Sony Ericsson P800
Until a few months ago, having a cellphone, camera, PDA, web browser and mail client in one neat unit capable of fitting in your pocket was something to be dreamt about. Well not anymore as the new P800 by Sony/Ericsson is all that and more, writes SEAN BACHER.
Nowadays, cellphones are performing functions far beyond the call of duty - that is, beyond the mere task of making and receiving calls. In fact, nowadays no one will even consider a phone that can only make and receive calls. We’ve come to expect all sorts of non-phone functions from our cellphones.
Current models can perform just about any task, whether it be sending and receiving SMSs, browsing the Internet, downloading e-mail and new applications, acting as modems for notebooks and now, also taking digital photographs in a format ready to be sent to another phone or directly to a computer. One such model is the Sony/Ericsson P800.
When you first unpack the P800, you will be bombarded with chargers, memory cards, memory card adaptors, docking stations and piles and piles of manuals. However fear not, as the phone is dead easy to use and requires little brain-power to operate. The most difficult part will be working out which component is the actual phone.
Once you have located the phone, you will find that the keypad flaps down to reveal a rather large LCD display. A little more fiddling and you will find a mini-stylus, yes, the P800 is operated via a touch screen, much like your average PDA. For a lot of people, this touch screen is a blessing in disguise, SMSs will be quicker to compose and e-mails that much easier to write. Besides the bonus of having a QWERTY on-screen keyboard, the touch screen also makes browsing the menus, sorting through your contacts and previewing your day’s appointments and absolute breeze. However the benefits of this touch screen don’t stop there, as now you can jot down free-hand notes in a meeting, draw in directions and even write down names and telephone numbers whilst talking on the phone.
Apart from the touch-screen, the Sony/Ericsson has a couple other tricks up its sleeve guaranteed to dazzle even the most technologically advanced user. You can now compose, send and receive mail directly from the phone, browse the Internet using WAP, take hi-quality images with the built in camera and download new Java applications or games. All of this can be done using a variety of communication protocols imbedded in the phone. These include GPRS, GSM900/1800, infra-red and even Bluetooth.
We put the P800 through the Gadget Five question user test and this is what we thought:
Is it ready to use?
Before you can start using the phone, you are going to have to plug it in and let the battery start charging. Once plugged in and switched on, you need to initialise the phone, that entails setting things like the date, the time, the time-zone, the country, the currency and many other parameters which might seem quite irrelevant at this point in time but which become quite useful at a later stage.
You are now ready to make and receive calls, send SMSs and play games. However, if you’re a power user and want to connect to the Internet, check your e-mail and send MMS messages, you need to punch in various other settings, all of which are available from your service provider. You also need to install some software on your computer and plug in the data cable if you fancy synchronising your contacts and appointments.
Is it easy to use?
The menu is quite easy to navigate and if you have bad eye-sight, you will be happy to know that you can increase the font size a couple of points. The P800 gives you the option of saving up to twenty quick-call contacts, but unlike other phones, you can actually view the names assigned to the various buttons.
Does it deliver on its promise?
It reminds you of upcoming appointments, sends and receives mail, stores all your contact info, lets you jot down quick notes and enables you to keep in touch with your secretary at the office. So in my eyes yes it definitely does deliver on its promise.
Is it value for money?
Well lets work it out; your average phone with a colour screen and camera would set you back anywhere from R3 500 to R5 000, your average PDA would set you back an extra R2 000. That’s about seven thousand for two devices. Now for R8 600 you can get both those devices in one unit. Yes it might be a little more expensive, but if you have the money or are thinking of upgrading your contract I really do suggest you seriously consider getting the P800.
Author
- Sean BacherThe Sony/Ericsson is currently available from all major cellular retail outlets. However if you want to find a stockist closest to you, contact Sony/Ericsson on (011) 844-2000.
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