We've got a PPC-6700; what do you want to know?

In the fine tradition of our question and answer sessions for the HTC Universal and the Motorola ROKR E1, we figured we'd open the floor and ask y'all what you wanted to know about the PPC-6700 (aka the HTC Apache), Sprint's new EV-DO capable Pocket PC Phone with WiFi, Bluetooth, a 1.3 megapixel digital camera, and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Post your questions in the comments below and we'll do our best to answer as many of them as we can by next week.  If you can, please try to limit yourself to just a couple of questions, we want to try and respond to as many of these as possible.

[toni @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

can we get some more pics compared to another gadged like the ipod please i want to see the comparisons ans such i plan to buy one

[John Laur @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

How about can you dial a number one handed and then actually talk on the phone without looking like a complete tool or fingerprinting up the screen? The thing about treo/blackberry form factor devices are their (somewhat) usability as a reuglar phone. This is shaped like one, sure, but how does it actually feel to use it?

In that vein, can you clean the screen without causing a thousand clicks?

[gotq @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

What don't you like about it?

[eric l @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

When can you send me one?

[apeguero @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

1. Does it have one of those CDMA extendable antennas?

2. How comfortable is it to use it as a handset.

3. Does it boot up pretty quickly?

4. Does the keypad stay in place pretty well?

5. Does it feel fragile? I mean, does it feel like it will survive (")accidental(") falls? The kind of Treo 650 frustration "accidental" falls?

It's one thing I really like about my Treo 650; ruggedness. I've dropped the thing so many times and have thrown it accross the car so many times. It's taken a real beating but keeps on working. Actually, I think it works better after every "accidental" fall.

[petr @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

does it have the new sprint symbol or old sprint symbol on the body?

[Dave Zatz @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Can you use pair it with a laptop (via USB and/or Bluetooth) and use it as a modem?

[Fred K. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Sprint's 6700 product page states:

"Sprint PCS Picture MailSMand Sprint PCS Video Mail Enabled
Record 30-second videos and digital pictures and instantly send them to email addresses and or other Sprint PCS VisionSM or Sprint Power VisionSM phones. Or upload them to the Pictures Web site (sprint.com/picturemail) to create albums."

Q: Is this true?

[Vic @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Great Sprint cant answer this one!

Can you use a BT Speakerphone and a BT GPS receiver at the same time? I know Verizon is BT challenged but whats up here?

[ET @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I'm a heavy (650) Datebk5, TakePhone, 2day, Chatter user. I run my business with these apps. Are there similar programs on PPC? I've been on the Palm platform for years, but like the 6700 for some reason.

One more thing...how is the SMS on it? No chat mode, correct? Anything else negative about SMS?

[csmith @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

When is the Universal coming to N.A.?
Can you compare this to the Universal?

[kelly @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

how's the email synching? the treo 600 is pretty much flawless with sprint business connection, wondering how ms mobile 5.0 is...

[Edwin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

when do they plan on developing applications so that this thing can rock sprint tv and sirius radio?

[bv @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

1.) Is the outer plastic casing made from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene or polypropylene?

2.) Is there a scroll lock key on the keyboard and is a Dvorak layout a configurable option?

3.) What are the approximate nominal and charging voltages on the battery?

[Spiro @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

What is the actual battery life (not what Sprint claims)?

[Brad @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

How good is the screen visibility in direct sunlight? I'm contemplating getting one to run AnywhereMap aviation moving map software (via Bluetooth GPS connection). Thanks!

[perry @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Does the phone support full stereo mp3 playback when using bluetooth headphones that double as a handsfree cell phone headset (without the need for a dongle)? How does it sound?
Does skype mobile work even though it only has the slower "b" wifi?

[raindog @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Does the PPC-6700 work with plain old PCS Vision? I'm in like the #51 market nationally and we're not even on the "planned availability" map yet.

[Nick @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

2 simple ones:

How simple is it to text compared to the treo 650?

Treo 700w or PPC-6700?

[A. Kirksey @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

1-I would like 2 C comparison photos with Blackberry 7250 and 7100t.

2-I would like to see it, in hand, with keyboard extended and closed.

[Jeff Bridges @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Treo killer?

[Col.Wild @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Can I use it as a hammer for hanging pictures?

[battamer @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Would you buy one?

[daniel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Treo 650 or PPC-6700?

Is the thing way too chunky?

How slow is the response time for button clicks and moving to horizontal screen mode?

How's evdo?

would you buy it for almost retail price to upgrade from a treo 600?

[Getaway Driver @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Is there an AIM client for Windows Mobile 5.0 yet?

[Alan Strangis @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Why does my cat's breath smell like cat food?

Seriously though, does it support A2DP for BT stereo headsets?

[Roopesh Sheth @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Can you use WiFi and the phone at the same time?

