This post was published 3 months 2 days ago which may make its actuality or expire date not be valid anymore. This site is not responsible for any misunderstanding.

For the last year or so I have had a Motorola Moto-Q 9c Smartphone (Verizon).  For a Windows Mobile Standard device, a darn good phone.  It did take me 3 of them at the beginning to get one that didn’t have a sticky key or something but that’s another story.  Once I got past that initial problem the phone seemed to work fine.

Just recently, the “Q” developed a bit of a sticky key on the main keypad.  Nothing serious – it still worked but it was enough to be annoying when I was writing a text message.  So I dropped in at Verizon and discovered that my account was eligible for my annual equipment upgrade.  So … I chose to get an HTC Ozone to replace it.

Since it had only been a year since I first got the “Q” I expected the new phone to perform on par with the Motorola.  I wasn’t really looking for a performance upgrade.  Well, like it or not (I like it!) I got one. This one exceeded my expectations.  With at-least twice the installed RAM and a much faster processor this guy really performs.  The phone still doesn’t replace my X51 for some applications that I use but for most things that I have to keep with me (Calendar, Contacts, eWallet and stuff like that) the device is more than capable.  If I have to have only one device with me, this is the one.

The screen on this phone is about the same size as the Moto-Q and just as bright.  The phone itself is slightly smaller but the keyboard is as easy to use.  Here’s a shot of the two units side-by side.

 
One of the things I noticed right away was that the keyboard on the Ozone has a much more solid “click” response to it than the “Q” does.  Not as rubbery (both in appearance and how it feels to use).  The keyboard legends are also somewhat more attractive to my aging eyes.  Even without my reading glasses I can see the number legends clearly on the left-hand side of the keypad. (Not that I can actually read them you understand!)  The control keys above the keyboard are also raised instead of being set under a membrane as they are on the “Q” which seems to help my fingers more easily identify them.

The phone is easy to hold and grip in your hand.  One review I read said it had a “plastic” feel to it.  I’m not sure where they were coming from; the unit feels as solid as the “Q” does, though it doesn’t have a metal strip around the edge like the “Q”. 

As for software … I loaded pretty much the same stuff onto the new phone as I did the old one.  The applications seem to work about the same though, as I said earlier, it just has a much snappier response than the “Q” does.  The Ozone doesn’t seem to bog down when several applications are loaded like the “Q” does.  The Ozone also has the Task Manager “hardwired” under the Home Key which I like.

One thing the Ozone has that the “Q” doesn’t is a built-in GPS radio.  I didn’t want to use the Verizon VZNavigator for $10/month so I loaded Google Maps onto it.  The locator does work, though it doesn’t seem to be all that accurate.  As I sit here the locator thinks I’m sitting at the end of runway 30 at DeLand airport – about 4 miles from the house.  It says on the screen that it’s accurate within 4900M … OK, at least I know I’m in DeLand.  It’s probably using cell towers to calculate the position rather than true GPS at this point.  Since I’m not an avid GPS fan as yet I won’t worry about it.

The version of Windows Mobile running on this one is 6.1 Standard which runs fine.  One thing I did notice, happily, was that IE on this phone allows viewing of entire web pages and lets you zoom in and out.  Previous versions of the program didn’t do that which made it necessary to use a 3rd-party browser like Skyfire.

Accessing the messaging system is easy enough – there’s a dedicated key on the bottom of the keyboard for that – no surprise.

I’m sure there are other things that could be said – there seem to be plenty of reviews for the device out there but I just wanted to throw in my 2-cents.  The price of the phone is certainly worth it – after rebate I’ll have gotten it for $5!  Of course my contract with Verizon is extended another 2 years but I’ve been pleased with Verizon’s service so that’s no problem.  If you’re looking for a phone to replace your Moto-Q or something similar, look no further than this one.

-CB