. The letters are lit when the display is open (with the exception of the alt modifier, a chief complaint in the forums) and you access symbols using shifts and alts. The placement of the keys may be awkward but it's easy to get used to. I would have preferred that pressing the keys down would be easier (something like iPod's touch-sensitive keys), not to say they require tremendous effort, but it is another thing you have to get used to. Typing 90+ wpm on a keyboard, the thumbpad on the SKII is severely restricting, but as a handheld device it'll suffice. The external buttons are covered by the rubber bumpers, so you have to press down on the bumper portions, and it takes some effort to access those.
For some it may be a hassel to have to open up the device to do most of anything on it, but perhaps Danger wanted you to flip open the unit often to catch people's attention like that.
Durability
Well the flipping screen, while clever and catchy, is kinda unnecessary, I think. I'd read reports of paint scraping off from excessively sharp flips, so I'm kinda careful when opening up the device. It wouldn't surprise me if the screen hinge is the first thing that breaks on this device. Some people praise it for its durable construction, and I have to agree it feels very sturdy (and kinda heavy, but not overbearing). I don't plan on dropping it though.
What I learned from researching extensively
There are lots of complaints about the poor device, coverage, and customer service. The device is said to break frequently with malfunctioning buttons, wheels, keys. The coverage is said to stop working or delay transmissions trauamatically. The customer service representatives are supposed to be horrid at dealing with your problems. Be aware that if your device IS malfunctioning and you send it in for replacement, people receive refurbished models. A common mantra is that your first SK is the best SK. Take good care of it because people are often on their 10th replacement. (Update: If you trick out your SKII on nycpeach.com which has a deal with T-mobile, I understand that returning your modified sidekick will mean you'll get the same exact unit back repaired.)
Although reading through hiptop's forums may easily discourage you from purchasing the model, be aware also that a lot of these complaints are from the vocal minority, and that there is a large quiet group of satisfied users. Really: why would owners of perfectly functioning Sidekicks feel the need to visit the hiptop forum?
Bottom line (finally)
Don't buy this to replace a PDA. It's a fabulous communicator with its AIM/Web/Email/Phone capabilities, but the other functionalities should be considered extras. If you're an AIM/phone junkie, this is absolutely perfect. The web is slow but meets basic needs (but won't substitute desktop browsing), and I'm hesitant to use the email for work for fear of getting delays, but I'm just being paranoid. It is a clever, addictive gadget that I forsee will be a big part of my daily routine.
The unlimited internet plan is 20 dollars on top of your phone plan, or 30 dollars as a standalone internet client. I got mine for 250 but Amazon.com offers a 250 dollar rebate.
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