Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #274293 in Cell Phone Accessories
Motorola Moto Q - Smartphone - CDMA2000 1X - bar - Windows Mobile - silver - Verizon
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
679 of 713 people found the following review helpful.
Excellent Smartphone - Scratch that....bad Smartphone
By Dennis
I have read a lot of the reviews and spoken to a number of current owners of the Motorola Q. I have also owned and used Blackberries, Treo's, LG Phones including the LG VX9800 and the Motorola Razor. I picked one up this week and here are my initial impressions.The phone layout and design are excellent. Compared to other devices like the Blackberry and Treo, the keys are in a much better location (about ½ up from the bottom end of the phone) making it much less stressful on the thumbs to type. The keys functions are very similar to a Blackberry. Takes a little bit of getting use to but learn very quickly.Active Sync, which it comes with, is a breeze to set-up and start syncing. Works great with Outlook. I also have set-up my device to pull down emails from my gmail account. I read one review that said everything was being doubled when transferring. No so here. Works like a charm and very fast. Internet connections are much faster that on my Blackberry, which my work has supplied me.The battery is another item that people tend to give bad reviews on. That may be why Verizon is currently offering a 60 dollar battery for 19 dollars. Supposedly the extended battery will give double the time which as I understand it from other users is about 2 days.One of the big issues that people are focusing on in these reviews is the processing speed and how it is affected by having multiple applications open and the hassle of closing them once you are done with them. First, the Motorola is like any computer....having multiple applications open and running all at once will kill the processing speed of computer. Second, to close the programs is much easier than represented in these reviews. Just go to your home page and click on the top smart icons Task Manager and "Kill All" tasks running.So far very happy with my decision.Update: 6/12/06After a week of using my Q, I am still pleased with my decision. I continue to monitor the other reviews and what I find interesting is the fact that many people focus on items that are very nit picky, i.e. the screen is slightly off center. Interesting...I didn't even notice until that person pointed it out. What is also interesting is that people tend to want a device that does everything exceptionally well (pda, phone, etc). I would agree that that would be the ideal but I am happy with a device that does everything good. Each person has their own preferences and what you really need to keep in mind is what you need the device to do. I just need a device that syncs with my home computer (outlook), can send text and picture messages, syncs with my email via the web and provides me occasional access to the internet. The Q does all that and more.Update 6/16/06Ok. I have returned my phone(s) yes, plural!! Let me explain why.The first phone had an issue with it's bluetooth functionality/transmitter. I returned it and exchanged for another Motorola Q.My second phone I had for one day before it completely died and nothing I or tech support could do would allow it to be restarted.Motorola has some serious issues to overcome with their Quality Assurance program.When I was on the phone with Verizon Tech Support I asked them which device/Smartphone they recieved the least number of calls on...they said the Treo 700w. As such, I return my Motorola Q and purchased the 700w. Wow, what a difference! The Treo is much faster and much easier to use. I would downgrade my rating but unfortunately once the stars are choosen in Amazon's rating system they cannot be changed.
271 of 282 people found the following review helpful.Compact and useful mobile tool
By B. Lim
MotoQ is a very good tool. The designers have optimized the features for people who need to be connected via voice, email, and web without carrying a briefcase full of stuff everywhere.It's not a PC, so you will be disappointed if you intend to work extensively with a spreadsheet or other work applications. This device is also not for power PDA users that service data centers from their huge PDA's.However, if you are on the road and want to be able to review an email, word, excel, power point, acrobat document, or quickly find information on a website from just about anywhere, this is an awesome tool. I decided to keep my MotoQ when I had to review a 4MB pdf file for work during a family outing. I was able to download the file and review it on the MotoQ. A 5 minute time out was so much better than any other options.Something I found very delightful is the fact that I have constant access to the internet. Waiting in lines has become just a little bit more tolerable since I could surf the net instead of reading 6 month old magazines.I was very concerned about a lack of touch screen, but within a day, the scroll & navigation keys won me over. It is very nice to be able to use only one hand.So, why did I select the MotoQ over BlackBerry? The MotoQ is actually a very good phone with superior call quality. The bluetooth and speakerphone are the best I've used. I was quite disappointed by calls on the BlackBerry, a deal breaker for me. Please note that sending and receiving emails seem to be a bit faster on the BlackBerry, but downloading information from the web seems to take the same amount of time. For me, functionality favored the MotoQ's phone call advantage, and the aesthetics made it easy to go with the MotoQ.