HTC Desire HD - pros & cons

[liam_on_linux]

Repurposed comment I just left on El Reg.

I noticed today that RegHardware ran a review of the Desire HD, the device that finally swayed me into abandoning Symbian and going for Android. Here is my response

Comments

[liam_on_linux]

Redefining what the device is for does not in any way solve the problem

[liam_on_linux]

Fair points.

I think, though, that in this instance, the battery is just foolishly small for the device's capabilities. A battery that can only sustain it for a long day if most of the device's capabilities are disabled is clearly inadequate.

And this being so, *surely* they must have realised at least *some* people would want a larger one. A design *like HTC's own* from 4-5y ago would have enabled a larger battery to be used, but oh no, it has to be slim and sexy and modern, even if that massively impacts & significantly reduces usefulness.

That is a bad move, plain and simple.

Saying all that, yes, I'd like a modern 6310i (with USB & a headphone socket, capable of being a 3G dongle or a Mifi-type hotspot, synching to Google & other cloud accounts, and 4-directional cursor keys, please. Otherwise, just leave it be.)

And added to that a modern Psion.

But they'd cost a ton more & you'd need to keep them in sync. There are certainly /some/ advantages to an all-in-one approach, both in cost and simplicity.

[perlmonger]

I take it there isn't a nipple for cursor movement like the Hero then? If not, that's a major failing; it's one of the nicest features of the Desire's older, smaller relative.

[liam_on_linux]

Nope. The only physical controls are:
- on/off;
- volume up/down.

Plus soft-screen "buttons" beneath the glass of the screen for:
- home;
- menu;
- back;
- search.

The latter 4 can't be felt - they are only visible, underneath the screen. No feedback, not backlit, useless for blind people or in the dark.

It's a victim of style over function in a number of places.

Even so, I am actually happy with it, and think it's the best of the current Android breed.

[bryangb]

So does my original Desire, but I think they dropped it from the HD for some weird reason.

[liam_on_linux]

Oh, I don't think so. I am not sure if the original Desire is still on sale, but other models with the same-size screen are, I think.

*My* predilection for pubs with power sockets? Really? It was jolly handy in Blackheath, mind... :¬)

[liam_on_linux]

The screen-res of the Desire Z is the same - 800×480 - but it's a 3.5" screen instead of a 4.3" one. Doesn't sound like a big difference, but I find it quite significant.

The Universal I had did have the fat replacement battery. Also, thinking back, although the phone had 3G, my then-current contract didn't, I think, so it probably wasn't enabled - and that would give a big boost to the battery life.

[liam_on_linux]

Absolutely, on both counts.

Really, the "HD" sobriquet is misleading to say the least. Being charitable, I think it might be to do with their prior range of devices. Their first device in this form factor was the HD2, a Windows Mobile device, and it /was/ hi-res for its time, albeit that 800*480 isn't "HD" by the TV industry definition. It certainly was for a phone.

Then came the US-only Evo 4, an HD2 with Android and 4G. There's no 4G in Europe yet, so they redesigned it and needed a name that said "this is a bigger Desire in the HD2 form-factor"... thus, 'Desire HD.'

As for the batteries: entirely agreed, but as far as I can see, although the power demand is not actually dropping (yes, more efficient chipsets, but on the other hand, more integrated gadgets and radios), and batteries aren't really improving, the manufacturers are fitting smaller and smaller batteries. I feel that's just not on.

[lovingboth]

I went from a Psion 3MX to a Desire last autumn when the former's hinge finally died, terminally. Those Psions were the best computing money I ever spent.

So yes, the battery life issue was a huge shock :) but having usable internet everywhere is wonderful, and some of the programs available are great even if I have not found a calendar as usable as the Psion's.

My partner has a Wildfire, and in comparison the screen is pants - not only is it smaller, but it is much fuzzier.