Big review of Qtek 9100 (codename HTC Wizard)

April 12, 2006 | Pavel Koza | format - Other (ar.) | viewed - 890x
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Big review of Qtek 9100 (codename HTC Wizard)

Over the several months I had to wait for the introduction of the Wizard, my curiosity grew almost unbearable, and the first encounter at the Invex trade fair did not spoil my enthusiasm in any way. That is why it took me just a few minutes after receiving an all-explaining text message (been delivered, come for it) to arrive in the Sunnysoft outlet to lay hands on my new personal digital assistant. As in the case of its predecessor, MDA Compact, that I had used for about half a year, it took me a while to get to know my new pocket companion to produce a thorough review. I hope you'll find it worth the delay.

Before I start examining the contents of the box, let me put the device in context for those who have not followed the latest developments in the world of Pocket PCs. The Qtek 9100, i.e. the device that is subject to this review, is a product of HTC of Taiwan (not to be mistaken for THC, which offers a completely different kind of experience). The company does not sell its product under its brand; you cannot buy a HTC Wizard. It only sells to vendors and mobile operators who offer its devices under their own brand. So, even though this is a review of Qtek 9100, it applies, with a few differences in design, software and accessories, for instance to T-Mobile's MDA Vario and i-mate K-JAM by i-mate as well.

But enough theorising, it's time to open the box.

What is in the box?

An inconspicuous, relatively small box contains a decent set of accessories.

Qtek 9100
Spare telescopic stylus
Case
Earphones
AC adapter
USB synchronisation cable
User manual
Quick-start guide
Two CD-ROMS with bonus applications
Warranty information and other documents

I do not care about cases bundled with pocket devices, as I tend to carry my PDA in the pocket. Nevertheless, I examined it properly this time. In case it is not clear from the photos, the case is black;) It has belt clip and the device inserts horizontally. Two pieces of some sturdy material lined with nylon on the outside and padded with plush on the inside, held together by four pieces of flexible fabric create the main compartment with all the "hotspots" on the device readily accessible. A flip with two magnetic fasteners protects the device against slipping out.

I was not very impressed by the quality of the bundled earphones with a miniature 2.5-millimetre jack. There is a small control panel with a microphone, volume control and call answer/hang up button about one third down the cable. The earphones are all silver. I detest the coating of the cable, which is as nice to the touch as a rusty barbed wire. Hopefully, it at least protects the cable against damage... I comment on the quality of the earphones below in the chapter devoted to audio features.

The black AC adapter is quite small; another advantage is a sufficiently long (180 centimetres) cable with a miniUSB connector. The USB synchronisation cable has a standard USB connecter on one end and a standard miniUSB connector on the other.

To make the list complete, I should add that the box contains also a comprehensive 200-page manual, a thin quick-start guide and two CD-ROMs with bonus applications from Microsoft and Qtek. Finally, there is warranty information and a few unimportant leaflets. And that's all you can find in the box.

Design

As an enthusiastic admirer of the Compact, I can hardly avoid comparison here and there but I'll do my best to stay impartial. First of all, I should stress that HTC Wizard is not a direct successor to the Compact but rather a younger brother or cousin. Well, a much bulkier cousin:). The edges are now rounded; the device has grown in size, too. The exact dimensions are 109 x 58 x 23.7 millimetres / 4.29 x 2.28 x .93 inches. The most apparent is greater thickness, which has an obvious reason: the integrated slide-out keyboard. I have carried the Qtek around in my pockets since the beginning and it is not always very comfortable, I must confess, depending on the fit of the trousers. The additional half a centimetre in thickness as compared to the Compact does make a difference. The Wizard has also put on some weight, totalling 160 grams / 5.64 ounces. Neither the size nor the weight hamper user convenience in any way, providing a comfortable grip. The only design-related issue that drives me mad is inability to effectively control the device with the stylus only while it lies on the table. The back is not flat but rounded, so that even a light tap on the display sends the device vibrating for up to a second, including the display, naturally. You cannot work like this for a substantial period of time without going crazy :(

