SIDEKICK LX is ok but I like the 3 better....

Hello this will be helpful for you.
I'm not wild about the Sidekick LX, but that opinion might say more about me than about this flashy messaging powerhouse. It excels at text, IM, and e-mail but puts up some roadblocks for those who use a phone primarily to make calls.

The LX costs $300 with a two-year T-Mobile voice plan and a reasonable extra $20 per month for an unlimited data plan. You can pay $30 per month for a data-only, no-voice plan. You'll need a good data plan to take advantage of the LX's primary strength: messaging. I easily set up an AOL IM account (the LX supports Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo Messenger, too), and I also logged on quickly to Gmail and to PC World's Web-based mail accounts; the LX supports the IMAP e-mail protocol and most other popular Web mail services. And, of course, you can text- and picture-message as well.

The LX is designed for two-handed use. To access the keyboard, you lift and swivel the large, beautiful 3-inch screen to reveal a luxurious QWERTY keyboard with excellent spacing between the keys and a no-slip matte finish. New instant messages scroll across the top of the screen when you're doing other things like surfing the Web, which, by the way, is slow. (Currently T-Mobile doesn't offer 3G network speed, but the company plans to roll it out in the first half of 2008.) The senders and subjects of new e-mail messages appear when you scroll to the main interface's e-mail icon using the quick and handy scroll ball.

This design, however, is not great for phone calls. You'll want to import phone numbers into the LX's address book and access them that way, because it's awkward to dial using the number keys, which sit in one horizontal row at the top of the keyboard almost directly under the display's hinge. Plus, you'll need to swivel the keyboard out to dial and back in again to talk--awkward design decision number two. While call quality in my area was fine, the speakerphone sounded distorted to me at volumes loud enough to hear. (Call recipients had no complaints, however.) Battery life in PC World lab tests maxed out at 10 hours of talk time.

People who don't want their phone constantly beeping, buzzing, and flashing won't particularly like this model either. Under default settings my test unit glowed green, or blue, indicating a new message, even when it (and I) were sleeping at night. It made frequent, unexpected jarring alert noises too. Sure, you can turn all that off using the phone's settings and hardware volume buttons, which I often hit accidentally while trying to swivel the screen. But it's part of the Sidekick LX's celebrity-attracting bling; turning everything off is like getting an Old English sheepdog and giving it a buzz cut.

Other features: The LX has a 1.3-megapixel camera with flash that takes decently sharp pictures but doesn't take video--a pity given the large screen. You can plug in standard headphones without an adapter, and you can play music that you transfer via USB or store on a microSD card.

I didn't like the Sidekick LX, but I can see why other people might. Since I'm not a master messenger, I can't overlook the awkward phone-dialing design, the sluggish Internet, and the too-flashy audio-visual effects.

