The T-Mobile Sidekick II by Danger

Cooler, Sleeker, BETTER! Cliches may get tiresome, but sometimes they just fit. And this is exactly the case for new T-Mobile Sidekick II. My philosophy is if you’re going to come out with a sequel, it’s because you believe you can make it better. Or you just want to ride the curtails of a smashing original. The former is the case in this situation, but it’s not a cultural shock either. Let’s look at the specs.

Specifications for the T-Mobile Sidekick II

We’re not talking about a major quantum leap from the old sidekick, but it is improved. Those individuals who the Sidekick I already appeals to or those who were maybe thinking this device might be for them will welcome the improvements. So what will you like if you are a Sidekick?

It’s flatter and made more for the on the go compared to its predecessor, which was probably just glad to be more than portable. You’ll like the new built-in digital camera as opposed to the Sidekick I external solution, and the camera performance is increased as well. Rotate the screen 180 degrees and reveal the more rugged thumb backlit QWERTY keyboard that is well designed, and the d-pad along with see-saw scroll will make navigating a breeze. Making phone calls using your phonebook with the backside LCD is simple. Functionality wise the Sidekick II has a lot to offer much like its original. The phone stores 2,000 contacts, with room for five numbers in each entry. Other features include a notepad, a calendar, a to-do list, 12 polyphonic ring tones, USB support, and a vibrate mode. And to keep in contact without making a call, there's also text messaging; Web surfing is fast relatively speaking; wireless e-mail access to three POP3/IMAP accounts but no corporate e-mail access; and support for viewing but not editing DOC, PDF, and JPEG files. For downloaded apps, there's 32MB of shared memory, though downloads are limited to a maximum of 1MB each. Battery life is acceptable and nothing to complain about. Keep in mind T-Mobile may vary depending up location, but for metropolitan areas the phone is loud and clear. With the 12 voice polyphonic sound, you’ll enjoy the sound quality from either the earpiece or speakerphone while listening to the radio or talking on the phone. Probably one of the best features of the phone is being able to quickly read and right emails as well text messaging. Instant messaging with Yahoo and AOL is another fun exercise that you’ll find new ways to enjoy all the time, and as mentioned web browsing is fairly speedy so this is truly where Sidekick II has it’s greatest appeal.

While slightly more ergonomic, don’t expect this all-in-wonder to be discreet because it’s not. Having the backside LCD still exposed like the original Sidekick all the time will require you to be more careful with the Sidekick II. How hard could it have been to make a slide cover for it? Drop it the wrong way one too many times and their goes the pretty LCD. Also you have to rotate the screen to dial manually or check voicemail. The camera with built-in flash has improved performance with a resolution up to 640x480. It’s definitely a nifty gadget that you’ll find many ways to employ but mostly in the light. This is not a mega pixel camera and thus will take your typical camera phone type pictures that lack printable quality. Take pictures in the dark and you’ll find they may or may not be visible even with the flash. I would probably have to classify it as still more of a novelty, but a fun one. Given its listed retail you really can’t complain though. The Sidekick II comes with a bundle of useful applications, but if you’re someone who yearns for expandability and customization the Sidekick II is going to be a little disappointing. The only software available is through T-Mobile, and while this will satisfy the majority of users, it will leave a few wanting. You won’t be upgrading the flash memory and you won’t be using MSN messenger or ICQ.

Overall it’s a good sequel. I’m not a sidekick, but I’m able to look at it from an objective view point and realize its pluses. It’s not a desktop computer. It’s not a digital camera. And it’s certainly far more than your average PDA. Once you realize that you have a truly mobile computing device with a nice phone capabilities and a camera too, you’ll be able to decide if the Sidekick II is ready for you. And this is where I think it is lacking. If you’re not leaning toward becoming a Sidekick and reining the T-Mobile plan that comes along with it, the features of the Sidekick II probably won’t be enough pull you into the saddle. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s geared at a younger crowd but not everybody is addicted to instant messaging from anywhere. For those of us who fall into this category, we’ll have to wait for the trilogy.

Pros: More ergonomic, nifty camera, nice web browsing, great for instant messaging and email.

Cons: Wish it could have been a little smaller, more customization, and better camera performance.

OVERALL RATING OUT OF 10: 8.5