Many of you may recall my recent rants about the Sidekick 3 and how much it sucked ass. I mean, seriously, I paid over $400 for the biggest POS known to man. Danger makes a phenomenal OS and Sharp and T-Mo go and screw it all up. The hardware was atrocious and that’s putting it lightly. The phone was horrible. Everyone complained of echoing and I could never hear what they were saying. I regretted spending so much money regardless of the fact that I snagged it early enough to cash in on the non-contract extension fiasco. There was no point in upgrading from the Sidekick 2. I didn’t need Bluetooth, an MP3 player or any of the other asinine features that lured me in. What the hell were you thinking, T-Mobile/Sharp/Danger? And what was the iD all about? That was just a trimmed down SK2 sans camera. Whatever.
My faith has been revived with the LX and Slide, but I’ve grown tiresome of all the features that the LX boasts. Don’t get me wrong, the screen is gorgeous and huge, but like I said, I don’t need all the media functions it possesses. I just need e-mail, AIM (Danger’s AIM client will always be the best) and a decent Web browsing experience. The Slide essentially fills the messaging device’s shoes rather nicely. When I first saw both devices a few months back, I was quickly drawn to the Slide. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, though. Was it just the new hardware from Motorola or…hell, that’s why I was drawn to it. So, really, all we need to discuss is the hardware. The OS has slight changes that aren’t really worth mentioning. But feel free to ask in Comments. So, as a hardcore Sidekick fanboy were my expectations finally fulfilled? Maybe.
Form factor-wise the Slide is the best Sidekick to date. It’s slim, lightweight and the black and purple color scheme is fantastic. I can finally tolerate putting it in my pocket, too. But I do have my gripes with it. The keyboard isn’t the best. The buttons are too small and cramped together. Some of the keys don’t seem to move at all and I’m constantly checking to see if I’ve missed a letter, but to my surprise it’s all gravy. Which is a good thing, but I just wish there was more of a tactile response. The d-pad is a little too big IMO, but the Slide’s sleek design quickly extinguishes any misgivings I begin to have about it. It works fine and I just need a few more days to adjust. The trackball is a little too recessed for me. I feel like I’m digging into its cubbyhole when using it to scroll through the menu. But it’s now black and doesn’t show as much dirt so we’re par for the course. The screen is considerably brighter, though, the LX’s screen is much bigger and way nicer since Sharp dropped in their AQUOS screens. It’s still a step up from the SK3. I also like that the blinking indicator moved from the trackball to the d-pad on the Slide. It’s not as bright and obnoxious now. The 1.3-megapixel camera sucks. There’s no flash and it’s still 1.3, so whatever. I rarely use it anyway.
So how’s the phone? It’s fine. I haven’t had any complaints and the speakerphone is leaps and bounds above the SK3. I can actually hear people now without constant crackling. Reception is exponentially better then the SK3 and even the iD, which I thought had killer reception. Upon exiting subway stations I already have service before I step onto the street. The SK3 usually took a few minutes before reconnecting to the network while the iD took a minute or less. The strange thing I noticed over the weekend when I was in Brooklyn at Biggs’ house was that I had a better signal strength then Biggs’s LX, but my GPRS was being wonky and not connecting. A simple soft reset did the trick, but I’ve had to do that a couple more times since then so I’m a bit skeptical now.
Here’s my biggest gripe with the Slide. I want my swiveling screen. That’s what sets the Sidekick apart from all other phones. The form factor is nice, but I don’t like the sliding screen. It makes it very difficult to use one handed where as the swiveling screen was a piece of cake. Why did they even market this as a Sidekick? I still like it, but I miss my swiveling screen. Battery life isn’t the greatest either. I took my Slide off the charger around 8am today and it’s already at 60 percent. I haven’t even used the phone today. I’ve been IMing infrequently and texting with a two minute window where I was browsing the Web. Thankfully you can charge via USB so I’ll forget about the battery life. It also helps that I have my Solio with me at all times.
All in all, the Slide is what I had hoped the SK3 would have been. Its small form factor and design is top notch. I don’t look like one of the kiddies anymore. It’s nice to see someone other than Sharp take a swipe at the Sidekick line. It’s refreshing and I hope they continue to manufacture future handsets, but I want my swivel screen back.
