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Siemens SX66
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Author:  Cyrus Rex [ Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Siemens SX66
Do any of you guys know anything about the Siemens SX66? >>>Demo

Danyale and I are thinking about dropping our land line and picking a family cell plan that costs the same as our land+1cell. We are going to change carriers so I need to get a new cell phone... at the same time my old palm m500 is getting outdated so I think I would love to get the Siemens SX66 to replace both. Do you guys know anything about the SX66?

I have never been the type to surf the web on my old phone, so I was thinking I would not need a data plan... all though MS messenger over my PDA-phone seems tempting. I was thinking I could do without the data plan and just hop on the WiFi signal at LSU, or at my house. I think I can do that and bypass the charges of the data plan.

I love the idea of syncing my phone with Outlook. I love the idea of sharing my contacts between my PC and my phone. I love the idea of having my outlook today screen on my phone showing all my tasks, appointments, emails, and missed calls. I am an organize freak, and I think this will be a dream come true.

I tested an SX66 out at a local store, and I did not find it to be too big and bulky. I actually found it to be a good size considering it to be a full on PDA. The slide out keyboard and the device as a whole seemed solid. What I need to do is make a call on it to see how it sounds on both ends. I may try that later this week when finals are over.

Anyway, I think I really want to buy the Seimens SX66, but I want to run it by you guys to see if you know something I don’t.
Author:  Golga Bolg [ Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:20 pm ]
Post subject: 
I apologize for this post, since I know nothing about the phone you are referring to. I personally have been a Blackberry user for over a year now, and I like it a lot. (Sync with outlook, wireless email and phone, etc.)

On an even further offtopic note, HERE is an very interesting smartphone (if you prefer the MS OS on phone), except that it won't be available until some time in 2006.

Just some interesting stuff to distract you.
Author:  bigyak [ Tue Aug 02, 2005 6:12 pm ]
Post subject: 
I love my CrackBe... er, Black Berry. It's great, though the data cost is painful. We gave up land lines a year ago, and the only painful part is faxing... though there are many ways around that.

I haven't used that phone, but I found that I never send IMs from my cell/bb, nor am I ever in the mood to do so. Every once in a while, I follow "Yak's 54321 plan of guaranteed spousal love" and send an SMS to my wife's phone... but I do it through sprintpcs.com, as that's free.

The best thing I've found is the automatic remote wireless synching with Outlook (best. feature. ever.) and looking up rss feeds online. I don't use an RSS reader, rather, I went to mobilerss.net and set up everything through there... easiest/cheapest way to do it. I spent 20 minutes on those every day... better than a newspaper. I never send pics or movies through the phones... no time when I'm on the move (and last time I tried it, there was like a 2 minute upload time for a tiny pic.)

Long story short, don't put too much stock in IM or camera. Web connection is nice, but wireless automatic outlook synching is awesome.
Author:  Cyrus Rex [ Tue Aug 02, 2005 6:49 pm ]
Post subject: 
Yeah yak I am not into the cameras. There is no comparison to their phone pics and the ones from a real camera. Besides I have a good camera now…. And when I get a job I will be springing for a great camera because I love packing pics. Other worldly versions of the SX66 aka blue angle have a camera and no WiFi. I am glad that the US version Cingular choose has the WiFi instead of the camera. Kudos to it for having the better hardware configuration.


Image Image
What I like about this phone more than the Blackberry ones I have seen is the fact that this phone has a full screen, and the keyboard does not take up screen real-estate. That is a big plus to me, because I don’t see myself using the qwerty keyboard very often, therefore I don’t want it in the way 100% of the time. The keyboard on this phone slides out when needed and slides away when not needed. I like that! I was worried that it would loosen up… but after checking a real one out at the store, I was convinced it was put together well and would probably stay tight for a long time. I my good friend handles all the Blackberry’s supplied to bigwigs at LSU. I may need to call him for inside info.

