“If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” –Steve Jobs, Stanford commencement address, 2005

Firstly, I am not going to post a long lengthy apology for not having blogged in some time, nor am I going to make promises to blog more in the future. Since my father-in-law passed away early last year, we have been extremely busy. We purchased and moved into our own house, replaced my Ranger with a Volvo after the engine finally gave up, became god-parents to a gorgeous little girl, and in between all of this found time to actually renovate the house in various ways. and deal with the passing of a loved one.

In the recent months, between studying, running the household and supporting Teen Moms, my wife has spent more and more time working on her blog. We have made use of MWeb’s un-capped hosting, however the service, or lack thereof, has started to take its toll on maintaining and managing our self-hosted WordPress blogs. With the holidays over and the new year starting up, I decided to take over the hosting of our sites and move them to virtual private servers hosted on Linux in the US. During the process of configuring the new servers and preparing to move the domains, we also started the cancellation process with MWeb, which presents lengthy red-tape processes which South African service providers have become notorious for.

As MWeb now holds the diago.co.za domain, as well as all the other domains we own, waiting for them to give the necessary documentation to ask for the move of these domains is taking ages. We decided that the time has come to re-brand our blogs.

I have owned the diago.co.za domain since 2001. I registered and named it after a character I used when playing multi user dungeons during my days studying. It had grown and changed many times over the years, but has also become harder and harder to explain when people ask about its origins. After some careful consideration and thought, and after providing my wife with a few suggestions for her to use, the new domain and name of this blog was born.

DigitalMisfit (digitalmisfit.net)

I am a software developer by day, and a gadget collector by night. Often my posts and entries relate to technology, whether it be about software development, reviews of new products or just simply discussing something related to the internet. It was easy to pick a .net domain, and I was certain I wanted the word digital used in the name. The name misfit is due to my wide interest in technology.

Any person that knows me for the past few years know well about my transition from Microsoft to Apple. I do tend to find ways to use and apply my older knowledge to some of the new stuff I love. The word misfit seemed perfect. Secondly it was also part of the name my wife chose for her new domain, and it therefore felt fitting not for this blog, but also the connection to my wife’s new domain and blog. She will be launching and introducing her new brand on her blog within the next few days.

I have also in the process removed some of my older, less interesting posts, and focussed on keeping the one’s that have received traffic over the years. I also found a theme a really love, and have to admit I am happy with the results of the re-branding. The feedburner feeds for this site has already been updated to point to the new domain, and any links to diago.co.za are also being redirected to the new digitalmisfit.net domain.

So please bear with us while we hit the switch and turn the lights on for the first time on DigitalMisfit. May your visits here be, well, interesting!

He who has gone, so we but cherish his memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man. — Antoine de Saint-Exupery

When I met my wife 7 years ago, I can still remember us going out for the first time, and her being on her phone at least 6 times while we were walking around at Gateway shopping centre. At the time I got extremely jealous, however, she at that point made it very clear to me that her dad will always come first, no matter what, and to accept her, he will be part of our lives. Her mom passed away in 2003, after suffering from MS for 4 years, and he was all she had left.

I still remember moving to the farm at the end of that year, and everyday at 16:00, Alex will come home and we would spend an hour in the kitchen making dinner, talking about the day, the past, the future or whatever topic was applicable. I can never recall a time we actually asked him if I could stay there, yet he simply just accepted that I was there. I was also introduced to how giving and caring he could be, very often allowing the workers and friends to take advantage, and he would honestly give someone the shirt off his back if it was going to make their lives better.

Diagnosed with a serious heart condition 4 years ago, and was medically boarded that same year. This kick started a massive life change which improved his life, and managed his health. He got stronger, and at the end of 2010 he started managing a farm on the North Coast. We knew that the farm was his first love, and we were as excited as he was. He loved it out there, and the last months since was some of his happiest.

Sadly, at the end of January 2012, Alex Gray collapsed at work. We rushed him to hospital, but got released a few days later. Unfortunately he had lost oxygen to his brain for longer than was advisable during the last 2 months, and this caused short-term brain damage, and he was no longer able to take care of himself. Eventually he returned to hospital, and after a week of fighting in ICU, died peacefully on 18 February 2012 of cardiac failure.

In the last few years, I had learned a lot from this man. My wife and I would not be where we are today, if it was not for his help, advise and unwavering support, even through the though times. He is already missed, and although he is no longer with us, I know he is in the best place he ever. With his wife. Smiling down on us as we start the next chapter of our lives.

