O2's XDA Atom Exec is an incremental upgrade to the original Atom, a move the company hopes will help stave off increasing competition from the likes of HP with its iPAQ rw6828 or the upcoming multimedia BlackBerry devices.
On its own, the Exec is a highly impressive, push e-mail enabled smart phone, but if you already own the first Atom, its upgrade worthiness is questionable.
Design
Following the highly successful design of the original Atom, the Exec offers the same dimensions -- 102 x 58 x 18.5mm -- and a more than manageable weight of 140g. It's not a burden to carry around in a jeans pocket, and you won't be self-conscious since the curvaceous, black chassis is quite attractive.
The most significant design difference between the vanilla Atom and the Exec is the fact that the latter uses a matte as opposed to a glossy finish. This is a smart move by O2, as the previous Atom was chastised by users for being prone to fingerprinting and other blemishes.
Menu navigation is handled using either the stylus (or, if you're lazy, a finger) or the hardware buttons that lie just below the 2.7-inch 240x320 touch screen. These buttons include a five-way directional thumb pad, accept/reject calling buttons, a shortcut button for the start menu and a button for quick-launching your SMS/e-mail/MMS inbox.
Other handy shortcut buttons include volume adjustments on the left side of the device, a power button up top and shortcuts to the notes and camera applications on the right.
In addition to the power button, the top of the Exec houses a MiniSD memory card slot, while on the opposite end of the device you'll find a USB connector and a 2.5mm headphone jack.
Features
The Exec runs on the familiar Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system, upgraded with the Messaging and Security Feature Pack. Among various security improvements, this provides push e-mail capabilities which, provided you've enabled a data service through your carrier, sends new e-mail messages directly to the device without forcing you to continuously login. This is identical to the service provided by the HP iPAQ rw6828 and similar to the BlackBerry's push e-mail system.
It's worth noting that owners of the original Atom are able to download the Messaging and Security Feature Pack and install it onto the device themselves, which removes one of the main benefits of said users upgrading to the Exec version.
Internally, there are a number of improvements upon the original Atom. The Exec uses a 520MHz Intel processor and 192MB of ROM, which trounces the 416MHz chip and 128MB ROM of its predecessor. The faster processor improves application performance and load time, while the increased ROM provides more space for storing data.
Connectivity options abound, and include 802.11b Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 1.2, Infrared and tri-band (900/1800/1900MHz) GSM/GPRS/EDGE. These features can easily be switched off to conserve battery life and/or to ensure that the device remains usable during air travel.
Multimedia features are also plentiful, and include an FM radio, a 2-megapixel camera (with self-portrait mirror and flash) and music/picture/video playback through the pre-installed O2 MediaPlus application. It's great having a single interface to categorise and access all multimedia files.
In addition to O2 Media Plus, the device also bundles free copies of CodeWallet Pro 5, Jeyo SMS Backup and WorldMate 2005.
Of course, all of the personal productivity applications built into Windows Mobile 5.0 are present, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet Explorer and Outlook 2002. Using ActiveSync, these applications can be synchronised with a PC to enable you to keep working whilst on the road.
Performance
One of our biggest concerns surrounding the Exec was that the faster processor would have a detrimental effect on battery life. However, O2 rates the Exec as having the same battery life as the original Atom: up to 5.5 hours of talk time and 150 hours standby time.
In our Spb Benchmark battery test, which runs the device through constant general usage tasks with the backlight always enabled, the Exec lasted for six hours and twenty minutes. This is a pleasing score; the HP iPAQ rw6828 scored seven hours and three minutes, but this is expected due to its slower 416MHz processor. Under regular, intermittent usage, we went almost four days without needing to reach for the charger.
Application performance is extremely satisfying. We found that programs loaded virtually instantly, even when multiple applications were running at the same time. We were also very impressed with the device's multimedia playback capabilities; video played smoothly and audio files were crisp and clear. However, as with the rw6828, we found that shots taken with the integrated camera were grainy, particularly in low-light conditions.
Finally, the push e-mail feature is intuitive and easy to setup, but we found the BlackBerry's thumb wheel to be a more effective message navigation tool than the Exec's touch screen and stylus combination. Also, since there's no built-in keyboard, bashing out lengthy e-mails takes significantly more time, but we were nonetheless pleased with the unit's handwriting recognition performance.
