Introduction: Coming from years of using Palm OS, I've experimented with Windows CE and Windows Mobile hardware over the years. We Palm OS users tend to believe the Palm OS design is superior in terms of ease of use, but we still "lust" after newer and faster hardware. I currently own a Sprint branded UTStarcom 6700 or PPC6700. Verizon sells an almost identical unit (with some software crippled) called the xv6700. My review of the Windows Mobile platform is negative, and for each point I mention I'd love it if some Windows Mobile fan out there can tell me the correct way to do something I haven't been able to do-- or tell me the better way to achieve the same results. I'll, of course, update this page (or these pages) as I learn more. I'll also reveal what secrets I have learned about these devices. Some of my comments are specific to the 6700 device, but actually much of my trouble seems to be more operating system specific.

Top Ten Things To Hate About Windows Mobile:

10) Cut/Copy/Paste are not ubiquitous: Even when an input field is present that one can enter text into, one often cannot paste text. Example: I cannot paste a URL into Windows Media, but I can paste into some other text-aware applications. Any time you have an input field, it's impairative that the operating system enable you to paste whatever you have in the clipboard. This makes the entire OS useable (or not). This is especially important for handheld devices where the keyboards are cumbersome to use -- especially to enter long strings of text.

9) Some Text Fields Don't Allow Text Entry: Example: Go to Start, Settings, Connections, Wireless Lan, and click in the SSID field. The OS will set the "I" bar there, as if you can enter text, but none will enter in that field. You can try all day long, and get the same result. Solution for this specific issue: You need to use the "Network Cards" icon instead, then click new. Given that this is a new configuration, and not a new network card, this makes little sense to me.The worst part is that this item may not exist if you have the wireless card disabled. i.e. You have to enable the card to see the icon. The least Microsoft could have done is grey out fields that are not available, or better yet, display a message like "Dude, your wireless card is disabled, you need to enable it first."

8) By default, the 6700 does not sync time with the phone, and you cannot enable it under "Clock and Alarms" settings. This is a CDMA phone, which by its nature, requires precise network time in order to work. Why wouldn't someone want this feature on by default? For example, travelers should be able to get their new timezone update automatically when they enable the phone on the ground when this feature is enabled. I travelled 3 time zones in one day this month, and manually re-set the time in each place because I didn't know where this feature was hidden. Oh pardon me, you say, it's obviously under "Start-> Settings-> Personal ->Phone -> Services Tab -> (scroll down) Time Synchronization -> Click "Get Settings" button -> Check the box "Time Synchronize with mobile network automatically."

7) The 6700 has no built-in task manager (that's reasonable): Say you open a program like pocket Internet Explorer. You then go to the today screen, and decide to go back to IE. You go to the start bar, and select IE right?. Noooo, you just openned a second copy of IE. The default behavior on Windows mobile devices is to open another instance, even of programs that are already open. You say, "Just click the "X" close box?" Nope, the "X" box in Windows mobile has the function "minimize" and does not close anything by default. Workaround: You can see what you actually have running (albeit burried) under Start->Settings-> System -> Memory -> Running Programs Tab. Yes, you heard that procedure correctly. From there you can select a program, and "Activate" it which has the effect of switching to that program. You can also "Stop" one program, or all running programs with "Stop All." Good lord, remember this is a handheld device with finite memory. Why does anyone think this is a reasonable way to "manage the system." Solution: Virtually everyone I know that actually owns one of these devices runs a third party task manager. Programs like vBar, or MagicButton were written to try and address this obvious set of shortfalls. Some PDA manufacturers were smart enough to realize this very basic limitation, and saw fit to include a third party task manager. Trust me, the 6700 does not include one, and folks new to the Windows PDA will be confused and get poor performance.

