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For all P990i users now,what can you say about the phone? |
spine6
Joined: Aug 07, 2005
Posts: 453
From: asia
PM |
Hi to all P990i users. On the thread of the p990i, I read all the things about the phone if it's a good phone or not. So i'm asking all users if you are all satisfied with the phone or you just waist a money for a bug phone. Until now i'm still thinking if i should buy the phone on september or wait another model with much greater technology. I'm a P910i user 2 year from now. What can you suggest?? Will SE gonna improve the phone(i hope so) or just let people buy the phone with the same problem and later released another upgrade of the p990i with great performance and technology? I've search so many things about this phone but still i can't figure if it is a really good phone without the help of the people with p990i. In this thread we can say if the phone will be successfull to the users or not. |
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Jah
Joined: Jun 22, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: UK
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@spine6
Well as a 'phone' I think the P990 is wonderful.
As a 'phone' here are my views:
- superb call quality, as you'd expect from SE
- reasonably solid BT (stereo headsets work especially well)
- really well designed flip closed options and applications (even if some of them don't work properly in flip open!). If you have used a K750 or any recent SE 'phone' you'll have no trouble migrating to the P990 when in flip closed mode
- camera is reported to be very good (but no time to compare it with my wife's old K750 and new K800 yet) but impressed with video
- very good build quality and great screen (even better than the K800)
- keys all work well and feel high quality
- MP3 playback is a dream, really can't believe its this good
No obviously the P990 is more than a 'phone' (aka a digital communications device). It is a mobile computing device. Now as a mobile computing device the picture is not so clear:
- lowish RAM of 15/16MB is not really sufficient for a device with so many potential power apps (from the experience of the M600 you need about 19MB). It is unlikely this issue ca be fully addressed purely by optimising UIQ3 and so perhaps we will have to wait for a h/w upgrade in the future (ie new device)
- I don't use Push email as I don't need it but this aspect is not fully supported as far I can see from other's posts
- under 3G Opera is blistering, you have to see it to believe how quick it is
- the other app all seems to work well (when there is enough RAM!)
Now the price/value evaluation is more difficult. In say 2 months there will be ample supply and firmware upgrades will have been released. Therefore the P990 will be good value. For some people with the current state of the firmware and given that the M600 is 1/2 the price the P990 does seem expensive - but it is also exclusive. And it will continue to be exclusive for a while.
My recommendation is to try one only if you can return it for a full cash refund. If you can't return it and you don't want the benefits (!) of realy adoption then wait 2 months until the software support has improved.
But for me the P990 is totally usable for the functions I really need - which may not be true for all users.
Finally, remember purchasing any expensive item is a combination of logically and emotional decision making. My decision is 50/50 in this regard.
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[ This Message was edited by: Jah on 2006-08-27 00:11 ] |
spine6
Joined: Aug 07, 2005
Posts: 453
From: asia
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Thanks jah for the review. The score now is 50/50 we need more answers to our fellow SE users. Jah from your review my opinion on the p990i can't be called a PDA phone yet because of the software problem. |
Gabster
Joined: Mar 08, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: UK
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These are my thoughts on the phone, having had it for almost 2 weeks. At the present time the phone is still buggy, however they will be sorted before the phone gets offically released in september. The phone is exaclty how i thought it would be. All the talk about the phone having old hardware in my opinion is not ture, granted the wireless may have a older technology, but apart from that its quite hard to find a phone that is out today that is much much more powerful.
On the note about bugs, all new phones especially smartphones have bugs that WILL be ironed out (dont forget this is se flag ship phone, they need to get this right), look at the tytn, keyboard issues, screen alignment issues, bluetooth turning off issues etc...
Personally in my opinion i dont think the p990 will live up to everyones expectations, partly due to being so overly delayed, the expectations has grown and grown.
To summerise, i think you will like the phone, especially coming from the p series, and by the time you get the phone i honestly do feel the most bugs will be ironed out.
Hope that helps!