I think I can get away with no data plan by hopping on the WiFi signals at school, home, and one day at work. I don’t see myself needing the web outside of those places, so I want to see if I can get away without a data plan. The girl at the store had no idea about hopping on an existing 802.11b. She did not know the difference between Bluetooth and 80211.b and was saying something about needing a laptop to go through. I am hoping she is just clueless. The spces say:
specs wrote:
Bluetooth® / WiFi
The SX66 Pocket PC Phone comes equipped with the latest in wireless communication. Users can now access their information not only at work and home, but also at airports and other travel destinations. With options such as Bluetooth®, IrDA, USB, and WiFi, this mobile device keeps users connected.
  • Connectivity: WiFi (802.11b), Bluetooth®, USB, and wireless data transfer via infrared interface (IrDA)

I would love it if I can get online via the WiFi signal and not have to worry about getting a data plan. However I am not sure how email will work with that setup.

One thing I am worried about is that this phone uses a Windows Mobile 2003 2ed OS. I would be more comfortable if it used the newer Windows Mobile 5.0. I haven’t fooled around with connecting to my home WiFi nor LSU WiFi, so I want something that sets up easy, and 5.0 sounds very easy.
Author:  Ducky [ Tue Aug 02, 2005 9:46 pm ]
Post subject: 
If you go to this web page they have lots of very good info on a lot of phones. http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/ Also if you have any question about Cingular or any other phone let me know I am a Cingular dealer.[/url]
Author:  Cyrus Rex [ Wed Aug 03, 2005 11:58 am ]
Post subject: 
Ducky, I sent you a Private Message with a few questions.

Thanks for the website link. Realy good place.
Author:  Ducky [ Wed Aug 03, 2005 12:54 pm ]
Post subject: 
Ok I just sent you the info I hope that helps and I will have the rest of the info later on today.
Author:  bigyak [ Sat Aug 06, 2005 3:46 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hey, does anyone know if this (or another phone) acts as a wireless router? I would love to have one of these in my pocket, then be able to synch with my laptop's wireless card.. and charge my neighbors in the airpot $5 for the same service. :)
Author:  Ducky [ Sun Aug 07, 2005 11:09 am ]
Post subject: 
I do not know of any phone that will do that.
Author:  matija [ Sun Aug 07, 2005 12:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
bigyak wrote:
Hey, does anyone know if this (or another phone) acts as a wireless router? I would love to have one of these in my pocket, then be able to synch with my laptop's wireless card.. and charge my neighbors in the airpot $5 for the same service. :)


Not exactly tyhe same, but I know a lot of phones (like the Sony Ericsson 700i) have an IR connection to your laptop so you can connect to the Internet. I think you can also use BlueTooth for that. Then I suppose you would formally only need to configure your computer so that it would share the connection wirelessly. I mean the wireless card is a transmitter and receiver anyway...
Author:  Cyrus Rex [ Wed Aug 17, 2005 10:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
Well I ordered it today. Amazon.com has a $150 mail in rebate if you also buy a new plan. That puts the price lower than a Cingular.com and all the local Cingular stores.
Author:  Cetera [ Thu Aug 18, 2005 8:07 am ]
Post subject: 
bigyak wrote:
Hey, does anyone know if this (or another phone) acts as a wireless router? I would love to have one of these in my pocket, then be able to synch with my laptop's wireless card.. and charge my neighbors in the airpot $5 for the same service. :)


You might be interested in this little gizmo, Yak:
http://www.convergedigest.com/WiFi/wlan ... p?ID=15631

I believe it will be available in Sept.
Author:  bigyak [ Thu Aug 18, 2005 11:52 am ]
Post subject: 
Oh, yeah.

That's the fershneezie. I'm gonna grab me one of those.
Author:  Cyrus Rex [ Mon Aug 22, 2005 3:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
So I heard a loud truck drive up to my house, I looked out the window and there were the big brown UPS truck. Wanting to play it cool, I took a deep breath and waited a minute before running out the house. One must use self control and not revert to inner teenage girl who wants to jump, dance, and hug the UPS guy.

As I rounded the corner I saw the truck begin to drive off. At first I wanted to chase after the truck like a psycho girlfriend, knowing that if I cut through some yards and over a few fences I could beat him to the nationhood entrance. However it is freaking hot and jumping fences is a sure way to get my un-athletic ass in a full body cast. So instead of allowing my emotions to do my thinking, I choose to keep my cool. I looked around to see if he placed the package around my front door. Nothing. Not behind the plant, not inside the glass door, not on the steps.

