vB Easy Archive - M600i 2 Day Review

Pages: 1

M600i 2 Day Review
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: plessdude

I posted this review in the s60 forum but i want to expand on it in this forum.

Connectivity:

Well I guess if North America had UMTS I would have a lot of good things to say here but it doesn't, at least where I live. Going back to GPRS is like driving a porsche with a parking boot on. Its slow, it seems to clunk each time I try and do something and downloading simple things like attachements is painful. I know that SE doesnt like EDGE but come on....its 2006....we are beyond this guys. The lack of Wifi doesnt really help either. I am sure that in places with UMTS people are loving the speed and effortlessly browsing their favorite educational (porn) sites. In The good old USA, if you are using this for heavy web surfing or email then you are going to be an unhappy camper.

Keyboard:

I love it! It took me about 10 minutes to get the hang of it and I gotta say that I think this concept is a winner. I never really liked the BB 7100 series keyboards but I liked the size. The m600 gives you the size element along with the ability to spell out things like passwords without having to resort to multiple key clicks. The m600 also uses predictive text making it even easier to use.

OS:

I don't really have a strong opinion for or against UIQ 3.0. It looks nice and all but it is not the most seamless OS. Things just feel too buried in the OS. You need too many clicks to get to simple things like the notepad. Hopefully 3rd parties will pick up the slack. Granted this is a fresh firmware and hopefully things will improve but if you are expecting a snappy OS then you are going to be dissapointed. UIQ doesn't seem to have improved the lag times it takes to open applications. Its frustrating to say the least. 10 seconds to open contacts is unacceptable.

This OS is BUGGY!!! I have had multiple crashes and low memory errors. Notepad seems to enjoy crashing everytime I open it up. The web browser likes to either crash or give me low memory errors also. I have also had crashes using the audio player. Maybe I just have an early firmware. Hopefully this is not how things are going to be for long.

Size and Hardware:

Ahhh...now this is where this device shines. This is without a doubt the smallest keyboard equipped smartphone I have ever used. Its tiny, light weight, and thin. The scroll wheel is a great navigation tool. But....there is a big BUT....it feels like SE sat around and said "Well we got the wheel now lets just forget everything else about industrial design and stop there" This guy is in real need for some dedicated hard keys. Yes you can just touch the screen for certain items but for simple things you need on a phone....like TALK and END, would it have killed them to add a few damn buttons, especially above the keypad where there is a good 1/4 inch of unused space?

One Handed Use:

No no no.....it doesnt work. Yes basic things work but you need to use a combination of the scroll, your finger, and a stylus to really run this phone. Again, it feels like the software guys implemented some one handedness and then just stopped once they were 1/4 of the way into it and decided to either go for a smoke break or just wait until the m700 comes out to implement the rest. If you have used a Windows Mobile 5 device you are going to think that the one handed operation on that is much much better and that is not saying a lot.

Screen:

If you live in places were it is always dark you are going to be ok with this screen. For those of you that go out in the daylight and try and use the phone you better be able to remember where everything is cause in direct light the screen is really bad. Its like they used the screen from an old t610. In non-direct light the screen is pretty good but not as great as with an e61 or Windows Mobile device.

Conclusion:

So I guess you can assume I am a bit down on this phone after having played with the e61 for a few weeks. I am not rushing to dump this phone yet cause I have hope things will improve with the firmware and 3rd party support. Maybe if I was just using this for light sms, email and surfing I would be happy. But for someone who is using this as a business device its just not there...yet.

This leaves me to question who this phone is aimed at. If this was made for business users then why would they use such a poor screen? If this is a teenie bopper phone where is the camera? I just dont get it. SE seems to be positioning this as a "Blackberry 7100 Series" killer yet it doesn't hold a candle to that phone. If this is a stripped down version of the p990 then why strip it to the bone? People are obviously going to enjoy the size and weight so why not give them a bit more.

