My New Moto Ming a.k.a. Motorola A1200

It was a casual evening with casual plans but somehow I ended up owning one of these sleek babies called Moto Ming. Ming, in Chinese, means clear and bright - and I can't think of a name that suits this phone better.

I had the Nokia 7710 previously. I had no complaints, no reason to make the shift. So why did I? Here's the lowdown on what made the difference - and why this was so worth it.


A) Heaving over Heavy Phones:
The Nokia 7710 really made a 'big' impression with its size and weight. At 190gms and impressive dimensions of 128 x 70 x 19 mm, it was the reason I fell in love with it. The awesome big screen promised many hours of happy movie watching to my eager eyes and eased the use of complex applications like Excel and Word. But it was not meant to be Happily Ever After. Soon, I had to carry a purse just to carry the macho phone around, and it just won't fit in an average sized pocket. If it ever did, I couldn't sit or walk comfortably with the load. I also realized in little time that although the screen was advantageous, the size and weight nullified everything - and I stopped carrying my phone altogether. Adding still, I didn't want to scratch it, and the cover was much too heavy itself. Combined, the phone was equivalent to carrying a brick around - and it wasn't much fun after all.
The Moto Ming weighs 122gms and the fitted cover only makes it feel even lighter. It is one of the smallest Smartphones I've ever seen and fits so comfortably in your pocket, that you won't even notice its there. The screen is quite bright and impressive, and the transparent lid ensures extra protection for the same. I love feeling so light and carefree, and the fact that I don't have to carry a handbag anymore.


B) At Snail's Pace:
When I bought the Nokia 7710, I was introduced to the fact that it uses the new Symbian 90, created specifically for Smartphones. This made me look forward to a lot of cool features and freeware. However, even that was not meant to be. I found soon that Symbian 90 was not developed any further, and even the Nokia 7710 was on its way to extinction, meaning I really wasn't going to get anything beyond what was already there.
Still, I wasn't disappointed, because the 7710 was powerpacked with some good utilities. However, the speed was so slow and it hung so often, that I barely had the good fortune of being able to use them effectively. It came with a great browser, and with the screen it had, it could've been an awesome surfing experience. But the Internet worked even slower on the phone, and even that could not be taken to its advantage.
The Moto Ming is based on Linux OS, meaning a very stable and fast interface promising almost no hanging or crashing. Of course, Linux is as unpopular as the Symbian 90 for smartphones, but Ming also supports J2ME applications - so hopefully we'll get some good stuff all the same.


C) Necessity v/s Provision:
The Nokia 7710 had a lot to offer in terms of features. But it was always a PDA first and a phone much later. The interface had little support for the phone and the contacts loaded too darn slow to make quick calls. Infact, you couldn't dream of calling anyone whilst driving - you just couldn't operate it with a single hand! The 7710 had to be operated with both hands, and the interface demanded the use of stylus, no matter what the function may be.
The Ming, however, differs in this regard. It is a phone first and a PDA much later. Infact, it can be called a phone with added features. The features are not too great and it lacks many utilities 7710 had, but it makes dialling and receiving calls genuinely easier. It can be operated mostly without the stylus and easily responds to a single hand.


D) Regrets:
I love the Ming, but we all have our regrets ditching one thing for the other. The ringtones don't ring loud enough for one - you really have to strain to imagine if your phone is ringing. The camera is 2.0mp v/s the Nokia's 1.3mp, but the display on Nokia made them look sharper and bigger. The screen is smaller, compromising on cool things like watching movies.
I love the Business Card Scanner on this one. It lets me click a photo of a Business Card and automatically saves the printed information as a contact - very techie and cool. I also love the fact that it comes with a 512mb card, saving me the cost of buying an additional one.


Verdict:
I'm glad I made the shift - and would recommend the Motorola Ming to anyone who wants a Smartphone at an affordable price. Its awesome to look at, feels very comfortable in a pocket and enhances your Brand Image for sure. And if you can find some good J2ME applications to conform with it - its truly a rockstar!