HTC Advantage blunders unboxing

By David Ciccone, posted Sunday, Aug. 12th, 2007
Reader Comments: 26

Unfortunately we now have to download a new ROM...

Well today I took a one and a half our drive to my local CompUSA to pickup my HTC Advantage. I really wasn't sure what to expect for a $900 pda so I kept my mind open. Once I arrived at my local CompUSA I was told by the customer service representative he had one more left and was quite skeptical on why someone would spend $900 for a converged pda. I explained to him it was for a review and that this device has been touted as the next generation for Windows Mobile. He told me they received 3 units in which 1 was returned and the other had to be re-flashed since HTC shipped out preproduction ROM's on some of the units. Unfortunately after a three hour drive back and fourth I was doomed with the same problem! Don't get me wrong but how would you feel if you were me and just dumped $970 including taxes and finding out you have to download a new ROM and flash it before you even got to use the darn thing? Either way, I will promise to all of you that I will post a thorough review of my newest gadget that wasn't the greatest first impression at all!

Unboxing

Bug #1

Well I reflashed the ROM and it looks like HTC put the ROM on one of the SLOWEST servers possible. The 84 meg ROM took me 46 minutes to download. Once I downloaded the file the process of updating the image took a total of 33 minutes additional. So in a roundabout it took around 1.5 hours from start to finish.

My first task was to pack the Advantage and take my SIM out of my Treo and go 100% inside the Advantage. During my drive to the ferry I received three phone calls which as anyone could understand you DEFINITELY need a handsfree headset or an external bluetooth speakerphone like the Blueant Wireless Speakerphone. I also was able to lock in the GPS to Google Maps which worked like a charm. Once I arrived I threw the Advantage in my BooqBag and walked to the ferry. During my walk I received a call from Steve who told me the sound quality was great!

When I arrived in Manhattan I first hit the closest coffee shop so I can check my corporate email and get some conference calls completed. This is where this device really shines. I was editing a powerpoint presentation, checking emails and watching my Slingbox. The unit can handle up to 8 consecutive connections so my Think Outside Bluetooth Keyboard really made the experience enjoyable. I have to admit the chicklet style keyboard is in no way functional or practical. I definitely recommend purchasing the Think Outside Bluetooth Keyboard..

More to come as I use this device

jlynch: I stopped at a Palm store and they have a Foleo mock up. One of the things that I noticed was that the spec sheet in the store did not say anything about touch sensitive screen. This is a big one for me as I do not want to be tied to the keyboard, I like touch screens.
Also the mock up seems to show the Folea as larger than the Advantage.

Posted by , Friday, Aug. 24th, 2007

Dave. Can you comment more on the model keyboard that you use? I have the same keyboard shown in your link, but I can't find a compatible driver.

I got my X7501 from Amazon. My ThinkOutside Universal Bluetooth Keyboard and Travel Mouse both worked perfectly with the pre-production ROM, but broke when I upgraded to the newest firmware. I called ThinkOutside tech support but I got no love from them. This is truly vexing, as I'm totally hooked to the mouse & keyboard with my old Axim X50v. You mention that you have been able to get your keyboard to work. What driver are you using?

The lack of support for my two favorite accessories considered, I am a disciple of the Advantage. I'm using iGuidance v 4.0 for GPS. I'm very pleased. I also use Orb to access my home pc. Between my Jawbone headset and Plantronics 590 stereo headphones, I'm absolutely giddy with the quality of telephony and multimedia. I'm glad I spent the money.

For you guys considering a UMPC over the Advantage, I have two words for you: instant on.

Posted by scooper, Friday, Aug. 24th, 2007

I have been following this and started to wonder, how would you compare this to the potential Treo/Foleo combination announced? Seems to address the issue of sometimes only wanting to carry a phone and still have a keyboard/screen when needed? Similar total cost. A bit unfair since you don't have a Foleo!

