I purchased a PPC-6700 several years ago when they first came out. It was a Windows Mobile 5 phone. Over the years I upgraded it to WM6 and then WM6.5. I can't really say that it ever let me down, but my wife ended up dragging her Samsung A-900 by it's charger cord as we drove off of the ferry. It didn't get destroyed but it was looking pretty rough.
In January we went by the Sprint Store because we were both eligible for upgrades and thought we would get a pair of Android phones. Unfortunately, we were told that we would have to change plans to get one of the Android phones. As I said previously... we have an unbeatable Sprint family plan with free “unlimited” data and no real penalty if we go over our minutes. We have three phones on the plan all with “unlimited” data for just $90 a month after all taxes. We were told that the only data phones currently allowed on our plan were windows mobile 6.5 or earlier phones.
The best phone that can be used on our plan is the HTC Touch Pro 2. The phone has a large base of active users who post in forums on the internet. You can find out how to do just about anything with the TP2 through the forums. The processor is not as powerful and it doesn't have as much memory as most Android phones, but it has a beautiful 800 x 480 screen and a very convenient slide-out keyboard. The phone is much sleeker than my PPC-6700. It can also comes unlocked for using GSM networks when traveling abroad so it is one of two Sprint “World” phones. We bought two of used TP2s through Ebay. Both were in nearly flawless condition and activated without any problems.
Since we have owned a Windows Mobile phone for several years we haven't had any difficulties with the TP2s. We would have loved to have purchased Android phones with more powerful processor and more memory, but for the tasks that we use our phones for... there was no way we could justify doubling our monthly cell phone bill.
The TP2 uses Sprints 3G network, can be used with our WIFI at work, and we have great Internet browsers installed. There is a free app that turns the phone into a wireless hot-spot that works incredibly well. They display high quality pictures, and play high quality video and music, both streaming and from a memory card. The phones have a great GPS built in and programs are available that can track the phone if it is lost. The camera is not that great, but is not all that bad either. They come with HTC Touch which is an extension included with WM 6.5 which give the phones a flashy start-up screen with Weather and customizable shortcuts.
The operating system may be a little dated, but it is stable and I know my way around it because of my previous experience with my PPC-6700. Neither of the TP2s have crashed on us once. I am able to get a lot more out of my TP2 than most of my friends who are using more powerful Android phones. The TP2 actually can dual boot the Android operating system from a memory card with everything working, but blue-tooth and the stereo headphone jack. You can still use a headset through the USB port but I have only played with Android on my TP2 for recreation. I have Windows Mobile programs that accomplish everything that I need to use the phone for.
So to summarize. I am actually a little surprised how maligned Windows Mobile 6.5 and below have been. It is a little outdated, but it is an efficient operating system that makes good use of devices with limited computing power. I actually am quite proud of what I can still accomplish using my old tweaked PPC-6700. It is five years old and delegated to being a backup phone but is still quite useful. I expect to get at least a couple more years out of the Touch Pro 2s. Around the time dualcore 2ghz Android or Windows 7 phones with 3D displays become available I suppose that we will end up having to make the switch.
I’m glad you’ve had success with you WinMo Phones. It basically comes down to personal preference and it appears that you’re pretty satisfied with what you have. I’m have a vague familiarity with WinMo. I’m a prior Iphone 3G and 3GS owner and decided to make the switch to Android. Since I switched, I haven’t looked back.
I had the 500 min plus unlimited text and data for $30 month... so to go to an Android had to upgrade to Sprint SERO premiums plan
This bump my plan up an extra $10 but added the unlimited mobile to mobile and navigation
Then to go to a 4G phone it goes up another $10
But I will tell you the usability of the EVO is so far superior to the old phone... ..it real is a small table pc in your pocket...
So yea I went from $30 a month to $50
But 500 min land line, plus navigation, plus unlimited mobile to mobile, text and data all in a device with this power to do so much with all the free apps the phone is almost secondary to what it can do...(but it is great as a phone call quality wise far better then my old touch pro 2) .....
It is very very much worth the extra $20 a month
(FYI I also have an unlimited google voice voip line for business... Android integrates that in to the phone so I now receive and can call out on that voip business number on my cell phone with no problem..dial and it pops up "what line?" to call out from... it also integrates both numbers in to visual voice mail so any voice mail on either line is translated and sent as a text with an audio attachment you can play if needed...so no calling for voice mail ... and all free... also used "Oovoo" for free video calls ..mobile to mobile or mobile to PC over the cell net or wifi not like the Iphone wifi only video app ...again for free... Skype video calls apps should be out soon )