I mentioned in a previous post that WM6 was now available for the Samsung Blackjack, which so happens to be the Windows Mobile device I was using previous to purchasing the iPhone. I pulled my Blackjack out of mothballs in my desk, powered it up and upgraded the software. Right from the start, I began to have that old feeling of dealing with a windows-based device. For anyone that hasn’t experienced a firmware upgrade on one of these WM-basedsmartphones , you’re in for a treat. Backup the device (no instructions on how), download a zipped series of files. Go into Device Manager, check your .COM ports, make sure this is pointing to that and so forth. Verify again. Power down the device, connect the (proprietary)USB cable. Power up the device and execute the setup file. Screen shows command line code and a progress bar. Three steps. Ten minutes. The device will restart by itself and display a welcome screen. If not, call tech support at this number.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

After going through this technical, arduous process – I finally had WM6. Yippee! Of course, it wiped my device clean, which the backup didn’t seem to really back up much at all. Every one of my previous settings, from screen preferences, ringing preferences, even software – was gone. Okay, not a problem – this is a good upgrade, so it’s worth the little bit of aggravation….right?

Well, I’m not going to do a review of WM6, since it’s been out for (seemingly) forever, but suffice it to say after using my Blackjack for two days – it’s going back into its box and resuming it’s roll as backup phone. I feel bad for my Blackjack. Its not a bad phone at all, it does 3G, it has amicroSD slot, it has a full QWERTY keyboard. It’s a good overall smartphone. It’s just not the iPhone. Imagine Tom Brady’s backup on the Patriots. He may be a good QB. Maybe even a really good QB. He’s just playing behind a great QB, so he’s not going anywhere.

Maybe someday Windows Mobile will get it’s act together, stop trying to behave like a mini-Windows OS and realize that pull down menus and nested options are not the way to go. My guess, however, is that WM is at least two generations behind the iPhone interface. Maybe even more. So, for the time being, I’ll take my iPhone with its slower data connection and all….because, for now at least, it’s head and shoulders above any other options.

R.