New super-mobiles ring the changes

By PETER GRIFFIN

If you can overcome the paranoia of painting the town red with a $2000 phone in your back pocket, there's a good chance you'll enjoy the new wave of super-mobiles.

Just don't lose your grip. Despite their hefty pricetags, these feature-packed devices are getting smaller, lighter and easier to carry - unlike the solid bricks of earlier versions.

QTEK

The best thing about this handheld computer/phone combo is that if you've had anything to do with Windows (and most of us have), you'll know where everything is.

That familiarity comes in handy when you're in the back of a taxi, squinting at a two-inch screen trying to enter your pop3 mail settings.

Pocket versions of Word and Excel are included, and Windows Media Player will play your mp3 audio files nicely.

Outlook Express integrates your email and text messages, and good old Internet Explorer will let you browse websites on Vodafone's GPRS mobile data network - see the attached caveat on data pricing.

This device is primarily a handheld computer, so if you're just looking to talk and send text messages go instead for a mobile handset (see below) - although you can do both fine on the Qtek.

Using the handwriting recognition software can be frustrating, but this is as good as it gets at the moment. A collapsible keyboard will set you back about $300 - when the keyboards become available here.

There's no brandname associated with the Qtek, but it is made by HTC, the company responsible for the Compaq iPaq handheld computer.

You'll get funny looks holding it to your ear, but the speakerphone works well and the Qtek comes with a hands-free kit.

Its one big flaw is a nagging reception problem that occasionally sees incoming calls directed straight to voice mail.

This is a problem referred to widely overseas, so it wasn't a matter of my phone being the odd one out. Synchronising with Windows on your PC via the Qtek cradle is easy - and make sure you do it regularly.

The thing crashed on me twice, forcing me to revert to back-up data on my PC.

The Qtek is good on expandable storage, using the Secure Digital (SD) standard, though you'll have to pick yourself up a card (around $180 for 64MB) - they don't include one in the box.

The phone is pricey, but I reckon the added features and the familiarity of the Windows interface are worth the extra.

Price: $2249

Herald rating: 8/10.

SONY ERICSSON P800

On the other hand, this is where true mobile phones are going. It's shaped like a phone, is organised like one, but really masquerades as a computer.

Based on the Symbian 7.0 software, the P800 has a long, oblong screen that can be covered with a removable keypad to resemble more traditional phones.

It can also be used as a pen-based device - if you have dainty fingers and good eyesight. It's similar in shape to Nokia's 7650 camera-phone, but a lot better looking.

The styling of the T68i, the successful Sony Ericsson high-end phone, has thankfully been retained.

The digital camera is a nice gimmick but of limited use, producing the type of hazy shots a tiny digital camera is capable of.

Likewise, the inclusion of Bluetooth - a standard that allows the phone to talk to other like-minded devices - is largely a waste of time. How many Bluetooth-enabled devices do you own?

Everything else is great - email, and web browsing, handwriting recognition, a good mp3 player, video player, computer syncing, web browser, contact book and calendar features and, of course, games.

The phone is comfortable to hold and carry. It's also a tri-band phone, which means you can use it roaming in both Europe and America.

Incorporated on Sony's behalf is a removable storage chip in the form of the Memory Stick Duo, a postage-stamp-sized wafer of plastic and metal that boosts the phone's storage capacity.

The frustrating thing is, the Duo is incompatible with the millions of slightly larger Memory Sticks already out there.

This is a major issue if you're planning to use your phone as an mp3 player and want to be able to fit in more than half a dozen songs. Your old Memory Sticks can't be used. Apparently, an adapter for the older Memory Stick standard is available, but that just seems like more hassle.

A Sony fan, I have several Memory Sticks floating around, none of which will slot into the P800.

Price: $1799

Herald rating: 7/10