Pocket PC	Dimensions (mm/in)	Weight (g/oz)
HP iPAQ h6340	119 x 75 x 18.7 5.42 x 2.94 x .82	190 6.7
Lenovo ET960	110 x 62 x 19 4.33 x 2.44 x .75	135 4.76
Qtek 9100	109 x 58 x 23.7 4.29 x 2.28 x .93	160 5.64
T-Mobile MDA Compact	108 x 58 x 18 4.25 x 2.28 x .72	150 5.29
T-Mobile MDA	147(129) x 73 x 18 5.08 x 2.87 x .71	201 6.80
T-Mobile MDA II	130 x 70 x 19 5.12 x 2.76 x .75	185 6.53
T-Mobile MDA III	125 x 72 x 19 4.92 x 2.83 x .75	210 7.4
Yakumo Omikron	117 x 67 x 23 4.61 x 2.64 x .91	165 5.82

The design of the device is much more intricate than that of the Compact. I should note that other clones of the HTC Wizard being sold under other brands might differ in colour. The one in front of me is Qtek 9100 and this is how it looks. The first (unwelcome) difference as compared to the Compact is that the Wizard is made of silver and dark grey plastic, whereas the Compact had large parts made of light and durable aluminium. From the aesthetics point of view, I prefer the simple yet elegant lines of the Compact, but the Wizard's design is by no means extravagant, either. Check the photos to judge for yourself.

The front panel is dominated by a 2.8-inch (71-milimetre) display. Below are several controls: a directional control of irregular shape with an independent central button, phone-related buttons (call make and break), and two soft buttons configurable to use with Windows Mobile 5 and compatible applications. Above the display are another two user-definable buttons that can be assigned one action each, and a loudspeaker grill with two elongated LED indicators of different colours. All the buttons can be locked against accidental activation in two modes: either always when in the sleep mode, or manually. My feelings about the controls are rather mixed. The cursor control is fine. It supports diagonal directions and a depression in the middle makes it comfortable and accurate. The two soft buttons in the lower part are more problematic. They are very narrow and located just above the cursor control and phone buttons. That is why I have often redialled the last dialled number instead of launching calendar, or activated the Phone application menu instead of hanging up. Similar problems arouse in games. It is possible to configure the soft buttons to control an aircraft or another vehicle but it required great concentration to press the left button repeatedly. In other words, the controls are not ideal for my fingers (the other two buttons above the display make little difference).

On the back is a set of three components for "nearly perfect" photography, comprising camera lens, a LED flash and a small mirror for auto portraits. A little higher is an external antenna connector that can improve reception in places where there is a weak signal. Beware: unlike the commonly used soft rubber caps, the Wizard is fitted with a robust plug whose extraction cost me a broken fingernail and some more silver in my hair;) The advantage is that it is unlikely to fall off accidentally and get lost. The largest part of the back is occupied by a large door that covers the battery compartment and SIM card slot. Te stylus inserts at the bottom edge on the left.

The side are full of controls: on the left is a user-definable button that launches Bluetooth or WiFi configuration utility by default (a long press activates/deactivates vibrating alarm), a volume slider control, and several pinholes that let out sound from the built-in loudspeaker undistorted. On the right-hand side is a user-definable button that launches sound recording and voice recognition by default (short and long press), a user-definable button that is preset to shutter release, an infrared sensor, submerged reset button, and several loudspeaker pinholes.

The remaining two sides carry some important elements, too. On the top side, there is the main switch and a miniSD slot. On the opposite end is a battery door lock, headphones connector and a miniUSB connector for synchronisation and charging. Finally, there is the stylus: the package contains two telescopic ones, made of aluminium (most likely) with plastic tip and top. When folded, the stylus is a tiny stick 54 mm long and 5 mm thick. When fully expanded, it is 83 mm long, which is still quite short. One can get used to it but a few more millimetres would be welcome.