6) Installing software can be a pain in the butt: Some Windows CE/Mobile programs include a desktop installer component that creates an add/remove programs entry, and a launchable icon under "Start-> Programs." This is all well and good, however, many just give you a ".cab" file that you need to manually copy to the device by putting it into the sync cradle, then open My Computer, My Mobile Device, My Windows-Mobile Based Device-> Temp (or other location you choose). You then open the file manager from the handheld device, and navigate to Temp, and click on the .cab file to install it. These are harder to install, and harder to use. In many cases, these programs don't create an icon under start ->programs on the device. In some cases the whole install requires you to drag a folder under the "programs" directory yourself, then create any necessary shortcuts. Finding and running programs after you installed them can be a totally non-trivial process.

5) The 6700 has no built in Launcher (that's reasonable): I'll buy that it's reasonable to have folks go to "Start Programs" to launch a program. Unfortunately, about half the time I need to open "File Explorer" and explore the file system of my device to launch my intended program. See #6 above for background on what types of programs I need to do this with. Examples include things like "minimo.exe" -- a CE derivitive of firefox/mozilla. There's several today screen plugins that allow one to have "easy" access to programs they use. For example, programs like CLaunch. None of these are easy to use. One needs to create a shortcut to the programs they use individually and drag to a specified folder to get these after-market launchers working. Oh for the drag-and-drop Windows 98 quick launch bar! The key message here is that no easy to use launcher is included. Virtually everyone who uses Windows CE/Mobile has an aftermarket launcher. And, yes, again some mobile devices come with an aftermarket launcher but the 6700 does not.

4) The Power Button is still confusing to me months after purchasing: The device does not turn off, but it does stop programs from running, except for functions like incoming calls. That's all good, but the device can "wake up" in your pocket if a notification goes off (or similar event) and then you can accidentally take an action because the screen is no longer locked. New firmware for the 6700 supposedly addresses this. Sometimes I tap the power, and the screen goes dark. I tap the screen and the backlight comes on (All good). Multiple times a day, my device doesn't come back when I tap the power (meaning the backlight doesn't come on). I then hold the power button, and tap it twice and it does come back. I gather holding power toggles the backlight. That could be all good, but I never intentionally toggle the backlight off (as this would make the device useless). Why it loses its backlight setting perpetually is beyond me. Perhaps I'm touching that button and holding it without realizing it? Workaround: Get and use "Mort Saver" which actually does exactly what I want-- saves the screen, and allows me to still do some things in the background-- like play music.

3) The "Old" Windows CE OS, used to simply lack things like "every 3 weeks"-- now fixed, but you still cannot set repeat reminder options: You need to "edit pattern" under occurs to get every 3 weeks but at least Windows Mobile 5 finally has this option. On Palm OS, I set all my appointments with 20-25 minute warning before, but then configure reminders every 5 minutes until I acknowledge it. No way to do this with Windows Mobile. You can set a reminder to ding once, or you can have it ding repeatedly until you acknowledge it -- which "dings" every few seconds driving me nuts. This is really annoying-- not the end of the world though. My 6700 prior to the ROM update would not do the reminder dings at all. Not until I updated my ROM could I get reminder "dings." If you ask me, all of these devices are first and foremost are a calendar and a phonebook tied to your cell phone. Given the importance of the calendar and contacts functions, you'd think they'd get all this working (at least as well as Palm had done years ago).

2) The buttons on this device accidentally get hit all of the time: For me, just slipping this thing into its cradle requires me to grab it from both sides, and press down. Doing so very occassionally hits the camera button, IE button, and sound recorder button. The basic design flaw here is although the left-hand side has 3 buttons at the top, the right hand side has only one, which they put at the bottom. This means you cannot easily grab the device at the top, or the bottom without depressing a button. At least I know the designers weren't insane, the camera button was placed where it is to accomodate taking pictures and having the button in a "normal place" when in landscape orientation. There is a "sweet spot" about where the IR receiver is that enables you to grab it on both sides without pressing anything, but it's hard to consistently get it.

1) Hard to dial (touch screen is most accessible, but still not super-usable). Sliding out the keyboard to dial a number is definitely not a one handed activity. This one tends to get you when you most need it to work. If you are calm, and move slowly, you seem to be able to hit the soft keyboard correctly without issue. If you are in a hurry, and really need to dial a number, this thing can make you want to throw it like a brick into a wall.

