Introduction

The Motorola Q was no secret, anticipated by anxious consumers who were calling it colorful nicknames such as the RAZRBerry and BlackBerry-Killer. Combining an iconic ultra-thin design with the power of Windows Mobile, the Q offered an irresistible blend of form and function.

Released earlier this month accompanied by a high-publicity ad campaign, the Motorola Q is 50 percent thinner than its top competitors. Hosting a large and vibrant color screen, a 1.3-megapixel camera with flash, and digital video and audio capabilities, the Q provides clear and vibrant imaging.

For productivity, the Q integrates a high-quality speakerphone for conference calls, speaker-independent voice recognition software for handsfree access, and Bluetooth functionality to connect with wireless accessories including A2DP-compatible headphones for stereo music streaming.

Boasting flexible mobile email featuring Microsoft's Windows Mobile 5.0 software, the Q helps professionals improve productivity while having fun. Going head-to-head with Palm's new Treo 700, Motorola hopes its extra attention to aesthetics will make the Q stand out from the competition.

Design

As the slimmest QWERTY handset ever made, the Motorola Q offers a familiar ultra-thin design popularized by the iconic RAZR. Encased in a remarkably thin and lightweight shell, the Q is actually crafted from aircraft-grade aluminum, providing rigidity and support while weighing not much more than ordinary plastic. With an amazingly thin 0.45-inch profile, the exterior provides the support necessary to withstand the everyday wear and tear of regular use.

Prominently displayed on the front, a large 65K-color LCD offers a full visual experience. Optimized for video streaming, multimedia capture, and Internet browsing, the Q's screen provides the vibrancy needed for comfortable viewing indoors and out.

The 5-Way Navigation Keypad is located next to familiar green and red Call / Answer and Power / End Keys, with specially designated Home, Back, and Left and Right Keys offering menu navigation and shortcut functionality. Chemically-etched on a blue electro-luminescence panel, the shortcut keys are flush to the exterior, enhancing the Q's slim design.

The QWERTY keyboard allows users to easily and quickly compose messages from a variety of corporate and personal email technologies. With the left half doubling as the numeric keypad, dedicated Message / Display Off, Camera, and Speakerphone / Voice Recognition Keys are activated when pressed and held for two seconds. Offering slightly more spacious typing over the Treo 700, unfortunately typing is more cumbersome due to the Q's rounded key design.

On the right side, the Thumbwheel and Undo / Back Key gives consumers menu control similar to the industry-leading BlackBerry. Able to scroll up and down, as well as press in to select, users can easily navigate the menu with just the right hand.

A Memory Card Port along the left side accepts miniSD cards, while an Infrared Port nearby allows wireless transmission. A Mini-USB Port below lets users connect to a PC, also functioning as the Charger and Accessory Port. On the top a Headset Jacks gives consumers access to handsfree connectivity and audio.

Turned around, a 1.3-megapixel lens captures photos up to 1280 x 1024 px in resolution, accompanied by a Flash for low light conditions. Near the bottom dual speaker ports blast loud and clear sound during audio and speakerphone usage.

While the Treo outperforms the Q on usability, offering a larger color screen and better designed QWERTY keypad, few handhelds, if any, can match the Q in design and beauty. Motorola has the magic touch once again, releasing the most stylish PDA ever seen on the market.

Out of the box, the Motorola Q comes with a Standard 1130 mAh Li-Ion Battery, Travel Charger, Mini-USB Data Cable, Holster, Welcome CD, Microsoft ActiveSync CD, Quick Reference Guide, and User Manual.

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