I had noticed a new UPS pattern over the last few months. The drivers no longer drive around the loop when they are finished; they now back up in a driveway and turn around. Could this have been a false alarm? Worse yet, had my innocent SX66 been delivered to the wrong house?

So I rush over to the neighbors house, checking to see that if the numbers are still affixed to the front of my house. They were still there, and legible from the road. The neighbor’s truck was missing, a rare event. That guy is a greedy techno UPS fend, he is always home, and he always has all kinds of techno gear delivered. He makes me so jealous. He would surely recognize the value of a SX66 and keep it for himself. Taking advantage of him not being home, I look into his porch…No dice, the neighbor had a huge box, not the 4.0lb package of technological joy I was expecting.

Sad, and defeated I return to the safety of my air-conditioned house, and catch my breath. What could have gone wrong? The package flew into New Orleans early this morning, which is only like an hour away. Surely the UPS guys would have their shit together and not drive all the way out to my neighborhood more than once this afternoon.

So I do what any one would do... pull up the tracking data for the 157th time today. It reads: Expected Arrival Date Aug 23.
Author:  bigyak [ Mon Aug 22, 2005 4:49 pm ]
Post subject: 
:D
Author:  Cyrus Rex [ Tue Aug 23, 2005 6:24 pm ]
Post subject: 
First WiFi post with my new phone ! its cool goofing off with my WLAN. I still need to go get my cell service set up, then flash the ROMs so I can get started adding better programs.

Of course typing this would be much faster if I used the real keyboard sitting right in front of me... but the real sweetness will be tomorrows post from class. If I can check out the forums inside the classroom, this WiFi phone will be well worth the cost.
Author:  Golga Bolg [ Tue Aug 23, 2005 6:40 pm ]
Post subject: 
Remember to pay SOME attention to class. You are paying for it remember.
Author:  bigyak [ Tue Aug 23, 2005 6:51 pm ]
Post subject: 
Golga Bolg wrote:
Remember to pay SOME attention to class. You are paying for it remember.


Bah. You're paying for the diploma, not anything some stupid teacher says. 8) :wink:
Author:  Cyrus Rex [ Tue Aug 23, 2005 9:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
I am not the type to disrespect a teacher like that. But I will use it when I am waiting for class to start, or if the teacher sends us an email while I am in the car on my way to school... I can check my email before class and get whatever attachments printed out before class starts. Parking is a pain in the ass, so I usually get to school way before class starts.

I have always wanted the cable news and Outlook today page displayed inside my mirror in the morning when I am shaving and getting dressed. This phone is the next best thing as far as that is concerned.... instead of showing me my messages as I get dressed, it will show them to me as I enter the campus.

Of course I could wake up earlier and check my mail on my PC like a normal person, but that isn’t nearly as cool, and it does not solve the problem email that gets sent while I am driving. :)
Author:  Cyrus Rex [ Wed Aug 24, 2005 9:00 am ]
Post subject: 
ok, this post is from class. Not the best signal, but it works.
Author:  X2-PB [ Thu Aug 25, 2005 4:44 am ]
Post subject: 
Cyrus Rex wrote:
Of course typing this would be much faster if I used the real keyboard sitting right in front of me....
There is an advantage to this you know, it means that your posts are far shorter and therefore quicker and easier to read :D:P
Author:  bigyak [ Sat Sep 24, 2005 12:54 pm ]
Post subject: 
Cyrus,

Sooo....

How's the phone? My old one just broke, and I'm thinking of getting a full MP3/BlackBerry/Cellphone/Digital Camera replacement all at once...


Anyone else,
If you could have any phone/pda, what would it be?
Author:  Ducky [ Sat Sep 24, 2005 1:10 pm ]
Post subject: 
Get the Palm Treo 650..
Author:  Golga Bolg [ Sat Sep 24, 2005 1:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
bigyak wrote:
Cyrus,

Sooo....

How's the phone? My old one just broke, and I'm thinking of getting a full MP3/BlackBerry/Cellphone/Digital Camera replacement all at once...


Anyone else,
If you could have any phone/pda, what would it be?