Update Ok, so the camera isn’t that bad when the lighting is perfect, but the lack of flash that’s existent on the SK3 and LX makes me wonder why Moto didn’t include one.
I should also mention that there is an MP3 player on the Slide, but it can only be activated when a microSD is inserted with content or you’re connected via USB.
Can you post some sample pics taken with the slide’s camera?
i have the slide and without a memory card it can only store like 6 pictures. and the camera really isnt that great. im sick of my slide, im looking for a new fone.
Do you know if bluetooth can send files yet? Or is it still the lame headset only stuff.
@ Ben
Looks like you can only send your vcard and connect with Bluetooth headsets. Lame, I know.
I have the slide, and I’ve had it for a week now. It’s an amazing phone, best hiptop ever. I have had the hiptop 2/3. I am already over the fact the swivel is gone. I don’t only like the hiptop for the gimmick. I like it for the o/s and quality IM/txt/email.
The lx is bulky, ugly colours, and still made from sharp. Every hiptop they’ve made has had a major major fault. For instance the hiptop 2, the phone would restart and delete all your stored information then take at least 40 minutes to get it back. And the hiptop 3 actually fell apart. All the faceplates came off.
Kudos Motorola!
hey umm do u know if sidekick slide has a blue tooth?
cuz some of ppl said it does
but some said it doesnt
can u plz tell me
ok thanx bye
I have had the LX for about a month now and its to my opinion the best phone out.The screen its beautiful the web browser its faster the cams faster and the mood lights jus make the phone look cooler all and all its a major step up from the sk3
i just got a sidekick slide and its amazing
but sometimes if i like open it to fast or somethin…it restarts itself
if anyone has the phone can somebody get at me and tell me if they have the same problem
there is a recall on phones that restart. There is bad battery connection. Call t mobile
no man i dont have the same problem dude
maybe your finger hit the power button on accident
Omg yea tht happens to me like it rstarts and I lose all my data
OMG! that happens to me all the time
the first time it happened, i started freaking out cus i thought it wasnt going to come back! im done with my slide, its annoying how its always deleteing my info
Same here it always restarts like wat do I do?
Well, I don’t have a Sidekick, even though I’d just about kill to have one, but I’ve done hours after countless hours of research on them, and the Slides are temporarily unavailable, because T-Mobile said people complained of the problem of the Slide turning off when they slide the screen. So, just to let you know, it’s happened to plenty of other people. So, if I were you lucky guys with Slides, I’d go check out what you can do at a T-Mobile store. Maybe they’ll repair it?? I hope this was helpful. =)
This is in response to bob who posted on 11]9, I too had the slide and after a week took it back because it was restarting as soon as I slide the screen down to fast, tmo did not know why so i just returned the phone. I also had replaced it twice adn the second slide had the same issues
Has anybody compared the sk slide and lx to the tmobile wings? Ild like to know witch one is better in your opinion.
THE WING SUCKS
DO NJOT GET IT
IT FREEZES AND ITS SO SLOW
MY SIDEKICK SLIDE RESTARTS ITSELELF AND I LOSE ALL MY DATA :[
Yo does the sidekick slide really restart? 1 of my friends told me that the phones is better than the lx cuz it lastest longer and the speaker phone is louder.
P.s. Does it really cut off? I wanna know cuz I wanna get it but not if it cuts off. Let me know. My email is j.rico17@yahoo.com
I just bought a slide 2 days ago and put it through hell new phones do not restart
its fixed now. i just got my slide back and it does not restart. they fixed it and i have to say it is the BEST phone out right now.
Um Were exactly did u get it fixed
i am really thinking about getting a slide, but everyone is saying it restarts when you slide it and i really dont want that to happen can i get it fixed, or have side kick fixed this problem?
I’m really interested in getting the slide. I looked at them tonight and I have a few questions. I’ve heard you can’t get picture messages or send them?? I also heard it doesn’t play MP3s…you can’t set MP3s as ring tones and they don’t have an alarm clock or calculator???!!! Is this all true? Or is it the 3 only?? Please help!
um the calculator and alarm can be downloaded for free in the catalog and it does have mp3s and you can send pictures…. wherever you got this info from is really unaccerate. ring tones can be used.
