Thinking of HTC Tatto for the wife, any major disadvantages/problems?

[Hrochnick]

Hi there, my wife's old dumbphone has just died and I'm trying to convince her to enter the future with an android smartphone. She doesn't like the size of my Hero and I thought the Tatto may be a better size for her.

But I'm aware that there have been (app) issues with it's smaller screen size and general lower specs. I believe it also has a resistive touch screen (is that correct?) which I've heard is not as nice as a capacitive to use.

So, has anyone found any major issues with either the screen or the specs that would stop you recommending it as an introduction to smartphones for a 'normal' user?

Any help greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

[tripy]

>>I believe it also has a resistive touch screen (is that correct?)

Yep, it does.
It's what drove me away from it, when I chose the Magic.

As for the smaller screen or specs, I could not tell.

 

[babloo75]

I would strongly recommend against buying Android based phones. Windows based phones are much better if you have to read .pdf files on the phone.
Thats the problem I am facing on the second day of buying HTC Tattoo.
And I am very much sure there are many more problems still to come in the coming days.

 

[coololdrocker]

I would get her a Magic, it's nice and little and a great phone

 

[tripy]

I would strongly recommend against buying Android based phones. Windows based phones are much better if you have to read .pdf files on the phone.
Thats the problem I am facing on the second day of buying HTC Tattoo.
And I am very much sure there are many more problems still to come in the coming days.

As an old winmo 5 user, who smashed his phone against a wall before shooting the parts through the office cursing them, I can assure you that you are way better off a winmo device.

They are unstable, slow, useless without a stylus and prone to reset all the time.
Beside, you have apps that allow you to read PDF/excel/word/powerpoint files.
DocsToGo comes first in my mind, and if you have a non-branded, original HTC device, you get them in the package.
Otherwise, look in the market, and you will find a lot of them.

 

[Hrochnick]

I would strongly recommend against buying Android based phones. Windows based phones are much better if you have to read .pdf files on the phone.
Thats the problem I am facing on the second day of buying HTC Tattoo.
And I am very much sure there are many more problems still to come in the coming days.

Er, thanks for that mate. Did you read my post? I own a Hero...
I also agree with Tripy, I had a Windows Mobile Phone and it was pants. Utter pants. Both the phone and the operating system. And my hero handles PDF's very nicely without any trouble at all.

I would get her a Magic, it's nice and little and a great phone

That was my first suggestion (to her) but from what I can remember the size is about the same as the Hero, I thought - which she thinks is too big. Is it a case of the more curvy-ness of it fooling the eye somehow and making it seem smaller?

So what about the resistive screen? Not much cop? Not worth the trade off for size when capacitives are around and can be got for roughly the same price in only a slightly bigger size?

Cheers.

 

[brandmarked]

I'm on Vodafone and wanted the European Hero. But I just couldn't get the deals to move from Vodafone to Orange in the UK :-( So did the upgrade and had the choice between the Magic and the Tattoo.

I went for the Tattoo, but it was really personal reasons about how I use the phone and my wife was adamant that I didn't get a white phone (you can only get the Magic in white here)!! The Tattoo worked out quite a bit cheaper for me, it allows me to get into Android and try the apps, I use it as my main MP3 player -- so the 3.5mm jack was a big plus for me. I also liked HTC Sense (though now I know a bit more about Android, I don't think this is such a big thing) but it does offer quite a few niceities the Magic doesn't.

Anyway, your questions. I get on fine with the screen. The resistive vs capactive ain't such a big thing (hey and in the recent snow i put mine in a clear bag and could still use it with my mittened fingers - try that on a Magic) - but the smaller size of the screen has more impact on usability. It can make typing a bit of a pain, but it is just a case of putting it in landscape or switching to the phone type keypad. You'll probably find it more of a pain after a Hero. Actually, thinking about it, you both having HTC Sense might be a positive.

Apps - the Tattoo has about a third of the apps available to standard sized screens. Quite a few are being updated though and I see more becoming available. Quite a number of the ones you might want, might not be available. Bar code scanner simply do not work. However, I have found that manually installing apks gets around the market place and a lot of the apps do actually work. In the main though, I'm relatively happy with the amount of apps available.

HTC Sense as you know will also get you Facebook links into your contacts (if your wife facebooks) which I don't think the Magic has.

I really think there are positives and minus points for each and it comes down to personal preference. I do sometimes wonder if I should have got a Magic, but I'm happy with the Tattoo.

- Mark

Edit: Oh, and must say each time I see the Magic I always think, actually its quite a small and neat phone ;-)

 

[Hrochnick]

Hi brandmarked, thanks for your comprehensive reply. Re Sense, yes I like it and think it's better than the stock Android - but HTC have released now released it for the Magic... which gets rid of the negative point there, albeit only HTC branded ones and over here I can only seem to see Vodaphone branded ones... so far.

Interesting that you think the diff between capacitive and resistive is negligible and as for the size, she's used to a tiny screen above a number pad, so anything will seem bigger For the apps, she's not massively into that scene (yet) anyway so a few less is probably not a problem and any that she does want we can try via downloading to the Hero.

Hmm... seems like I need to take her out and let her have a play with each, ultimately it's her phone and her decision - so she should decide. But thanks so much all for your advice, most helpful! Cheers.