I have the Blackberry 7700 series. It has a larger screen than the standard unit, and really is only slightly bigger.

The newer Blackberries have Bluetooth (for the earpiece mainly), and are slightly deeper.

I LOVE the Blackberry, and if your firm has a BES (Blackberry Enterprise Server) then the integration with Outlook (and some others I believe) is quite remarkable.

I understand that Blackberry is going to be releasing a new version (codenamed Electron), which you in the US are likely to get your hands on first pretty soon. I don't know all the features, but it might be very interesting.

The Blackberry's best features are it's great email, internet access, and outlook intergration and battery life. It's weakest features are the availability of 3rd party apps (although there is some selection), no camera to date, no MP3, and some people find the phone (not using the earpiece) a bit awkward.
Author:  bigyak [ Sat Sep 24, 2005 1:44 pm ]
Post subject: 
I'm going through reviews on them all online.

It looks like the Palm Treo 650 is leading the pack... but just barely. I've never been a huge Palm fan... and as I spend a lot of time doing .Net development, I'd like to be able to just build programs from my phone whener I want (and so would prefer a Windows Mobile system).

I guess I want:
- 2GB (or card space for 2GB) of space to listen to MP3 Audio Books
- Wireless automatic email synching
- Preferably Sprint network
- WiFi connectivity
- Preferably Bluetooth earbud so that I look like a star trek dork (the wife thinks it's sexy)
- No camera (sounds funny, but I do military work)
- Windows Mobile

Any suggestions? I'll reexamine the 650... as I know I can't have everything on the list...
Author:  bigyak [ Sat Sep 24, 2005 1:57 pm ]
Post subject: 
Golga Bolg wrote:
I have the Blackberry 7700 series. It has a larger screen than the standard unit, and really is only slightly bigger.


Golga, thanks, I'll check that out. I setill have a 3-series Blackberry, but I use it constantly. It's amazing with the BES server... synching email and appointments saves me considerable time, especially when travelling.

I work for a retired Air Force general who was the one who sponsored giving RIM permission to work in the US... pretty cool, as he gets all the new phones for free. :)

I'll check out that new Electron, or ask my boss if he has any suggestions on new things that are coming out soon...
Author:  Golga Bolg [ Sat Sep 24, 2005 2:12 pm ]
Post subject: 
I searched the web and presumably these are the attributes of the Electron (8700):

http://www.blackberryforums.com/showthread.php?t=15006 wrote:
1. EVDO +BB and EDGE + BB device for Verizon (Sprint) and Cingular respectively.
2. GPS and IM builtin (Carrier fee applies)
3. faster processor + 64MB RAM
4. Better - more native - attachment viewing
5. No camera, no wifi, no VOIP.
6. Classic form factor + sleeker design, speakerphone
7. In testing now: Due out in Oct/ Nov from Verizon, Cingular and Sprint/Nextel.
Author:  Cyrus Rex [ Sun Sep 25, 2005 4:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
I love my phone. I really put it to the test with this last hurricane, and it kicked ass. When all other forms of internet access were down as well as cable and electricity, I could still connect with my SX66 and check the weather.

Having many of my school files (PDF, Word, Excel) has come in more handy than I would have ever realized. One example would be two weeks ago when I lost my TI-89 calculator. I did not even know it was missing until my highway professor broke out a quiz on us. I thought I was screwed without my calculator…. But then I opened up excel and modified a spreadsheet I had used for homework the other night. After adding a few more formulas for the new material, and entering my given data, I had all the answers to the whole quiz in seconds.

Also I love rocking the free WiFi spots. There is something about being able to do something for free when everyone else has to pay for the exact same thing. I have used my home and school WiFi in countless ways that I would have never even guessed as applicable before I bought my phone. I even used it the other day when Danyale made me come with her to get her nails done. Some business around there had an open WiFi signal so I jumped on the internet to pass the time.

I also love being able to send email from anywhere. I have it set up to auto receive my mail when I am inside a WiFi network. For my GPRS account I have it set to manual send and receive so that I don’t get unwanted charges. (I have the cheap media plan). Danyale can not always answer her phone when she is doing a loan for member, but she can see new incoming email. She can even reply to be without members even catching on. So rather than call her to see if she can do lunch, I email before I leave school. Then I use GPRS to email her when I pull up in the parking lot to let he know to I am ready and waiting.

