Review of Sprint's PPC-6700 QWERTY/EV-DO Equipped PDA Phone

PPC-6700

PPC-6700

PPC-6700

Sprint's PPC-6700 is based on the HTC Apache reference design. It is a Windows Mobile 5.0 device that packs a lot of technology into a fairly small package: including EV-DO 3G data and WiFi. Its capabilities and form factor are sure to attract business users and regular consumers alike. In fact, the PPC-6700 gave me my first contact with Sprint's newly launched EV-DO network.

Physical Aspects

In spite of its relatively small stature, the PPC-6700 is quite a hefty device. Our test unit weighed 191g (6.7oz), 19g more than what Sprint claims for it and quite a bit heavier than the HTC Wizard based devices for GSM networks that it so closely resembles. In fact, if you ignore the antenna, it measures almost exactly the same as a Wizard based device: 108mm x 60mm x 24mm (4.3" x 2.4" x .9"). The antenna increases the length to 126mm (5"). The one benefit of the stub antenna is that it holds a full sized stylus, something that the Wizards lack.

Next to the antenna, you will find a miniSD card slot and the main power button. The PPC-6700 has a dedicated camera button on its lower right side. The left side has more going on with its IR port, voice memo button, volume control (which was kind of rough), and a dedicated Pocket Internet Explorer button. A miniUSB port can be found on the bottom of the device, next to the 3.5mm headset jack, the reset pinhole, and the microphone. The camera lens, with its macro lever, the assist light, and the self-portrait mirror are all on the back.

The front of the device is home to the display, which I'll talk about a bit later, and the joystick with its cluster of buttons. Unlike the HTC Wizard devices I've used, the PPC-6700 has dedicated Windows and OK keys on the front of the device, which makes using it without a stylus much easier. I also prefer the joystick that the PPC-6700 has to the d-pads used on some similar devices. Of course, as with all Windows Mobile 5 devices, there is also a pair of soft keys available. And since this is a phone device, the send and end call control buttons are also there.

The real value of the physical design is in the PPC-6700's slide out QWERTY keyboard. Turn the device into landscape orientation and slide the two halves apart to reveal the keyboard. The display will reorient itself and if the PPC-6700 happens to be in standby mode, it will automatically turn itself on first. The keys have a nice domed shape to them and are reasonably large. The only issue I have is the use of white backlighting on the silver keys. In medium light, it makes the keys hard to read - and you don't have an option to turn the backlighting off.

Our Sprint PPC-6700 shipped with a cradle that accepts both a miniUSB cable (included) and a charger (also included). On top of that, it came with a nice belt holster that will make carrying it around simpler. The PPC-6700 will fit in your pocket easily enough, but you'll have an easier time retrieving it from the holster if you are sitting.

PPC-6700

PPC-6700 and Nokia 6600

 

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