Posted by jjlynch, Wednesday, Aug. 22nd, 2007

How about the sidebar issue, was that resolved with the update as well?

Posted by Physboy, Wednesday, Aug. 22nd, 2007

Blueant works like a charm!

Also I too use minixm.com and streamed like a charm!

Posted by David Ciccone, Tuesday, Aug. 21st, 2007

David, have you used the blueant supertooth that you reviewed. Is the Advantage playing OK with it??.

I am not proud to state this, but I type with two fingers on my laptop, so I have been able to work the HTC keyboard with no problem. I have been in some meeting standing up typing away with no problem. I do use the stowaway when I working with Excel files, which is not really all the time.
I also did some file management on the 8GB drive and downloaded 4.5 GB of music and video to just try the multimedia experience, nice. However what really impressed me was that I streamed online radio and was cruising IE and responding e-mails and I did not find any slowness so the chipset configuration seems to be the right one as the battery usage seem to be dialed in.

Posted by , Tuesday, Aug. 21st, 2007

Phys I just added some more..

Posted by David Ciccone, Monday, Aug. 20th, 2007

Anymore info since reflashing Dave??

Posted by Physboy, Monday, Aug. 20th, 2007

David C: I purchased the HTC Advantage this weekend at CompUSA and here some feedback:

1) I did not have to reflash the ROM, worked perfectly
2) I have installed 3rd party software like Good link and they are working 100%
3) The bug #1 you showed in a video has not occurred for me, I will keep trying as I want to be sure that my unit is bug free.
3) I was not sure on your comment in regards to the GPS as I ran this with Google maps and it was 100% accurate in regards to location,etc. I have also installed TeleNav and used this weekend.

What drove me to buy this machine juts for others out there:
a) I moved a lot between meetings, lunch breaks, etc. The laptop was becoming a burden. I looked at UMPC but their cost at +2000K was really way beyond my means. Also our IT was going to support it.
b) The unit duality e-mail machine + phone was converging were I need it.
c) The 8GB HD is full at 6Gb with all of the info I need for quick access and work
d) I talk a lot on the phone during my drive and walking with use of the integrated BT and its working great.
I am not going to carry this all the time during the weekend, but that is the great thing of a SIM card Out and then into my phone.

FYI, certain quantity of Iphone were purchased at our office and were test drived by IT and users her is some items:

- E-mail was not stable using 3rd party apps during this test.
- Security problems via the on board Safari Web browser, not sure about this but that is what I am told.
- Outlook Web Access was super slow due to AT&T connectivity, we had 10 machines deployed within East and West coast offices and this was the biggest complaint
- We use Goodlink for regular deployments, according to IT no GOOD support planned for now.
I like the Iphone form factor as weekend phone, but I just need my e-mail pushed and there when I need it.

Posted by , Monday, Aug. 20th, 2007

I'm here Jerry. Oh no Dave, don't make me spoof you on video!!!! LOL.

Posted by deemota, Sunday, Aug. 19th, 2007

I have had this device since May. During the work week it is the only phone I use. I store pdf files on the hard drive for any docs I need to review.

After using it for a while I have difficulty with the smaller screen/resulution phones. It is definately to big for every day use, but that is the beauty of sims cards isn't it.

It is the current swiss knife of pocket pc's for business use if you can handle the bulk. You need a good bluetooth headset for phone use. I use the jawbone, which works perfectly with voice command and still has reception 50 feet away.

I am currently eyeing the shift though. It has all the functionality (except gps which incidentally works well with tomtom), plus Vista for those times when you need a full laptop (which is very seldom with the advantage unless you have to type a lot of docs on it).

I think it is well worth 900 bucks, I paid 1200 and even that was worth the functionality. After work I switch to the iphone, or some other windows mobile device, which is way less bulky.

Posted by jonburge, Tuesday, Aug. 14th, 2007

No GPS but embedded GPS receiver. Which is weird for the price I should get TomTom!!!

