DISQUS

breley · 1 month ago

Nice review, Steve. BTW, you might want to obfuscate Randy's #. ;-) The audio adapter for the Fuze is equally annoying large, so I can understand your displeasure there.

badersk · 1 month ago

Thanks. Number taken car of. Yeah the adapter is just huge. Thanks for reading.

ProfJulie · 1 month ago

And you can get the device from Amazon for $0.01 if you also get a new contract with AT&T!

http://www.amazon.com/HTC-PURE-Windows-Phone-AT...

badersk · 1 month ago

That makes it a good deal I read on XDA where someone talked at&t down to $50 for an upgrade which would also be a good deal. Thanks for reading.

Nek · 1 month ago

I agree with Stephen's review, that the Windows Mobile operating system is boring and outdated. Plus, it is dying out, as its market share keeps falling, while other platforms like iPhone and Google's Android are on the rise.

I wouldn't buy this phone, because it runs Windows Mobile. However, I'm more excited about HTC's other phones that run Android, which is where most of HTC's development efforts are moving these days.

badersk · 1 month ago

I think you misunderstood me. My statement was "many will feel Windows Phone (mobile) is boring and outdated" I however do not. There are many core functions of the OS that others are still trying to fully implement. The underlying interface is dated I will admit but there is no more open platform available and the development community is alive and well. There are many who develop software and offer it for free one just need to know where to look. Thanks for reading and your comment.

Pony99CA · 1 month ago

First, you've fallen prey to the marketshare fallacy. Just because marketshare is falling doesn't mean it is dying out. Because marketshare has to add up to 100%, anything that gains marketshare means that something has to lose marketshare. However, both could still be selling more than ever.

For example, there were about 20 million WM devices sold last year and maybe 1 million Android devices (the real numbers don't matter, so don't jump on them). For argument's sake, lets assume those are the only two competitors. Suppose in 2010 there are 25 million WM devices sold and 10 million Android devices sold. Windows Mobile will have "lost" marketshare despite having sold 5 milllion more devices.

So don't claim WM is dying until actual sales start dropping, not just marketshare. (And, really, even one year of dropping sales wouldn't be sufficient, IMHO. To be dying, something needs to be dropping for several years, like Palm OS was.)

Second, as for your claim of WM being "boring and outdated", what's outdated? The multitaking? The Exchange support? The new online services? When most people claim that, they mean the UI is outdated because it's somewhat like Windows 95.

To that, I say "so what"? That also means that it should be very familiar to people who use PCs. That's a good thing. Personally, I don't want my UI changing just because some self-important pundit says it's "boring". I like knowing how to use my device release after release.

If you want to keep life "exciting", use an iPhone for 3 months, then an Android phone for the next three, then a Pre, then a BlackBerry. That should keep you from getting bored. :D

Yes, there are plenty of improvements that could be made to Windows Mobile (and I've even produced large list of WM improvements), but calling WM boring is getting, well, boring.

Steve

Stephen · 1 month ago

I am also using a 2 years old Tilt and wanting to upgrade. I actually don't think $149 is an outrageous price while the Tilt 2 is going for $299. 2 years ago I paid $299 for my Tilt. What I also found was while new contract price is $0.01 at Amazon, equipment upgrade price is $75 there which is half of what you have to paid at AT&T.

badersk · 1 month ago

Amazon is also offering the Tilt2 for 149.00 on an upgrade or 99 for a new contract. This makes it competetive in my opinion. I will probably go for the tilt2 because of the bigger screen and keyboard. I am on the second week with the Pure and I really like it, but I just am not satisfied with a virtual keyboard. Thanks for you comment

scottwood2 · 1 month ago

Is the data plan now required at AT&T for life? I switched from V because they required it.

badersk · 1 month ago

The data plan is required for all smartphones, (to cover the subsidy I would imagine) for the length of the contract. I read where someone paid retail, popped in their sim and it worked without a changing their plan or adding data. But you would have to check with at&t to be sure.

svenj · 3 weeks ago

I just got a Pure myself. Was using a Tilt, then an Epix, and even an iPhone. This is a very nice little unit. Slight bit thicker than the iPhone, but overall smaller. The audio adapter bugged me too, but it was easy to find aftermarket headphones that plugged straight in and adapters that obviate that idiocy. (Let me hear an AMEN for 3.5mm headphone jack standard) Nobody ever mentions the FM radio. It works very well and has all the digital data stuff of fancy car radios. Only problem is it uses the headphone cord for the antenna. It won't even let you start the app without the earphones plugged in.

One gripe I have, not just on this phone though, is using regular icons for folders. Why couldn't apps and tools be folder icons with little pictures on them making it clear there is stuff behind them, and easier to find.

Do want to note that my initial sign on with this phone (text message from AT&T) noted that it needed a data plan and if I didn't have one, I would be signed up for one. In this case of course they new I bought the phone. If you don't buy it from AT&T, and slip a SIM in there, I don't know. Like the iPhone though, you would lose a lot of the fun without a data plan. Better off with a PDA and dumb phone, though that option is getting harder to come by.

pedaah · 3 weeks ago

I've got the Touch Diamond 2, waiting for HTC to come up with the ROM goods, but this is a sturdy and efficient phone, I've come from the tilt as well. You know it's a keeper!