Again, I realize this is a first generation product and there is room for improvement. A firmware update would probably solve a bunch of issues and we all know that one is going to come. This is great example of why its better to wait a few months for a stable firmware before jumping in.

Oh, and ummm there is no Exchange Sync, BB , or Good supported yet so if you need wireless sync you are not going to have it as of today.

Posted by: manchuia

thanks for the review. I was anxiously awaiting this phone as a business compliment to the k750i I have (and am still looking to trade :cough: plug :cough

but this is really really dissapointing.

The firmware issues here might be similar on the p990 which for the cost (somewhere around $1k) would be totally unacceptable. I agree with the marketing question. There isn't enough business to dethrone blackberry / nokia and there isn't enough fun to make you give up T9 on a cheaper smaller W/K series sony. No idea where this was aimed, but I was hoping at least it would be a solid product. Too bad.

Real life pics would be awesome if you could muster, and a general use / build comparison to an E61 would be cool. I know it doesn't have wifi or the screen, but I just want general use impressions compared to a similar device. Thanks a ton!

Posted by: BillB

Quote:

Originally Posted by plessdude

Oh, and ummm there is no Exchange Sync, BB , or Good supported yet so if you need wireless sync you are not going to have it as of today.

Bummer. I need either Exchange sync or BB for my work, and the abscence of these services will make me seriously consider jumping off the P900 bandwagon.

Is the software for these services not even on the companion CD?

Let's see if Sony Ericsson fulfills their its promises with the P990. I hope they can fine-tune the OS by the time the P990 hits the stores.

Posted by: plessdude

The rumor from another board is that the Exchange software is going to be up tonight. We shall see.

Posted by: AllGlobaltk

ok guys i have the phone as well.

plessdude go update your phone.

I would say with the latest firmware about 75% of plessdude review is right about the firmware that is. Yes it is very lagy and does freeze. I have had 1 crash but nothing major. Opening messages shouldnt take long its a FREAKEN MESSAGING DEVICE!.

plessdude is also right about the formfactor. absolutly amazing and its the only reason im hangin on for the m600s life and have some faith itll get better otherwise. www.ebay.com it is.

as for 1 handed im 6 foot 2 big hands long finger guy i use it with one hand no problem. i actually like the fact you DONT need a stylus you can use your finger. maybe some cant do that im not sure honestly

i rate this phoen a 4 out of 10 until it has a good BB or activesync client and itll go up to a 7 or 8

Posted by: plessdude

AllGlobaltk!!!! How ya been big guy! I updated the phone and although its an improvement there is still much room for improvement. Once ActiveSync is released I am sure things will start looking up. Have you been able to get IMAP idle function to work? I cant even get scheduled downloads to work.

Posted by: AllGlobaltk

can you post the .sis app for im+ for some reason my try and buy link is not thier anymore...

thanks in advance

Posted by: plessdude

im+? I didnt even know that was available for the m600

Posted by: AllGlobaltk

Quote:

Originally Posted by plessdude

im+? I didnt even know that was available for the m600

yep and woks great

tools/media/try and buy scroll down

the try and buy is on your memory card

Posted by: skagen

Couple questions:
1) does it sync with ALL of Outlook ie E-mail , Contacts, Calendar, & Notes?
2) can it play videos and if so what type?
3) having updated it are you still experiencing delays in just creating a text message?
4) how is the speakerphone?

Posted by: plessdude

1. It syncs just the calendar, contacts and email. No Notes.
2. Haven't played around with video's yet
3. With the update it is better. Much less lag time and a bit more stable.
4. The speakerphone is average.

Posted by: heavyduty

Quote:

Originally Posted by plessdude

1. It syncs just the calendar, contacts and email. No Notes.

Thanks for the review. I lost interest in m600 as soon as you wrote that you can't use it one handed. And this sync issue just confirms it (I had a 9300 and as soon as I realised that it couldn't sync notes I returned it).

