Dopod C730
The Dopod C730 has big shoes to fill considering its predecessor's popularity and it attempts to do so with extra connectivity options (3G and HSDPA) and a new WM6 operating system. Still, the temperamental touch strip and the tiny keys don't quite do justice to the smart phone.
| The good | Thin and light profile; hot-swappable microSD card slot; 3G; HSDPA; Wi-Fi; Bluetooth stereo; Windows Mobile 6; seamless synchronization with Microsoft Exchange server; decent image quality. |
|---|---|
| The bad | Keyboard buttons a little too small; temperamental touch strip; no dedicated audio jack; no onboard flash and front-facing camera. |
CNET Editors' Rating
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CNET Editors' rating
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Rating breakdown
Also known as the HTC Cavalier, the Dopod C730 is an update to the C720W, joining the ranks of devices running on the latest Windows Mobile 6 Standard platform. The main difference between the C730 and the C720W is the addition of 3G in the former, with support also for faster HSDPA connection.Design
The sides and back of the C730 are made of stiff plastic with a brown metallic color. On the front, a brushed matte-silver surface surrounds the screen and keypad. While its general shape and size are similar to the C720W, the newer model comes across as more conventional and sophisticated in its design because of the lack of striking contrasts between the silver and brown parts.
With a side profile of 13.5mm, the C730 is a tad thicker but 10g lighter than the C720W with a 12.8mm girth and weighing 130g. Overall, the C730 still falls into the thin-and-light category and it sits comfortably in our pockets. More importantly, it feels good in the hands.
However, as a QWERTY handheld, the C730 doesn't quite impress. Although the array of controls below the 2.4-inch, QVGA display are large and provide tactile feedback, we can't say the same for the keyboard. The keys are rather small and there's no spacing between each button. So we ended up pecking on the keys instead of thumbing our messages. Not a big problem if you have small digits or are just sending a short text message, though we won't say the same if we had to edit a long Word document.
An interesting element which the C730 has brought over from its predecessor is the touch-sensitive strip on the right edge of the phone. It controls the volume, opens up the messaging application and allows us to return to the previous menu. But we're not huge fans of this touch strip.
There were times when it got a little temperamental and turned cranky on us. That said, it's not all that bad because other than the volume area, the other two touch-sensitive parts require the user to double-tap to activate. And if we really hated it, we could turn it off altogether or specify it to do only certain tasks, like adjust volume in-call.
Unlike the C720W which has the microSD expansion slot behind the battery cover along the right side, the media slot on the C730 is on the left edge of the unit, making it a whole lot easier to swap cards.Features
Other than the addition of 3G and HSDPA connectivity features on this quadband Dopod, the biggest difference between the C730 and the older C720W is the operating system. The C730 runs on the latest Windows Mobile 6 Standard edition, while the C720W is powered on the Windows Mobile 5 Smartphone edition. For a full review of Windows Mobile 6, click here.
That said, we didn't feel that there's a major overhaul between the two platforms, though there are some definite improvements on the newer OS. For instance, the WM6 ships with Office Mobile by default so we could view and edit Word and Excel PowerPoint documents on the smart phone without the need to install third-party applications. PowerPoint files, however, remain view-only. One other thing to note is that the programs don't allow the user to create new documents, at least not on the Standard edition devices.
Other refinements include the ability to view emails in all their full HTML (only on Exchange 2007) glory as well as a more friendly user interface for emails, contacts and calendar. There's also a task bar on the top row of the home screen which displays the most recently used programs. Windows Mobile 6 additionally integrates some services to give a more desktop-like experience such as the Live Search function and Live Messenger (formerly MSN Messenger).
We like how WM6 attempts to integrate all the various programs and services together for a wholesome experience, but we also noticed that keeping an always-on connection drains the battery rapidly. Syncing with our Exchange server was a breeze. One thing we noticed was that if we had already specified to sync, say, Contacts via a PC connection, the device would not allow us to sync Contacts again over-the-air. We had to disable the selection on the sync profile before we could do that.
As a multimedia device, the C730 is pretty much like the rest of the competition and there aren't big surprises. The 2-megapixel shooter on the back is still missing an LED flash and the handheld sorely lacks a front-facing camera for 3G video calls. It supports Bluetooth stereo (and AVRCP) so we could use our wireless headsets if we didn't want to utilize the onboard speakers on the back of the unit.
With Windows Media Player 10 Mobile, the C730 can read AAC, MP3, WAV, WMA and AMR files. Rather disappointing is the omission of an audio jack. Instead, we had to rely on the mini-USB port on the top of the phone for plugging in a USB headset, charging and synchronizing.
