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MOBILE PHONE
| SONY ERICSSON K600I |
| P28,000 | |
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An in-betweener in more ways than one
You'd think that the K600i sits somewhere between the K700i and K508i. Feature-wise, however, the K600i is of a completely different lineage. In fact, it has more in common with the Z800i than any other K-series phone.
Just like its clamshell sibling, the K600i is a dual-mode, GSM/3G handset – which makes it a future-proof purchase. It also has the same 1.3-megapixel camera, which is activated by a rotating cover – a nice touch, as it also protects the lens from scratches and pocket lint. The megapixel cam's performance is about average, however. At maximum resolution, images exhibited some blurring, particularly near the edges. Once scaled down, the images gain some clarity. Instead of the Z8's Motion Eye, the K6 has a front-mounted VGA camera for 3G video call duties, or if you prefer, vanity shots.
Captured images are immaculately displayed on the phone's 262k-color screen. The Icon Desktop 12 interface gives the familiar yet distinct Sony Ericsson look. Downloadable themes help enhance the user experience. (Our current favorite is a Mac OS X Tiger theme.)
The phone also comes with pre-installed goodies, with the hyper-real Vijay Singh Pro Golf 2005 as a headliner. Gameplay was surprisingly good, with excellent 3D graphics and accurate physics. For more productive, jet-setting types, the World Timer app will prove to be a boon. An added feature is out-of-the-box support for HP printing via Bluetooth. Other enhancements can be installed via mini-USB or Bluetooth, or easily downloaded via GPRS or 3G. But the fact remains, we ain't got no 3G in the RP (yet).
Multimedia files are handled quite well, as the phone comes with a multi-format player and stereo headphones. Sound output from the external speaker is quite audible as well.
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Tri-band GSM/UMTS (3G). 1.3-megapixel camera with video capture, 4x digital zoom and photo light. Front-mounted VGA camera for video-calling. 176 x 220 pixel, 262k-color LCD. MP3 and MIDI playback. Bluetooth, Infrared, USB connectivity. 33MB memory.
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If we had 3G, this phone would have rated better!
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Taken as a mobile phone, there really is a lot to like about the K600i, although we must admit, it has its share of compromises. Let's start with aesthetics. The K600i looks handsomely carved out of a piece of aluminum billet. It certainly is put together unlike any other handset. While constructed out of plastic, it is solid. Dual locks secure the back plate, and the phone itself is pleasant to hold. The flush keypad, however, plays havoc on texting skills. A few days of use, however, and your messaging should be back up to speed.
The biggest quibble we have is the K600i's positioning in Sony Ericsson's product line. At P28,000, the K600i lies in between its premiere GSM-only relatives. The K750i (which has a 2-megapixel camera with autofocus), and the W800i (which is basically a K750i with software tweaks and a 512MB MS Duo thrown in). Yet the K600i lacks the MS Duo support of its Z800i stablemate. That's the biggest corner they cut for this “basic” dual-mode handset.
So is this a phone with a case of bi-polar disorder? While certainly a solid handset, Sony Ericsson seems to have craftily positioned the K600i in the market. Early adopter? Conservative business traveler? Gadget freak? Depending on your needs (and wants), the K600i is either an affordable dual-mode handset, or a slightly premium, albeit stylish camera phone. - Anton Lopez
 Post your opinion or own review!
T3 Magazine Philippines - October 2005 Issue
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