Again, thanks.

Posted by: plessdude

Wait...I just re-read what you asked and I thought you meant syncing through wireless exchange. You CAN sync notes and tasks through a hard connection (USB or Bluetooth) to your pc unlike the 9300. As far as one handedness most basic tasks can be performed one handed its just that you need to touch the screen a lot with your finger. Some things like task switching you need the stylus unless you have really skinny fingers.

Posted by: gsibble

I made some walls for the M600. You can find them all here:

http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=931415

Thought you'd want to know!

Posted by: heavyduty

Quote:

Originally Posted by plessdude

Wait...I just re-read what you asked and I thought you meant syncing through wireless exchange. You CAN sync notes and tasks through a hard connection (USB or Bluetooth) to your pc unlike the 9300. As far as one handedness most basic tasks can be performed one handed its just that you need to touch the screen a lot with your finger. Some things like task switching you need the stylus unless you have really skinny fingers.

Thanks for clarifying that.

Regarding the speed of the OS/device, I think it's meant for the apps to stay open, so there will only be a lag the first time you open an app (just like on the 9300).

In all, do you recommend the m600 (now that you updated the FW)?

Posted by: plessdude

I am not sure i would recommend it or not. It really depends on what you are looking to do with your phone. For me, I need rock solid exchange support and a good keyboard. Not having EDGE is a bummer when you are used to the speed like you were with the 9300. Have you taken a look at the e61? There is no doubt that the m600 is better with the firmware upgrade.

Posted by: shaolinmonk

i using one now... i like it... needs a bit more on the finetuning polishing side.... a few more "softkeys" would be nice... i think the screen is solid in direct sunlight no isses viewing at all....

i hated the keyboard at first but it's gotten really easy to use fast...

Posted by: mark mackarus

plessdude, thanks for the review! I'm not sure between the Nokia E61 and The SE m600i yet. How much did you get it for and where?
Lowest on fonegrabber now is $470 shipped.

Posted by: plessdude

I got mine from x1347 on ebay. Paid $569.

Posted by: skagen

I would think the key in picking between this (M600i) and E61 is really sofrware for thing things you do the most.

Once you get beyond PIM you find that may people have highly specised task that drive their smartphone usage. Could be they need Maps, distionaries, watch video, walkman etc. And so you need to look at software too because they are not always available on all platfroms.

And that doesn't seem to be know yet for both of these. There is not much info at least on UIQ 3.0 aside about software. For example I spoke with makers of Tube (train and street map softwar) and they said they had no clue if they would update their UIQ 2 software to UIQ 3.

So Symbian must be screwing the software makers on pricing or somehting. I have never seen such a lax response - to what seems to be to be a very good set of hardware that will create breakthrough sales for the smartphone cateory.

Posted by: plessdude

I agree that software support is going to be key here. My guess is that there are going to be more s60 version 3 titles out before UIQ software since there are already 4 phones that I know of running s60 v3 and only one released phone running uiq 3.0.

Posted by: manchuia

is it possible to get some real world comparison pictures, preferrably vs the e61?

I am impressed with the speed of Sony to address the issues. I was curious though if everyone was happy with the basic software that came with the phone for PIM functions, knowing that UIQ additional software might be slow in arriving.

Posted by: plessdude

http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=928151

Posted by: manchuia

thanks for the link!

Posted by: skagen

Quote:

Originally Posted by plessdude

I agree that software support is going to be key here. My guess is that there are going to be more s60 version 3 titles out before UIQ software since there are already 4 phones that I know of running s60 v3 and only one released phone running uiq 3.0.

That is looking correct. However one factor against S60 series 3 is lack of touchscreen - still. I dont get why. In many apps its just too useful to not have it.

Posted by: GT-[R]

i dont care if it has a camera or not
if only the m600 had wifi... well, if i ever had to ditch my n80, i would consider this phone, e61 and the a1200 as my next smartphones they all have their + and -