Posted by David Ciccone, Tuesday, Aug. 14th, 2007

I would say Shift, or Touch flavored Keiser. Then we are talking about something worth the total cost of ownership. Does this thing come with GPS??

Posted by Physboy, Tuesday, Aug. 14th, 2007

I am looking forward to this review. The unit has some very interesting features. I'm really interested in the performance of the dedicated video controller. Can you also tell us weather it has an IR port?

Posted by madcheese, Tuesday, Aug. 14th, 2007

but the iPhone is not a good phone and you certainly can't edit WORD or EXCEL files or stuff like that.

I think for a man who wants to carry one device in his pocket, the iPhone is great - my son loves it. But as a woman, I always carry my handbag - and in my handbag is...my iphone, IPAQ, IPOD Video. So for me, I would rather carry my Razr than my iPhone - so now I need to switch my number back to my Razr - take my iPhone back to shop and lose 10% on it.

Posted by Laura, Tuesday, Aug. 14th, 2007

Whoster69 welcome to Mobility Today! I just received this unit yesterday so I will definitely communicate my experiences. I am probably one of the only reviewers using this as my ONLY device as a phone, pda and messaging device. I can tell you as a phone this device is a very big pain.

For example I was in a meeting today with a customer which I had to walk out of the meeting put my headset piece and answer the call. Not the best case scenario..

Posted by David Ciccone, Monday, Aug. 13th, 2007

JNGold, why do you have such a bias against this device?

It looks pretty cool to me. Just because you can't hold it up to your ear? I use a BT headset on my regular phone 90% of the time anyway and I hear the speakerphone on this thing is great.

Reviewers are raving about it.

Posted by whoster69, Monday, Aug. 13th, 2007

Laura,

This is not even a phone...but rather a computing device that has telephony. You have to use it with a BT headset or use speakerphone. Not a good phone in my book.

Posted by JNGold, Monday, Aug. 13th, 2007

this looks like a great device. I made a mistake and bought an iPhone - I really don't like it - there are so many things that are wrong with it as a phone. I would MUCH rather pay $1000 for this HTC device than pay $650 for the iPhone - so anybody want to buy an iPhone cheap ????

Posted by Laura, Monday, Aug. 13th, 2007

You know what if the device lives up to the hype, it won't matter if you have to stand on your head to use it. I'm looking forward to this review, and am saving my pennies for one of these, In Oz I'll probably be lucky to see one of these in a year

Posted by pedah, Monday, Aug. 13th, 2007

Sixftunda you are joking right? Who in the world has $970 to throw away just to bash a product. I bought this specifically since I knew I wasn't getting a free one like other sites where given.

Let me ask you this..If you were given a unit from HTC would you feel awkward pointing out the bad issues such as the ROM?

Why hasn't Jkontherun mentioned this problem? Or even Matt Miller of ZDNet?

Posted by David Ciccone, Monday, Aug. 13th, 2007

Just out of curiosity, were you planning on buying this device before you found out about the blunder? It caught my attention since HTC told you a couple months ago they were no longer going to send you units to review. I hadn't seen anywhere on the site you were planning on buying one, please correct me if I am wrong. Since you bought it the same day you found out about it, a person might think you got it for the purpose of bashing it. Perhaps a clarification would be nice.

Posted by sixftunda, Monday, Aug. 13th, 2007

Plus, why waste money on this thing.....Splurge the extra bucks and go straight for the Shift!

Posted by JNGold, Monday, Aug. 13th, 2007

Ugh....an unboxing. :( Where's Deemota? :)

Posted by JNGold, Monday, Aug. 13th, 2007

i am very interested in thi sreview. i bought the 7500 for about $1,100

Posted by dean56, Monday, Aug. 13th, 2007

I liked the musical selection for the opening David... very nice! :-)

Posted by fugita, Sunday, Aug. 12th, 2007

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