This week I’m having a low-keyed celebration of sorts. You see, as of a few days ago my HTC X7501 Advantage turned four years old. I’ve had my share of mobile devices, but I’ve always enjoyed using the Advantage as a mini-computer and phone. With its huge 5″ VGA touchscreen, magnetic keyboard, internal hard drive and metal and magnetic housing, 3G and WiFi capability my Advantage has been excellent for mobile productivity for me. How I came to possess this particular unit is a bit unusual, so permit me to set the Wayback Machine to October of 2007…
Years ago I did some occasional writing and reviewing for Aximsite, and one of the first tech devices that I got to review was the X7501 in late 2007, sent to me by the Seattle-based public relations firm Waggener Edstrom. I was intrigued by the device, and after reviewing the unit and sending it back did some research on it. During one of my forays into the realm of online forums I came across some links to HTC’s site, which had recently gotten a makeover. Curious, I followed the links and discovered that several sensitive areas of the new HTC website hadn’t been properly protected. Being the sympathetic fellow I was I promptly fired off an email to my Waggener Edstrom contact about the problem and to let HTC know. Much to my surprise they sent on behalf of HTC my very own X7501 Advantage. To say I was thrilled was an understatement. An unlocked, top of the line mobile device that arrived in January 2008, a month before my youngest was born. I sent back a picture of my new arrival (stealing a blanket and cap from my soon-to-be-born child):
Needless to say my X7501 has held up splendidly over the years, through multiple custom roms and back, and Gear Diary back in the day had a fine article on how to maximize usage that really inspired me. The HTC Advantage has gone on many a long journey around local region and around the country. Why it even helped me win a phone from Gear Diary a few months later from an unsuccessful geocaching attempt. In any case, my Advantage has just been a rock-solid workhorse, for all practical intents and purposes functioning as a mini-netbook and I’m just too attached to it, for reasons already explained, to ever let it go.
Incidentally, one of my favorite aspects of the device is its 3.1MP camera, and my X7501 has taken its fair share of mundane to the unusual pictures.
Warning: you may want to avert your eyes to nature at work in the sample picture here…but hey, I had my X7501 and snapped a quick picture:
As my X7501 shows, Nature is indeed red in tooth and claw. I’m sure I could make all sorts of corporate, tech business or other analogies here, but for the moment I’ll refrain.
The HTC Advantage has, despite the rapid development of mobile technology over the last few years, still is able to keep itself relevant in my mobile stable of gizmos. It is a prized gift from an unexpected source resulting from a simple good deed.
It’s a keeper. Happy 4th Birthday, X7501.
Dear Reader, are there any particular tech gizmos that while perhaps superseded by more recent innovations, still find use in your daily life?