Other Annoying things:

- After years of testing, I cannot say Microsoft Windows CE/Mobile can be sync'd reliably. In older versions of Windows CE OS, I could sync at home, then go to work (where the device had not been seen), and have the blank work environment over-write my PDA without warning. Microsoft finally fixed this by making the default "combine data" when different-- thank you! Unfortunately, my device has lost its syncing relationship with my PC's for reasons that are unclear to me repeatedly. In the mundane case, ActiveSync complains, and I simply cannot sync until I go through some troubleshooting which usually involves deleting my device, and re-adding it again. Lately, twice, the active sync software has given me every indication that it is working, including status display showing records changing which upon further inspection do not occur. For example, tonight I added a mobile number to a family member's contact info on the device, then sync'd and Outlook didn't "notice" the change. This has happened to me more than once, and burned me. When I "know" I have a valid sync, I may choose to hardware reset the device to get a clean slate and re-build-- which may not be truly necessary, but because of application compatibility issues, I tend to do this after a few applications fail in inexplicable ways (then avoiding those applications in the future).

- Active Sync not internet aware: Palm OS was doing this years before Windows CE. For that matter, Eudora for Palm OS was doing SSL years before CE. Anyway, old versions of active sync can sync over the internet to a desktop PC (just like Palm OS can). ActiveSync 4 and higher cannot sync unless you have an exchange server (which I do not). They took away the feature because they want you to buy exchange server, or complain to your system admin. Microsoft would not have done this if Palm was still a serious contender. Ever since the Treo 700 shipped with Windows Mobile I knew the game with Palm was over. Palm shipping a hardware device with Windows Mobile is akin to Apple deciding to make MS Windows the default OS on the next PowerMacintosh. Hope this never happens! Note too that modern ActiveSync only allows syncing with two PC's. Since I use several (and have for years with Palm OS), it seems odd to limit this. For argument sake, assume the user has desktops at home and at work, plus a travel laptop. I don't think it's that odd that they might want to sync with 3 PCs but I suspect I have unrealistic expectations. Note that Palm OS has no limit in this regard.

- Application Compatibility is an Issue: Windows Mobile 5 is compatible with some older Windows Mobile and Windows CE applications, but not all. If you go out and find a game for your phone, and download, and install it, you pretty much have to try it to see if it works. If it fails, you need to remove it. If you're not sure you removed all of the components of the failed software, you may choose to do a hardware reset then not re-load the offending software. In some ways it would be really nice to know in advance what works and what doesn't. I don't think this is Microsoft's fault, or an easy problem to solve. It's endemic, but it still hurts and effects the usability of the device. I mean the fact that there's no real way to know what works until you try it.

- Gets too busy to respond: It's possible to "wedge" your CE device to the point where it goes really slow. In some cases because you ran something not compatible, in other cases because you openned the same resource intensive program 4 times (see #7 above). When it gets slow, you can hit the same button too many times and get undesired effects. i.e. Normally, taping the "end call" or "hangup" button gets you the today screen, and holding it down selects "flight mode" which turns off your phone. If the phone is too busy to respond, and you tap "hangup" more than once hoping to get back to the "today" screen you'll accidentally turn off your phone. I did this repeatedly when I first bought the phone and from my point of view it seemed like it was simply turing itself off. This was almost a deal-breaker for me until I found a registry hack that disables the tie between "hangup" and "flight-mode." (Flight mode turns off the phone).

- General Management Issues: You have to worry about how large your outlook email is on your device, and how much cache your browser is using, and you need a tool to really dismiss reminders that stack up (see "scary bears" application "Check Notifications") which can help speed up your device if it has gotten really slow over time. This is one helluva hands-on device. The amount of time I spend, which I consider necessary, tweaking this device to get the functionality I need is almost not worth it.

- Hard to "hard reset" and get everything back.

- No free password saving program with a desktop component.