So, we are done with inspection of the device. Are we? Of course not:) The Qtek 9100 has another surprise for you: an integrated keyboard. And that is the subject of our scrutiny in the following chapter.

Integrated keyboard

One of the main attractions of the new Wizard is undoubtedly its slide-out keyboard. Unlike the Universal, it merely slides out, not pivoting or adjustable in any other way. Two rails on the sides keep both parts (the upper one with the display and the lower one with the keyboard) parallel. The two parts slide over each other smoothly and only lock in the extreme positions. You need to exert some pressure to overcome the locks. The keyboard comprises 41 keys, 2 of which are software keys to control Windows Mobile 5. The rest is arranged in four rows of ten (the spacebars occupies two positions). The keys are oval-shaped, 8 by 5 millimetres, with one-millimetre spacing. It is not a membrane keyboard but is much quieter than the Universal's. There is a small bump between the "F" and "J" keys for easy navigation. Most keys have two functions; you invoke the alternative character by pressing Fn (blue point) and the respective key simultaneously.

The keyboard is backlit for easy typing in the dark. I was not very happy about the solution, though. The backlight is blue, which causes two major problems in combination with the silver buttons. not only is the blue light very sharp (those who have ever worked with the iPAQ hx4700 with its blue LED for a substantial period of time will know what I mean:) but the combination of the blue backlight and silver buttons renders button inscriptions virtually illegible. One of the reasons may be my eyesight that has been declining since the time I switched from playing with the ball in the backyard to gazing into computer monitor some ten years ago. Nevertheless, I found for instance JASJARS's red backlight much better to look at. The backlight cannot be switched off neither it will deactivate automatically in good light conditions. So you have to tolerate it for five seconds every time you press a button.

Even though it is possible to type on the keyboard with six fingers (no, I am not malformed, I really have all 11 ... 9 ... ahem ... TEN, I just could not squeeze more of them on it:), the design suggests that it is intended primarily for the thumbs. It requires a few days of practice, not so much because of the diminutive buttons but mainly because of different placement of special characters than in standard keyboards. Nevertheless, it is an excellent alternative to a software keyboard for typing SMS messages or chatting over ICQ. After a few weeks, I am able to type while walking, which would be virtually impossible with a stylus and software keyboard, say in the Compact. All in all, there are some minor disadvantages yet I have soon found the keyboard as an indispensable tool in everyday work. The slider mechanism appears robust and has not shown any signs of wear after several months of use.

Parameters

HTC has heeded complaints from Compact users and made a lot of changes in the Wizard. Not all of those changes can be called improvements, though.

Let's discuss performance fist, as usual. The device features 64 MB of SDRAM and 128 MB of FlashROM (the user can access 31.58 MB of RAM and 44.03 MB of FlashROM; these figures may differ depending on each particular clone or ROM version). This is a perfectly sufficient amount of memory for Windows Mobile 5. The processor is more problematic. I always hesitate to condemn a device upon seeing a weak processor in the specifications without testing it. Unfortunately, my tests and practical experience has proved that while the TI OMAP 850 processor running at 200 MHz (some sources say 195 MHz, which makes no difference) is extremely power-efficient, it may slow down the system significantly in some situations (but not always). More on that in the final chapter. There is no way to adjust the processor clock speed, obviously.

You can perform a hardware (absolute) reset in the same fashion as in the Universal: either by pressing several buttons simultaneously or using a special software utility called "Clear Storage", which is accessible in the Settings.

The device's 2.8 inch (71 mm) display is no longer unusual with a growing number of devices on the market featuring displays of this size. Another question is whether users are happy about it. It is a classic TFT display with LED backlight, QVGA resolution (240x320 pixels) and support for 65 thousand colours. The display's black margins are minute, which is welcome because every millimetre counts in small displays. Backlight offers only five intensity levels jointly for battery and mains operation; there is no automatic adjustment to light conditions. The display appears better than that of the Compact; it has weaker yellowish tint and more intensive backlight. The display is as readable indoors and outdoors as displays of other Pocket PCs. The touch-sensitive layer is adequately responsive. The device, like all the latest devices, supports both the landscape and portrait mode. You can either switch between the modes manually or the device will do it for you automatically as you open or close the hardware keyboard.

