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Review: (Flashback) NTT DoCoMo Sigmarion III

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C:Amie Page Icon Posted 2011-12-03 6:17 PM
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If there is one word that is probably safe to use when discussing the NTT DoCoMo Sigmarion III 'unusual' is likely it.

Made by NEC but released exclusively by Japanese telecommunications giant NTT DoCoMo, the device was exclusive to NTT and had no follow-up anywhere in the world under and brand. More so the device was one of the first to include TFT screen technology and native SD card reading technology. Furthermore it was one of a very small number of devices that was ever released to market with Windows CE .net 4.1 on-board, making it a truly unlikely contender in the popularity stakes. Yet surprisingly despite its Japanese only origins, the Sigmarion III is a highly regarded and very popular H/PC device (if you can get hold of one!).

It has been a while since we've run a Flashback review here on HPC:Factor and to mark the occasion Mikey Pizano takes the oddity that is the NTT DoCoMo Sigmarion III for a trip down memory lane as he reviews the device in his first article on HPC:Factor.

As ever, read the review and have your say in the comments and on the forum.

View: NTT DoCoMo Sigmarion III
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Rich Hawley Page Icon Posted 2011-12-03 6:38 PM
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Nice article...it is tiny...one of the HPCs that I've never owned. Wonder how it feels to type on it versus typing on the Jornada...which I hate. Also, is the a rom image for installing the OS? If so I bet I could translate some of those programs...
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CE Geek Page Icon Posted 2011-12-03 8:35 PM
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It's definitely easier to type on than the Jornada. I did a lot of Web browsing on it on the road a couple of years ago, and the browsing experience was not bad on IE CE 5.5. The addition of 802.11g support in CE 4.x is a big help. Though the 64 MB of RAM is a bit cramped by current standards, I tend to limit storage RAM, and I'm still finding the Sig 3 to be pretty snappy even compared to the newer CE devices I have.
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CAuser Page Icon Posted 2011-12-04 5:21 AM
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IIRC, Sig3 does have a utility for telecom use (NTT only, with a built-in/added module?). There are quite some CF WiFi cards working on Sig3. I even got a CF to Ethernet adapter working on Sig3.

Edited by CAuser 2011-12-04 6:14 AM
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mikey pizano Page Icon Posted 2011-12-04 3:28 PM
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The reason my WiFi card won't work is because it was made for the Sony Clie line.
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C:Amie Page Icon Posted 2011-12-04 3:43 PM
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There's no such thing really, the official Clie WiNIC ( http://www.mobiletechreview.com/tips/sony_wifi.htm ) is a WL100, so it should have a Prism 2.5 chip in it. Unless it has custom firmware it is probably a case of finding the correct reference driver.
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CAuser Page Icon Posted 2011-12-04 6:16 PM
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Maybe, stingraze can explain what FOMA is (a telecom style in Japan?).

Edited by CAuser 2011-12-04 6:20 PM
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C:Amie Page Icon Posted 2011-12-04 7:35 PM
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It's Japanese CSMA/HSPA offered by NTT DoCoMo
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CAuser Page Icon Posted 2011-12-05 5:14 AM
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Since it's NTT DoCoMO exclusive, I never bother to find out if Sig3 already has a 3G module built in or not.
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stingraze Page Icon Posted 2011-12-05 8:43 AM
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CAuser - 2011-12-05 3:16 AM

Maybe, stingraze can explain what FOMA is (a telecom style in Japan?).

FOMA is 384 kbps W-CDMA (3G) used in Japan. It was used before the days of HSDPA(FOMA HIGH-SPEED). It is still used when the FOMA HIGH-SPEED reception is bad or for FOMA only devices.
FOMA HIGH-SPEED is 7.2Mbps and 3.6Mbps.

I never used NTT Docomo network myself, but have used a MVNO called b-mobile which uses the NTT Docomo network on my HTC Desire and NTT Docomo Xperia. NTT Docomo is considered the best carrier in Japan by many, and I think it is true.

Edited by stingraze 2011-12-05 8:47 AM
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mikey pizano Page Icon Posted 2011-12-06 5:18 PM
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C:Amie - 2011-12-04 10:43 AM

There's no such thing really, the official Clie WiNIC ( http://www.mobiletechreview.com/tips/sony_wifi.htm ) is a WL100, so it should have a Prism 2.5 chip in it. Unless it has custom firmware it is probably a case of finding the correct reference driver.


Tried all that. Mine is the Wl110 card. I had it work for a total of like 5 minutes and even then it was hit and miss.
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CE Geek Page Icon Posted 2011-12-07 4:31 AM
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I trust you installed the Agere reference driver for the WL110, which is supposed to have an Agere chipset. (The WL100 is Prism-based.)
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mikey pizano Page Icon Posted 2011-12-07 6:14 PM
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The Wl110 is supposed to be Prism 2.5 I think.
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CAuser Page Icon Posted 2011-12-07 6:32 PM
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I think CE Geek is correct.
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Jake Page Icon Posted 2011-12-07 7:32 PM
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@Mikey Pizano:

Nice job, sir. You make me want one.

Jake
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