[ This Message was edited by: Gabster on 2006-08-27 00:46 ] |
apolloa
Joined: Jul 27, 2005
Posts: > 500
From: Dorset, UK
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The P990I and M600I both have hardware 3D graphics accelerator chips which probably explains the better quality? The screens are also very good. I would say the K800I has one of the best screens of any current normal phone though. |
spine6
Joined: Aug 07, 2005
Posts: 453
From: asia
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Thanks gabster for the review. On what i read on the p990i thread, if SE will fixed the RAM shortage it will be a perfect phone for me. That only bugs me. But i love the phone since it was announce i search the net for some information. I hope more will give information about the phone thanks again. |
jambeedavid
Joined: Jan 28, 2005
Posts: 21
From: Greenhills MM
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how about the battery life? is it the same as a p910? |
Jah
Joined: Jun 22, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: UK
PM |
Quote:
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On 2006-08-27 01:37:55, spine6 wrote:
Thanks jah for the review. The score now is 50/50 we need more answers to our fellow SE users. Jah from your review my opinion on the p990i can't be called a PDA phone yet because of the software problem.
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I was trying to say that the P990 satisifies the requirements for a mobile computing device but the use of many power apps at the same time is not possible because of the RAM issue. Also software problems in teh past have always been addressed by SE - just look at the stability of the P910i. But as I said, it meets my requirements.
(A good trick the P990 can do is to allow you to listen to stereo music over BT while also doing a sync over BT with outlook!)
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adnhk1
Joined: May 23, 2002
Posts: 447
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Hi,
the lack of RAM memory on the P990i is the single MOST important issue imho. Having owned and used the P990i, I can confirmed that 80% of such issues are due to lack of memory for the applications to work well.
Also, having read through all the bugs threads on various forums, further confirms my findings that the lack of physical RAM memory is going to cause more and more either selling away their P990i or return for a full cash refund if the shop he/she purchases it from allows that.
Of course, stability issue will definitely be ironed out via new firmware updates. However, lack of RAM memory is a hardware issue and I am afraid apart from a new hardware upgrade, there seems to be little room for SE to "optimise" the RAM 
I had mentioned many times in various forums about my concerns of RAM memory issue on the P990i ever since my visit to CommunicAsia 2006. I am posting the below link to my-symbian which I had earlier pointed out a few more scenarios to a fellow member as to what will happen when the RAM memory goes low on the phone, and believe me, it DOES GOES DOWN VERY VERY QUICKLY with normal usages only, without even installing any 3rd party apps and till date, my P990i is still only being utilised as my second phone whereas my good old P910i is still my main one so imagine those who bought the P990i and started using it as their main phone, will definitely encounter even more issues pertaining to RAM memory running too low too quickly...
http://my-symbian.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27493&start=90 |
Jah
Joined: Jun 22, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: UK
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Any new potential owners of the P990 must remember that the P990 has been under development for many months and in that time SE have fixed many problems with the connectivity options and apps. But given that the 15/16MB RAM problem has been around for a while, as adnhk1 has reported, I am not sure what SE can do about this in the short term. So please go into P990 ownership "with your eyes open".
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[ This Message was edited by: Jah on 2006-08-27 09:21 ] |
Avantis
Joined: Nov 11, 2004
Posts: 170
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Ok, let me give you my input on the device after playing with it for 2 weeks.
1. The phone is not perfect in terrms of sofware but as everyone agrees this will be sorted out sooner or later with updates.
2. In terms of OS the UIQ 3.0 is very ingenious, complex enough to satisfy most enthusiasts but pleasant and thoughtfully designed to satisfy less demanding users (I agree with Jah that a K750 user can eventually make the transition..). The RAM is a problem and people that use / want the phone will have to get used to using the task manager at times..
3. Design of the phone is a very subjective issue...The phone is big but i love its looks and feel. Flagship phones are invariably big!!
4. Do not want to go too deep in what the phone offers in terms of capabilities etc but again this is subjective..Bluetooth, music, messaging, phone operation (call quality etc), browsing, camera, reception...all work perfect for me..Need more software to get the phone to give you more options and utilize its full potential, but this is coming..