“One more thing …” — Steve Jobs, Apple Product Launch, June 2011

Four years ago a colleague introduced me to Apple, and in particular the white MacBook. Leopard was launching, and we spent hours researching the operating system, discussing how a Mac actually work, and after some consideration two Apple MacBooks acquired. It didn’t take long for the appeal of Apple products to catch on in your family, and not long after we purchased two new iPhone 3G’s. The MacBook became part of every day life for me. I became a fan, and today, my house if filled with everything from a Time Capsule to iPad’s to AirPort Extremes. I use a MacBook Pro, and the only PC left in our home is the Windows Server, solely because we haven’t gotten around to replacing it.

During this time, a lot of time got spent researching to understand Apple, and in particular the philosophy behind Apple, driven by Steve Jobs. His quest for simplicity and usability was visible in every product. His ability to take an idea and make it a reality and inspiration rarely seen anywhere, or by anyone. I first learned about Steve Jobs when I watched Pirates of Silicon Valley, and I never imagined I would ever use an Apple product. Coming from a hardcore Microsoft background, with icons like Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, the idea of Apple never really took hold. So I believed.

My ideas around software development and interface design radically changed. My lifestyle simpler and easier because of one person’s quest of perfection and attention to detail. I would never meet this man, however his impact on my way of life, my family’s lifestyle and my every day existence was considerably changed and improved by his impact. Unknowingly he changed the lives of millions, every day.

Technology has lost an innovator, and icon and an amazing person. He taught us he was human, yet left ideas and innovations that will live on forever. He delivered to the world the proof that an idea can grow into a reality, that no matter how small, and how much criticism you take, success is only measured by how quickly and well you deliver the next great idea. He taught us how to live every day as if it was your last. His passion for his family showed in the products he helped design, the concept of easily and simply staying connected. His ability to show just how simple technology is, also taught some, how simple life is.

I don’t often feel swept up by people, even rarely do I find people I truly respect and look up to. On 5 October 2011, one of those few passed on to another realm, leaving behind sadness and sorrow, but at the same time, a legacy and memories that will stand test of time, a passion that even the worse critic could not temper.

May you rest peacefully, Mr. Steve Jobs. For all you’ve done, for all you’ve taught, and for all you’ve given. Thank you. The words seem small, but powerful when echoed by millions.

Goodbye, Mr. Steve Jobs.

I recently acquired an Acer Aspire One 531H Netbook. This surprised my wife since I am not a great fan of Netbooks, and consider these devices under powered and simply to small. However when I got the opportunity to get one for a decent price I decided to give it go, although I will admit I had no real valid reason for getting one. Since receiving it I have been truly surprised with the real device, and even more surprised at its power.

The 531H is a 10″ model. It has a Intel Atom 1.6Ghz processor, 1GB of RAM and 160GB HDD standard with various upgrade options. As a rule I always upgrade memory and was very surprised at how cheap the 2GB module for this model is, and I am planning in upgrading it fairly soon. However out of the box this little unit is truly impressive. I was debating what OS to use, and decided to first give Windows 7 Professional a try, as the Acer comes standard with Windows XP Home. The installation and format took around 25 minutes from an external DVD drive. Once installed the memory footprint of Windows 7 Professional on this Netbook is impressive, with around 500MB physical and a 1GB virtual memory available when idling. The processor seems  extremely capable of handling anything thrown at it.

To truly test I opted to install everything I use on my desktop. Although some of the installations were slightly slower, there was no issues loading the software. The first application I installed was Adobe Photoshop CS4, which according to most would be extremely slow. The installation went smoothly, and Photoshop starts up in under 10 seconds. For basic graphics editing it is more than enough, with the 1024X600 screen being reasonable. I won’t recommend graphics designers to use it, but for small quick usage it is ideal.

Apart from the normal Microsoft Office, I also successfully installed Expression Studio 3.0, Microsoft SQL Server Client Tools, Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 and implemented my minimalist desktop. My 13″ Macbook looks like a monster next to the Acer, however it happily runs all the above, including offering a reasonable screen space for writing code. The keyboard is also well laid out providing easy access to all the keys, even if you happen to have larger than normal hands.