sidekick LX 2008

First released in October 2007, the T-Mobile Sidekick LX impressed us with its slimmer and lighter design and sharper and larger screen. However, we couldn't help but be a little disappointed by the lack of new features. There were some slight enhancements to the music player and a new MySpace Mobile application, but we were left wanting more. Well, with the new software update that was released in June 2008, we finally got it. (Better late than never, right?) The upgrade finally brings video capabilities, stereo Bluetooth support, and more. This, in addition to the strong e-mail and IM capabilities, will certainly appeal to young messaging fanatics. Current Sidekick LX owners will receive the update over the air, while devices that ship after July 29 will have all the new capabilities built into it. The T-Mobile Sidekick LX is available now for $199.99 with a two-year contract and after rebates and discounts.
Design
The T-Mobile Sidekick LX makes quite a first impression. It's noticeably sleeker and sexier than any of the previous Sidekicks, though technically on paper, the LX isn't that much smaller than the Sidekick 3, measuring 5.1 inches tall by 2.3 inches wide by 0.7 inch deep, compared with 5.1 inches wide by 2.3 inches wide by 0.8 inch deep. However, the LX is 1 ounce lighter at 5.7 ounces and the slim handheld is just easier to slip into a pants pocket or purse. Plus, we like its updated look and shape--a tad iPhone-esque actually--and you have your choice of two colors: midnight blue or espresso brown.
The T-Mobile Sidekick LX next to the Palm Centro. The LX is lighter and thinner than previous Sidekicks.
Perhaps what we're most excited about is the much-improved screen. The low-resolution displays on the previous Sidekicks have always been a sticking point with us as well as users, but finally Sharp gives our eyes a reprieve. The Sidekick LX now has a larger 3-inch, 65,000-color TFT display and a sharper 400x240-pixel resolution. The difference in quality is amazing, as text and images look crisp and colors are more vibrant. You can also choose to customize the home screen with different background themes and change the font size.
The navigation controls surrounding the screen remain pretty much unchanged from the Sidekick 3 and Sidekick iD. To the left you have the Menu and Jump buttons and a directional keypad that doubles as the phone's speakers, and on the right, there is a Cancel button, Talk and End keys, an OK button, and the trackball navigator. Along the bottom edge of the handheld, you'll find the volume rocker and a power button, while along the top, there are two function buttons that perform different tasks depending on which application you are using. We found this last set of controls a bit hard to press since they're tiny and set flush with the phone's surface.
Nothing new here. You'll find the same navigation controls on the LX that are on the T-Mobile Sidekick 3.
To expose the full QWERTY keyboard, just nudge the upper-right corner or the lower-left corner of the screen to trigger the swivel mechanism, causing it to rotate a full 180 degrees and snap into place--mind your fingers, though. There are some slight modifications to the buttons, but they're all good and we still think the Sidekick's keyboard is one of roomiest and easiest to use. There's plenty of space between the keys, and the buttons now have a frosted, more tactile feel to them unlike the glossy, somewhat slippery ones on the Sideki
from CNET

Very best mobile....

T-Mobile Sidekick LX - midnight blue
Reviewed by
Bonnie Cha
on 10/18/2007

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o CNET editors' rating: 3.5 stars Very good
Detailed editors' rating
Design : 7.0
Features : 8.0
Performance : 7.0
Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
o Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 48 reviews
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* Quick specs
* Band / mode: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (Quadband)
* Talk time: Up to 408 min
* Combined with: With digital camera / digital player
* See full specifications

Add to my list Product summary

The good: The T-Mobile Sidekick LX boasts a sleeker design with a larger and much-improved display. The handheld continues to be an excellent messaging device with a spacious full QWERTY keyboard. It also offers Bluetooth, MySpace Mobile integration, and a 1.3-megapixel camera. The software also brings video recording and playback and stereo Bluetooth support.

The bad: The Sidekick LX lacks integrated Wi-Fi. The phone's speaker is on the weaker side.

The bottom line: The T-Mobile Sidekick LX will continue to attract a legion of young fans with its fresh design and excellent messaging capabilities. We like the improved display, and the software update brings some much-needed additions to the features department.
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CNET editors' review

* CNET editors' rating: 3.5 stars Very good
Detailed editors' rating
Design : 7.0
Features : 8.0
Performance : 7.0
Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)

* Reviewed by:
Bonnie Cha
* Reviewed on: 10/18/2007
* Updated on: 07/17/2008
* Released on: 10/17/2007

Editors' note: The review and ratings have been updated since the original publish date to reflect the new enhancements that were made with release of the June 2008 over-the-air software update.

First released in October 2007, the T-Mobile Sidekick LX impressed us with its slimmer and lighter design and sharper and larger screen. However, we couldn't help but be a little disappointed by the lack of new features. There were some slight enhancements to the music player and a new MySpace Mobile application, but we were left wanting more. Well, with the new software update that was released in June 2008, we finally got it. (Better late than never, right?) The upgrade finally brings video capabilities, stereo Bluetooth support, and more. This, in addition to the strong e-mail and IM capa

Excellent & Well Done Revamping on T-Mobile Sidekick LX

As a loyal owner of many models of the Sidekick Dynasty, I have suffered (albeit joyously) through various stages of metamorphosis--from awkwardly bulky housing, nonprogrammable sound profiles, to not-quite-what-it-could-be interfaces. It seems, however, that Sidekick has finally come into its own in the newest and most improved Sidekick LX from T-Mobile.

