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Sony Ericsson M600i
3.5 out of 5Average user rating :
Sony EricssonManufacturer :
January, 2007Date :
-Price :
2752Hits :
4User opinions :
The M600i is Sony Ericsson's first smartphone product that's targeted towards a broader audience of users specifically those who are after a more-powerful handset that's practical, stylish and affordable. And the new dual-function input area, being both a standard 3-by-4 numeric keypad and thumbboard in one, was the other design element that uniquely positions the M600i in a line-up with other smartphone devices. There's quite a bit to cover on this new-line product. So let's move on with the review, where I'll attempt to address many of the M600i's outstanding features, as well as the vitals Brand new UIQ platform The major overhauling of almost every aspect of UIQ Technology's previous smartphone platform release was enough to warrant this consideration for their latest. UIQ 3, as it is officially known, brings the many benefits made available by Symbian's latest operating system offering, Version 9.1, to those familiar with the touchscreen-enabled user interface. Along with the increased functionality, UIQ 3 also gets a cosmetic upgrade of sorts. Visually, things aren't so monotonous thanks to the modernising of the user interface, which included a mixed use of typefaces, graphics and basic rendering techniques (or the mixing-and-matching of lines and curves along with shades of colours). This may all be a mouthful to some but upon seeing the new-look menu and app displays, you'll then understand just how far things have come on a visual level anyway. But just like most new releases (in this case, the UIQ 3 implementation on the M600i), my user experience with the smartphone wasn't always smooth sailing. There would be the odd how-or-what-to-do-something experience (possibly because of a new and better way of performing the operation), which would bring workflow to a sudden slowdown. And the number of software (or firmware) related issues, causing the smartphone to act spontaneously (e.g. freezing or restarting without warning), also caused some headaches especially during those time-critical scenarios where you'd expect the product to perform. Spending time with the M600i was an interesting experience, to say the least. It may not have been all that I had hoped for. But both Sony Ericsson and UIQ seems to have done their best in marrying both hardware and platform together, producing a unique product that's both practical and stylish at the same time. Dual-keyboard action = numerical keypad + QWERTY thumbboard All the excitement shouldn't be centred simply on the fact that it's a UIQ 3 based device. In fact, what makes the M600i that much more interesting is its unique dual function keyboard (or, to be more precise, thumbboard) which can work as a standard 3-by-4 numerical keypad, or behave as a toned-down QWERTY input device. How the thumbboard functions depends on the M600i's current mode of operation. BlackBerry is no longer just a term describing the line of products sold by the push email service provider, RIM (or Research In Motion). It's now a commonly-used term to describe an email-on-the-go device one that also features a proper miniaturised, thumb-friendly keyboard for thought-free, speedy replies when on the road or away from the office. Honestly, I haven't had much experience with BlackBerrys apart from those moments where I've been handed one to have a brief play with. But what I've found from spending time with the M600i is the seemingly-better usability levels of its thumbboard. The two-in-one button design, used for the greater number of keys, didn't simply help in narrowing the smartphone's footprint it also made it less strenuous on a user's two thumbs on days when emails arrive in abundance! I'll discuss more about this further on in the review. Third-party push email support Combined with the unique dual-function keyboard setup, the M600i's support for a variety of third-party push email clients makes this device very much unique in its own way. Apart from the well-known BlackBerry service, it can also support solutions provided by Extended Systems, Intellisync, JP Mobile, Active Sync, Seven, Smartner and Visto. And combined with high-speed data access via 3G, and the list of different organiser-based features, the M600i becomes a little virtual office away from the real office. Improvements in local connectivity capabilities Just like how they did it with the K610i and K790i/K800i models, a uniform set of upgrades to the M600i's local connectivity will probably make this Sony Ericsson smartphone model the most practical to connect to. Out of the box, the included Fast Port to USB data cable, typically found included with most Sony Ericsson models, allows a UIQ-based device to synchronise or share its wireless Internet connection with a PC just like how it has always been. With the M600i, however, it is also possible to transfers files on and off the memory areas available via the driverless (well, virtually) USB mass storage transfer mode facility. As for wireless communications, infrared (or IR) is of course included with the phone. Bluetooth, on the other hand, hasn't simply been enhanced but also upgraded to support faster over-the-air data transfers thanks to its EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) capability, and the ability for a PC to easily connect to the Internet via the new Personal Area Network profile support. The Version 2.0 implementation also includes A2DP (or Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) support, which is simply another way of saying that wireless headphones for music playback can now be used with the M600i. 3G / UMTS network connectivity And last, but not least, is the M600i's compatibility with both 2G (GSM) and 3G (UMTS) networks. This means the handset will get access to the higher-speed data services available with the latter while possibly falling back to more traditional means of network access whenever the more-advanced implementation may not be available. For applications that rely on Internet access, such as web browsers and media streaming, this is undoubtedly a big plus. But when you look at the number of Symbian-based smartphones that have touch-sensitive displays AND work with the next-generation 3G networks, the choice is actually quite limited. To date, only the Motorola A920 / A925 and A1000 / M1000 models, coincidentally all based on the UIQ 2.1 platform, are your only choices being models that are, in many ways, outdated as compared to those present models available Major features
Connectivity
Multimedia
Personal information management
Reviewed by Tony on 1-2-2007 Rating:
The most horrible phone I have ever had. Very reduced battery life, many problems and bugs. Far too difficult and slow to get it to do any thing. I hate using it and it often lets me down when I really need it. I have since bought an old Nokia which I carry as back up. Also you can forget about using it outside on a sunny day as the screen is unreadable. I hate it and only still have because Sony Ericsson will not swap it for a cheaper simpler phone.
Reviewed by Ames on 1-2-2007 Rating:
Attractive and most things, but note that the following features do not work at time of writing. You can't backup data on phone to computer. You can't use the phone as a modem. You can't use the computer as a modem for the phone.
Is a real specialized business instrument, and in terms of looks alone it is in a class of its own. Forget the camera; this handset isn't for children who want phones with gadgets. It's the smart phone; it immediately makes you feel more important whenever you pick it up.
Reviewed by PNUT on 9-10-2007 Rating:
Stylish, Excellent phone by SonyEricsson. Its an amazing phone, Battery life a really good. It is realy business phone. It has everything u need on your way to keep in touch with people and your clients.
It immediately makes you feel more important whenever you pick it up. It does not have acamera and ofcource the screen is not clear in the sunlight.
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