T-Mobile MDA vs. T-Mobile SDA
By Peter Rojas 
posted Jan 23rd 2006 1:44PM
posted Jan 23rd 2006 1:44PM
Please note: If you're a current Engadget commenter, you do not need to re-register. Simply login and you will be prompted to select a username.
I am a comment spammer: agent2linku@gmail.com
where is it? i can't see it on the t-mobile site?
skype on mda rocks!
Ok, I'm sold. Free is good. Pick me in the drawing and save me a few buckos!
i ordered it the day it came out and boy howdy am i thrilled. Now the chicks will come running!
How do you put skype on the MDA?
I am considering the MDA. Reports rank the MDA superior while the SDA only ranks average compared with like devices. I tried out a demo MDA, (the current one available in 2006). It was fabulous. The internet speed was good. The documentation talks about EDGE, but the unit is set up for EDGE/GPRS. It seems to me that they must be synonomous. I had heard GPRS was only up to 56kbps or so. I figured Edge was 128kbps or better, but under some companys 300kbps or better speeds. I have been reading about 3G, but I also read that the MDA will not support it. How important is it on the MDA? Is the MDA truely a good choice? Where can I get a current one inexpensively?
It's about time PDA/Cell Phones are affordable. Checked them out in the store. Very cool/convenient. Hopefully the screens will get better with their next iteration.
does this phone have AIM on it?
i wanted to know that either tmobile mda or sda has gps navigation system to it or not
Is it possible to input Chinese text for SMS or e-mail with a T-mobile SDA? Perhaps there’s a Window Mobile 5.0 add-on, or would I have to flash the firmware of the phone to a similar Chinese model? I was considering purchasing a Dopod 585 in China, but US phones are so much cheaper because of the contracts. Also, what internet signal (ex. Edge) do they use to surf the web in China? Thanks.
I have used Cingular version of MDA in US for about 2 days, and then, upon return to T-Mobile, used the SDA for about a week. Had to return both devices. In short, I can see how someone in US can go gaga over the spec sheet, but for someone accustomed to logical, polished interfaces of typical Euro GSM phones: Sony-Ericsson, Nokia - these devices are just impossible to work with.
MDA- using as a phone is a torture. Touch screen dialing, poor sound quality, too-complicated-interface to do simple everyday things... In general, have to look at the screen, and use two hands a lot to get things done, which is not good for a phone use. Slide out keyboard creates uncomfortable weighting, at least for someone used to Blackberry monolithic arrangement.
SDA - I really wanted to start liking that one. But - both physical and interface design is poor, and that poor design is poorly implemented.
Largest buttons are music player controls, crowding out IMPORTANT buttons. May be its important to someone, to me it meant starting music player instead of erasing an SMS all the time.
Many functions double the "yes" softkey with joystick press - but many don't. Some introduce "Done" function, some don't. Editing a contact -well, I challenge you to edit a contact... Adding recipient to an SMS - give that a shot... Contacts are displayed as a silly list of names, in a format that lists a name and letter like "m", "h", "w". No number shown - we humans actually use "m", "w", "h" sections to record foreign numbers, or different mobile numbers, and know what is what by the look of the number" 646 is US mobile, +44207 is London home, etc. - but that is not going to work with SDA. T9 implementation doesn't redisply the list of alternatives if you chose the wrong one first time around- you have to erase the entire word first and start anew. Record a video, save it - then try to find it... Menu system is context-sensitive - but not always, and default choice is not always the most common choice , and default choice is often is not the first choice, and the first choice is not always in interface focus, and selection of defauult is not always doubled to "yes", "done" softkey or joystick press. You have to look at the screen all the time to figure out what to do next.
Radio tract is weak - where my girlfriends PEBL has clear signal, SDA drops altogether, and then has to be forced to re-acquire (VERY slow to reacquire the network, by the way).
This list goes on and on and on. It all seems like little stuff ; but it drives one mad. You can see that device was implemented by people who rarely use mobile phone, or use it very differently (has anyone used Japanese mobiles??? I have...), following the spec done by people who probably never used GSM phones.
I am done with HTC products. Sony-Ericsson or Blackberry.
Few more words: both MDA and SDA have a lot going for them. MDA, being a PocketPC with a phone, might work out- everything that is wrong with PocketPC is well known, and it is also expectedly wrong with MDA, plus clumsy phone use which I assume is not a priority for targeted MDA customer. SDA is a different stroy. SDA surprises you all the time. Its interface is not simply non-intuitive - you can get used to that, but it is also non-orthogonal and its patterns are non-repetitive. You can't get used to it, you must look. With polished interfaces like Ericsson or Nokia, one eventually uses motor function. SDA requires cognitive function.
Device is packed with advanced technology indeed (even there is fails somewhat short: SE, Samsung now use 3.2 megapuxel cameras with focus and flash...), but it fails in basic consumer function.
