T-Mobile Dash Review
I recently purchased the brand new T-Mobile ‘Dash’ mobile phone. Is Love too strong a word?
The dash is incredibly small.
For months before purchasing the dash, I had been suffering from Trio envy. My brother’s Trio was significantly smaller than my Pocket PC phone, and he could type on it with both hands, while I pecked away with a clumsy stylus.
I considered a Trio that was even smaller than my brother’s, and I gave serious consideration to the Blackberry Pearl; but I held off purchasing, realizing that in today’s tech market, those who aren’t satisfied with the current state of the art need only wait five minutes.
I waited, and along came the Dash.
For a phone/PDA combo with a full qwerty keyboard, the Dash is about as tiny as it gets. At 4.4 x 2.5 x 5 inches (108 x 60 x 11.5 mm), the Dash fits nicely into my pocket. Most of the time, I forget it’s even there.
Bluetooth
Speaking of Trio envy — size is not all that matters. My brother’s Trio also had Bluetooth connectivity, allowing him to use a wireless headset, and to sync wirelessly with his PC.
Before the Dash, I was at the mercy of either a wired “hands free” headset, or the speakerphone function. Both were awkward – requiring at least one hand and both eyes — and therefore stressful and dangerous when attempted at 70 mph on the freeway.
As a nominal Christian, I have always subscribed to the theory that the man upstairs indulges any and all foul language emanating from inside a moving vehicle, particularly during rush hour. However, even the almighty would have difficulty ignoring the creative vocabulary I employed while trying to place a call on the Pocket PC from behind the wheel
With the Dash, I simply clip on my Bluetooth headset when I get in the car, and then use the Dash’s voice dialing function to place and receive calls without ever taking my eyes off the road. This is good for my safety, and good for my soul.
Mobile Internet
The Dash offers three options for accessing the internet. The best option — and therefore the most expensive — is to buy T-Mobile’s “Total Internet” package, which includes internet access from anywhere you can pick up a phone signal.
This is great if you simply can’t go an hour without the internet or email, and $29.99 per month is not a big deal. I added the package during the initial euphoria following my purchase, and since then I’ve accessed the net over my phone exactly once, using it as a distraction while waiting two hours in line to vote. The coverage was fast; I checked my hotmail and read several articles off Economist.com while waiting in line. While it was a great service, I just didn’t use it enough; so I took a minute to cancel the service from the convenience of my T-Mobile online account.
The second option offered by T-mobile for internet access is T-Mobile Hotspots. These are wireless connections at participating retailers, such as Starbucks, and offer higher speeds than would be possible through the Total Internet connection. The Hotspots package costs $19.99 per month by itself, or is included with the Total Internet Package.
The third option — my personal favorite — is the Dash’s built-in wireless feature. WiFi allows you to access the internet via any wireless network within range. So if you are too lazy (I’ll admit it, sometimes I am) to get off the couch and go upstairs to check your email during commercial breaks, you can just reach into your pocket and use your Dash to surf the net via your home wireless network.
Did I mention this option is free? The only hitch is that it is only available within range of an unencrypted wireless connection, or one for which you have a passkey. This works great for me when I am downtown, or at my home in the suburbs, since there is always a neighbor who is tech savvy enough to install a wireless router, but not paranoid enough to password protect it. Hooray for free internet!
Camera/Video
Fellow YouTubers will be happy to learn that the Dash comes with a 1.3 megapixel camera, with still photo and live video/audio capability. Various resolutions can be set to provide good quality prints, or just small-sized ID thumbnails. As for the video quality - Spielberg will not be shooting his next masterpiece on this apparatus, but if you were fine watching Michael Richards’ Klan-rant in smudge-vision, you will be overjoyed with the Dash’s resolution, which is significantly better.
Messaging
Text messaging varies according to billing plan. I am not a big texter, but if I were, this would be the phone for it. With a full qwerty keyboard, BFFs can now Keep In Touch.
The video messaging feature is another fun tool for connecting with your pals. I sent a buddy of mine that picture that we have all sent at one point or another – you know the one – where you take a close-up of the crook of your bent elbow, and it looks like the retreating side of a full Monty. We had a good laugh.
The Dash also features voice messaging, for those who like to record their thoughts for later. Voice notes can be attached to emails, or forwarded to a recipient’s inbox. How’s that for convenient?
Gripes
The Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system is nice, as it integrates seamlessly with my laptop (Windows XP). The one piece of software that is missing, however, is one that I used the most on my Pocket PC: the “Notes” program. As a writer, I don’t always have time to stop and jot down ideas on paper. Being able to pull out my phone and write something down for later was very convenient. I have searched several download sites for some type of notes program, but as yet have been unsuccessful.
In Summary
My brother is jealous. My friends are jealous. For $200 and a two year subscription renewal, the T-Mobile Dash was well worth it. That is, at least for the next five minutes.
Filed under: Technology