There's also a nifty Internet Sharing program which allows the user to deploy the C730 as a modem to share Internet connection with a computer over Bluetooth. While we're at it, this Dopod is also Wi-Fi-enabled.
On the technical specifications, the Dopod C730 is powered by a 400MHz Samsung processor with 64MB of RAM and 128MB of flash ROM. There's about 20MB of free memory to run applications. Performance
We tested the quadband (850/900/1800/1900MHz) Dopod C730 with our HSDPA M1 SIM card in Singapore. The unit has a rated talktime of about 6 hours and maximum standby time of 8.3 days. In actual use, with minimum Wi-Fi, 3G or HSDPA connection, the 1050mAh Lithium-ion battery lasted about two days (less if you sync with Exchange often) before it konked out. During our tests, we also synchronized with our Exchange server a couple of times and went online with Live Messenger using our HSDPA connection.
Image quality was rather decent and the image sensor tended to clip the shadows to retain the highlights. With post-processing, we could actually bring out more details from our pictures. Still, the lack of an onboard flash limited shooting options in darker environments.
As for sound quality, we didn't have any complaints. The party on the other end could hear us fine both on the speakerphone and when we had the phone to our ear. The only thing to note was that the C730 doesn't have hard buttons for volume control. Instead, we had to slide up or down the touch strip to adjust the volume.
Latest comments
Pros: Versatile, just the right size, No external antenna
Cons: Outside paint layer is easily defaced, Poor battery life.
Summary: It all had what I need and more.
I had a Treo 600 before and after experiencing multiple times it crashed, I switched to DOPOD C730. The new device was perfect. It all had what I need and more. My files for my presentation was ready all the time and I can review it anywhere I want, until... After 5 months of using it, the battery performance deteriorated dramatically. Now, you can no longer experience its versatility because I am are afraid it will run out of juice. I have to bring another phone now just to give me peace of mind. Where can I buy a new battery and is this a normal thing for the battery to die down on you only after 5 months of using it?
Pros: I like most is its qwerty keyboard, very interesting and easy to use.
Cons: maybe it is a little bit too bulky in size
Summary: very good it got all I want
A almost complete device that you can own and it is yet affordable
Pros: Responsive, good keypad, good looks,SDHC compatible (max 4gb)
Cons: Ships w/Outlook 2007 TRIAL, POOR battery life, useless touch pad
Summary: Great Phone EXCEPT for poor battery life
Dopod C730 is great in aesthetics and fast for a WM6 phone. There is alot of talk about poor battery life which I initially thought was due to usage patterns UNTIL I experienced it 1st hand.....Just recycle the original batteries and load it with a 2000ma (USD$32 @ Infinity Batteries) and you got yrself a wonderful phone!! Overall the only grouse about this phone is the battery life, barely lasts a day with a full charge......
Pros: Great design, very decent camera(for a phone), so stable never crashes!
Cons: battery life is 1 day with the standard battery
Summary: Very very good, except battery life...so I bought a better battery problem solved
The phone is great. Simply great. Ok firstly the buttons r fine for me. I find them the perfect size to keep the device small but still very very usuable. The touch strip is useless, so i set it to adjust the volume only when in media player and calls, so now its useful. The battery is a pain. 1 day with just basic usage is pretty bad. But i bought an after market battery of ebay with 2000mAh double that of the battery its sold with and now i get 3 days use of out it. yes the battery has made the device thicker, with a new back panel, but its worth it for the extra battery life. And the extra size is manageble. the battery cost $30 including postage!!! Ok service wise I havent sent it to service yet and i would avoid doing so cause i would expect it to take probbaly a month knowing service. But customer service and knowledge of the software was good when i called dopod's service centre in melbourne up. windows mobile 6 rocks. So stable. Never crashes for me. Unlike what i hear about windows mobile 5 so yeah. So yeah all up it is a great phone. Sure the battery it comes with is not great, but no smart phone to date has good battery life. And the you can always buy the higher amp's battery off ebay easily enough to fix the battery life issue.
Pros: look
Cons: poor service, break down confirmed for all models
Summary: Lousiest Phone repair service ever
phone broke down after 2 months. cannot boot up. sent for repair, after 1 months' time, still pending for part arrival. lousy beyond imagination service. pls do not buy ever from HTC or Dopod. you have plenty to do without them, as having a standby phone, calling their lines for repair status. bla bla bla.
