Problems with Window Mobile 5...

I've been playing with my new phone quite a bit over the last few days, and while there are many positives to talk about - there are some serious negatives too.

Windows Mobile 5 is VERY unstable. I (on average) have to reset the phone between 5 and 10 times a day, dependent on what I am doing.

The main problem area seems to be mobile outlook. Often the menu to switch accounts screws up, and sometimes it gets very confused with the order of the messages.

Today on the train I wanted to reply to a work mail, it too 4 attempts and 15 minutes to finally get the whole mail. Okay, some of this is to do with the cell network coverage on the trains, but not all.

When I did finally have everything I needed to reply, I felt that it would be just a better idea to wait and write it when I got into the office.

Now - I've emailed before on the train and it has been fine. Today… nothing but problems.

Other problems. Themes. Why can't I change the colour of the text from within Windows Mobile? I had a quick look for a PC side program to change the phone's themes last night but only found an old version that 'kinda' worked. I messed with an existing theme to get black text (cos I have a light coloured background). All the today screen text is fine, but the drop down menu is still white text and I can't read it cos of the custom background.

IE has problems too. Sometimes websites that worked fine one day don't seem to work the next.

Transfer rates over USB to the phone are still VERY slow. I've resorted to using a card reader instead of direct to the phone.

Finally ActiveSync 4 is a royal pain in the ass. If you don't have outlook as your main mail client it freaks out. At work I don't even have outlook installed and instead of just syncing to the phone as a guest (like ActiveSync ued to do) I have to go through the 'Hey - I can't find outlook on your machine' install crap every time I plug the phone into the PC (to just charge the battery for example).

So there is a lot to dislike (at the moment) with Windows Mobile 5 (and it's ALL the Microsoft layer - not the 3rd party). That being said, I'm still mostly happy with the phone.

Crazy things like running Skype, Agile Messenger, TCPMP (DivX Player) all run great. I love the way it will use pretty much any means it can to connect to the Internet. I like the fact that I am typing this critique on a phone.

It's a great phone, and when Microsoft sorts out the issues with the OS and Office tools (and fucking ActiveSync 4) it could all fall into place.

Nic.

posted by Nic @ 10:33 AM 2 comments