The list of heralded improvements starts with the slim and sleek, even thinner than before design, which looks and feels similar to the famously thin RAZR by Motorola. Available in espresso brown or midnight blue, the housing is shiny, smooth like glass, and features a leather-like backing to the battery compartment. The brilliant high-resolution screen is now three inches wide and crisper, brighter than ever, even when kept at "low" brightness level, which conserves battery life.
The LX boasts new blue "mood lights" located at each of the four corners, which can be customized to suit different message/text/IM/email alerts. The mood lights and track ball light up whenever the user receives a call/IM/text/email.

For anyone who has owned or operated a Blackberry interface, users may be pleasantly familiar with the LX OS, as it is somewhat similar. The email application is effortless, reminiscent of Mozilla Firefox's easy tab configuration and those who are upgrading from the Sidekick 3, will find their settings, email accounts and nearly every setting from their Sidekick 3 already conveniently configured on the LX. New customizable options include font size, as well as backgrounds and complete sound-infused themes.

As for games, say "bye bye" to Rocket Blaster and "Heeellllo" to Bob's Journey: TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH! This popular game comes pre-loaded!

And now, for the creme de la creme...
I have saved the two best features of the new Sidekick LX for last.
For users who are Myspace addicts, a completely user-friendly and super convenient Myspace application is available for download in the catalog! While the application itself is free to download, users will have to agree to a nominal monthly fee until the application is discarded. In the Myspace application, users will enjoy "online now!" status, up to the minute photo/profile comment alerts, mail/blog subscription post/comments/friend request alerts, as well as instant picture upload straight from the LX to their Myspace profile! Myspace alert sounds are customizable as well.

And finally...*drum roll, please*
The feature many have been waiting so patiently for...
For the first time on a Sidekick, users are now able to send Picture Messages/(MMS)!!!!!!! No longer will users have to email pictures to a long numerical phone number email address, no more are the days of being outside the MMS loop. Rejoice! Picture Messaging has arrived!


All in all, I couldn't be happier with the extremely well done revamping on T-Mobile's Sidekick line, and have rated it a definite, no-doubt "excellent."

Innovative device - needs more applications & coverage

Hello eBay members, I owned this device for about a year before selling it on eBay. I cannot comment on it's phone capabilities since I used it primary as a data device to surf the web and receive email. The reason I originally purchased the Sidekick was for its innovative design and ease of use. I really liked the keyboard and flip around screen as well as the rotating wheel to scroll through screens and applications. The unit is well built and I did not have any problems with the hardware. I travelled across the country frequently and it held up well in my attache case through luggage and x-ray machines.

Other strengths of the products included the T-Mobile service cost - $29.95/month for all the data service you can use. I liked the AOL mail client that was on the unit and how email was pushed into the unit. The battery life was decent for 12+ hours of on time use without any voice usage. IM client was good - easy to use and add new members, etc. Web browser wasn't fancy but got the job done - easy to scroll with the scroll wheel and also type in new URL's to connect to. You will need two hands to hold the unit while typing.

The reason I decided to sell the device after my contract expired was (1) very poor T-Mobile service coverage - when I could get coverage with this device the download speeds were o.k. at best. Since the whole point of this device for me was to go to ebay.com as well as get my email, without good service coverage the device was essentially useless. (2) lack of additional productivity applications (3) no integrated camera support and (4) no direct connection to my PC for sync or back up.

All in all, if you can find one cheap on eBay and have good T-Mobile coverage where you live this wouldn't be a bad device to start with. It sure beats spending $500+ for something extravagant when basic IM, e-mail and web surfing is what you need. I'm sure the Sidekick II has improved on the many weaknesses of this original model.

Thanks for reading this review. eBay: travantsystems