Motorola Q
Phone Scoop Review
Jun 5, 2006 by Eric Lin
In Depth review of the highly-anticipated Motorola Q, the first EVDO Windows Mobile Smartphone and slimmest smartphone to date. read review ›
User Reviews
Average Ratings
Q for you?
I have been using this phone for several months, collecting emails from several accounts using outlook and IMAP, SMTP and web mail. Setup was not too difficult and shouldn't be for most users. It is surprisingly loud and clear with hardly any connection problems. Bluetooth earpeice was very effective. It does everything it was intended to do.
A few caveats; (1)once again, the battery life is surpisingly poor (even with the extended battery) and a charger in my office as-well-as home. Heaven forbid you turn on the Bluetooth, you can almost see the battery draining in your hands: (2) Once the battery starts to drain (and this is my second handset with alternate battery) all the apps get 'sticky' and are very time-consumingly slow to close or even spontaneously jump to different menus: (3) If you are collecting email from one of your major accounts(I have 4), don't even bother to jump to another task, the phone just lags and drags: (4) Do not add any unneccessary apps to the phone, they will cause the phone to slow down if it is doing TWO much!
As I said, this is a great phone for the talking mecca. I just wouldn't want to recommend it for businesses as a tool for roaming employees or anyone in IT.
Q-Notes
I can't give it a 5 because without an external antenna it can't get a perfect signal, but it does get enough of a signal in a weak area to where you can at least make a call or do a data connection. I had a V6700 for about 3 weeks and it drove me batty. It couldn't buy a signal for a thousand pounds of gold if you were in a weak signal area. The Q at least gets one bar in the same location. Everywhere is different, so if you are in a really really bad to no signal area no phone will help you. But based on my experience with the 6700 and the Q, the Q, just as the Verizon rep at Circuit City told me, will get a better signal than any of the PDA's and from what I've seen he is correct. I haven't had time in the 3 weeks I've had the Q to download and use a lot of programs, but I bought it first to use as a phone/speakerphone, and it excels at this. The speakerphone is super-loud, and the earpiece is sufficiently loud, just like it's little bro the Razr. The intternet and email work well too, and the interface and keypad are fine even with my large fingers. If you want a great phone and are picky and also want to do internet/email without the limitations of the smaller screens and poor lighting, try this one.
As good as my last.
I had the V and loved it but one ting just bothered, the keyboard never wore out and kept making a click noise while I was typing.
Pros
: The screeen is LCD and very clear
: Windows Media Player
: QWERTY Keyboard
: Wifi & Non-Wifi internet
: Looks and feel great
: Keyboard was easy to use
: Live in Sac, CA and reception is always great even with speakerphone it is very clear.
Cons
: Bettery life, but I am always able to charge it before bed so it never has less than 2 lines
: I just wish they would not have kept that half in below the keyboard blank I mean would making the screen bigger kill them
Something to be added in the future models of this phone should be a slide out key board from the bottom to give bigger screen posibilities.
All in all this phone is great with the added memory (1GB) or with just the standard memory (60MB*). It can do so much while be very small and it is a very stable feeling phone and for $99.99 with a 2yr plan I don't think you could ask for more.
Review Mot after 3 weeks
I just completed a 3 weeks intensive use of the Motorola Q and found it disappointing. I love the form factor and the sexy slim design, but the OS is disappointing compared to the PALM OS. Not surprisingly since, Microsoft OS is memory intensive and you feel it switching from one application to another; there is a response lag. It takes 2 sec for the camera to come on, so the moment is gone. Another thing lacking is difficulty in closing application. There is no easy way of closing application in one easy kill operation. I find myself compensating by pointing the Task Manager to a quick launch key. After a session, I would launch the Task Manager to Kill all application to free some memory. Well at the end of the day, I am going through withdraw from switching from Palm to Win. My biggest grip is the slow response. So, Plam if you will take me back, I shouldn't have broken up with you- Win was just a fing.
Pro:
Form factor: slim and sexy and pretty
Nice screen, 1.3 meg camera
Spearphone is clear and loud
Cons:
OS- not responsive due to memory
Navigation awkward - lots of click to complete one task
VDO player memory intensive so not fluid
Battery life- weak!
No WIFI
Great Phone first PDA 2nd
Title says it all. This is a very good phone. Speaker phone is great. PDA on this phone needs to only be used for reminder appts. E-mail works great. I do wish you could color code your appointments. ANYBODY KNOW HOW TO DO THIS?
LASTLY,
I also bought the TRE0 700P. Loved the software, but after having the Q, the TREO felt like a brick. The TREO speaker phone was really bad. It sounded like a lot of air coming out of it. VERY LOUD. I need the Q with PALM software. Let's hope.
Rx
Time to Stop!
