View Full Version : Wizard or Athena?
BigDamHero
27-09-2005, 01:32 PM
I'm torn. Really torn.... anyone else facing this dilemma?
ShALLaX
27-09-2005, 02:04 PM
1) Do you want a keyboard? Yes->Question 2, No->Athena.
2) Can you wait until sometime in 2006? Yes->Hermes, No->Wizard.
That would be my logic.
BigDamHero
27-09-2005, 03:39 PM
I haven't heard about the Hermes......
I do want a keyboard. I bought my BlueAngel for that reason. However with the advent of the I-Tap input thing I would prob be ok without one.
Suppose I now have a third option to contemplate.
Hermes?
Lewis
BeyondtheTech
27-09-2005, 04:13 PM
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=730935
Some information for you:
Athena: XScale processor at 400Mz, EDGE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM Radio, and a 2.1MP camera. No keyboard, just like the Magician, but it will be slimmer than it.
Hermes: just like Wizard, but has UMTS, front-facing camera, and a 2.1MP rear camera.
Not sure if they're dropping EDGE to put in UMTS, or if it will be a USA-friendly UMTS (unlikely, since we don't have our act together yet).
So, the Hermes is the Wizard's answer to the Universal, and the Athena is the sequel to the JAM.
BigDamHero
27-09-2005, 05:13 PM
I am unfamiliar with what EDGE and UMTS are..
However i gather they are some kind of 3G based technology, which I am not all that interested in.
I gather the Hermes will be a sort of 3G version of the Wizard. As I said i am not interested in 3G yet as i can't really see a use for it. As for an FM radio thats outdated now anyway! Surely it should have been a Digial Radio!!
In light of this I'll probably end up buying a Wizard. it suites my needs (because its basially a new Blue Angel) and I could do with a phone soon as my BA has almost toally packed up. But theres still nagging part of me that says may-be hold on for the Hermes.
Slightly off topic but I also breiefly considered the Universal. Until I realised it was THE single most ugly thing on the planet... seriously. :-)
Lewis
ShALLaX
27-09-2005, 06:58 PM
Its not ugly, just huge!
BigDamHero
27-09-2005, 08:25 PM
I think it's both!
Especially when it's closed. Theres too much blank space around the screen....eww.
But anyway tis only my personal opinion ;-)
Lewis
Is there any hope Athena will be released before the end of the year?
BigDamHero
29-09-2005, 12:57 PM
O2 Said the Athena would be realeased about the 30th of October
BigDamHero
29-09-2005, 01:02 PM
O2 Said the Athena would be realeased about the 30th of October
O2 Said the Athena would be realeased about the 30th of October
You mean O2 Asia? This is good news, but I was rather referring to the release of a US or Europe model (SIM-unlocked). Any announced release date?
The release of the news about the Athena, or XDA Atom, has completely confused me to.
However I have managed to rationalized it this way.
With intellipad, quickwiting, software, (especially quick writing, once you get used to it) and my think outside blue tooth fold out keyboard. don't really need keyboard.
Besides which it looks pretty fragile and it is just another thing that can go wrong or brake.
Without the keyboard I also get a smaller slimmer far more pocketable device to boot with a much stronger all metal case to boot (shame they did not keep the silver brushed aluminium).
What else do I gain, well a much faster CPU, a far superior camera and a proper SD card slot over the wizard, ard 128 Megs of ram, the long awaited in built WiFI, a built in radio and of course WM2005 over the Magacian,
So the choice for me will be to hang onto my XDA II for now and hang on for the XDA Atom to arrive in the UK, I just hope it does and I can get one on 02 contract to save myself a few pennies.
Thank for the chat guys
Regards Ash'e.
BigDamHero
30-09-2005, 03:37 PM
You mean O2 Asia?
Nope this what what I got from O2 UK. They said it was the tennative release date.
Lewis
BigDamHero
30-09-2005, 03:49 PM
Hey Sion
The release of the news about the Athena, or XDA Atom, has completely confused me to.
However I have managed to rationalized it this way.
With intellipad, quickwiting, software, (especially quick writing, once you get used to it) and my think outside blue tooth fold out keyboard. don't really need keyboard.
Besides which it looks pretty fragile and it is just another thing that can go wrong or brake.
I completely disagree. I have had my Blue Angel for a year and the keyboard is invaluable. I can type rediclously fast on it ;-)
Intelipad and Quickwriting etc. will never compare to an actual hardware keyboard. I use my phone to send 100s of SMSs a day (no really). Could NEVER do that without a proper hardware keyboard.