[Bryan VanAlmkerk @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Well I was messing with one today and was very impressed. All I have to say is WOW :). I have a nextel now and pay 55-60 bucks which is alot and the thing is it doesnt do as much as this. So when I think about it for 400 mins plus unlimited internet etc for only 55 dollars. Ill be getting it :)

[Vic @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Can you um...make VoIP calls? :)

[pachi @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

is it worth ist money? :-P

is it really THAT thick as it seems to be?

what about an comparison with the treo 650?

[pachi @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

oh sorry, i meant the 700w (#27)

[Jabbar @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

how is its OBEX? could i bluetooth pics and files easily between my powerbook and the ppc-6700? is the bluetooth capability crippled at all?

[philomathius @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

can you use a bluetooth keyboard with it?

[Orneta @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Does it have hardware soft key support when the keyboard is open?

[Tom McGee @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I've been using a 6700 for a week. It's awful chunky compared to the 600 Treo I've been using, but I only want it for data anyway, and it has 3 radios in it. Snappermail on the treo is 100x better for mail, but the 6700 is usable, even though it's convoluted and earlier versions of pocketpc software could check mail servers without opening the menu and selecting send/receive. The keyboard opens far too easily, bootup is fast. Browsing is faster than the treo. One handed keyboard operation is possible with big hands.

I'll keep it but will ditch it as soon as something less klunky, with 3 radios, comes out on the Sprint network.

[eRk @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

i've had one for about a week (a 'demo' unit). i think it's awsome! keyboard isn't as good as the Treo650 (i've been using various Treos for about 3 years now). overall usability is great. active sync with exch 2003 is flawless and pocket ms apps run as expected.

slide out keyboard is hard to use... all the keys feel the same and the backlight sucks. it's actually easier to type in a dark environment then in normal light. maybe that will change when i get more used to it.

the phone functions are better than the treo650... my bt headset (moto 810) works MUCH better on 6700 and the sound quality is great. without the headset just as clear and easy to hold. a couple people wouldn't believe on wasn't on a land line...

i'll see if i can post some pix up to flikr tomorrow and post the link here.

[Zane @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

1. How is it at streaming video over wifi?
2. How is the browser speed over wifi?
3. What's the battery life when doing the above?

Thanks.

[DonKarlos @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Comment: evdo, evdo, evdo! I've clocked over 1000 kbps with this phone. Never thought wireless would ever be this fast. Browser bigger than treo and great in sunlight. Software has yet to catch up with WM 5.0
The carmera is actually worth using.

[joe rydel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

try to access the above web site with it, and let me know if it works. alot of graphics and large number of posts many with java pics etc

looking for a small device that will do the job

[chai @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Can you press more than one button at once?

More to the point, how does this thing run games? Mame/snes?

[A B L @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

-Can you put a .mp4 file on the SD card and play the video somehow on it? (With sound?)
-Can you mount a networked Mac disk on it via WiFi? Or mount it on a Mac (Tiger, smb?)
-Can you use it as a BT modem on a non-EVDO (1xRTT) network via #777? And if so, using a Mac?
-Can you use it as a BT modem on an EVDO network? And if so, using a Mac?
-Same as previous 2 questions but if not over BT over some USB cable? (Does a USB cable even exist for this)?
-Can you back it up to a Mac somehow?
Thanks from the Mac audience.

[ME @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I have a Sidekick now and the service is about to run out.
Should I renew my service or buy that.
Witch is better?

[wxrman @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

How's the earpiece volume... the 6600 version for Verizon had HORRIBLY low volume when in conversation. Granted this is mentioned as a Sprint version, but I'm curious either way.

[tsuyopon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Is it possible to view Flash enabled websites/contents via Pocket Internet Explorer?

[Sam @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

1) How difficult is it to use it with one hand? Can you look up and dial phone numbers in the phone book with one hand or is it extremely difficult to do that?

2) Does it feel significantly slower than the Samsung i730 assuming you've used one? The Samsung i730 has a 520MHz processor and the Sprint PPC-6700 has a 416MHz processor. This may not be a fair comparison because the Samsung runs an older version of Windows Mobile.

3) Can you pair it to a Bluetooth headset without using the keyboard or the stylus? I don't mean the first time you pair it because you have to enter the passkey the first time. I mean subsequent pairings after the first time.

Thanks in advance.

[Nomar @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

It's awsome!!!!
Better EVDO performance,even build-in Wi-Fi
When is it available in VZW shop?
I'd like to update my PPC really.

[Greg! @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Can it be unlocked and used on Verizon?

[Christopher MacManus @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

sigh.

[TD @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

If you're using the phone as a modem, what happens to incoming phone calls?

[bradley Masse @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Any idea ow to back up with a mac running tiger? I know mark space has a window mobile 5 sync coming, but I've tried everthing from isync to bluetooth to no avail. I've even tried to sync to my old Tungsten T using Bluetooth. It seem like it should work since I was able to beam my contacts and various appointments from my Samsung i-500. In the mean time I feel like I'm asking for trouble not having a back-up.

The receiver on this phone ROCKS!!! I can place call in places I never had a signal with my i-500.