**********Update: 6/17/2006As with previous reviewers, the honeymoon is already over. I am finding that none of my prior PocketPC applications will install on this phone. If you are migrating, you should seriously consider this. Fortunately, there is only one application I really use frequently, and there are other less convenient ways to compensate for my application.Also, if you use the bluetooth headphone a lot, you really need the big battery or charge it frequently. I was surprised to get a low battery warning on the MotoQ mid-day when my Razr would last the full day with similar usage. The large capacity battery makes the phone look much less attractive, and it will no longer fit well in the nice fitted case.On the other hand, I've received several compliments on the sound quality of the phone on the handset, bluetooth headset, and speaker phone. I don't remember getting so many positive comments on other cell phones I've used.I've got a few more days before the full refund expires if I opt for an annulment. So, I'll keep it for now and post how I decide.**********Update: 6/22/2006OK. I am keeping the MotoQ. Let me go through my decision process in case it is of some use to you.First, more problems I encountered:(Please note that I am not tech support, and I am limiting my time on solving MotoQ problems. So, there might be better solutions. If you have them, I hope you will post.)(1) If you get an attachment in the email, you cannot save it to the storage card. This is lame. There is a work around: you can save the message into your Draft folder and view it later so that it doesn't disappear from your Inbox post-PC_download-send/receive. If you have a lot of documents, your memory will fill up fast since the Draft folder is part of your internal storage.(2) You cannot edit documents (word, excel, powerpoint). You can only view them. Perhaps there might be 3rd party software that can do this. For me, only real bummer is that the spreadsheets could be useful sometimes for simple math such as adding a bunch of numbers.(3) Windows Mobile OS almost survived a week without crashing, but crash it did. Minor inconvenience, it just needed to be power cycled. (Update: Windows Mobile OS has been crashing about once per month, not bad for MS)(4) For security code, you can only enter numbers. And, because you have to press the activate-numbers-key, you cannot unlock the phone one handed. This is really lame. (Update: you can press the "ALT" key twice to lock it in the number key mode, so you can do this with one hand.)(5) I've been able to find all the PDA programs I used on my Dell Axim with comparable replacements for the MotoQ. However, I've had to purchase all of them, and I have now spent a big chunk of the MotoQ discount on replacement software.Something obvious in retrospect:The MotoQ is a "smartphone", not a PocketPC PDA with a phone. This was not a distinction that was clear to me with the fuzzy marketing; also smart since I probably would not have tried the MotoQ if this was obvious. So, migrating from my Dell Axim to MotoQ was easy; nothing could be saved... buyer beware!Why I am keeping the MotoQ:I've identified more cons than pros so far, but there is a very positive and significant thing about the MotoQ: I use it all the time. My wife noticed that the only other devices I've used as much were my Palm V & Sony Clie; may they both rest in peace.In spite of all the problems, the MotoQ is very convenient, so I use it. I feel a little bit more organized and connected; more in control over my schedule. I have some similar flashbacks of the switching pains from the big Flanklin planner to the Palm V.It is nice to quickly and easily see my calendar to check for schedule conflicts, instead of asking people to wait until I return to my office. I like being able to spell a name to make a quick phone call from my contact list, instead of waiting to return to my office to find the number. And, I really like being able to check my email to see if an important message arrived during a flight and being able to search for information w/o looking for a hotspot. Yes, it is another leash, but one that helps me achieve higher efficiency and save time that I can later spend with my family.What was interesting is that when my Sony Clie died from old age & high mileage, I replaced it with a much more powerful Dell Axim. But, I did not use it. Even with Wifi, Bluetooth, functional office apps, etc, it sat in my desk or briefcase, only to be used a couple of times per week. I could point out a lot of detailed reasons for this, but they all come down to the device being a little bit inconvenient (does not fit well in pocket, takes a couple of seconds too long to turn on & switch apps) to use, just enough of a barrier to keep it from being really needed or wanted.How often did I use the excel spreadsheet on the Dell Axim to do simple math? about 5 times in 3 years. How many meetings did I miss because the Axim was on my desk and not in my pocket? too many to count! How often am I using the MotoQ? Enough to require a battery recharge every night... :)**********Update: 8/24/2006I am still happy with the MotoQ. My MotoQ is 1 of 5 that my company purchased for some of the employees. Of this group, 4 out of 5 really like this device; the 5th is OK with it. The 5th person "downgraded" from the Treo 650, and she really seems to prefer the Palm OS. None of us experienced the catastrophic problems mentioned in other reviews for this product.
77 of 80 people found the following review helpful.Excellent Smartphone Device--KNOW WHAT YOU'RE BUYING BEFORE YOU BUY IT!
