T-Mobile Shadow Cell Phone Review - Conclusion
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Alfredo Padilla Published on November 21, 2007 Comment on this |
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Who's It For
Business User
The T-Mobile Shadow is a good choice for business users who don't need a full keyboard. The SureType does a solid job for moderate typists and Windows Mobile Standard provides you with pretty good organizer and exensibility options. Combined with excellent integration with an Exchange Server the Shadow will be attractive to many business users. Battery life may be a concern though as those who use their devices a lot may find the Shadow won't get you through a day.
Budget Callers
Budget callers looking for a smart phone may want to consider the Shadow as its $150 price tag isn't too high for a smart phone. That being said many budget callers are looking for a free phone, and if that's you the Shadow probably isn't for you.
Chatty Teenager
Chatty teenagers will find a lot to like in the Shadow. There's solid multimedia functionality on board and those who like to text a lot will appreciate the very usable SureType keyboard. The camera is decent and the price tag isn't so high that it will automatically scare Mom and/or Dad away. Battery life may be an issue for those who like to talk a lot though. We do think the custom home screen on the Shadow will make it much easier to use out of the box compared to other Windows Mobile Standard devices.
Media Maven
Media Mavens will appreciate the relatively large 2.4 inch screen and solid multimedia functionality. The camera isn't the best in the world but you can take halfway decent pictures. For those looking for a multimedia device on a budget the Shadow is probably a good choice. Probably the biggest issue is battery life, where the Shadow didn't perform very well. If you're willing to shell out for a high end multimedia phone though you might want to consider the iPhone or Nokia N95.
Conclusion
We found a lot to like about the Shadow, from its small size, good looks and very usable SureType keyboard. We also found the custom home screen on the Shadow put a huge amount of the phone's functionality in easy reach, something that's very helpful for those who might not be used to more complicated smart devices like the Shadow. We also like the rotating D-Pad that makes getting through lists on the device easy, and we found the phone to be fairly responsive, something Windows Mobile devices have had problems with in the past. The 2 megapixel camera is about average, and the powerful Windows Mobile Standard operating system provides users with a plethora of extensibility options. Our biggest concern about the Shadow is battery life, those who are looking for a work horse device may want to consider a BlackBerry Curve, which has significantly better battery life. If you want a small, stylish, powerful and easy to use smart phone though the Shadow fits the bill, and we feel like it's fairly priced at $149.99 with a two-year contract. The Shadow is a great example of what a solid and attractive smart phone can be, it's not the best at anything but it does almost everything well.
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