Nobody does it better. . . than Sony.
Written: Mar 07 '03 (Updated Feb 06 '05)
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Pros: Memorystick Duo slot, digital camera, big screen, PC synch, MP3 player, jog dial button, Bluetooth.
Cons: Cheesy stylus, maximum 128MB memory capacity.
The Bottom Line: This is a feature rich camera phone enhanced with PDA functionality and Sony quality. Sony Ericsson has another winning design by integrating diverse mobile functions into a user-friendly device.
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| aashok's Full Review: Sony Ericsson P800 GSM / EGSM Cellular Phone |
The reason I bought this phone.
I had been anxiously waiting for some time, for this unit to be available in my area. When I saw my friend using it, I immediately asked him to buy me one. I paid $649.00 for it. The reason I have been patiently waiting for this phone is because it has numerous useful functions integrated into a small package. I mainly needed a Bluetooth enabled, triband unlocked GSM, PDA, camera phone with expandable memory. After using the Sony Ericsson T68i and the HBH-30 wireless headset, I was hooked on Bluetooth technology. Similarly after using the Samsung SGH-v205, I was impressed with a built-in digital camera. The P800 seemed to have all of these features in addition to a fully functional PDA
The Layout
My first impression out of the box was, that the phone looked and felt quite sturdy. It had the same soft, brushed finish as the T68i. Sony calls it ‘Electric Blue’. On the left from top to bottom were a stereo headphone jack, Sony’s patented jog dial button (my favorite), IR or infrared port and on/off button. On the right side is a button for camera activation / shutter release, and a button for launching the web browser. Below that is the stylus. Upon removing the stylus, beneath is a slot for the Memorystick duo expansion card. In the front is the main screen, which is half covered by the removable flip keypad. On the top is a flashing blue light indicating Bluetooth status, and at the bottom are connectors for the charger and other accessories. On the rear is the digital camera lens, connector for an external antenna and the battery compartment.
Included in the Box.
- P800 with Stylus
- Battery
- Travel Charger
- Synch Station
- Stereo Headset
- Small carry bag with strap
- Flip cover replacement
- 16MB Memorystick Duo (this is about 1/3 the size of a regular Memorystick card.)
- Memorystick Duo adapter
- User manuals
- 2 applications CDs
My Favorite Functions.
Large LCD Display.
This can be used with the flip open or closed. The onscreen functions change depending on the position of the flip. In the closed position, the screen displays shortcuts to: messages, contacts, call list, calendar, and all applications available. In the flip open mode, the screen is divided into mainly 5 areas. Starting at the top are an application picker bar and a menu bar. The large central portion is the application area. Below that are the button bar and the status bar.
Bluetooth Connectivity.
This is slowly becoming a must have feature for me. On the P800, it allows me to use my HBH-30 wireless headset, transfer data and image files to and from my IPaq h5455 and receive image files from my Sony DCR-PC120BT Camcorder. I recently purchased a USB Bluetooth adapter for my desktop server. That allowed be to synch data and files, wirelessly with the desktop PC to the P800. Once Bluetooth devices are registered with each other, they automatically connect when in proximity to each other.
MP3 Audio & MPEG4 Video playback.
The P800 is capable of playing the following audio and video format files:
MP4 (video), MP3, WAV, AU, AMR, G-MIDI level 1 with 16 voices polyphony RMF. I however, only use it to playback my favorite MP3 songs. It can also display the following image file formats: JPEG, BMP, GIF including animations, MBM, PNG and WBMP. Sound clips can also be used as personal ring tones.
PC synchronization.
This allows for instant synchronization of all user, data and document files with a PC, using the included cradle, infrared port or Bluetooth. I usually synchronize my contacts, appointments, to-do lists, calendar reminders, and work files from my office PC to the P800 to my home PC. I use Outlook 2002 as my PIM.
Jog Dial Button.
This is a unique feature that is patented by Sony. It is a small dial type 5 position button set in the left side of the phone. It can be scrolled up or down, moved forward or backward, and pushed inward. This allows for accessing virtually most of the functions and menus on the P800, with one finger. It also allows for easier text input.
Memory Stick Duo Slot.
This slot allows you to add additional memory up to a maximum of 128MB. Since it is readily removable, it can be used to move data and files between the P800 and a PC. The Memory Stick Duo card is about 1/3 the size of a regular memory stick card. This format of memory is a lot more expensive than standard CF, Smartmedia or SD cards.
CommuniCam or digital camera.
