HTC Scores an Advantage

The new mobile device does just about everything but iron your shirts, but it's still too bulky for everyday use

by Cliff Edwards

Editor's Rating:

The Good: Compact design, fast Web access, worldwide cellular network coverage

The Bad: Pricey, only middling battery life, cheap stylus

The Bottom Line: The cutting-edge Advantage offers a tantalizing preview of the future of mobile devices

Reader Reviews

When I first spied it at a cellular-industry trade show earlier this year, HTC's new Advantage X7501 really captured my imagination. A combination cell phone and minicomputer, the Advantage's unusual design and versatility made we wonder whether the final version would live up to its promise. After several weeks of testing it, I'll say the Advantage pretty much delivers many of the things a mobile professional might want in such a device, though its price and some drawbacks I'll get to later may limit its popularity.

The first thing you notice about the $900 device is its unique design. At first blush, it looks like a miniature, touchscreen tablet PC. But the device also comes with an innovative keyboard that attaches to the bottom with magnets. What's more, it sports a full-featured mobile phone that's compatible with GSM networks such as those used by AT&T (T) and T-Mobile (DT). It's also equipped with Wi-Fi and next-generation cellular technology for wireless Web browsing, as well as GPS satellite-mapping capability that costs $10 a month to enable.

Multiple Functions Artfully Integrated

Some consumers would no doubt be overwhelmed by the idea of such a gadgety device. But HTC did a great job in designing both hardware and software, making virtually every one of the device's functions simple and intuitive to use.

Much of the credit goes to Microsoft (MSFT), which has vastly improved its operating system for handheld devices with the latest edition of Windows Mobile 6. These enhancements include an improved screen layout for browsing and opening programs, as well as support for touch-screen technology, making it possible to interact with the large display without a keyboard or mouse. Indeed, I found I could do two-thirds of the things I wanted to do with the Advantage simply by tapping the screen with a fingernail.

The device itself, weighing 13.1 ounces, is about half the size of a giant candy bar, measuring 5.3 by 3.9 by 0.6 inches. The casing is a solid-feeling metal with a black finish. You might not want to touch it on a particularly cold day, but the substantial feel made me confident it would survive an occasional drop without serious damage.

Learning Your Way Around

For such a compact device, it offers an impressive array of navigational tools, quick-launch buttons, and indicators. The front is dominated by the large, five-inch display. To the left of the screen, there's a tiny joystick coated with a rubberized material that's extremely tactile. This joystick is used to navigate the menu and launch applications. Below it is a button, labeled "O.K.," which brings you back to the Windows start menu. Another button below bearing the Windows logo helps you dive deeper into the applications suite.

On the right side of the screen are three LED indicators: one for the GSM cellular signal; another to denote Bluetooth and Wi-Fi activity; and a third that alerts you to missed calls, a low battery, or pending e-mail, text messages, and voice mails. Below those lights is a quick-launch button for the Opera Web browser.

On the right edge of the device, you'll find the power button and a quick-launch button that takes you into a communications suite to use the phone, grab e-mail, and turn the cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth wireless signals on or off. Finally, there's a quick-launch button for the 3-megapixel camera. On the left edge, there's a stereo headphone jack, a USB charging port, and a VGA-out port to view photos and video you've shot on a TV or computer screen, or to show PowerPoint presentations through a projector. The camera and flash, located on the back, take very good pictures if you can hold the device perfectly still.