Like most other Pocket PCs, the Wizard offers three basic audio features: sound record, playback over built-in speaker and headphones output. Let's start with recording (or microphone sensitivity as the key factor in this respect), which is very important in devices with an integrated mobile phone. An applet makes it possible to let the device regulate microphone sensitivity automatically and achieve a better result than with manual settings in all circumstances. Close-range recording is absolutely perfect; recording at a longer distance does not lose much of the quality. As usual, I have prepared a few samples [713KB] including a recording of a song on the radio. Unfortunately, sound quality from the headphones output depends on the quality of the 2.5/3.5 jack adapter that you need if you want to use good-quality headphones. As you will soon be able to find in a new "ce4you audio test", the vast majority of available adapters are atrocious and downgrade performance of otherwise good audio output. Well, what else can you expect from such a cheap bit of hardware... Anyhow, if you are planning to use the device as an MP3 player, take this into consideration. Do not expect any great experience when listening over the bundled headphones. The maximum volume is very loud but this is the only positive thing about the performance of the headphones output. Trebles are unpleasantly piercing; basses are flat, dull. Vocals are OK but when the instruments join in, the music becomes noise without any depth. I am not an audiophile yet I was more than glad to end the audio test in which I endured several MP3 songs and happily put the earphones back in the box (hopefully) forever. The integrated loudspeaker is not bad - it is not ideal for music playback but offers sufficient quality and volume for making phone calls. In fact, there are two speakers, one on each side of the device, so you can enjoy real stereo.

Now, let's explore the Wizard's communication capabilities. The device is a true communication wizard and can speak (almost) every binary language. The best module is undoubtedly the phone with support for EDGE but more on that in a special chapter. An indispensable communication channel is USB 1.1, unfortunately without the USB Host functionality. At least the USB port has a standard miniUSB connector at the bottom of the device. An infrared port on the side supports transmission speed up to 115.2 kbps and cannot probably be used to control home appliances. I guess so because I failed to successfully install and configure any of my collection of four remote control applications.

The device's WiFi and Bluetooth modules can be controlled using a utility called Comm Manager. The integrated Bluetooth module version 1.2 uses a relatively unsophisticated driver from Microsoft, like most other Pocket PCs with Windows Mobile 5, but it does serve its purpose when it comes to pairing with a GPS or a BT headset. ActiveSync via BT worked perfectly at first attempt, too, when I connected to my Dell Latitude X1 laptop. Finally, the WiFi, which is the IEEE 802.11b version. (The Wizard supports the "g" version, too, but you need to tweak the registry to make it work, which is why I put this information in parentheses - click here for more information. Besides, some APs may work incorrectly in the faster mode.) The user is provided with a handy utility for setting and monitoring performance; it includes a slider to adjust the performance / consumption ratio, and a form to obtain a certificate to access a secure network. I appreciated good sensitivity of the WiFi module as I encountered no problems with transmission whatsoever during testing.

If you are one of those users who put time on battery before any other parameter, you will hardly find a better Pocket PC than the Wizard. Its replaceable 1250-mAh lithium-ion battery does not look very promising as such but the processor's power efficiency and other power saving features make it a star performer in benchmark tests in this area. One of the factors is Windows Mobile 5 and its innovative feature that saves all data safely in the FlashROM memory, so that it is possible to squeeze the battery completely dry. This does not that the results should not be considered as good as they are. See below for test results.