The touchpad also support gestures, like scrolling and pinching, and although small, also fairly easy to get use to. With the standard battery 2 hour battery life is easily achievable, however there is bigger batteries available providing longer usage, and the battery charges in just under an hour. The built-in Webcam works well in low light, and I was extremely surprised at how clear it is in a dark room. The microphone is also very clear making Skype easy to use and configure.

The only device that did not install natively was the Wireless card, however a Windows Update took care of this very quickly. The easy access buttons for the Bluetooth and Wireless is also nicely placed below the led’s. There is also a multi-SD card reader installed which makes it extremely useful for photographers on the go, not wanting to carry massive notebooks with them.

Overall I am extremely impressed by the Acer Netbook, and it is now definitely something I can use everyday. It will be extremely handy for presentations with the built-in VGA port, and for quick edits to source code or graphics. This is apart from reading mail, following twitter or browsing the web. Weighing less than 1.5kg’s it is something I can easily travel with, and with 110GB free on the drive after installing all the above, useful to cart files to and from work. For anyone in the market for a small device to travel with that offers a lot of power, I highly recommend the Acer Aspire One.

To illustrate the point, I read the latest post by Jeff Atwood, entitled The iPhone Software Revolution. Jeff does a follow-up on a post he did with the first launch of the iPhone, and with the release of the new 3GS, has finally invested in one. He makes a clear and concise argument about his reasons for doing so, and strongly motivates why he believes Apple has the right idea around the App Store. The frustration however lies in the responses to the posts. Albeit at least 20% of these are well worth the effort, my blood begins to boil on the amount of uninformed, and ill researched responses made with regards to the features of the iPhone in particular.

The same trend seems to come to light on forums and discussions groups, where comments to response, or even responses themselves follow the same trend. I have always believed there is a very thin line between constructive comments, or even disagreements, and wanting attention. It seems uninformed responses for the sake of responding is becoming a common trend. The scary part of this is that at least 80% of the respondents are in the technology industry, and with infinite access to factual information, provided though services like Wikipedia, Google, Bing and even the vendor’s websites themselves, still seem to miss the plot, and at the same time are negative about a technology, gadget or opinion.

If there is one thing I have learned the hard way, especially living in an online world, is that the rules that apply in real live of listening to the opinions of others also, if not more so, applies to the internet. I follow a very selective list of blogs and podcasts, because the people involved in these I respect for being open-minded and respectful towards others. However the online world seems more and more dominated by the uninformed, and negative. The value of initiatives like Stack Overflow and other communities are seriously compromised when the contributors spends time trying to convince others they are right, instead of trying to give valuable and useful content.

The unfortunate effect of this trend, is that the people who can indeed offer useful insight into a problem, tend to become less motivated when they are continually degraded by those with negative intentions. I’ve learned over time to listen, read and digest the information presented, often allowing myself into the perspective of the poster before responding, the same way I would when dealing with a person standing in front of me. Understanding that the person on the other side of the keyboard and screen is in fact human.

In the last few years I have seen so many brilliant and informative websites lose traction, and watched contributors exile themselves, and sadly this means the one place where the idea of sharing information is the corner-stone of its existence, has lost its footing. The slow degrading of basic values in society has started to bleed into the virtual world, and unlike the real world, there is no police force to combat its effects. The other unfortunate is that the next generation, the one’s that pick up the baton from us, will have strong reminders of this trend at their fingertips.

Has the internet just become another soap box, another outlet where misinformation has become a norm and not an exception?

I have played with the Windows 7 Beta Build over the last few weeks and I am suitably impressed by the performance and interface changes shown in the latest build. Microsoft is definitely spending time getting a system that is not only user-friendly, but also fast. I never disliked Vista, in fact I still use it every day, but Windows 7 has some huge improvements.

Installation and Upgrade

The installation process for is the same as for Vista in most aspects. I installed the 32-bit and 64-bit versions into Virtual Box virtual machines and the installations completed in about 20 minutes for each machine. The performance inside the virtual environment is also a huge improvement over Vista. The interface for the installation has not changed notably, although the new splash logo is a nice change from the old scrolling bar we have had since Windows 95.

I also decided to upgrade my desktop machine from Vista 64-bit to Windows 7 64-bit. I was a bit disappointed at the upgrade process which took almost 3 hours to complete, and I am not entirely sure what the cause was. My desktop machine is not a beast, running a Dual Core 1.6 with 4GB of RAM and a 500GB HDD. I am also using an ATI Radeon 2400 graphics card with 256MB of RAM. Once the upgrade completed I could however detect a huge improvement in start-up times, and often reboot twice because I am not sure if the machine actually did reboot or if I was only thinking about doing it.