While it's not a huge improvement over the original Atom, on its own the Atom Exec is an extremely attractive smartphone, more impressive than even our Editors' Choice winning HP iPAQ rw6828 due to its faster processor and O2 MediaPlus application.
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u all wrong
11/10/2008, 12:24 AM
rating
10/10
u all wrong
Pros: too many to list
Cons: none
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fau2008
08/07/2008, 04:01 PM
rating
8/10
Used the O2 Exec everyday for 1.5 years. Great phone with no more problems than any other of its generation (Blackberry and others).
Pros: Slim phone with lots of features with decent to great performance in each.
Push e-mail, calendar and tasks updated real time with company Exchange at no extra setup cost (as opposed to Blackberry's). In 10 minutes had it connected to the company's Exchange server and worked every day since.
Cons: - Like most phones of its generation, it does not have 3G support so I just moved to a htc diamond
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Neved
07/07/2008, 02:54 PM
rating
8/10
O2 Xda Atom Exec
Pros: -Nice design with black finish
-Speaker(stereo)
Cons: -Poor batt(extreme use)
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madness
04/03/2008, 04:34 AM
rating
8/10
Imray Singh, O2hater, Dr. Edward Blakely, Gardor,... the same "people" making the exactly same comments on different O2 Atom products??? I smell the same O2 hating person here, posting the same bad reviews to discredit O2... Search user comments from zdnet, cnet, etc. same exact comments... funny...
Pros: my O2 Atom Exec has been great
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Gardor
09/01/2008, 09:42 AM
rating
2/10
Here here to the last poster. I operate a company and have had a terrible time with these phones. These phones arent designed for business, theyve been designed by a pack of monkeys in a design room with no understanding what business use is! .. The Germans are going to go through the same disaster that Australians and Asia-Pacific region went through as the O2 life has been resold there as an O2 XDA comet. More problems no doubt. Someone should tell the Germans about the issues but unfortunately Google regionalises its searching and it wont be until 1000s of these junk devices are sold that people will realise and draw one conclusion. We should never have bought this device.
Pros: yuk. none.
Cons: the biggest con is that this o2 atom life is being sold to unaware Germans as the XDA comet. im sorry to say .. and feel sorry for unsuspecting german buyers
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sdh
23/12/2007, 02:07 PM
rating
2/10
We just replaced a fleet of these devices at our workplace and they were not out of life however all users complained about them. Windows mobile is terrible, unreliable and power hungry. This device also does not work on all networks and the phone quality is substandard. If you want a phone with PDA functionality, look at the best of breed, not cumbersome windows and not someone without good telephone manufacturing credentials.
Pros: Lots of software (at a premium price)
Cons: Phone quality, dropouts, windows bloat, quirky
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Zimbabwean
23/12/2007, 01:58 PM
rating
2/10
Received 23.December.07:
Dear,
It has been announced on 1st of November 2007 with immediate effect, Mobile and Wireless Group (MWG) will be taking over O2 Asia's assets in an agreement between MWG and Telefónica O2.
MWG is a company established by the current management team of O2 Asia to take on O2's existing PDA/Smartphone business in Asia and to continue to serve this high-growth sector.
To be kept up to date on the latest software applications, ROM upgrades and user tips for your current O2 device, please click here to be a part of MWG Connect on or before 15 Jan 2008. This will also ensure you are the first to hear about MWG's products, services and special offers.
Profiles of customers who have yet to opt in to MWG Connect will continue to be stored in O2's databases and may be dealt with in accordance with O2's data policy.
MWG will be responsible for warranty and after-sales support for all O2 Xda devices in the region. For up to date information on our service, please check support page before visiting the service centers.
We thank you for your continued support.