By Technophile
My first statement right off the bat is that those who are writing negative comments seem not to understand the difference between the PocketPC and Smartphone operating systems. I have personally been using both since the introductions of both PocketPC (with the original iPAQ) and with Smartphone (with the original Orange SPV). I am switching to the Motorola Q from the i-mate K-JAM (aka the T-Mobile MDA/Cingular 8125); some of my more recent devices include the Treo 650 (Verizon), Samsung i600, Orange SPV, and the i-mate Smartpone2, as well as several iPAQs: the 4150, the 2215, and the older models as well. I will say off the bat that I agree, the Smartphone OS is much more simplistic, and I honestly LOVE it that way because that's what a phone OS should be like. I definitely loved the PocketPC Phone Edition with the K-JAM but found myself wanting something smaller that would handle my contacts, calendar, To-Do list, multimedia, occasional gaming, occasional eBook reading, heavy web browsing and some light document viewing. Enter the Motorola Q. It does everything and it does it well. I love the Smart Dial for instance: start typing in a name OR number and it will immediately start searching your contacts database for a match from which you can directly dial. Try doing that with one hand on a PocketPC. You can do it, but it's cumbersome (for the K-JAM/HTC Wizard, install SmartKeys from xda-developers.com for some improved one-handedness).In fact, anything can be managed with one hand because THAT'S how Microsoft designed the operating system. I admit off the bat that I truly do not like Windows XP and I am a Mac user. [I synchronize my MotoQ with my black MacBook using Missing/Sync and have not had any problems synchronizing via USB (occasional trouble via Bluetooth).]Microsoft's mobile OS, on the other hand, I am a great fan of. To those complaining that you can't edit Microsoft Office documents, WHY would you want to on a screen this small? It's not meant for that. You can do some TXT editing as well as some light spreadsheet editing (using PTabs...check Handango.com).The PIM organization is nearly identical on both the PocketPC and Smartphone: if you want improved management of Tasks (as well as a better Calendar), I HIGHLY recommend Papyrus or Pocket Informant (both adapted from the PocketPC apps, and both are identical on the Smartphone). Also, I highly recommend FACADE (again, check Handango or Smartphone.net), which enables a much more detailed (and TABBED) view of your schedule and To-Do list on your homescreen.For multimedia, the Q cannot be beat...the experience is much better than the Palm OS (the best multimedia app on the Treo 650, TCPMP, is better on the Smartphone). I use TCPMP for video (it handles iPod-encoded MP4 video that is NOT purchased flawlessly). For music, I use PocketPlayer 2.8 from Conduits (which displays a library screen similar to my iPOD's, with Album/Artist/Album Artist/Genre/etc. categories). Sound quality using a 2.5mm to 3.5mm headset adapter and my iPOD headphones is excellent and sounds fuller than my iPOD, albeit with a lesser volume. The Q supports Bluetooth stereo / A2DP as well; I have not yet tested this out.Other apps I highly recommend: CityTime Alarms SP (for a top of the line alarm clock application), PocketNES (NES emulator for the occasional Mario), MobiPocket Reader (for eBooks that you can purchase or, if using a Windows computer, convert with their free desktop importer-->I currently have The Kite Runner, The Devil Wears Prada, and The World Is Flat... on my device). Agile Messenger is a great IM program. SlingPlayer is a MUST for SlinBox owners and works flawlessly over EVDO (just be careful not to use 10+GB of data per month, or Verizon will terminate you based on their TOS). Finally, Virtual Earth Mobile is PERFECT for a 411/directions app all in one...it's sort of like mini Google Earth. Excellent for a free app. Finally, PhatNotes from www.phatware.com is a top of the line notes application for jotting things down on the MotoQ...you can add text, voice, pictures, links, etc.On data: EVDO speeds in the NYC area are excellent and extremely fast, much to my surprise. I don't miss WiFi much and love having fast internet wherever I go. I use the EVDO for slinging, web browsing, Wikipedia searching for research information, Google.com/xhtml for everything Google (including access to my personalized homepage and news and GMail), Virtual Earth Mobile for directions, maps, and 411 lookup-type features, Agile Messenger for AIM conversations, and NewsBreaker for RSS feeds.Battery and performance: I was disappointed at first with battery and took advantage of Verizon's extended battery offer. I have ceased to use the battery since buying it, however. I can now use my Q for 2 days (with all of the above being used regularly, i.e. music for 45 minutes while jogging, browsing, eBook reading, PIM, etc.) on the STANDARD battery. The biggest battery saver is a registry hack found on QUsers.com which enables EVDO time-out disconnects; without it, the Q remains dormantly connected to EVDO until you turn Flight Mode on or reboot the phone. I saw a significant increase in battery life. Note, this modification is not for those who use Wireless Sync. For those who are concerned, pick up a car charger from Amazon.com for $8.99. As for performance, the Q is SPEEDY, particularly if you disable the Key Tones (under Sounds in Settings) and if you use a Registry editor to increase the GlyphCache (again, see QUsers.com). The performance of the camera is excellent for a camera phone and, in solid daylight, the pictures are truly print-quality (with fuzziness of course, but printworthy nonetheless in 4x6).Overall, I have owned many mobile devices and love almost all of them; none of them have been as much fun to use as the Q, and none have seen the amount of use I get out of the Q (largely due to its size and ease of transport). I highly recommend it to everyone who is not seeking a full-fledged mobile Microsoft Office editor; also, I recommend it to those who are at least somewhat tech savvy. It requires a litte bit of work, but so did all of my devices. Please do your research before slamming a device for not doing what it was not meant to do!
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