Interface

The new user interface is also extremely nice. I have used Leopard on a MacBook for the last year or so and convinced the user interface team is sitting with Apple‘s next to their desks. The taskbar docking is the same principle as with the Leopard dock and works extremely well, and the new screen shortcut’s for maximizing windows and showing the desktop is also awesome tools, similar to Expose. There is now even a feature to randomly change the background image on a specific interval, something I love from the Mac. I also found the user interface quite responsive, and navigating open windows is really simple. Also the ability to quickly find “missing” windows through the task-bar lists is a great new feature. I really think Microsoft is heading in the right direction with the user experience.

Overall

I am overall very excited about Windows 7. The only two problems I have had with running it so far is that Rose Online does not run, due to incompatibility with the Game Guard client they use to manage server connections, and Windows 7 not recognising my DVD drive, which was fairly quick to fix once driver signing got turned off and some obsolete drivers removed from the registry.

Since I received my MacBook in December I have taken the time to use it as often as I can. As with all new things the novelty of owning one wore off after about a 2 weeks, however the usefulness of the MacBook never stopped. My progression to the Mac has been slow however for the last 2 weeks I have used it as my primary machine, and it has proven its weight in gold during this time.

I initially only used my MacBook for email and web browsing. Taking the time to get to know Leopard, and the various applications provided with the Mac. Although Mac Mail has fewer features the Thunderbird or even Outlook, it is powerful in its simplicity. All my email accounts are easily accessible, along with my RSS feeds. Safari has proven its ground as my browser of choice, with the odd website not able to display due to lack of support. With iChat Google Talk integration I am able to stay in contact, and although Messenger for the Mac is available I have decided to combine and only have one instant messenger. Google Talk on the Mac, MSN on Windows.

Due to its size I prefer travelling with the MacBook, and after the 4GB RAM upgrade I decided to give Parallels a chance and load a Windows XP Virtual Machine. My main requirement was to run Visual Web Developer for a part-time project, developed in ASP.Net and C#. With Coherence mode in Parallels all my Windows application integrated into the Leopard desktop and makes switching between platforms almost invisible. The 4-5 hour battery life from the MacBook is a huge help as well, along with the instant sleep and wake functionality, allowing to move between places without the having to wait. I haven’t used my Windows machine for my part-time development again since getting everything working on Parallels.

Apple iWorks 2008 has also been broken in nicely, with Pages working brilliantly as a word processor and Numbers providing all the basic spreadsheets requirements I need. Both applications also support the new Office document format and handles most documents mailed to me at a regular intervals quite well. I did load Office 2008  a bit later since I needed a way to manage my office mail offline while on the Mac, and Entourage connects nicely using Exchange Web Access, allowing me to stay in touch with the office from my Mac as well. My big disappointment has been that Word for the Mac doesn’t support blogging like Word for Windows.

More recently I was on-site at a client and had very limited space to work in, and decided to load the projects I was working on into the Parallels VM, since I can already manage the documentation part through Mac natively. I also found a copy of the Cisco VPN Client for Mac, which allowed me to use the Mac to VPN into remote sites, and with Remote Desktop for the Mac, manage the remote Windows Servers I need access to. Within an hour I was up and running being able to use the Mac for all my day-to-day tasks, albeit all my development running within Parallels on the Windows XP box.

We also received licenses for Adobe Creative Design Suite, which consists of all the major Adobe products, more specifically Photoshop and Illustrator. Even with the small 13″ screen size designing graphics on the Mac is extremely easy. With the full range of products required for work and play, my MacBook is now officially my everyday machine, with my Acer notebook taking up its role as major gaming machine, which is already running Vista Service Pack 1.

I am still extremely happy with my MacBook.

A while ago a colleague of mine got me interested in the Apple Macintosh range of computers. iStore opened at Gateway and HoneyB and I often found ourselves wandering in there and playing with the various iMac and MacBook computers they have standing around. I followed the release of Leopard closely and in December my parents gave us the opportunity to buy new notebooks. We decided to go with the entry-level MacBook. Every aspect of these little powerhouses continue to amaze us, to a point were we both use them on daily basis, and carried wherever we go.