Standard test, common usage, maximum backlight - test ended with an error message...
Video playback, maximum backlight - 6h04min
MP3 playback, display off - 23h20min (!!!)
Active GSM/GPRS, maximum backlight, no workload - 7h57min
Active BT, maximum backlight, no workload - 8h08min
Active WiFi, maximum backlight, no workload - 2h47min

The standard battery test always ended with an error in less than half way through. It seems the Wizard could not open a large Word document as fast as the testing application fancied it should. Except for WiFi, which is incredibly power-hungry, the results are amazing. In real life the battery lasted from Friday night till Monday (even though it was a tight, I admit). Naturally, I used the lowest backlight intensity, switched the device off immediately after finishing work, and activated WiFi and BT for the least necessary period of time. Otherwise, I did not have to limit myself in ordinary usage (calendar, phone, email, browsing mobile versions of some websites etc.) The phone module was active all the time.

Wizard as a mobile phone

Now, it is time to deal with the Wizard's key feature: a phone module and its capabilities. The device integrates a quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE module (850/900/1800/1900MHz) with an integrated antenna. The phone part (GSM) supports all required features, including call waiting / call redirect, show caller ID (CLIP), hide own ID (CLIR), conference call, and much more. Naturally, you can send and receive short text messages (SMS) as well as multimedia messages (MMS) using the MMS Composer utility.

The phone supports data transmission over GPRS as well as EDGE (class B, multi-slot class 10). The nature of the GPRS and EDGE technology makes it hard to test real capabilities as the connection speed may vary significantly due to actual workload on the network. However, I was able to achieve up to 20 KB/s when transferring large files (measured using Spb GPRS Monitor and calculated from amount of data and transmission time). Besides connecting the device to a network, you can use it as a modem e.g. for your laptop. I successfully tested this functionality - more in this article). All in all, the Wizard does not bring anything new as compared to other recent Phone Edition Pocket PCs from HTC. Support for EDGE is an innovation but we have otherwise seen everything before.

Specification on paper may be interesting but you will surely want to know how it all works. And things are not so clearly positive in real life. Sensitivity to signal was always satisfactory - although I usually find myself in areas with good coverage and cannot perform detailed tests. Neither did I find any problems with audio quality - callers can hear each other clearly, without any disturbing crackling noise or echoes. Data transmission is not problematic either - it works just fine. The biggest problem for the Wizard as a phone is - paradoxically - poor processor performance. Why? Let me explain. The GSM module as such (radio transmitter/receiver) is independent of the operating system (or should be) but is useless on its own. It is applications such as Phone and Messaging that allow us to make use of it. However, the Phone application in particular is not very fast. So, when a call comes while the processor is occupied with some demanding task, it becomes a dramatic race with time to answer the call. I encountered serious problems especially when playing games and running a navigation application. In the latter case, I was unable to answer a call before ten rings - everything was extremely slow, caller details "balloon" was drawn bit by bit and took several seconds to appear completely. It takes some more time before the phone reacts to the answer call button. So, before you make the device pick up the call, the caller will most likely have hung up. While some will shrug shoulders, for me, inability to answer a call in all circumstances is a serious drawback. Dialling is similarly slow but it is not as serious. On the other hand, this is the only criticism I have, so if you accept this behaviour, you should be satisfied.

Note :: The ROM version 1.6.7 brought a substantial improvement in this respect, so the number of unanswerable calls fell very close to zero. At last, I should add...

The device ships with several pre-installed phone-related applications. One of them is a voice dialling utility from Cyberon. I am not very keen on voice dialling and did not explore it extensively yet I did perform several successful tests. Modem Link is a utility designed for those who want to use their Wizard as a modem for a desktop or laptop PC and enables them to connect over USB or the infrared port. SIM Manager, as you would guess, manages contacts stored on the SIM card. If you insert a SIM card with some SIM Toolkit application, such as GSM banking, an icon will appear in the Programs menu and you will be able to launch it simply by tapping it.

When you are listening to MP3s and there is an incoming call, the volume will drop automatically and then restore once the call is over. You can use MP3, WMA, MIDI or WAV files as ring tones. If you prefer, you can choose a vibrating alarm instead.