- No Replacement for Rick Whitt's awesome "Directory Assistant" - I literally lived in this application when I had a Treo. I'd look up numbers here instead of dialing 411, and since I tend to use the same numbers often, I almost always "copied to addressbook" with a single click after a lookup. I cannot find any PocketPC or Windows mobile equivelent to this, even for money. This thing even included driving directions and other cool features.

I do like quite a few things about Windows Mobile and the 6700. I'll add my favorite 10 soon (see below). For starters I can say that playing streaming internet radio on my phone is pretty cool. i.e. gsplayer and point your pocket IE to "shoutcast.com." TCPMP can also allow one to view video and audio stored on a memory card. At the moment I have a Harry Potter film and Kiko's delivery service on my card. (which I purchased). Bear in mind, the Palm Treo has less annoyances and can do these too.

I wrote all of this up in one session that took me about two hours on 3/28/06. In other words, this is not a complete list of issues I've seen, just the most prominent ones off the top of my head. Feel free to contact me with feedback.

Things to like about Windows Mobile and the PPC6700

- Multitasking- Yes, even a small handheld device can multitask, and Yes, it really it really is useful. Example is listening to mp3 music streaming from an internet radio station while checking your email, or browsing the web on the phone.

- Web Browsers that Really work - The free Internet Explorer is really not bad. In addition, one can get something called "Minimo" which is like a miniature firefox browser, complete with tabbed browsing (all free). If you spend some money, there are several commercial browsers for this phone which are truly amazing. Netfront seems to be the absolute best for me. Some folks rave about thunderhawk. Most of even the commercial options have 30 day demos so you can see for yourself before paying cash. I find there really isn't any web page I want to view that cannot be rendered by my 6700. At that point the screen resolution is the major limitation (which actually is really major). Note that having used Palm for years, including Treo 650, I never found a browser that worked as well -- even the ones you can buy.

- EVDO Data voice priority: I have EVDO speed data (even in Eugene OR) thanks to Sprint. The best part about EVDO on Sprint is that if a voice call comes in it automatically suspends your data connection and lets you take the call. The two are not simultaneous, but you can continue the data connection once off the phone.

- "Killer Applications" - There's a Skype mobile client, which when used with wired headset, actually works quite well over wifi, or even EVDO. The point being is that you can make Internet phone calls without using your minutes. In my case, I have more cellular minutes than I need, so the real advantage of Skype on my phone is the ability to call US phone numbers from an Internet Cafe outside the US. Skype is free for download, and won't bill you for phone any phone calls until January (unlimited free calling promo). Unfortunately, these guys make you pay for $10 in Skypeout credit before you can make even one free phone call (what a racket). Watch TV on your phone without a TV subscription if you have unlimited data plan, and if you have a DVR at home you can also control it. It's called slingbox (www.slingmedia.com) and the windows mobile client works. Virtual Earth (ala google local, only better), Terminal Services client (control your desktop PC remotely), wififum - wifi finder, pocket streets with a bluetooth GPS ( I got mine on ebay for about $80- "holux").

- Sprint Force Roam Option - This one is pretty specific to my needs, but possibly the only Sprint phone that cannot force roaming is the Treo. The PPC6700 can force roaming, and this is very useful especially when you're relying on a mediocre cell phone provider like Sprint. I use this to make my phone work when I need it to (which unfortunately, happens all too often on Sprint). Note that I would leave Sprint in a heartbeat, but their data prices are the only ones I think are reasonable, and their data service really does work well. Oddly, I can get on their data service even in places where I cannot complete a phone call due to weak signal.

- ADB Weather (or SPB Weather) - This is a today screen plugin that automatically downloads a weather forecast for your city. It even includes graphics (pictures of clouds or sun etc.). I really like this program, and am not aware of any Palm equivelent.

- The Today screen works well, and if you get the free calendar+ add-on, you can see multiple days of appointments in advance. i.e. My today screen has: Date and time, weather forecast, email status, tasks (high and normal priority), and my calendar.