Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: So who's tried the XDA Mini S?

  1. #1
    RDL
    RDL is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Near Aberdeen, Scotland
    Posts
    861
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    So who's tried the XDA Mini S?

    Interested in getting this phone on contract, however wondered if anyone has had any experience on it? I mainly use my phone for texting, and calling to a lesser extent, but wouldn't mind checking email in bed etc. How does it cope? What's it like versus other phones, as an everyday job?

    Ta,
    Ross.
    AMD 64 3500+ | Asus A32 SLi Deluxe | 2 x Corsair 512MB PC4400 Overclockers RAM| 1 x XFX 6800GT | Nexus Vantec Fan Controller | 1 x 74GB Western Digital Raptor )Boot + backup & 2x 200gb Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 (RAID 0) | Plextor 716A Black 16 x16±,x4+ Dual Layer DVD | Tagan 480W | ThermalRight XP-120 with Delta Screamer | 2x120mm YS TECH| Black Akasa Eclipse 62 | L1980U 19" TFT 12ms 500:1 DVI Ultra Slim Black & Silver | Phillips 5.1 Surround Sound| Razer Diamondback Mouse | ExactMat mousemat | Black Cherry Keyboard | WinXP Pro

  2. #2
    Registered+ Zathras's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Canary Wharf/Richmond
    Posts
    1,454
    Thanks
    13
    Thanked
    7 times in 4 posts
    I've got the T-mobile version (the MDA Vario) having upgraded from a P900 a few months ago. For texting and emailing/web-browsing it's great. The keyboard is really useful, as is wifi. You can get so many really useful third-party applications.

    Unfortunately the phone functionality feels a bit 'tacked-on', which in effect it is. It's slow to respond to incoming calls and slow to hang up. You can replace the built-in dialler with the Eten M600 version which is much more responsive and user-friendly though. Still for ease of use of phone functions the P900 beats it hands-down (probably helped by the dedicated dial-pad) The in-call sound quality isn't up to that of the P900, but it is much much better when playing MP3s using the headphone socket.

    The OS seems to overburden the processor if you leave several applications open for a couple of days. While it's extremely nippy after a soft-reset, it slows to a crawl after a working week of AvantGo, browsing, texts, gaming etc. I'm usually left with the feeling it'd be perfect with just a bit more oomph under the bonnet.

    If you want a phone you're going to be using mainly for voice calls I'd advise against it. However if you want the extra functionality, fantatstic texting/emailing, web-browsing, wifi, mp3/4 playing while maintaining the ability to make calls it can't be beaten as yet. Hopefully there will be some software upgrades shortly to iron out the bugs and slowing-down.

    Any questions let me know.

    Z

  3. #3
    Senior Member BrandX's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Leeds
    Posts
    674
    Thanks
    6
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    Everything above is true about this fone. Unfortunately I've just had to send mine back for repair after a month due to the screen becoming garbled and staying garbled everytime I slid out the keyboard. I'd then have to restart the phone as it would become unreponsive and just a load of garbled colors on the screen.

    It's getting sold when it is swapped and sent back to me. Best way I can describe, is iy does everything you want from a PDA and a bit more to boot, albeit slowly but surely lack of processing power is all too obvious. The phone bit really is an addon and the handsfree speaker is complete tosh, with the internal phone speaker also being very tinny.

  4. #4
    Senior Member ExceededGoku's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Lincolnshire, UK
    Posts
    1,578
    Thanks
    8
    Thanked
    1 time in 1 post
    Thanks for your comments, I was looking into getting one of the XDA range but they all suck in a different way each. For example:
    The XDA exec- huuuuuuuuuuuuge and heavy
    XDAIIi- good but no proper keyboard
    XDAIIs- keyboard is an afterthought and you have to hold it funny to type properly
    XDA mini S- same as XDAIIs and apparently a bit too slow.
    Now we need an XDA exec(i-s-mini) to make a half decent phone

  5. #5
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Reigate
    Posts
    28
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    Ive just upgraded my O2 contract to one of these. I used to have the SE K700i (which I loved the bluetooth remote control and also the joystick still works!)

    From what Ive read on the net. You should only install the BASIC version of O2 active. As otherwise it slows the XDA down with a badly made interface.

    Hope to get Tom Tom or equivalent for it.

    Whats the battery life like on the Mini S?

  6. #6
    Treasure Hunter extraordinaire herulach's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Bolton
    Posts
    5,618
    Thanks
    18
    Thanked
    172 times in 159 posts
    • herulach's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Z97 MPower
      • CPU:
      • i7 4790K
      • Memory:
      • 8GB Vengeance LP
      • Storage:
      • 1TB WD Blue + 250GB 840 EVo
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2* Palit GTX 970 Jetstream
      • PSU:
      • EVGA Supernova G2 850W
      • Case:
      • CM HAF Stacker 935, 2*360 Rad WC Loop w/EK blocks.
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 8.1
      • Monitor(s):
      • Crossover 290HD & LG L1980Q
      • Internet:
      • 120mb Virgin Media
    My MDA compact (non s mini i reckon) is pretty good, with light ish use the battery easily lasts four days, if im running it heavily (ie playing games all the time like when i first got it, then about a day) However i dont really think battery life is a big issue if youre using it properly, without question as soon as i sit down at my pc it goes in its dock to sync up, and it takes about an hour to charge from half battery.

  7. #7
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Reigate
    Posts
    28
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    We l have my Mini S.

    WOW. The Box was really cool. Pull one half of the box and the other half comes out too. GEnius.

    So I installed Basic O2. Still irritating. But wanted to use the phone asap. My Dual Sim card holder works and switches between my personal 02 and work Voda sim easily.

    Battery is lasting very well and Activesync works well too.

    All in all Im a happy bunny at the moment. Keeping an eye out on ebay for Tom Tom Mobile now.

  8. #8
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    32
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    I've had one for about 3 months now. Overall very impressed, though the phone application is a bit clunky. Hopefully there will be a firmware update soon that will sort out the few 'niggles' that prevent it from being a perfect phone/email/web device.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. my new mini keyboard;)
    By micovwar in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: 25-07-2005, 10:24 PM
  2. Replies: 27
    Last Post: 25-01-2005, 07:08 PM
  3. Mini DV
    By nvening in forum Help! Quick Relief From Tech Headaches
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 16-01-2005, 11:12 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •