Monday, October 6, 2003
The Sprint G1000 by Hitachi: Big, but Beautiful
Posted by Chris Hendriks in "HARDWARE" @ 09:00 AM
Are you ready to make the move to a totally wireless integrated voice and data solution that fits your busy mobile lifestyle? Have you been looking for a Pocket PC Phone Edition PDA with a built in QWERTY keyboard loaded with tons of features that will quench your need for mobility? Well, read on my friend! Let us see if this is the perfect solution for you. We are going to take a look at the new Sprint G1000 Pocket PC Phone Edition PDA by Hitachi. This integrated wireless Pocket PC Phone Edition PDA is truly the first device on the market that includes a built in keyboard and an integrated camera. All of these features are brought to market by two relative newcomers to this integrated wireless Pocket PC Phone Edition PDA segment – Sprint and Hitachi.
The Sprint G1000 by Hitachi is an integrated wireless Pocket PC Phone Edition PDA based on Microsoft’s Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition operating system designed to work on Sprint’s PCS Vision network. Sprint is a US based carrier whose nationwide wireless digital PCS network is based on the CDMA standard. The most visible features on the G1000 include a built in QWERTY keyboard and a built in swivel VGA camera. However, there are many more features that make the G1000 a very usable integrated wireless PDA.
What’s in the Box?
The Sprint G1000 by Hitachi Pocket PC Phone Edition PDA comes in a well packaged box that enables a consumer to quickly determine the kit contents, system requirements and basic features. The box contains the following items:
The G1000 incorporates an incredible amount of features into the body of the PDA. There are even some features whose functionality is implemented in a new way. I find this incredibly creative and commend the designers of the G1000 for not just designing their device to meet the status quo. I even found new features on the PDA that were seemingly inspired by the wireless nature of the PDA but could be useful in non wireless models. In the next couple of paragraphs, I will discuss each of these hardware features and give you my opinion on their functionality and use. However, no look at the device would be complete without taking a look at the overall physical dimensions of the device and comparing this to other PDAs on the market.
Figure 1: Comparison of the G1000 physical dimensions with other popular PDAs.
The graphic above demonstrates that the G1000 pushes the boundaries for size and weight when compared to other devices on the market. However, only the iPAQ listed has integrated wireless LAN and Bluetooth in the PDA while the Axim does not have any integrated wireless. Neither the iPAQ nor the Axim have a built-in VGA swivel camera or an integrated keyboard. The integration of these features probably accounts for the increase in weight and some of the other dimensions. The big question is if these added features create more value in a customer’s mind than do the dimensions and weight of the PDA. This is a very personal choice that every consumer will have to make and the cumulative effect of these individual choices will determine the success of this category of device.
It is interesting to note that without exception everyone who I handed the device to felt uncomfortable putting such a large device to their ear to talk. This social discomfort disappeared when I connected a wired headset to the PDA or when the speaker phone option was turned on. My personal preference would be to use a bluetooth headset from which I would be able to control the functions of the phone either by button (send, end, volume) or voice (dial a number or contact). The interesting point to go away with is that we have become conditioned by social norms about the acceptable size for an “object” that we are willing to put to our ear in public. These boundaries become significantly less important if there is a wired headset or some other means to move the device away from the head. In fact, the usage mode then changes entirely from a standard talk/listen model to one where you can talk/listen/view/interact with data on the device.
The choice of a headset is a very personal choice. However, I think that both Sprint and Hitachi should have included one in the box. In addition, the strength of these devices is in their talk/listen/view/interact with data ability. As a consumer, I am always curious about the way I should interact with new technology and I am sure that there are many others out there who are the same. Personally, I like advertising that show a typical consumer like me interacting with the device. This shows me the best way to use it and gives me “ideas” about what to use it for. To be honest, a wireless PDA without a headset will lose to my cell phone. A wireless PDA with either a wired or a wireless headset opens up new functionality for me, be it looking at data while talking, looking up a contact’s phone number, or just playing a game. Well, I believe that I have made my point and hope that the appropriate folks are listening.