 

[Skywave]

hi
Being a woman myself I feel I'll have a word too
I've hat my Tattoo since november. I'm very happy with it, its smaller than hero, and fits better with my womans hands than a big, clumsy one. The screen isnt THAT small, and I have no problems with it.
Tattoo being my first android I cant say if its better or worse than other, BUT... its a fun-to-use phone, and I have no regrets about it at all.
New apps are coming each day, so I dont see that as a problem either.
The only major problem of the Tattoo is the camera, its - well - not lousy, but its not impressive. So dont think off Tattoo as a cameraphone, so if your wife can live without a good camera, I can only recommend the Tattoo - as I said, I have no regrets.

 

[Hrochnick]

Have you tried the hero's camera? It's pants!

Thanks for your advice, most helpful. So you have no issues with he resistive touch screen, it's responsive and easy to use?

 

[Skywave]

Allow me to interfere. I

 

[Skywave]

By the way, did we mention, that the Tattoo (Android 1.6) has 7 (read:seven) screens to swap between. I think the Hero/Magic only have 3. So lots of space for your favorite apps.

/Skywaveman

 

[jporch316]

hey

I have had a tattoo since october last year. Before that i exclusively used winmo for 7 years. My Last phone was a htc diamond (which I adored!!!)

I too was consiering the hero and the magic but two things swung it for me

1. Handset size/ bulk
2. Andorid 1.6

I agree with the general consensus - the Hero is too big - not sure about the magic. I knoe the magic shipped (until last week) with android 1.5 which (being a previous g1 owner for a week) was buggy to say the least.

The screen on the tattoo is plenty large enough although not as good resolution on the smaller htc diamond. I like the phone a lot and can only say that there is one issue which drives me mad - lack of bluetooth file exchange. It has been mooted that this will be present in the (holy grail like) andorid update to 2.0 - but this is unconfirmed.

Until last week I would have said tattoo every time but due to the new update for the htc magic (which contains HTC sense) its a straight choice between the two.

Personally the tattoo should just take it due to the customisable covers (which I have a few!) but always remember - let the lady choose - or itll be your fault if she doesnt like it - ha ha​

 

[Hrochnick]

Thanks all... most helpful indeed.

The camera really is secondary for us, real cameras are (almost always) better everytime so thats not an issue. As said, ultimately i'll let her decide as it will be hers and well, that's just the right thing to do. Besides, I don't much like being in the dog house!

As for me and my Hero, for me its the perfect size, just right. It has Sense so it does come with the 7 screens (as does the magic now its got its update - the 3 previously were because of Android limitations) and i'm eagerly awaiting the confirmed 2.0 rumoured 2.1 update. Bring it on!

Cheers.

 

[EddersC]

Just don't get the Tattoo on Orange, they've mucked with the software and removed most of the Google apps! (at least in the UK)

 

[babloo75]

Another reason for not recommending Tattoo is that GPS cannot work without Wi-Fi or data connection. Unlike HTC P3470 which is windows based mobile and directly gives GPS data thru the satellites, Tattoo requires wi-fi or data connection.

 

[EddersC]

What makes you say that? I've just turned off mobile data and wi-fi and managed to get a perfectly good GPS fix!

 

[alek_73]

Another reason for not recommending Tattoo is that GPS cannot work without Wi-Fi or data connection. Unlike HTC P3470 which is windows based mobile and directly gives GPS data thru the satellites, Tattoo requires wi-fi or data connection.

it is not true

 

[Skywave]

That may be true Babloo, but why get a Tattoo, if you dont want a dataconnection?
Besides, can you find a GPS-nav. that covers the whole world? Tattoo does that and you dont even have to pay a lot of money for the maps, and when connected to wifi, its all free

 

[SlowMoe]

I've had my Tattoo for around 1

 

[ackeryi]

Had my Tattoo for 2 weeks on Vodafone and am very happy with it.

Choose it over the magic as it has 1.6 and Sense and after playing with both I really didn't see much difference in the touchscreens other than size.

Good Points:

Sense UI is really good and simple to use.
Great value for money.
Nice compact size.

Bad points:

Rubbish camera (but not important for me)
Screen a little too cramped for texting (but okay).

Overall though I'm very happy with it and if I'd wanted a bigger screen etc I woudl have paid more - as an entry-level phone I don't think it can be beaten.

 

[babloo75]

What makes you say that? I've just turned off mobile data and wi-fi and managed to get a perfectly good GPS fix!

Whenever I try to open "Nav Launcher" on my Tattoo and select Navigate, it says "data connection lost". This happens only if wifi is off. But in the presence of wifi....... all is running well.

 

[Skywave]

I don't know the "Nav launcher". It looks like the Tattoo comes with different apps in different countries. We have Google Maps. And although you can get a position fix only with the GPS active (i.e. without WiFi or data connection) you would not have much use of it without a map. And you can only access Google Maps with some kind of connection to the internet (e.g. WiFi or Data).

To EddersC: If you start Google Maps and shut i down again. Then turning of Wifi and data and starting Google Maps again. The Tattoo will have remembered the previous accessed map. Trouble comes to you when you are on the move now, thus requiring new maps... Then you will begin to miss you data-connection