What else do I gain, well a much faster CPU, a far superior camera and a proper SD card slot over the wizard, ard 128 Megs of ram, the long awaited in built WiFI, a built in radio and of course WM2005 over the Magacian,
The processor in the Wizard has actually been benchmarked to be quite good. As someone else said in this forumn one day people will realise you cant just measure processing speeds in clock cycles. Take it from an Athlon 64 owner!
As for the camera they tend to be sh*t on all pocket pc devices becuse of the lense they put on them. Resolution doesnt come into it most of the time.
For me wanting a keyboard I think I'll probably get a wizard because it's a smaller version of my Blue Angel. Though it'll probably be on ebay when the Hermes comes out :-)
Lewis
It may seem strange but I can beat most people on a slide out keyboard using quickwriting, it takes quite a lot of getting used to but once you get the knack it is unbelievabley quick.
You never take your stylus of the pad and it very quickly forms a highly efficient shorthand as you start to use it properly.
give it a try, don't try to rush & practice a litte bit each day and I guarantee that you will be pleasantly surprised within a couple of weeks plus because you don't take you're stylus of the pad you can use it on moviny London buses, whilst you are stood up in rush hour traffic between stops like I am now..
Regard Ash'e
Nope this what what I got from O2 UK. They said it was the tennative release date.
Lewis
It has not even been announced yet by O2 UK: will they really release a phone less than one month after announcement?
Are O2 phones sim-locked?
Just finished having supper with an O2 UK director (not marketing Dept), it appears that they do feel that that the XDA Atom, is going to be the ultimate lifestyle device & accessory, and a little more robust & a tadge more pocket friendly than the wizard & they are going to eventually add it to there UK product portfolio.
However with the device not even released yet & no real UK release dates truthfully on the horizon, & in there words: "our current XDA range is becoming slightly dated & cumbersome", they need to do something, and the Exec & Mini Pro appear to be the temporary solutions, until the Atom is released that is.
So I will forgoe the Mini Pro for now & stick to my dated XDA IIs in the hope that they secure some Atom stock and release dates soon, also have spoken to people who already have their Wizards and the general concensus is that the slide out keyboard is very fragile, so I think it is time to start investigating when & how to lay my hands on an XDA Atom. I still want that holy grail of smartphones & I think the Atom is going to be pretty damn close to it so.
It always taken more courage to dare to be right, than fear to be wrong.
So by hook or by crook Atom it is then.
Regards Ash'e
BigDamHero
02-10-2005, 10:22 AM
Hmmm.
I remain unconvinced by the Atom/Athena.
If I wait for anything I'll wait for the Hermes. It actually brings something new to the table.
Decisions Decisions! :-)
Lewis
SuperDDD
02-10-2005, 02:11 PM
THE GODDESS OF WISDOM WHO WILL REIGN OVER ALL.
BLESS-UP.
After reading the reviews other people have given about there Recently purchased Wizards on the other forum I passed this comment:
Fantastic reviews chaps, everything I wanted to here, so in light of all that when and how can we all get our hands on HTC Athenas or XDA Atoms, it would appear every gripe here would be answered quite easily by purchasing an Atom, better size, lack of keyboard, faster CPU, more robust and ergonomic build and feel, 2.0 camera, these are you're thoughts not mine, all we all really wanted anyway was a HTC Magician with Built in WiFi, 128 megs of ram and WM2005 and in the Atom were getting it and a few extra bits all in that Magician size we new & loved.
As I said in a previous post: It always takes more courage to dare to be right, than fear to be wrong.
Regards Ash'e
BigDamHero
03-10-2005, 06:32 PM
Jesus Sion you are obsessed with the Atom :-)
Unfortunately sounds like your someone trying to convince *themselves* of their choice... not everyone else ;-)
Also please don't cross post. It'll REALLY piss some people off.
Lewis
So why don't we create a new top-level thread for Athena?
I would do it but I don't know how and if I have permission.
I posted updated information about the Athena here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=28495
Briefly: available early december in Asia, miniSD slot.
Cheers!
cuteangelika
23-12-2006, 07:34 AM
i still love my uni... but just wondering, is there a "sequel" (for lack of better term) for this fone? i dont thin it's the athena coz it still lacks some uni features... it's just that my wedding anniv is coming up and im thinking of what to ask next from my hubby... yup, i am a lucky wife, but im worth every penny of it. haha
vBulletin® v3.7.0, Copyright ©2000-2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.