This is undoubtedly the best camera among the available camera phones. Even at the middle resolution, the pictures seemed brighter and clearer than the ones taken with the Samsung SGH-v205. It takes pictures in 3 resolutions. 640x480, 320x240 and 160x 120. You can also control the contrast, brightness, backlight, white balance and flicker reduction settings. The pictures can be stored in the internal or external memory slot. They can be viewed as thumbnails or full screen. They can also be moved between folders using copy/cut and paste. There is a built in image editor utility that allows you to crop, rotate and adjust an image file.
Other useful functions.
- Voice activated dialing/answer mode.
- Flight mode, turns off radio functions during a flight.
- Text, MMS and Picture messaging.
- Speakerphone mode, increases speaker volume while allowing access to other PDA functions.
- WAP and WWW internet browsing.
- Symbian v7.0 operating system. My personal preference however is MS Pocket PC 2002.
- Document viewer displays MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Adobe Acrobat PDF files.
- Voice memo, to take down quick audio reminders.
- Removable Flip. This is a relatively simple do-it yourself job. But be careful to avoid scratching the screen.
- Calculator, calendar, world time and alarm functions are also available.
- Some very cool games. I absolutely love the built in Chess game.
Ergonomics and my typical usage.
The P800 has essentially become my office away from the office. My job on Wall St requires heavy client contact and hence my mobile phones get quite a rigorous workout daily. This creates a perfect environment to evaluate mobile phones and PDAs. The convergence of mobile phone and PDA technologies is very timely and needed. People like me, who have been forced to carry a mobile phone and a PDA and their required accessories, very much appreciate the multifunctional devices being currently introduced.
I typically use my HBH-30 Bluetooth headset when using the phone functions. (A wired headset would do the trick as well) This allows me to access other PDA functions while I’m talking. I can take notes, set appointments, modify my contacts, take a picture and immediately e-mail it, etc. I have never been able to do that before. I do have to put it directly to my ear while my headset is charging. Initially, the added width and weight did seem a little awkward but not enough to cause discomfort or fatigue. Now I actually prefer the larger size. The bigger problem was that my ear and cheek were putting smudges on the touch screen. A screen protector fixed that problem. The best way to experience the approximate size and feel, is take an IPaq or similar sized PDA and put it to your ear.
About the removable flip, I prefer to use the P800 with the flip removed. When the keypad is flipped open or removed, you can pull up an onscreen virtual keyboard. This does the job just as well as the flip. I feel Sony Ericsson added the flip to make the device more user-friendly and cosmetically familiar to typical mobile phone users. The new product design process, starts from different points of views for different manufacturers. For example, Research in Motion started out by designing a great PDA and then adding mobile phone capabilities in the Blackberry 6710. Sony Ericsson (P800), Nokia (7650), Nokia (3650) and Motorola (A760) on the other hand, started out designing a great phone with PDA functions added on. Then there are the Samsung (SPH-i700) and the Siemens (SX45) products, which seem to have the best of both worlds. These seem to be in a category of their own. Call them the ultimate ‘Multifunctional Mobile Device’. (MMD) Hey, why not? I can’t wait till they are available here. Oh wait! My inner gadget geek just had an orgasm.
A Public Service Warning! Beware of camera phones. They may drop your IQ significantly.
One day a co-worker noticed some make-up on my phone. The explanation that ‘it was my wife using my phone’ came a day late and a dollar short. Now, I felt it only fair that my wife share my joys and my sorrows. (Just like the wedding vows said) So I took her SGH-v205 phone, took a picture of my posterior and set it as the wallpaper. She didn’t mind it, but now I am the butt of jokes not only at my office but also hers.
In a Tokyo executive conference room,
Chairman Nobuyuki Idei says: 软件下载| 福建163软件园－国内大型的软件下载站¤
Translation: Ha Ha Ha, those whacky Americans. Why didn't I think of that?
Technical Specifications.
GSM, GPRS 900/1800/1900
Dimensions: 117x59x27 mm
Weight: 158 grams with flip and battery installed.
Total Screen Size: 208x320 pixels with 4096 colors.
Talk time: up to 13 hours. The phone easily gave me 8 hours of aggressive talk time, with more battery charge remaining. I guess a bigger product means a bigger battery.
Standby time: up to 400 hours. I never get to test this because of active usage.
The Bottom Line.
Sony Ericsson has again created a winning design by integrating diverse mobile functions into a user-friendly device. I would have preferred the MS Pocket PC platform but Symbian has included a very responsive and fast OS. Combine the pervasiveness of GSM networks and the internet, the convenience of wired and wireless connectivity, a full functioned PDA, a triband GSM phone and a cool digital camera, and you get the Sony Ericsson P800. What more could you want in a mobile device?
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Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 649.00
Recommended for: Stylish Trendsetters - Hip and Trendy
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