Smartphone Thoughts: Motorola Q: The Trendsetter

Final Thoughts
Kris: Overall do you miss the hump-phone? How does it rate compared to the typical non-QWERTY Smartphones.

Jerry: I am no longer using the hump-phone, I have the clamshell 3125 now. I have found myself using the non-QWERTY Smartphone less and less, and the Q more and more. With all the texting and emailing I do, the QWERTY keyboard makes a huge difference!

Kris: What about the eternal debate about Moto's decision to go with the Smartphone OS instead of the Pocket PC? Do you think that by including the touch screen they could have made this device more powerful.

Jerry: No, I think a touch screen would have made it a two handed device and a bit more awkward to use.

Kris: I agree. Also the touch screen would have added to the overall cost; by keeping the production costs down, Moto and Verizon have been able to offer this device at a very affordable rate. Plus I consider the touch screen and the use of stylus a hassle; it slows down the single handed use. I do wish that Moto and Microsoft had done a better job at integrating the scroll wheel; I still am forced to use the softkey below the screen for the menus. Making the scroll wheel a rocking switch is one way to improve things.

Jerry: Rocking switch?

Kris: Like the scroll wheel you see on some desktop mouse. It lets you scroll up and down. You can push down to click but you can swing the scroll wheel to the left and right, usually to scroll the screen left to right. In case of the Smartphone, it can be used to trigger left and right soft key clicks. How does that sound?

Jerry: Awesome!

Kris: The other thing I wish it had and I have mentioned earlier is that it needs some text copy-paste functionality. I know there are some third-party applications that are available now, but the Windows Mobile OS needs to enable this functionality. The lack of Pocket PC OS is not felt, at least for me, because I don't edit any of the Office documents, I only view them when I receive some as an attachment; for that the viewers do a fine job, actually a better job than the actual Mobile Office applications. Actually for me more than the Pocket PC and Smartphone OS debate, I think that now Microsoft needs to improve the Windows Mobile platform to make better use of the keyboard, scroll wheel and the landscape screen.

Jerry: You're a cry baby! You can't ever be happy! ;-)

Kris: I know software and hardware take time to evolve. Motorola has certainly taken the hardware platform for the Smartphone to a new level; I think Microsoft has some catching up to do. I would like to see what they are doing for the next generation of Windows Mobile.

Jerry: Yeah, there is always the future. The good thing is that Moto released the MSFP update that enables the push email and remote wipe. The new ROM also takes care of a few issues. Flight Mode in settings has been replaced by "Wireless Manager." You can also now use the Q as a Modem, though it will cost you an extra $15 per month. Overall it is fun to watch the email arrive in the Smartphone inbox faster than the desktop's inbox. The QWERTY thumb-board and push email will definitely energize the Q sales and also popularize the Windows Mobile Smartphone platform in the CrackBerry world.

Kris: Hey, you know what? Moto released the update faster than our review. :) It was a long wait but worth the wait. I love the push email and thanks to the QWERTY keyboard, I can send the response as quickly as I receive them. Now that I have returned the review unit, I must admit that I am missing the Q. I never thought I would like a device with a QWERTY keyboard because I always thought they would be big, plus I had seen all those executives who hold their BlackBerry, Treos or Pocket PC Phone Edition bricks to their ears and look silly. I never wanted to be one of them. Moto has definitely redefined the category; decent QWERTY, fast EV-DO speed, push e-mail and gorgeous screen, all in a super-compact and cool looking package, what more could I ask for?

Jerry: How about the GSM version of the Q?

Conclusions
We enjoyed doing this review and hope you enjoyed reading it. As you can see we both like the Q and commend Motorola for taking the lead and being innovative, for taking the Smartphone platform to a new height. We will be seeing a lot of Moto Q wannabes in the near future but Moto Q will be remembered as the trend setter and one of the best in its class.

Jerry Raia is a Contributing editor for Smartphone Thoughts. When not flying airplanes he is playing with Smartphones and Pocket PC�s. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

Kris Kumar is a software engineer with expertise in Microsoft technologies and developer tools. He lives with his wife in Rochester, New York, USA.