Pros: Flat look, sharp LCD, windows mobile 6
Cons: Poor Battery life, Poor Network Reception, Poor Customer Service by HTC/Dopod, Cannot save Sms/Contact in memory card
Summary: Nice looking phone, Poor Battery Life, Breakdown in 2 Months, Poor Service
I have been happy for once with this phone, preliminary reviews have been OK as the users by then did not get to use til it LAST, I repeat, it LAST as long as 2 months or so. I have a few others complaining of the unability to boot up 2 months into use. HTC/Dopod takes their Honeymoon/Holidays/Sweetest time in the world even to react or service your phone, all the replied I get is no spare parts available for replacing the back motherboard. And the officer that I talked to was so used to getting all the negative feedback that he acted numb, rather perfectly. So I have given HTC the following writing from their website. Hi HTC/Dopod Customer Service, I am a user of C730 new smart phone and it broke down 2 months into use. It wouldn't send sms and when I tried to reboot up, it failed. I sent the phone down to SiS technologies for services as it mentioned on the warranty card and this officer in charge there keeps postponing me for not Having Mother Board spare parts which are to arrive from HTC. It is already 2 weeks and a couple of days and I do not believe such excuse can be given provided a number of such cases happening, I encounter another lady reporting the same issue as me, the identical model phone. I really need an answer to how commited HTC are to service phones when it comes to break down and what your plans are to expedite the repairs. If not, Dopod phones will be given a thorough bad mouthing and reputation is going to fail. Lastly, since the phone has been on sale for a number of months now, why can't you all update the phone model pull down menu? It just doesn't have C730 and IT just doesn't allow NA = Not appplicable! Regards,
Pros: Windows Mobile 6, Good call quality, 3G/HSDPA, Standard USB Charging
Cons: None
Summary: Excellent Business Phone
Great features; can't think of anything missing. There are some comments about the battery life; this is because some of the default settings allow battery to drain; Two tips to save battery life; 1. if you are using activesync, set the refresh duration to 15 minutes instead of 'as they arrive'. 2. In settings/phone/band selection, choose WCDMA if you have 3G sim card, or GSM if you have 2G sim card. The default setting is Auto, which switches between 2G and 3G regularly to drain battery.
Pros: Nice form factor, great design, comprehensive capabilities
Cons: Touch Pad, useless acrobat LE, unable to adjust brightness of screen, sensor was useless
Summary: Super Duper Lousy Service from HTC/Dopod !!!
Great form factor, style,and evrything you need on a smart phone.Really nice and attractive phones from the folks at Dopod/HTC. Kudos!! Disovered that speaker was not working and SIM was defective.Dopod/HTC took more than 2 weeks to make repairs.I had to buy a standby phone, as I had traded in my earlier SE. No answers from service hotline,after countless CALL attempts.When collecting the phone,they gave me only one bar of battery strength and advised that I should have CALLED to request for my device to be fully charged.???? My advice :do not, I repeat, DO NOT try Dopod unless you have have no blood pressure issues and have a spare standby phone, etc.And, oh yes, do not be tempted by the good looks/ features of their phones.To all current Dopoders and HTCers, good luck!
Pros: Great functions e.g HSPDA, bluetooth etc
Cons: very poor battery life, glitchy JOGGR strip, wonky connection to wi-fi
Summary: Lacking in all its promise
i think that while this phone has probably all the functions you need to be a mobile warrior, the very bad battery life takes away all its benefits. Is strange that some find that the battery life lasts 2 days but on my unit it hardly lives through the day. The worst part about it is, that i am not a heavy user of all the functions. Fully charged in the morning, a few SMSs here and there, couple of brief phone calls, check calendar and input some appointments - by mid afternoon, i am down to half my battery life...and I havent even used any of the great functions like wi-fi or bluetooth or even checked my emails! when i check my emails once or twice, by the end of the day, i get one bar left or even the low battery alert. Whats the point of having a device with so many attractive and useful functions when you are afraid to use it because if you do, the battery will be drained. Kind of a white elephant...Very disappointing indeed. The JOGGR strip is very glitchy so bad that I had to disable it. Perhaps a scroll wheel may have been better. Also the wi-fi has wonky connections every now and then. Even when connected to a wi-fi network, I cant get to surf the net. All in all, a very disappointing product. I am so tempted to switch to a Symbian OS..maybe the new Nokia E61i....
Pros: Good all round features and functions
Cons: Terrible Dopod Customer service
Summary: Good phone, terrible customer service
I had the predocessor of this phone for 6 months, and it was great until the very fragile screen cracked, and I had to deal with Dopod customer service, which is shocking. (if you search for T-Mobile Dash Cracked Screen you'll see it'a a common complaint). My screen cracked while the phone was in my pocket and I was watching TV. It suffered no rough treatment. Yet Dopod refused to repair any damage to a screen under warranty. Equally as bad is the fact that the phone has been in repair for over a month and still isn't fixed. Overall it's a great device - but factor in the price of periodically having to replace a cracked screen, and the inconvenience of poor customer service and you'll see that other options offer much better value.
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