The MacBook comes standard with a Dual Core Intel 2.0Ghz processor, 1GB of DDR 2 Memory, 80GB HDD and a Super Drive. The first thing you notice when taking it out of the box is how light the 13.3″ MacBook really is, and small enough to fit in small carry bag, rather than the bulky notebook bags a lot of us have to carry around. The power supply connects to the MacBook using a Magnet, effectively ensuring that no one can ever rip the notebook off a table by tripping over the power supply, and this has proven to work on one or two occasions while visiting my parents in Johannesburg. The second interesting item on the MacBook is the small button on the battery, which when pressed lights up a set of led’s displaying the amount of battery power left. Handy indeed, since there is no need to start-up the MacBook to check for battery life when in a hurry. The last item to draw attention is the small remote control that comes with the MacBook. The remote control works with FrontRow and allows you to complete control all aspects of media playing, including music and DVD playing, while sitting in your favourite lounge chair. During a recent power failure this proved a handy tool when wanting to watch DVD’s in bed.

The MacBook starts up in under a minute, irrelevant of what you have loading at start-up. Coming from a PC background this was a bit of shocker, and the concept of shutdown does not exist, and even hibernation can compete with the speed at which the MacBook sleeps or wake’s up. Close the lid, wait 2 seconds and the front led starts throbbing, and the distinctive Apple logo goes off as the LCD shuts off. Open the lid and by the time it’s open the MacBook is ready for work. Leopard comes preloaded along with iLife 08, and a 30 Day trail of iWork 08. iLife provides powerful applications like iDVD, iMovie and GarageBand. iWork consists of Pages, Numbers and Keynote, Apple’s equal to Office, and extremely powerful programs as well, including support for the new office formats. The amount of application in Leopard needs a whole new post, however the built-in iSight camera is absolutely brilliant, and a Skype conversation with my brother-in-law in Newcastle showed that it has everything it needs for a brilliant voice over IP device among everything else it can do.

Configuring anything on the Mac takes no more than 2 minutes, with the biggest headache being incorrect settings on my Exchange Server, which once resolved allowed mail to easily connect and retrieve my mail using the built-in Exchange support. Gmail was also a breeze along with configuring the .Mac subscription easily and quickly. All mail is now centralised in one application, and one inbox, with Gmail like conversation support as an added bonus. I have not had Outlook open for more than 10 minutes since using the Mac, and find Mail simple and easy to use. Loading the provided patch for Huwai USB modem allowed us to have 3G modem connectivity quickly and easily, making the MacBook even more handy when not in the office, and the built-in wireless connected without any problem to my home wireless.

Battery life has been extraordinary, with the MacBook’s providing up to 5 hours on battery when actively in use, and charging back up in under an hour. Our MacBook’s have become the perfect travel companions, small and light. The screen, although only running at 1280X800, is a pleasure to work with, and along with Spaces built into Leopard provides more than ample screen space for day-to-day use. Oh and did I mention that with Parallels Desktop and Coherence I am running Windows XP at the same time as Leopard, allowing me full access to my development tools, while still using all those simple and light native Mac applications ?

Overall I am extremely happy with this new addition to the family. It has replaced my Acer as my travelling companion, and so far has proven powerful enough to do everything I do on a regular basis, just in a smaller package. Well done Apple, it really does just work!

In the beginning of December I upgraded to a HTC P4350. It was a free upgrade on a Vodacom Talk 240 Contract. The P4350 is a mid level HTC phone, and the one I got has also been upgraded to Windows Mobile 6. I have used it for the last month and I am really impressed with how functional the phone is. The phone fits nicely in your hand and the black colour really distinguishes it from the rest of the HTC Smartphone range. The keys are nicely laid out and easily accessible when you have rather big fingers like me. The phone has a very solid feel and the slide keyboard is smooth and easy to use. My concern about having to slide out the keyboard when sending text messages was quickly put to rest with the ease in which the phone navigation works from the keyboard itself. The stylus also fits nicely into the back of the phone and I rarely need to take it out to do anything. The touch screen is very responsive to finger presses and dialling numbers simple with the big onscreen keypad. The front navigation screens also allows complete and easy access to the menu’s and features of the phone, and the lack of 3G and Video Calls are a minor discomfort. Due to the lack of these features the battery life is surprisingly good with a most of 4 days of battery life with average use.