Camera

The integrated camera produces satisfactory images in good lighting conditions but overall it is nothing special. So, let's sum up the fact, see a few snaps and move on to more interesting subjects:)

The camera has a 1.3 MPix CMOS chip with fixed focus. Maximum resolution is 1600x1280 pixels but it is a trick on the users. The chip supports "only" 1280x1024 pixels and images are simply rescaled to the bigger size. The controlling application supports smaller images as well (640x480, 320x240 and 160x120 pixels) in the JPEG format (compression, 4 quality levels) or BMP (no compression). It offers four modes for lighting conditions (daylight, night, bulb, fluorescent lamp), and an automatic mode. Amateur artists can choose from four effects (brown or blue tint, greyscale, negative). However, it is better to use some more sophisticated image editor on the PC when you want to be creative in this way. There are also some special modes that are supposed to enhance the resulting image, such as sports and extra fast, as well as brightness and contrast adjustment. Frankly, there is still something lacking about the photos, as you can see in the samples below (you can find the original photos in this package - original images [3991KB] ; images in the articles have been scaled down and sharpened).

The camera is accompanied by a high-power LED, which serves as a flash, as we know it from other integrated cameras. Rather than an aid in capturing photos, I find the LED useful as a flashlight e.g. when I need to read a bus timetable in the dark but it is up to personal preferences.

The Wizard can capture not only still images but also video. Its practical use is fairly limited due to bad quality. Unless there is some truly exceptional going on (the Prime Minister in swimsuit walking on the beach, a large asteroid falling on your hometown, your beloved mother-in-law among hungry tigers etc.), there is no point ion activating the video mode. In most cases, the audience would not be able to figure out what is going on on the display without explanation. The camera supports video in the MPEG4 or Motion JPEG format with a resolution of 176x144 or 128x96 pixels. You can watch some samples here [2120KB] .

Finally, let's see what is it like to operate the camera. The camera is landscape-oriented by default. Camera activation button which serves as a shutter release at the same time is positioned for the right forefinger so that right-handed users will find it comfortable to operate the camera with one hand. The camera takes quite a time to activate - it is not ready before some 6 seconds. That means it is unusable for quick point-and-shoot action. Photos and videos are saved in default folders in the internal memory or on a memory card. You can choose from several file-naming options. The camera reacts swiftly and calibration of white is also quick; the smaller the resolution the faster. Taking a snap (from pressing the shutter release button to saving the image) takes about 2 seconds, then you can view the image and choose what to do with it from a simple graphic menu.

Overall, the Wizard's camera is not bad yet I think it is inadequate considered the price tag. HTC has tried but if they want to put a camera in all their devices, they should work hard on improving the quality.

Expandability

Expandability options are not very extensive. The USB port is client-only and cannot connect another device to the Wizard. The infrared port is likely to be used for dial-up connection or printing. Expansion is therefore feasible mainly via Bluetooth, even though the driver from Microsoft offers a limited number of profiles. WiFi can connect a data projector but this is far from common. SDIO cards won't fit in the miniSD slot, so this is not an option. The Qtek does not look like lacking space for a full-size SD slot. However, a GPS will connect over Bluetooth and what other expansion do you really need?

Software

The default operating system is Windows Mobile 5.0 Phone Edition, which carries the complete set of applications from Microsoft including phone-related applications, among them Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile, Inbox, Internet Explorer and more. On top of that, HTC and vendors bundle some bonus applications but these may vary, so do not be surprised if you find a software package in your device different from what I describe herein.

One of the pre-installed applications is ClearVue PDF for viewing PDF documents. It is relatively fast and if the PDF document is not too rich in graphics, you can easily read a several-megabyte book in the landscape mode. MIDlet Manager is a utility that runs java midlets (MIDP applications) for mobile phones. It works OK but considered the general quality of available MIDlets, one would probably find a better use for ROM capacity. Finally, there is a handy ZIP for working with ZIP archives, and a simple module for the Today screen that will lock the device to prevent accidental actions, such as dialling a number or deletion of an important contact (my personal experience, unfortunately).

