T-Mobile MDA Vario Review

Overall Rating

Good size, clear touch screen.
Slide out QWERTY keyboard
Windows based software
The ONLY gadget you'll need

Build quality a little dodgy
Stylus
Size of keys
Running speed
Camera resolution and lens

For the last few years, I've carried a mobile phone, laptop and PDA when out and about on business and this is both inconvenient and slightly embarrassing. Who wants to look like a mobile electrical store anyway? About a year ago, after a month of waiting, I managed to get an MDA Vario and it has really changed my life. (I mean that)

This phone is a wonder. A little box of tricks, that does so much more than you would think. I have it on a T-mobile account, which also includes Web N Walk. It is always connected to the internet, logging into both my work and home email accounts every 10 minutes to check for new arrivals. I can access the web at any time through GPRS, and can even stream music and video using the built in version of Wimdows media player! I have MSN Messenger and Hotmail wherever I am; the office can send me an instant message instead of calling me and this makes life so easy. There is a built in camera, but with only 1.3MP, dodgy optics and a rather underpowered LED light, this is more a gimick then a useful tool. Being a Windows Mobile device, you get the full Microsoft Office pack, including Word, Excell and Powerpoint. Naturally, Microsoft Outlook is there, and can be synchronized with both your work and home PC's. Installing extra programs is no problem and there are plenty out there, many of them freeware. The phone software and hardware is very good. Being integrated very well into the rest of the device software.

The spec list is pretty impresive and includes:

Bluetooth audio
Bluetooth data
Colour screen
Data compatible
GPRS
Games
Handsfree included
Includes digital camera
Infra-red (IrDA)
Instant email
Java enabled
Optional car kit
Personal organiser
Picture messaging (MMS)
Polyphonic ringtones - MP3's can be set as ringtones as well.
Predictive text
Sync with PC
Vibrating alert
Video calling
Video capture
Video/audio player
Voice activated dialling
WAP
Web 'n' walk internet

You'll notice corporate Blackberry is missing, but the firmware update I installed added Push email, with works with server systems. Don't ask me how, I never set it up. I just kept using POP3 email as I understand this old technology.



As for using the device, once you're used to it, it is both simple and quick to do almost anything. The keyboard slides out from behind the screen and as soon as you do this, the orientation of the screen changes from portrait to landscape. The keyboard can be a pain to use, but once you've got used to using two thumbs, it gets easier. The touchscreen is accurate, and responsive, I can even get away with using my finger for most things as apposed to the rather fiddly stylus. Internet speeds are good, with even full PC biased web pages downloading quickly and without too much fuss. The built in software quickly realigns the page so that it can be viewed on the small screen without too much of a problem. The only issue I have found is with the way a PDA works as standard. Programs don't close when you hit the x button. So the device slows down the longer you use it. This is easily rectified by going into the settings and shutting programs down there, but as always, this is a pain and can take up time. A lot of the slow-running and crashing was rectified by downloading and installing a firmware update. But this also meant losing all data on the device, so unless you know what you are doing and make sure you back everything up, this can be a pretty frustrating and scary thing to have to do.

Battery life is good compared to phones I've had before. 2-3 days between charges is good in my opinion, considering how much the thing is used. I even plug headphones in and use it as an MP3 player!

As far as the build quality is concerned, I have been less then impressed. It feels very plastic, and the keyboard already clicks into place with more of a slosh then a firm click. The stylus is built into the bottom of the phone, and is designed to click into place. This has gone the same way as the keyboard and the stylus cannot stay inside it's slot. Why oh why didn't they build it into the top like most PDA's? At least then, gravity would be more of a help then a hindrance. My stylus is now held in with blu-tac! A really hi-tec answer to the problem. The screen has lasted well, with no scratches (and I don't use a screen protector) but this may be down to me always treating the thing with kid-gloves. The phone is a bit bulky, but is smaller then most PDA's so I really can't complain there.

This phone is a real boon, with well thought out features and software. The only small niggles being the build-quality and related life expectency. If you are looking for a really handy device, that does pretty much everything you could ask, then look no further, it's brilliant. Just that pesky build quality.