All these functions should be more than enough for most users. The point is how they are implemented in a particular device / OS, and for me they are all implemented brilliantly in the P990.
5. Inevitably comparisons have been made with HTC TyTN (I own that device as i like wm5 for different reasons..). I have nothing against the TyTN (managed to get a good example at the second attempt and i enjoy using it..), but it is incredible that people talk about unravelling the whole serial numbering system of HTC in order to get a device that works 100%!! I would hate to think how people would have reacted if SE was in that situation with P990..
6. Bottom line . Play with the phone before you buy so you can have a quick verification of your expectations.. This is a special phone in many ways and one needs to be able to use all its functions to enjoy it. The phone has some software issues currently but in general i now have a stable device which i find difficult to put down or exchange with another phone..The P990 is a very special device..
[ This Message was edited by: Avantis on 2006-08-27 08:47 ] |
adnhk1
Joined: May 23, 2002
Posts: 447
PM |
Actually, I am just wondering will SE be able to help us (and also helping themselves), by perhaps giving us an option to add in more RAM memory for our phones? I maybe asking too much, but looking at the long delay in releasing the P990i, as well as with the current crop of issues and complaints coming from all over the world... SE's reputation is at stake here
I am being honest here, the P990i is a damn fine SE flag ship phone, if only we have more RAM memory to start off with... It's WiFi works almost perfect, its Internet account priority works beautifully, e.g., WiFi first priorty and if WiFi not available, it will switch over to 2nd priority automatically, i.e., 3G for my case. Its video player and of course music player is awesome. It can take good 2MP pics and decent 30 fps videos. It has powerful multilink BT profile that allows us to connect and perform various BT related tasks simultaneously, etc etc... but... without enough RAM memory to keep up and support its own hardwares and softwares, I mean, what is the use of all these features?
[ This Message was edited by: adnhk1 on 2006-08-27 08:58 ] |
QuickShare
Joined: May 06, 2006
Posts: > 500
From: MYR
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i've seen a lot of good.. well quite good comments about P990i.. im so anxious to get this phone but isnt launch yet in my country more comments about P990i please 
My Flickr Site.. Flickr.comMost Popular Newbie 2006  |
SL33PYH34D
Joined: Sep 06, 2004
Posts: 486
From: Berkshire, UK
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The RAM issue is actually pretty interesting. Based on the fact that we know the P990i only started manufacturing in or around July 2006 from Sony Alsace's own press release, and the fact that the phone had been delayed so much from its original Q1 date, you have to wonder whether SE knows something we don't about the whole RAM issue - I mean, between the initial delay (or even the date when Symbian 9.1/UIQ3 went gold) and the start of manufacturing, there would have been plenty of opportunity to put another 64Mb into the phone at minimal cost. SE/UIQ would have known for some while that due to Symbian 9.1 running in RAM rather than XIP that the memory requirements would have been significantly higher than expected. Admitedly both SE and Nokia have been royally turned over by Symbian setting the v9.1 minimum memory requirements far too low, but they have had plenty of time to do something about it.
Either SE is:
1. Confident that they can resolve most of the RAM problems through software (and judging by the way the P990i leaks memory like sieve right now there is probably prenty of room for this).
2. Too tight to splash out for the extra RAM in the first place, knowing a replacement model is just around the corner, so intends to annoy everyone who has already bought a P990i.
3. There has been an almighty mess up and they had started producing the phones too early to change the amount of physical RAM after the problem really became apparent, and are now panicking over what to do - this could explain the constant delays. |
spine6
Joined: Aug 07, 2005
Posts: 453
From: asia
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Thank you all guys to all your respond. I hope more will give us a information about the p990i. I agree the RAM is the only problem on what i've read from our fellow SE users. Can SE really fixed the RAM problem through frimware update?? Or SE will fixed that through hardware?? I hope next month the phone will be in good condition that before... |
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Posted: 2006-08-27 00:50
