O2 XDA II vs. Sony Ericsson P900

Hello Everyone,

Happy New Year! I hope this message finds everyone in good spirits.
I just purchased and have been using the XDA II by O2 for the past
week and must say I was very impressed. Before purchasing, I was
considering the SE P900 but decided against it as I felt the O2 looked
more stylish.

Yesterday however I had dinner with my cousin who had the SE P900.
The waiter seemed to notice the phone and inquired as to what phone it
was, the feature set, etc., however didn't give my new phone a second
look, probably because it resembles an ordinary PDA and not a phone.

Can anyone who has used both models or is familiar with both, compare
and contrast the two units? I used his SE P900 very briefly but not
long enough to decide whether I should sell my unit and pick up the
P900 instead.

Based on my initial observations:
O2 XDA II - PROs:
- Although wider, the XDA II looks more stylish and aesthetically
pleasing.
- Windows Mobile 2003 OS allows the use of Microsoft applications
including Pocket Outlook, Word, Excel, Windows Media Player, as well
as MSN Messenger.

O2 XDA II - CONs:
- Doesn't attract much attention as resembles an ordinary PDA.
- Very difficult to hold with one hand.
- Difficult to send an SMS without using the stylus. Not sure if it
is easier for those with small fingers to use the on-screen keyboard,
but in any event both scenarios require you to use both hands.
- Poor battery life. My voice standby is nowhere near the stated 150
hours.
- Poor picture quality when compared to the quality of pictures taken
using the SE P900.
- SMS Messages in Inbox and Outbox are displayed by number even
though those numbers are added in my phone book. Every other phone
I've used in the past has shown the name - as it should.
- Can't use MP3s as ringtones.


SE P900 - PROs:
- Picture quality is much better than the SE P900 in initial tests.
- Can use MP3s as ringtones.


Questions:
- Having purchased most of my phones (including the XDA II) direct
from suppliers in Europe and Asia, for those who are currently using
the SE P900 or O2 XDA II, I'm curious in knowing what you paid for
your unit. It seems like the SE P900 is at least $70-$100 less than
the O2 XDA II.

- The cost price of the P900 now $100 more than when my cousin
purchased it. The price has appreciated after his purchase. This is
unlike every other phone I have used in the past as I have watched
phone prices fluctuate and depreciate rather quickly.

- Between the SE P900 and the O2 XDA II - which do you think would
hold on to its value longer? Other models seem to depreciate faster
than others while others seem to hold their value and even appreciate
in some cases.

- I like the O2 XDA II as it comes with MSN Messenger. Would I be
able to install MSN Messenger on the SE P900 as well, even though it
uses the Symbian operating system? It seems like I have an advantage
having the O2 as I can use Windows and more mainstream applications
than if I had the SE P900.

- I haven't compared the feature set between both phones in detail
however a quick glance at the specifications makes both phones seem
identical with minor exceptions. Is there anything I should know
about the SE P900 or O2 XDA II before making my decision?

- For those who have the O2 XDA II and are using T-Mobile (USA) as
their network operator: Are you able to successfully connect to MSN
Messenger? The error message I receive is: << Logon to MSN Messenger
Service failed because the service is not responding. Please try
again later. >> Is there a workaround or is MSN Messenger not
supported by T-Mobile yet?


Kind Regards,
O2 XDA II User
sleekncoolguy@yahoo.com