That's not everything, though - there are two CD-ROMs bundled with the device. One of them contains a classic communication application suite that includes Microsoft Outlook 2002 and Active Sync 4.0, the other carries one application: GPRS Monitor from Spb Software House. A good example of waste of scarce resources. As the name suggests, GPRS Monitor monitors data connections and amount of data transmitted. It is not as badly needed now that mobile operators offer fixed-price unlimited-data programmes, but if you pay per kilobyte, you will surely appreciate such a utility before you receive a monthly bill in a satin-lined box with a personal letter of gratitude from the operator's CEO. More on the Spb GPRS Monitor in this review.

Pricing

Pricing is not as straightforward as in other devices. There are many different vendors and operators, some of whom offer a bargain package if you sign a one- or two-year contract. Nevertheless, in our geography, unsubsidised prices range approximately from 500 to 630 euros (including VAT 19 %). The spread is big and it is only up to you where you spend your money. The lowest price seems very good for this type of device.

[POLL]

Impressions, Benchmarks & Testy

I start this chapter with a complaint. I have been increasingly disgusted by device manufacturers' inability to market adequately tuned and fully functional product. Long gone are the times when manufacturers offered us final versions of systems and applications and were quick to fix any bugs. Nowadays, it is so bad that I wouldn't dare call the ROM in some Pocket PCs a pre-release beta version. My initial enthusiasm about the Wizard was soon replaced with a shock: how on earth they can market such a bug-riddled thing. Spontaneous restarts, two HW resets within two weeks and lousy stability in general is what annoyed me from the beginning. A newer ROM version solved the most urgent problems, so the Wizard was more or less usable. The latest official (I hope:) FlashROM version 1.6.7 brought about not only bug fixes but also performance improvement, so that now, three months after purchase, I can declare the Wizard as fit to be my main pocket companion...

If you are thinking about the Wizard as your future PDA, make sure you accept the overall low performance of the device. It is not as bad as specifications and benchmarks suggest yet the lack of agility is a limiting factor in some situations. I personally find as the most annoying the aforementioned problem with accepting calls in situations when the device is busy handling a processor-intensive process. I have put up with the other consequences of the implementation of a slow processor (and I am looking forward to a new version of firmware). I use the same applications that I used in the Compact including navigation. By the way, here is where you can spot the difference between optimised and not-optimised applications. One more remark on the performance: never before I have experienced such a long soft reset... The latest ROM reduced the time substantially yet it is quite annoying if you need to reset often.

Multimedia is not the Wizard's cup of tea. One of the weaknesses is the headphones output that I have mentioned before. It is not completely the Wizard's fault yet it renders him virtually unusable as a good MP3 player. Similarly poor is video playback. My test video sample (640x480 pixels, 1.5 Mbps) achieved average rating of 45 % in a benchmark test using TCPMP (formerly known as BetaPlayer). This speed allows you to examine mistakes made by stunt artists and special effect designers but it is absolutely impossible to watch a movie this way. When I used a sample optimised for the QVGA resolution (320x240 pixels, 500 kbps), it was watchable yet fast-paced action was always rather jerky. A further downgrade of quality resulted in smooth playback.

I have not had much time to spend playing games lately, so I performed some tests just for this review. The result is along the same lines as multimedia: most games will run and are playable but demanding 3D games are jerky.

As for the overall impression, Wizard is not a device for everyone. On the one hand, it is a perfect communicator with an expandable keyboard ideal for those who need to type larger chunks of text on the go. On the other hand, there are some substantial limitations, the most serious of which is a slow processor. Its low consumption provides the Wizard with excellent time on battery, yet a 400-MHz XScale processor with an option to reduce performance manually to a half would achieve a similar result while giving the user a choice. For me, the Wizard would be absolutely perfect if it had a 416 MHz XScale processor with performance adjustment, design of the Compact but as slimmest as possible, and an SDIO slot instead of the digital camera. That would be a dream device...:)