>78. i wanted to know that either tmobile mda or sda
>has gps navigation system to it or not
There is navigation for both SDA and MDA:
http://www.t-mobile.de/navigate/
MDA Software:
http://www.handster.com
.
how about some size comparisons to other phones you might have laying around
who makes what?
Good day for you maybe! How do I get on THAT FedEx list? :-)
I have the small phone one. Its the i-mate sp5m. Its so awesome up to 1gb sd stick n ll.
How fast is the EDGE?
also how about some details about each model?
like battery life, gsm frequencies, how much memory does the supplied sd card have?
wheres the cingular 8125!!!! ahhhhhhhhhh
Initial comments? Interested to hear how the T-Mobile EDGE performance compares to Cingular.
HTC makes the phones. I would like to see a price comparison agianst other phones aswell. Maybe let us know when we can pre order it since you said we could on the 19th but I cant find anywhere to do it.
Those things look sweet. Kinda looks like the state of the art scheduler/mini-PC my boss had.
Can you give the full specs of the one with the keyboard? or is that fully posted somewhere? Does it have PUSH email like a BB or Sidekick?
How's the WiFi? Can it be used with any access point or only T-Mobile HotSpots? Does it support WEP?
I had the Qtek 9100 (same as the MDA) for a few months now and just didn't like the form factor. Adding the keyboard makes it very bulky, and the keyboard implementation (key layout) is not very intuitive.
So I got rid of mine last week and now have the new Dopod 818 Pro - same size as the popular i-mate JAM but it adds 802.11g, BT 2.0, an extremely high-quality 2MP digicam, WM5.0 and the cool black finish. Very happy with this one. I'd advise anyone interested in the MDA to look at one in person before pulling the trigger.
The EDGE is class 10.
tmobile has a pre-reg sign up page here http://www.t-mobile.com/promos/online/preregmdasda/?WT.mc_n=PreRegPromo_PRCol&WT.mc_t=ExternalMedia
How comfortable is the MDA for use as a phone?
Thanks.
I think they're both from HTC. I forget which models though.
Official launch dates
SDA 2/13/2006 (in stores)
MDA 2/20/2006 (in stores by end of Q1 available online)
I'm using the HTC Wizard (Qtek 9100) - same as the MDA on T-Mobile here in the US, and I regularly clock around 180 to 190kbps.
Please, oh please tell me you can get rid of that "pink t-mobile" theme!
HTC Wizard = PDA; HTC Tornado = smartphone
I agree thats great for T-mobile folks but WHERE IS the 8125?
Pleasepleasepleaseplease let me review the SDA for you! I'll send it back! I promise! (Just as soon as MY SDA shows up.)
S1ck... i cannot wait til my contract is up!
Any comments on WM5 smartphone OS vs PDA?
Timmay
If i get the SDA and sign up for t-mobile's t-zone, will i get EDGE speed?
Whats the prices?
Is this a photo caption contest? My entry: "Dumb and Dumber."
i beta tested the MDA HTC Wizard for TMobile last month, and it's a neat little machine.. i hope they took our suggestions on cleaning up the many bugs that existed in our beta machines..
the camera takes crappy shots, and the processor is REALLY slow. i couldn't even run skype on it..
despite all of that, it is a good precursor to what we will see in the next few years.. personally, i'd wait for something better to come out..
Like some others here, I have a different version of the MDA (the Qtek 9100 to be exact). I know you guys have had the Wizard and I'd like to know if you noticed whether T-Mobile changed anything in the software or hardware between the Wizard and MDA.
very pretty, but what i really want to know is whether it's worth waiting for SOMEBODY in the states to pick up the HTC Universal or to pick this puppy up ASAP
May we have a photo with the stylus please?
Also, when do we get a review?
Will the wifi on these work for any wifi signal(ie - starbucks or something to that extent) or will it just work with t-mobile hotspot wifi locations?
How fast in the processor on the MDA? I would like to run Skype but it is not a deal breaker for me.
Second on the review request. Also, what's the resolution on the screens? In fact, it would be great if you guys could do a comparison chart of the two phones, so we could pick the better phone/deal.
Thanks in advance.
Specs SDA II -> http://t-mobile.de/shop/handy/1,4855,2963-_4330-0-1-1,00.html
Specs MDA Vario -> http://t-mobile.de/shop/handy/1,4855,2963-_4554-0-1-1,00.html
They're working on a new version of skype for it I believe. The processor sounds slow at 200Mhz but as i'm sure Peter will vouch for it is not slow in operation. It is in fact duel-cored so it's better for multitasking etc (theoretically at least). I've had the O2 version for over a month now and am absolutely loving it. Best thing about it - the keyboard. Just like having a baby pc in my hands :-)