The Sprint G1000 by Hitachi is an integrated wireless Pocket PC Phone Edition PDA based on Microsoft’s Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition operating system designed to work on Sprint’s PCS Vision network. Sprint is a US based carrier whose nationwide wireless digital PCS network is based on the CDMA standard. The most visible features on the G1000 include a built in QWERTY keyboard and a built in swivel VGA camera. However, there are many more features that make the G1000 a very usable integrated wireless PDA.
What’s in the Box?
The Sprint G1000 by Hitachi Pocket PC Phone Edition PDA comes in a well packaged box that enables a consumer to quickly determine the kit contents, system requirements and basic features. The box contains the following items:
- The G1000 device – PCS Phone (Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition)
- Lithium Ion Battery Pack – Rechargeable and replaceable (1500 mAh)
- USB Cradle – The cradle has a weighted base so is not designed to be taken with the traveler on their business trips.
- AC Adapter and AC Adapter cable
- Soft Case with Belt Clip – Designed to be a very functional case though not very fashionable.
- Stereo Mini Plug Adapter – Allows you to adapt your standard 3.5mm stereo headphone plug to the smaller mini plug.
- Start Here Guide – Contains activation instructions, the Sprint terms and conditions of service, and warranty information.
- Quick Start Card – An easy to read condensed card designed to get you up and running as quickly as possible.
- Companion CD-ROM – Contains Microsoft Outlook 2000, Microsoft ActiveSync 3.7, a link to Sprint’s PCS Business Connection, Microsoft Pocket Streets Web link, Microsoft Reader Web link, and other bonus software.
The G1000 incorporates an incredible amount of features into the body of the PDA. There are even some features whose functionality is implemented in a new way. I find this incredibly creative and commend the designers of the G1000 for not just designing their device to meet the status quo. I even found new features on the PDA that were seemingly inspired by the wireless nature of the PDA but could be useful in non wireless models. In the next couple of paragraphs, I will discuss each of these hardware features and give you my opinion on their functionality and use. However, no look at the device would be complete without taking a look at the overall physical dimensions of the device and comparing this to other PDAs on the market.
Figure 1: Comparison of the G1000 physical dimensions with other popular PDAs.
The graphic above demonstrates that the G1000 pushes the boundaries for size and weight when compared to other devices on the market. However, only the iPAQ listed has integrated wireless LAN and Bluetooth in the PDA while the Axim does not have any integrated wireless. Neither the iPAQ nor the Axim have a built-in VGA swivel camera or an integrated keyboard. The integration of these features probably accounts for the increase in weight and some of the other dimensions. The big question is if these added features create more value in a customer’s mind than do the dimensions and weight of the PDA. This is a very personal choice that every consumer will have to make and the cumulative effect of these individual choices will determine the success of this category of device.
It is interesting to note that without exception everyone who I handed the device to felt uncomfortable putting such a large device to their ear to talk. This social discomfort disappeared when I connected a wired headset to the PDA or when the speaker phone option was turned on. My personal preference would be to use a bluetooth headset from which I would be able to control the functions of the phone either by button (send, end, volume) or voice (dial a number or contact). The interesting point to go away with is that we have become conditioned by social norms about the acceptable size for an “object” that we are willing to put to our ear in public. These boundaries become significantly less important if there is a wired headset or some other means to move the device away from the head. In fact, the usage mode then changes entirely from a standard talk/listen model to one where you can talk/listen/view/interact with data on the device.
The choice of a headset is a very personal choice. However, I think that both Sprint and Hitachi should have included one in the box. In addition, the strength of these devices is in their talk/listen/view/interact with data ability. As a consumer, I am always curious about the way I should interact with new technology and I am sure that there are many others out there who are the same. Personally, I like advertising that show a typical consumer like me interacting with the device. This shows me the best way to use it and gives me “ideas” about what to use it for. To be honest, a wireless PDA without a headset will lose to my cell phone. A wireless PDA with either a wired or a wireless headset opens up new functionality for me, be it looking at data while talking, looking up a contact’s phone number, or just playing a game. Well, I believe that I have made my point and hope that the appropriate folks are listening.
