Thank Q, Motorola

June 29th, 2006

The new Motorola Q is simply impressive. I recently joined the smartphone movement, and I must say that it is quite an amazing piece of technology. It certainly has the wow factor, and I am not easily impressed. If you are interested in word-of-mouth research or are seeking out the true buzz about this device, then continue reading.

Motorola Q

Perspective

Before I describe the Q in my own words, let me first paint a picture of technology in my life. First, I am a power-user of these technologies: HDTV, Tivo, Slingbox, Wi-Fi, and virtually everything related to the Web. When I say power user, I mean at the expert level. It is not only a hobby, but also a major component of my professional life.

Second, I work with crazy-talented, uber Web geeks. I mean, these people are it. They know what is cool and what is not. Odds are the day a new piece of technology is discussed, we hear about it. This goes into virtually all sectors of the high-tech world: video, web, mobile — you name it.

So, I am an avid consumer of all things high-tech, and I am surrounded by others in this same demographic.

Research

A personal friend and colleague is a cell phone enthusiasts. He reads the blogs, watches the headlines, and shares with me thoughts about the industry. He knows mobile. We both have been looking for a smartphone that packs a ton of features into a small device. He was the first person to introduce me to the Q when it first was announced on the web. At that point, I too began to watch the blogs, and he and I discussed potential interest in purchasing the Q.

Niche That Needs To Be Scratched

I am wired. Most, if not all, of my information and work life depends on the Internet. I read email, websites, RSS feeds, listen to podcasts, and stream video. I do this for a living, so I live a very web-centric life. But, Wi-fi can only do so much, and lugging a laptop everywhere is not always a favorable choice. Also, there are times in the day where five good minutes to access my email or catch a critical message go wasted. This is usually walking between meetings or during moments where I am off the Wi-fi network. The thought of an always on, mobile access device to email, web, and voice seemed like the far off distant future.

Purchase

During a day trip to Chicago for a marketing conference, I decided to leave my laptop at home. I did not want to lug it on the train just for email and basic web. Instead, I kept in touch with text messaging and phone calls on my old cell. I button mashed a few text messages during the conference, and it turned out even that small bit of communication back to the office was handy. But, I realized at that moment in time that I was ready for the Q. No more hardware overkill for simple email and web. The Q could help bridge the gap between the network and my laptop, or at least it could help me avoid avalanches of emails due to lack of connectivity.

That same weekend I bought the Q at a major retail outlet chain. It was only $199 – the magic number. For some reason, to me, $199 is a desirable price point for technology. I also subscribed to the unlimited data plan.

The Q at Work

I now have email access everywhere. Set up of the accounts was a breeze. In moments, I had my office and Gmail accounts POP’ing mail. I also configured pocket Internet Explorer to access Bloglines, weather, and my various other favorites websites.

I bluetoothed contacts from the old cell phone.

My contacts are synced with Microsoft Outlook, and Windows Media Player keeps video and images up-to-date with my laptop.

The phone is clear and smooth. The speakerphone is almost unrecognizable to the person on the other end – conditions permitting.

Basically, I never needed the manual to get the Q connected to my work life.

Slingbox on the Q

The Q at Play

I stream XM channels. I can snap photos on the 1.3 megapixel camera and instantly (yes, instantly) upload them to Flickr. Video is decent and can also be transferred wirelessly. The Windows Media Player handles .mp3 files and all other media like you would expect on a laptop.

But, here’s the kicker. I can watch live television streaming from my own home on the Q. That is, I have a Slingbox running at home. The Q, because it uses Windows Mobile Smartphone software, can run the Slingbox Mobile Player. So, I can log on to the Slingbox from the Q, watch live TV streaming from my den, and change the channel at will – all from the Q.

I took this in to the office and the crew said, “wow.”

Summary

The Q is amazing. I am convinced. If you are a high-end consumer of web content, email, and can benefit from being always connected, this is for you. It fits easily in your pocket. Laptops cannot. Or, if you are looking for a sexy design with some powerful features, it is the right choice.

The next thing I am going to do is hook-up my blog to the Q. Why not? It can do everything else.

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