HTC Shift loses some mystique
Having just finished watching Hugo Ortega's exclusive video preview of the upcoming HTC Shift UMPC for the umpteenth time, I can now say that I'm officially not that impressed. Not as much as I thought I would be, anyway.
Don't get me wrong. I still love the design and am intrigued by the keyboard, connectivity, and hardware controls. Likewise, the dual processors (800MHz Intel A110, 400MHz Qualcomm) and operating systems (Vista Business, Windows Mobile 6) are revolutionary (imaginary DualCor cPC notwithstanding) and will surely make a significant impact on future UMPCs.
But I'm still just slightly underwhelmed.
I don't plan on basing my entire opinion of the Shift on a single video, of course, but everything I saw didn't blow my mind to pieces. It took about three minutes for the device to awaken from hibernation, first of all, and navigation just seemed a tad clunky and awkward. And while I do like the idea of the instant access to WM6-type things, I must admit that if the Pocket PC feature became available as an option, I wouldn't get it.
Personally, I don't see the point of putting a semi-smartphone ("semi" because there aren't any cellular calling features) into a comparatively large UMPC. Since the Shift can't be used as a phone, you'd still have to carry a phone. And I know this isn't the case with everyone, but many people (particularly business professionals, who I assume are the target audience) already carry smartphones. So why would someone leaving the house with both a Shift and a WM6 smartphone choose to toggle into WM6 on the Shift for quick access to email, contacts, calendar, etc.? The size of the Shift doesn't make it particularly easy to remove from and put back into messenger bags and backpacks on the fly.
How did the video affect your opinion of the Shift?
I tend to agree -- at first the dual cpu's and OS intrigued me, but as I've reflected on your (and others') criticism of this feature I have to agree it's not that beneficial. I use the Advantage x7500 with WM6 as my primary pda/phone now and that's as big as I want to do for a phone.
One thought, though -- I've seen several commentators among the UMPC community refer to "smart phone" capabilites tied to the use of Windows Mobile -- as I'm sure you're aware, the "smartphone" OS is different from WM5 or WM6 -- the basic WM OS is more versatile and offers a closer approximation to the UMPC XP or Vista OS.
Posted by Bruce Wilson | 04:11 AM on Aug 13, 2007
I agree also, even though for slightly different reasons. I quite like the idea of having WM6 (if it really is WM6 - the opinions on the net seem to be split right down the middle between WM5 and WM6), I would not have asked for it but if it came as an option I would get it. I do not mind lack of voicecalling on the Shift, I like my phones to be fairly small and definitely pocketable and do not mind carrying a phone in addition to the Shift - I do it now anyways. What is a dealbreaker for me though is the screen resolution. I have been unable to find a straight answer for this anywhere, but it seems the resolution is 800x480 - and that is too low for me. I have said it before, I won't consider anything below 1024x600. If the Shift turns out to have native resolution (no interpolation) that high after all then I might be interested. Otherwise it is a no-go as far as I am concerned.
Posted by Bruno | 04:34 AM on Aug 13, 2007
How good is the keyboard?? Is that index finger-only typing? Quasi-touch?
I want neither WM6 NOR Vista -- can I strip it back to XP? Install Ubuntu, instead? How much faster would it wake/run with XP?
I DO appreciate what they've done -- two CPU, two OSum -- but loathe all the OS options. I can hold my nose and use any if need be, especially if the keyboard allows sufficient speed/accuracy.
Posted by Bush -- not related | 05:39 AM on Aug 13, 2007
Way too many compromises...
HTC already went full-blown WM6 with the Advantage, they should have gone full-blown Vista (or XP) on the Shift. There really is no reason to have both OS's on one machine, too much redundancy.
And what was wrong with the Pentium M processors? Is the new Axxx series really that much more battery-friendly? I think even the Core Solo would have been a better choice than these new Intel chips, but maybe I will be proven wrong. The Vista side seems underpowered, as is the WM6 side with the 400Mhz processor.
Posted by orbitalcomp | 12:57 PM on Aug 13, 2007
The dual operating systems is cool!!! I have Tomtom Navigator6 for pocket pc and it will be my new 7" GPS. I wonder if the sd card can be used on the wm6 side.
Also the device is 1024x600 right? That's what Hugo said !!!!!!!
Posted by Jill Pill | 11:08 PM on Aug 13, 2007
Jill Pill: In the comments section at Gotta Be Mobile, Hugo states that the 1024x600 is interpolated.
Posted by Rorschach | 06:21 PM on Aug 15, 2007
It's a pity the device won't be able to just do voice-calling.. Anyway, you can install webcalldirect on it, as it's vista, and wherever you are connected, you will be able to call via VOIP.
checkout the community site for the HTC Shift :
HTTP://HTC-SHIFT.INFO
Posted by Daniel | 01:57 AM on Sep 10, 2007