Well, since Microsoft have now launched Windows Mobile 5 (previously codenamed Magneto), I really can't buy a device which doesn't have it. I knew this was coming in this sort of time frame, which is why I had planned to get the XDA IIi in April, however it was out of stock - for about a month. Well done O2, you've just lost a sale.
I looked at the upcoming SPV C550 from Orange, however with Orange screwing around with not updating customers with the C500 (like Catherine) with Windows Media Player 10, I've decided against it. The C500 is stuck with version 9, which is really substandard on the mobile platform. The C550 has Media Player 10, but considering it's out after Windows Mobile 5, I just can't buy something that's out of date before it's released. Judging on Orange's past with updating things, I doubt it will ever have Windows Mobile 5. So I'll pass.
The Tablet PC I've just got helps a lot, it's really made me much more mobile and I can really get some work done on it. So that's no doubt killed the urgent need for a Pocket PC or Smartphone.
What's in the future? The HTC Universal looks absolutely gorgeous, should be out later this year (September/October is the word on the street, so I'll assume by the end of the year). Check this baby out:
It's got WiFi like the XDA IIi (only 'b' come on we should be at 'g' now), a VGA screen - like some of the high-end Dells today, that's an insane DPI count, will be great for reading. Got a 520Mhz Xscale like the XDA IIi, but it's got 3G support and Windows Mobile 5. It also looks hot in black.
I've also got my eye on the Samsung SGH-i300 (in Bill's left hand, also shown the Universal), no word on if or when it will be availble in the UK. But it features a built in 3GB hard drive which is pretty uber.