Having Windows Mobile loaded it took me no longer than 2 minutes to set up ActiveSync with my Exchange Server. I was very surprised however to find that it also has built-in settings to add Gmail accounts and I had my SA Developer.Net and Gmail account added using POP Mail just as easily. Unfortunately it doesn’t support push mail for Gmail yet but that is a minor inconvenience, as I am still able to keep track of all my email accounts when not in the office or near my computer. Email reading is easy on the big screen in both portrait and landscape views. With ActiveSync my calendar and contacts are easily downloaded from the Exchange Server. Wireless networking is a breeze and both my office and home wireless access points added to the HTC making it much more cost-effective, as it will use the Wireless to sync when within range, cutting down on the Edge and GPRS bills.

HTC provides a copy of Sprite Backup with the phone which makes backing up a breeze, with a scheduled backup occurring to memory card on a predetermined schedule, as well as a PC backup when connected via ActiveSync using the Sprite Windows Client. Syncing with both Vista and Windows XP is painless and simple. I also purchased a 1GB Micro SD card to use with the phone to install a small array of applications I use on the device. The Camera on the P4350 isn’t all that amazing, however I rarely use the camera on my cell phone and it is not the purpose for having a phone.

Office Mobile comes preloaded on the phone, and I quick visit to the Microsoft Website also revealed a free upgrade allowing the HTC to open Open XML documents created in Office 2007. Remote Desktop is also available as a download from the HTC Club Website. A handy pouch comes in the box along with the normal hands-free headphones, although I had no problem connecting the HTC to my car Bluetooth radio.

My overall impression of the HTC P4350 is a good one. It’s a functional phone with no major thrills, brilliant battery life and a very easy interface. I would highly recommend anyone looking for an upgrade to give the P4350 a good look, although it has been on the market for more than a year, it is still a powerful Smartphone, and with the upgrade to Windows Mobile 6 been made even more useable.

I recently got my hands on a new Sony Ericsson P990i. Having had a P910i before I knew what to expect, but was wary of having to move away from Windows Mobile. However I was pleasantly surprised with what this phone is capable off. I have to admit I have been a Sony Ericsson fan since I received a T610i a few years ago. I have since had a K700i, P910i and more recently the W850i.

When I initially switched on the P990i the startup time was disappointing, along with the phone only working with a SIM card inserted. It is a slightly big phone, however the screen is crisp and clear, synonymous with SE phones. The touch screen is easy to work with and the dual keypads easy to reach with your thumbs. There is a total of 4 ways to navigate the phone. First off the keypad. In flip closed mode the touch screen is off, and the keypad works as expected for a phone. Open the flip and it reveals a full QWERTY keyboard, and although the buttons are small, easy to use with 2 thumbs. I have been able to complete lengthy emails successfully with it with minor spelling errors and I am looking for a blogging client at the moment to give the keyboard a good test. Thirdly there is the jog dial, a sliding button on the side of the phone that allows for easy navigation of menus and lists, with a hand back button directly below it, allowing for phone navigation using one hand and a thumb. Lastly there is the touch screen, also supporting hand writing recognition and a virtual keyboard should the fixed keyboard prove to tricky.

I am thoroughly impressed with the provided docking station. It allows for the USB, headphones and charger at the same time, making the phone hands free when docked and charging. I upgraded to the latest firmware, and the  start-up times immediately showed improvement, along with a decent loading screen to show progress for start-up. The 2 MP camera also takes fairly good quality photos. Video calls are clear and the speakerphone descent quality. Overall the phone meets specifications set out for it and there is various reviews that covers this in detail.

The features of the phone that impressed me greatly is its business functionality. The Wireless Networking is easy to set up and the ability to rank connectivity between wireless and 3G/GPRS is a nice touch. While at home it uses my local wireless to connect to the Internet. When no wireless is available it automatically switches to 3G, and then back to Wireless once it is available again. I also download the Exchange ActiveSync package for Symbian, and surprised at how quickly I was able to configure the phone to sync to Exchange 2003. Within minutes I had my contact and calendar synced, and had push email configured. This ability is what makes the P990i a winner for me, being able to receive my email like SMS, without any hassles with configuration. The only negative I have is that there is no Symbian office application that can read files from Office 2007, however some searching on Google revealed this functionality will be available shortly.

I am extremely happy with this new acquisition. The P990i has proven to offer all the features I required from a phone.