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neoChat NC-10
Witness the introduction of an entirely new breed in the world of mobile devices: neo's neoChat NC-10 is the very first commercially available PMG Companion device, taking advantage of a new microserver-client architecture pioneered by IXI Mobile, the company behind the neo brand of devices. Through connecting wirelessly with a Personal Mobile Gateway (PMG), the neoChat lets users remain online with their preferred instant messaging service, as well as send and receive e-mail and SMS messages wherever they go.
 | The thumbboard of the neoChat ranks among the better currently available
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Exterior
Unassuming, with its two-tone grey colour scheme, the neoChat NC-10 is a clamshell device which opens to reveal a backlit, monochrome display with 240 x 160 pixel landscape orientation and a QWERTY thumbboard. The screen occupies the entire upper half of the 106 g clamshell, while the thumbboard resides in the lower half. When closed, the device measures 9.5 x 7.6 x 2.3 cm, and reveals only the notification LED, which doubles as a multifunction power on/off button. When opened, the neoChat measures a sizeable 9.5 x 14 x 1.2 cm.
The thumbboard contains a full compliment of the alphabet, joined by a four-way navigational pad with adjacent 'enter' buttons at either side positioned above the rows of keys. In the upper left corner, a 'back' key provides navigational aid to let users return to a previous dialog or cancel changes to settings, while a 'type & send' button in the upper right corner activates text input fields and is used to send messages when finished.
Additionally, the four main dialogs of the device are called up through dedicated buttons on the lower row of keys; from left to right, users can activate the 'Contacts', 'Messages', 'My Status' and 'Settings' dialogs. To the very left, we also find an 'Alt' button which alters the function of keys, while at the far right a 'Caps' button offers uppercase text input and an 'Extras' key activates drop-down menus (where applicable). Incidentally, the 'Alt' key also transforms the top row of keys to a numerical input range.
Ergonomics
Comfortable in use, the thumbboard of the neoChat NC-10 has well-spaced and well-sized keys - which, although they would benefit from a more domed shape, are among the better of thumbboards currently available. The layout of non-text buttons is intuitive and functional, although neither the 'Alt' nor 'Caps' button are sticky, which intermittently results in awkward combo presses. Unfortunately, the device is also improperly balanced with its point of gravity residing near the hinge, leading to unnecessary strain when used for prolonged periods of time.
Features
The neoChat NC-10 has no WAN connectivity capabilities of its own, but rather relies on a PMG such as the neoFone NC-10 via Bluetooth. Personal preferences greatly impact whether this is beneficial, as a certain loss of convenience is balanced by reduced size, modularity and increased battery life.
Moving to the actual functionality of the neoChat quickly reveals it to be a device built with one purpose in mind: messaging. Users can connect to either of four different instant messaging services - although, sadly, not simultaneously: AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, MSN Messenger and Yahoo! Instant Messenger, as well as retrieve and send e-mail from POP3, IMAP4 and SMTP accounts.
A comprehensive settings dialog lets users control various aspects relating to the operation of the neoChat, such as its contrast setting, the font size of messages, the operation of the backlight and whether or not notification banners should be displayed. The latter are particularly convenient, as they notify a user visually when new messages of any kind arrive.
Also, users can choose to be notified of incoming messages by audible alert, the notification LED and vibrating alert; the full monty, so to speak. Among other important settings we find the ability for the device to alter one's instant messaging status upon closing and opening the lid, as well as altering the ports of incoming and outgoing e-mail servers and support for SMTP authentication. And last, but not least, the benefit of quickly scheduling e-mail retrieval every 5, 15, 30, 60 or 120 minutes should be needless to explain to road warriors.
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