Yours truly,
O2 Asia
** high growth sector/area?? yeah Go for it O2 .. you may try to capture this sector but you arent going to get my business again. You've lost a lot of once faithful customers including me. MWG will have to pick up the scraps but theres been so much damage done by my experiences with your product that I dont care if Rolls Royce bought out O2 Asia
Pros: What! you asking me o2 atom life comet xda pda exec
Cons: O2 xda comet life atom .. Well well well where do i begin listing all the complaints about this phone. Ill start at F and end with K and its not the word FIREtruck
Pros: see below
Cons: where do i begin with this long list of complaints
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Dr. Edward Blakely
22/12/2007, 11:59 PM
rating
2/10
You have been warned: Dont buy this phone. Remember what I say to you. Heed this advice. Think carefully what you are about to buy if you are considering. Research well and question your need to buy this phone. Do not use emotion alone but sound reasoning based around a good cross section of research on the net. Read bad reviews as well as good. I can thoroughly tell you as a heavy mobile phone user and purchaser of a number of O2 atom, atom exec and atom life products I am NEVER GOING TO BUY ANOTHER O2 product again. My final challenge to you for your detailed consideration. Why dont the major phone companies in Australia bundle O2 PDA phones in with plans? Telstra, Optus mobile, vodafone, three etc.? You tell me ;) They all use palm, dopod, imate etc but no O2 phones. I'll leave that answer up to your research.
Pros: no comment
Cons: I draw your attention to the need to research this phone well before buying. Furthermore I recommend that you dont buy this phone which is my personal opinion as a FORMER USER of O2 products. Unless you, my friend have a lot of time to spare following up problems and issues...otherwise, research well, make your opinion and have a nice day.
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Dr. Edward Blakely
22/12/2007, 11:58 PM
rating
2/10
You have been warned: Dont buy this phone. Remember what I say to you. Heed this advice. Think carefully what you are about to buy if you are considering. Research well and question your need to buy this phone. Do not use emotion alone but sound reasoning based around a good cross section of research on the net. Read bad reviews as well as good. I can thoroughly tell you as a heavy mobile phone user and purchaser of a number of O2 atom, atom exec and atom life products I am NEVER GOING TO BUY ANOTHER O2 product again. My final challenge to you for your detailed consideration. Why dont the major phone companies in Australia bundle O2 PDA phones in with plans? Telstra, Optus mobile, vodafone, three etc.? You tell me ;) They all use palm, dopod, imate etc but no O2 phones. I'll leave that answer up to your research.
Pros: no comment
Cons: I draw your attention to the need to research this phone well before buying. Furthermore I recommend that you dont buy this phone which is my personal opinion as a FORMER USER of O2 products. Unless you, my friend have a lot of time to spare following up problems and issues...otherwise, research well, make your opinion and have a nice day.
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Cracker
22/12/2007, 11:46 PM
rating
2/10
O2 hater .. check all the reviews regarding the O2 atom life phone. I just got my phone back (the third O2 PDA ive bought this year) and you know what .. the thing today froze 3 times and did a hard reset on me without warning once. Thats after ive just had the board replaced, the speakers replaced, buttons redone and latest software installed. This phone has been playing up on me (the o2 atom life) since purchase. All three phones I bought have not lived up to specs. I then did a simple search .. see youtube for videos about complaints (and i thoroughly encourage people who have complaints about this phone to post a youtube video) and complaints on google.. by searching eg. O2 then eg. atom then eg. brand of phone eg. atom life then type: complaints, problems, issues, user reviews. OMG! check the complaints from users. These products suck big time. As a user of the O2 exec, O2 atom life Ive had a gutful of the these faulty goods. the specs dont match with my expectations .. and to all those that think this is BS. I challenge you! look at the user reviews .. look at the problems .. Im a casing example of an unhappy customer amongst many.
Pros: nothing. its WM6. other phones have WM6
Cons: ~~poor battery life
~~oose screen
~~buttons dont work
buttons not ergonomic .. hard to feel turn up and down
~~ have to wait for half hour if battery goes flat to make a call off wall charger
~~slow slow slow
~~ freezing and hard resetting
~~ buzzing speakers, no sound
~~ poor customer service -- calls go to an overseas call centre.
~~Very poor ratings on the net by users and only only has to check the many, many, many complaints on the net about this phone. The O2 atom life is rating in the low 4's out of 10!!!! cough cough... great phone ...NOT.
Have fun guys!
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