Hey about the whole ‘the sk slide doesnt play music’. you have to have this thing called a micro sd card for it. you can get it at walmart or best buy or whatever and it comes in a little adapter which should fit in most computers. from there, you just drag your music to it. good luck =] however i am having the problem with recieving picture messages
well all u people with sk slides dont have to worry anymore. motorola has been able to fix the problem of restarting. they said it had to do something with the battery contacts. well the sk slide is back in the t-mobile web site. they fixed the phone on think the 23 of december. the thing is that if you buy a sk slide u wont have the restart problems.
I have a sidekick slide..im actually on it right now. I think its the greatest everr. And to carly it does play music it does receive picture messages. 4 the calculator and alarm clock you have to go to the catalog thing and install them. The calculator is free but im not sure about the alarm clock. And motorola fixed the problem because I have 1 ..got it mid-january…and it works perfect! I recomend this phonee to all texters!!
can anyone confirm me the problem with the restart when u slide it too fast? thanks.
yea i jus wanted 2 no which 1 is better da sidekick slide or da sidekick lx cuz i am probably gonna get 1 but idk which 1 2 get
Well both of them are cool I have the slide and my frend has the lx and we compare all the time the only thing is that if u want a larger phone u should get the lx but If you’ll like a smaller 1 the slide is a good choice. But they are like the same thing but jus diffrent sizes really
I am having trouble transfering a file from another fone to my Slide. It says about a wrong format or something. I tried transfering both song and picture and no luck. Anybody know how to fix that??
omg i want a slide. if ur switching to it does it have to come with the 2 year contract??
I just got my slide, and I love it. There is one thing that it bothering me though,the battery life. But I guess thts due to wb browsing,aim, and the lame game that comes on it takes a lot of battery.
why can i get my picture mesages to my phone n not my online count?
I have the slide & have had it since right before christmas. I got it after tmo fixed the situation with the restart. It still restarts but I get all my pics, texts, emails etc back asap. I love this phone. I am very happy with it & preffer the sliding feature better than the flip. Everytime id try out the others in store I felt like the screen would flip right off & fly across the room. Once your used to the phone you CAN slide it open with one hand. I love the slide.
hey guys, i’m thinking of getting the slide, i’m just not sold on the keypad. The buttons look small and hard to push down, is it easy to use?
I got a slide and its the best sidekick that has come out. I’m on it right now actually and as many people have said that the keyboard sucks..it really doesn’t. ofcourse your going to feel a bit wierd typing the first few days but after a day or two its awesome. you can adapt real quik. the battery power rocks and the speaker is way louder. although if you have giant hands I would recommend the lx, since the keyboard buttons are farther apart and easy to use. the slide screen is wayy cool aswell..I had gotten bored of the swivel screen so its something fresh and new.
This is my 4th Slide in the past 2 months. I just signed up with TMobile in Feb and the store sold me a phone that was constantly restarting itself. I received 2 more with similar problems and the only reason why this is my 4th is because I love everything about the Slide and I’m not giving up that I can find one that works! So far so good. TMobile is great with replacing the phone and I received all of my replacements within 2 days. Just so you all know if there are people out there that are still having problems with their Slide, they are replacing it, at no additional cost with the Blackberry Pearl. Nice phone but doesn’t compare to the Slide and the awesome qwerty keyboard!
i just got my sidekick slide acouple days a go . I had the sidekick id and it really bugged me i didnt have the cool featurs . and i agree the slide is easy to use small slide right into your pocket or handbag and is really sleek and shiny. Thia is a great phone for males or females . Everyone is saying the keyboard is hard to us ebut thats way over there heads the keyboard buttons arent plastic ,or hard to push, or even rubbery . There small and easy to press down on and the dont make nise when you text like the previous sidekicks . The slide is much smaller than the lx and comes in better colors than ugly brown and blue. If you have huge hands I would recomend the lx for u boys out there. And for all you girls out there the slide is sa perfect adjustment for womens small petite fingers . And the slide screen is so fun to slide up and down and the screen resolution and web is exscisid so motorla great job and two thumbs up you really now how to deliver.
With the blue tooth. Can you send and receive data, or is it just connect to headsets?