I use the Wizard every day. The most frequently used applications include e-mail and personal agenda; I can stay up to date thanks to remote synchronisation with an Exchange server 2003. I connect to the net over GPRS/EDGE, which is noticeably faster than the Compact's GPRS. The integrated keyboard makes it easy to deal with e-mails including those that require a lengthy answer. The standard and bonus application suite allows me to read attachments in the .DOC, .RTF, .XLS and .PDF. Besides that, I use the phone part for making calls and sending text messages (but no MMS please), browse the internet, use navigation on my rare journeys outside Prague, play a game from time to time and so on. Considered my needs, the Wizard appears to be the best Windows Mobile device I could wish for.

I should add that I had bad luck when buying the device: I had to return the first one because the display produced an annoying high-pitched sound and the loudspeaker broke down. I am going to return the second one, too, because the touch-sensitive layer keeps losing focus and I am not very keen to calibrate the display five times a day. However, other Qtek users have not confirmed such problems, so it seems it is bad luck rather than a widespread quality problem.

Traditionally, benchmark test results should go in here. Unfortunately, the main test in Spb Benchmark did not finish and the statistics would be distorted. I tested the device's graphics performance with the GXMark utility. It is far less sophisticated than Spb Benchmark and offers comparison only with iPAQ h3600, but at least you can find out how many objects can move on the display simultaneously:)

Detailed evaluation

The Qtek is another device that I subjected to a more detailed and stricter evaluation. This is because the rating of most devices I have reviewed lately ranged from 90 to 95 percent and it was difficult to tell which device is better (I intentionally tried to avoid a 100-percent rating). Another reason is that this new system is more transparent. That is why the final rating is NOT BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE. 90 percent now and 90 percent before are completely incomparable figures.

Now, a few words to explain the evaluation criteria. The Type can be Pocket PC, Pocket PC Phone edition, or Smartphone. The Class means the target group, which is key for understanding the other categories. The number of points in the other categories is relative with regard to the class. For instance, a device with a VGA display, two expansion slots, BT and WiFi modules in the high-end category will receive nine points for a certain weight, whereas a device in the "entry" class with a QVGA display, one slot and no radio module will receive three points for the same weight. The date is also important - if I am rating a 1.3-Mpix integrated camera today, it will receive 10 points because there is nothing better available. In half a year, when 2-Mpix integrated cameras will be available, this one would receive fewer points.

If you would like to comment on the evaluation, please join the discussion. I am not doing this for my own pleasure but to make it easier for you to choose a new device. If you think it is a wrong idea, just let me know:)

Rating
Name:	Qtek 9100
Type:	Pocket PC Phone edition
Class:	For all
System:	Windows Mobile 5
Date:	April 12, 2006
Design, user friendliness
Design:	8
Dimensions:	8
Weight:	8
Buttons, user comfort:	7
Assembly quality:	9
Performance, memory
Processor:	1
Free RAM:	6,5
Free ROM:	4
Graphics:	5
Display
Resolution:	5
Size:	3
Quality (indoors):	9
Quality (outdoors):	9
Podsvícení:	9
Dotyková vrstva:	9
Audio
Microphone:	10
Loudspeaker:	9
Headphones output:	5
Communication:
USB:	7
Infra:	9
Bluetooth:	5
WiFi:	0
Phone
GSM:	7
GPRS:	7
General:	6
Battery, power settings
Features:	10
Battery life:	10
Expandability
General:	7
Software
System, settings:	8
Bonus apps in ROM:	8
Bonus apps in CD:	1
Accessories
Quantity:	8
Quality:	8
Other
Overall impression:	4
Manufacturer support:	4
Price/performance ratio	9
Total
Qtek 9100	7.41 out of 10

Notes :: Rating is on the scale from 1 to 10. The higher the figure, the closer to the ideal. If a device receives 10 points for "Design", it means it is beauty from heaven. On the other hand, if it receives 10 points for "Weight", it means it is extremely light.

And that's it...