I have tested this device and found it to be exactly what I needed. A Phone first and everything second. The email solution provided via active sync and wireless synch is ok for the average consumer user who only occasionally needs to check email, but as someone who has to constantly check email I use GoodLink for this option. I read a great deal of the reviews, as I have for the last 3 years, and everyone has their own expectations for the device. If you are trying to set an expectation in regard to the BlackBerry remember it is a different type of device for a different type of user. You can't compare Apple to the PC, because each has a different user base. This device requires the extended battery for the high powered user because with the demands for a slim device you are giving up power performance. I suggest to everyone be clear with what you need a device for and realistic with your expectations. They should be measurable and attainable instead of bashing a device because it is not what you expected. There will be those who find it to be great and those who don't, but keep an open mind because there are different users for every device.
Jury's Still Out-24 hours
I want to let you all know that "editor" is my job, but not at PhoneScoop. The people here do an amazing job keeping this board together. I am a broadcast cameraman(D.P.) and an AVID Editor. My attention to fine details is part of my DNA. That said, let's talk about the "Q"
My First impression of the "Q" is its remarkable size for the package. The keyboard feels pretty good. The sound level kills the old v710 and I thought the clarity was a bit "tower" dependent. Overall the sound was not bad.
There is definitely lag, especially when altering sounds. Where are the voice mail lights, whistles and bells? This phone is far inferior to the v710 in signal strength and dropping calls.
Active-Sync and this phone are a recipe for lost DATA. Make sure you back up your PST folder if you use Outlook. Having had this happen 10-15 times before you get to know a disaster in the brew. The PST file is your Outlook Data (everything). Active sync, IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL will default to only backing up partial data, and CAN wipe out MONTHS of calendar entries, and e-mails. Wireless Sync also needs to be paid close attention to.
Notes: Where are they?
Tasks: I have a calander & would rather have notes.
My screen looks great but most of the pre-programmed combos render the "Q" unreadable. DL of MP3 Ring tones to the phone is a snap.
The thumb-wheel is hit and miss. I believe it's a tad too small & stiff.
Using "Outlook" push sync to the "Q" is really a piece of cake. The ability to Pop 3 and Push from Outlook via Verizon wireless sync may be all I have, and so far it's been good.
HFL- IF you own an Acura RL and expect to see display information in the Dash Display, your going to be 50% disappointed. Battery strength show up but for me, I haven't seen ANY signal strength bar indication.
Pros:
Solid Build
Clear Screen
Semi-Push mail OK for non Exchange(r's)
Desk Stand Great
VZW Case good!
Cons:
Fringe Reception POOR
Navigation Tedious
HFL incomplete
Pretty Amazing Device
I haven't had any of the voice quality complaints that I read in a previous review. I'm not sure it's a Blackberry killer as it doesn't incorporate PUSH yet, but in my opinion it just crushes any PDA device I've ever used. It's a touch wider than my 6700 was, but not so much that it's tough to hold - and I have little mitts. It is outrageously thin and cellphone light - so much so that if you used one for a day and went back to a Treo or Blackberry I'd have to think you wouldn't be able to stand it. The keyboard is a little easier to use than the Palm, and while it doesn't incorporate a touch-screen, I've maneuvered it just fine so far. If you need a PDA to keep appointments, sync them, check e-mail, browse the web, and make telephone calls, there is simply no other option from Verizon that even comes close to this thing.
I dont see why everyone is crying!
Yup i too fell victim to the hype too. You Think its going to use the toilet for you and everything. But if you dont step back and realize its a "Smartphone" then i think you'll say "Well hell that phones pretty sweet."
Pros
-I actually dont mind the UI. For one the VZW Ui is very annoying... had one phone you had em all.. So to step away from this was great
-I actually like the scroll wheel. Yea i would like the touch screen too but its not that bad. Just takes time
-Intergration of programs is awesome... I have Pckt NES and my friend has it on his treo 650 and he agrees it just looks hella sharper on my moto.
Cons
-Lil wider than i originally thought.. But i had a sidekick before this so damn
-No touch screen... Would have thrown that in there but not bad.
-Screen is realllllly easy to scratch up
-Ui is a lil slow... Nothing REAL glitchy like most people complain... Just a split second to long for my taste
Get the phone... Everyone will have there own opinon... But for the Cost its the best out there hands down"!
"Q" best
I've had the Q for only a few days, but I love it! Beats the Treo 650/Cingular by far (and I'm guessing the Treo 700w/p as well).
As one reviewer had trouble with voice quality, mine is clear and loud. I'm very surprised and impressed with this phone. Don't know yet about battery life, but the 1.3 megapixel camera is surprisingly good for a camera phone. Bluetooth Plantronics 510 headset paired easily. Active Sync has put all my Outlook data on the phone. This truly is the phone I've been waiting about 4 years for. Sure it's a bit wide as one reviewer wrote, but very comfortable in the hand.
PROS:
QWERTY keyboard
very good 1.3 camera
processor is fast enough, no waiting
bright, beautiful screen
speaker phone loud
voice quality clear & loud
Bluetooth
Active Sync with Outlook
best network in my humble opinion
CONS:
NONE