I get my slide this weekend, and I was just wondering, can you actually set MP3 files as ringtones? Because I’ve read everywhere that you can’t, but surely you can because of the new phones nowadays and stuff. Anyone help me?
x
unfortunately you can’t
Okay, so I got my slide and the only things I’m dissapointed in is that it doesn’t have an alarm clock, and you cant send things to the slide via bluetooth. Kinda annoying, but I guess I’ll get used to it :)
I just got my sidekick slide on thursday and now its taking forever to charge! whats wrong with it? do u think its taking forever bc i didnt charge it for one whole day that the battery drained out?
im geting a sidekick like in 2 weeks but im stuck between the slide or the lx which one is better??? and whats with the slide not receiving pic messages???
I have a sidekick slide and i am in love with it! The only problem is the whole restarting thing. I had heard that motorola was fixing the problem and that they were going to send new phones out. bob i would like to know where you got urs fixed.
the slide does receive picture messages and you can send them too.
Does the Sidekick Slide have video capture? Or is the camera just for pictures?
I have the slide and I love it but the only thing that gets to me well 2 things that I don’t like are 1. When im browsing and im on an image and push the menu button there is no option to save the image and 2. U can’t use pics from your camera or anything to use as a background oh and the camera sucks
Well actually there is a way to save a picture on your phone from a browser..but it works better if you google search images . All u do is go to google..type in what picture you want..click on the image..than click on the TOP LINK..you should than see the image and only that image..you than hold the menu key the shift key(white arrow) and the letter “p”..a message should appear saying it was save to ur device album =)..you could also make ur own backgrounds using your own pictures if you go to skslidethemes.com as long as you have a memory card its good to go! Hope I helped
I have had thew sidekick slide for months now. The calculator is in the download catalog and is free and the alarm clock is in the catalog to but you have to pay for it. Music and pictures is really easy to put on your phone if you have a micro sd card, just plug the phone into a usb port and a window will open on your computer and click on open files to view files. Click on the folder called music and click and drag and there’s no taking your phone apart like some people have suggested. Pictures can be put on your phone the same way but insted of opening the music file open the DCIM folder. The only thing that has happened to my slide is the power chord screwed up. If you really want to boost your slide get the terminal client in the download catalog and if you have a ssh2 or telnet server on your computer you can connect to it wirelessly from anywhere as long as your computer is on and the server is running. With this you can copy files check email run application like word itunes and any other system applications you have. The only thing I found out about the slide is that on some websites it says that cookies is tured off. I don’t know what would cause this and I am looking into it.
..um can u receive sound messages, n set them as a ringtone?
The slide is great. I’m on it wright now. 1 complaint. You still can’t watch or take videos. My old piece of shit nokia could do that. But the im and email are perfect. As well as the web browser. Anyone else with a sk im me. Santiago11b@aol.com
Chitwnnative@hotmail.com
well let me start off by sayin ya gay hahaha suck ma dick ummm i dont rly care about sidekiks as long as dey work when i steal dem from ya hahah =] so keep ur phone in good conditions for me k ;) well ill prob have ur phone one dai n ill tell how it rly works haha i prefer da new ons lx or slide i dont mind neither
Is this targeted at men or women?
Ok I have wanted a Sidekick for like 2years now! N I finally think I’m gonna get one but I have ta use my our money n I aint got much so I need ta make sure I’m makin the right decision!! I have ben told great things about them the slide and LX more negative on the Slide and decides I want the LX. But I don’t know which one is more durable..? So please let me know.. n any need ta know things (good or bad) bout either LX or Slide please let me know!!! email me at goldenspider940@gmail.com
Thanks n God Bless!!!
I’ve had the sidekick slide for months now, and I always play around with the slide screen. Nothing happens except I hear the slide sounds. When I do that, it doesn’t restart. But at times, when i took out my memory card and turned it back on with my SIM card and battery without the memory card, I saw that my contacts in my phone book were all gone. But after a minute, I checked it again and it was all there. All my data was there. I guess you just need to wait for it to load back up. Hope this helps :]
i have just bought a hiptop three from america and i live in england. does anyone know if it has a reset button coz it just aint working at all
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i am realllllly excited because tomorrow morning at 10 right when tmobile opens i am going to get the sidekick slide. i read everyones comments. they were very helpful. thanks. 2 questions.
did they ever fix that restarting crap.
and is the camera on the phone crappy?