I have only briefly fooled around with mp3s. I took the 1gig SD card out my camera and put a few CDs on it. It worked well. I have Windows Media Player 10 on my SX66 so it is cool being able to watch movies. I did not buy the SX66 for music or movies, so I have not spent much time playing with them. However the other day I was in a group meeting explaining some things I wanted our group to do for our upcoming presentation. I could tell some of the guys were not buying my idea because they were confused. We were not near the computer lab, and I knew of a video on our class website that would better show them what I was wanting. I logged in, and in a minute I was playing the video and they could see what I was talking about. They liked the idea, as well as my phone.

My friend works for LSU and he is in charge of setting up all the faculty’s blackberries and other devices. I called him a while back to get some LSU network settings, and he demanded that I bring my phone over so he and his coworkers could check it out. He said I was one of 3 people he knows on campus with the SX66. Two doctors were using them to send off prescriptions and some doctor software that was being designed here at LSU. He did not get to play with the doctors SX66 as much as he wanted, so when I brought mine over he hogged it for half a day. My friend said the SX66 is so much better than the other devices he worked with. He played with it forever and pointed out several things he liked much better than his blackberry. I think his most favorite thing was the fact that it ran on a windows OS. Evidently it can be configured much easier than the devices he works with. He said the applications available to me were so much better than those used by the faculty. He loved being able to work with word excel and PDF. He liked my full screen and the way the input methods did not take up so much room. He liked how I could switch to wide screen when I worked with spreadsheets or the internet.

He did say it was big. But we both agreed it was worth it.

I highly recommend you flash your phone with the ROMs available from the Blue Angle Standardization Project. Now that I have flashed my Radio ROM I have flawless Bluetooth reception. I use a Bluetooth speaker phone in my car, and it has worked very well. The other ROMs made very nice improvements to my phone. I did however take out the magic button program that was included in the Extended ROM package. I did not like that added application.

MS voice command is cool. It cant pronounce my last name worth a crap, but when I tell it to call Danyale it does with no problems. You can get it and other programs on eMule.
Author:  bigyak [ Mon Sep 26, 2005 7:25 am ]
Post subject: 
Cyrus Rex wrote:
MS voice command is cool. It cant pronounce my last name worth a crap, but when I tell it to call Danyale it does with no problems. You can get it and other programs on eMule.


Microsoft doesn't speak Cajun? Who woulda thunk it? Hmmm.. "Rex" doesn't sound too hard. :)

Thanks for the review... very good words. I'm pulling that one up for a second look.
Author:  Cyrus Rex [ Sun Oct 02, 2005 7:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
I checked out my cousin's Treo this weekend at the wedding we attended in Huntsville AL. My cousin said my SX66 was not as big as some pics made it seem.... I compared the two and mine was heaver and larger than the Treo. The Treo seemed nice and light, but that made me feel it was not as solid. It is probably just as well made as anything else; I am just not comfortable with the hollow feel. Danyale’s original Nokia was the same way and we brought it back.

He said that he wished his was a windows OS, and he liked how my keyboard slid in and out. I don’t use my the keyboard much preferring to use the stylus, but he was more of a qwerty kind of guy and really liked it.

I would say the Treo is more of a phone, where the SX66 is more of a PDA. But the both seemed good. I walked away still preferring mine, but I could see cases where the Treo’s size and weight may win out.

***
That being said, I am in the process of porting my old home number to a third cell. It is nice being able to swap sim cards with a pure cell phone when the situation permits…like while I was at the wedding. I imagine when I go to the lake or beach I would rather risk damaging my regular cell than my expensive SX66.
Author:  Golga Bolg [ Sun Oct 02, 2005 9:20 pm ]
Post subject: 
Cyrus Rex wrote:
He said that he wished his was a windows OS, and he liked how my keyboard slid in and out. I don’t use my the keyboard much preferring to use the stylus, but he was more of a qwerty kind of guy and really liked it.


He'd probably be interested in THIS.
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