Comments on: Missing the sync

By: Leon

Leon — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 17:07:50 +0000

I was offered an N95 as a swap for my Vario ii, and whilst it has a number of eye-catching features (GPS, a great 5mp camera and category 6 HSDPA) I decided that the Vario ii had distinct advantages over the n95. For non-mac users it has an internet sharing function which makes laptop connections a doddle. It also has push email, MSN Live messenger with direct push hotmail, Office, multiple Video playback capabilities and a very usable sliding keyboard. I am using the Black Dymond Windows Mobile 6 ROM and have experienced no hitches whatsoever.

To solve the problem of answering calls with your ear (!) simply press the black power button on the side of the device before answering. This also saves your battery during long calls.

By the way, although I’m sure that I-Phones will sync a lot more smoothly with macs, has anyone considered that they are NOT EVEN 3G!? I can’t even imagine going back to using GPRS (EDGE if you’re lucky) speeds in the after seeing how fast the Vario ii can be. And I much prefer buttons to touchscreens. The Iphone looks simple to use and graceful and pretty to look at but perhaps a little basic….

By: Embraer

Embraer — Wed, 16 May 2007 10:24:28 +0000

Pity, looked at the N95, as have had Nokias before but even with a few teething problems with the Vario1 I kept the faith.

By: aral

aral — Wed, 16 May 2007 08:46:24 +0000

Hi Embraer,

I’m afraid I dumped the Vario — it was giving me a real headache. I’ve got a Nokia N95 now that I absolutely *love*. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.

By: Embraer

Embraer — Wed, 16 May 2007 08:00:18 +0000

Aral – can you confirm what speeds you have been able to achieve using your Vario connected to your Mac. Although I have seen speeds upwards of 800k just doing speedtests straight through the phone whenever I have the laptop running speedtests connected via bluetooth the fastest I have ever achieved is 400k. Is this an issue with the script?

By: Nerm

Nerm — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 00:28:01 +0000

Thanks Aral – I reckon the ability to edit docs and surf on the bus/train/plane/whatever wins it. The Vario kinda inches ahead for me (as does the included 3GB monthly limit!)

By: aral

aral — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 00:41:07 +0000

Hi Nerm,

Now hat Vodafone have a USB modem, I’d have to recommend them. They did screw me over, but they still do have the best solution.

I checked out the Pearl and both Vodafone and T-Mobile have ridiculously low push-email caps (10MB and 25MB, respectively, if memory serves me well.) With such low caps, the Pearl doesn’t make sense for me unless you’re running your own server.

By: Nerm

Nerm — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 16:15:51 +0000

Hey Aral,

I’m looking forward to the iPhone too but need to decide in the next month or so whether to go with the Vario or the Pearl.

I travel a lot and would LOVE to get my PowerBook online on trains, airport lounges etc – not to mention edit word docs and browse the web on my handset – and also (wait for it) to make phone calls!

What would you recommend?

By: aral

aral — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 10:00:28 +0000

Hi Nerm,

The sync functionality appears to be hit or miss: Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I’ve pretty much given up on using it. Waiting for the iPhone and wondering if I should get a Blackberry Pearl in the interim.

By: Nerm

Nerm — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 11:35:27 +0000

Thanks for starting this thread.

I’m in the market for a new phone that works with my mac and gives me “true” mobile internet with an open OS and the ability to acess word on the go and feel that the Vario 2 is the only solution. It feels like 1995 all over again…

Anyhow, is it easy to sync files such as downloaded attachments from your phone to your mac?

By: John

John — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 17:36:46 +0000

After the incrdible wave of iPhone froth has receded i’m still left facing a dam WM5 phone. The Iphone is still 8-11months away and i need to get more features now and to dump my Sony Clie PDA, possibly use the WM5 as a modem to connect to my MacBook Pro.

Are you using bluetooth to sync ?

Are you using the t-Mobile MDA vario II or Vario I ? Not sure of the diffs.

T-Mobiles plans look to be the best featured with lowest costs, but is there a specific plan required for using the smartphone as a modem for the lappy ?