Sprint Q9c: Mal's 5 minute review

[Daniel Rubino]

Just got back from a Sprint store and played with the Q9c and here are some quick thoughts:

• Keyboard is as great as everyone says
• Buttons and feel of the device is much improved
• Camera program is full screen and takes nice shots
• GPS and Google Maps is awesome
• Screen is fantastic
• Documents to Go is included (no Opera though)
• Has Sprint IM and Sprint TV
• No MMS (though "Insert Pic, Video, Audio" is there but greyed out)
• Customize Start Menu (Icons, grid, circle launcher): very cool
• Display sensor works very well (measures when device comes out of sleep)
• Much snappier OS
• Extended battery cover is still very slim

Overall I have to say I was quite impressed. It's a nice update to the current Q and makes one solid smartphone.

Hopefully I'll put it through a full review in the future.

 

[Dieter Bohn]

Just got back from a Sprint store and played with the Q9c and here are some quick thoughts:

• Keyboard is as great as everyone says
• Buttons and feel of the device is much improved
• Camera program is full screen and takes nice shots
• GPS and Google Maps is awesome
• Screen is fantastic
• Documents to Go is included (no Opera though)
• Has Sprint IM and Sprint TV
• No MMS (though "Insert Pic, Video, Audio" is there but greyed out)
• Customize Start Menu (Icons, grid, circle launcher): very cool
• Display sensor works very well (measures when device comes out of sleep)
• Much snappier OS
• Extended battery cover is still very slim

Overall I have to say I was quite impressed. It's a nice update to the current Q and makes one solid smartphone.

Hopefully I'll put it through a full review in the future.

yes please!

 

[Daniel Rubino]

lol

...but first I need to actually get one to test ;-) I'm not sure Sprint will let me hang out in their store for that long (and I resisted the temptation to buy! That's a 1st step in recovery).

 

[Palm_forlackofchoice]

The local sprint store here in Sioux Falls will allow demos to be checked out for a few days, unfortunately they do not have the Q9c as of 1-5-08.

Ask the store manager if they will loan you a demo.

 

[Daniel Rubino]

The local sprint store here in Sioux Falls will allow demos to be checked out for a few days, unfortunately they do not have the Q9c as of 1-5-08.

Ask the store manager if they will loan you a demo.

neat info. actually a friend just bought one so I'll probably give it a run through maybe this weekend...:thumbsup:

 

[bubbatex]

I have been following the Q9c over at SU and overall it has been well received. It seems to be a much better device than the original (which I still have - wow, one year as of today!). The only thing that seems to be a slight problem is dust getting under the screen on some units. The old Q had the same problem in the beginning. Hopefully, this is just a small problem that will eventually go away. I am waiting patiently for the 800w to get here and then it'll be that or the Q9c.

 

[XmentalX]

i must say i was completely let down by the original Q to the point of giving it flat out to a friend for his birthday, but the Q9c has brought me back to the smartphone world, even with a standard battery the battery life exceeds that of the Q with the Extended battery, its snappy, sturdy and the keyboard is great


just figured i would add my 2 cents to this review.

 

[Dieter Bohn]

i must say i was completely let down by the original Q to the point of giving it flat out to a friend for his birthday, but the Q9c has brought me back to the smartphone world, even with a standard battery the battery life exceeds that of the Q with the Extended battery, its snappy, sturdy and the keyboard is great


just figured i would add my 2 cents to this review.

I used to CONSTANTLY make fun of the original Q - I thought it was a POS of the highest degree.

But, like you, the Q9 (h in my case) has me completely smitten. They've managed to even hang on to what (little) was good about the original Q design elements.

I loves it.

 

[bubbatex]

One thing is holding me back from getting a Q9c (well really, 2, Sprint won't give me a "deal" - they have decided to treat me like any other customer! Go figure) - is the problem some are having with dust getting under the screen. Some believe it may be some type of gap in the right softkey. It would absolutely drive me crazy if that happened. So, no sweet deal from Sprint + this possible problem + the 800w on the horizon has me waiting with the old Q (which, btw, works pretty good since MOL 3).

 

[dbpaddler]

so I'm convincing my sister to go with Sprint and their Simply Everything plan, but not sure if she should go with the Q9 or the 8830. Was leaning towards the 8830, but I keep reading some good things about the Q9. She does a ton of talking on the phone during the day for work to the point she goes over 2k minutes a month. Will definitely be using a BT headset as well (thinking the WEP500 for her).

Any thoughts? I liked the 8830 when I used it for a month though I still am a Palm person. Hated the original Q, but the new Q9 seems like a little powerhouse. And I think the PIM functions on the Q9 are a little more useful than the BB. I didn't care for the basic PIM on there when I had it. She's a big Outlook person too.

 

[bubbatex]

The Q9c has the best kb in the business, IMHO and sync'ing with Outlook Exchange is excellent. However, it can get dust under the screen and I have this weird frequency sound that pops in about 30-45 seconds into most calls. It goes away, but it still pisses me off.

One thing else to consider, the unlimited plan does not include BB service. Also, the Sprint Curve is coming any day now and it looks sweet if you like BB's.

 

[dbpaddler]

actually the Simply Everything plan does include BIS.

Unlimited mobile internet and messaging: Web surfing, email, GPS Navigation, Sprint Music, Sprint TV?, BlackBerry? Internet Services (BIS), text, pictures, video

Is the Curve going to be a combo CDMA/GSM as well?