Review of the Sony Ericsson W859i Mobile Phone
If you consider what your washing machine can do compared to the stainless steel washboard of the past, you can understand why the Sony Ericsson W850i is no longer a simple mobile phone – it’s simply advanced technology. Design |
| Bursting with testosterone, the W850i is a man’s mobile - end of story. There is a ‘golden white’ model available (as shown in the picture above), which we are hoping is a bit more feminine, but this one wouldn’t be seen dead in a handbag. The slider design works nicely and sits comfortably in the hand, although apart from chatting; most applications require two hands. It weighs 116 grams and measures a chunky 98 x 47 x 21 mm, which we can accept as it is a slide phone. The back of the phone is nicely textured – similar to how a golf ball is, (but we wouldn’t recommend hitting it down the driving range) so it’s easier to hold. The entire camera’s design has a matt texture, without a girly shine or sparkle in sight. We like the concept of taking photos by turning the W850i onto its side, so that the button sits at the top as if you were using a normal camera. Very smart! The robust, colourful screen is down to the 262-colour TFT screen plastered over the front of the W850i. On the back of the camera is a walkman logo, an on the inside you’ll find a tiny camera for 3G video calling. |
| Features |
It’s not just the aesthetic features of this phone that have businessman written all over them – the spec list is geared up for the man on the move too. The fact that it’s a portable music player that can hold up to 1000 songs, and allows you to listen to FM radio, means it’s the perfect gadget for a commuter. Other cool integrated gadgets are a 2-megapixel camera with heaps of editing options and excellent business-type applications, like file manager and flight mode. We really enjoyed using the conference call options with 3G video calling – who needs to go anywhere when they have this option? You can do all your business before you even brush your teeth in the morning (although we suggest brushing your hair before video calling). You can check emails and do a spot of online banking in the palm of your hand with the high-speed internet options available on the W850i. It has a great long list of connectivity options including Infrared, BlueTooth, 3G, Fast Port, GPRS, Synchronization PC, UMTS, USB Mass Storage, and USB support. Once you’ve seen to all the serious stuff, you can kick back and play one of the 3D games on offer. The W850i's internal memory is pretty average at just 16MB, but that’s not a problem, as it has a Memory Stick Pro Duo to back it up. Last but not least, we should mention the choice of 40 polyphonic ring tones, and out of all 40, we would say at least 7 or 8 of them are suitable for the office. The W850i supports the following networks GSM 900, 1800, 1900, and UMTS 2100. |
| Performance |
| As long as you can accept that the W850i is a man’s mobile – you’ll absolutely love it. We really liked the design and enjoyed using many of the applications. Downloading music was simple and fast once synchronised with a PC (after installing the disc included). The control pad is comfortable to use, but does require two hands – which can get quite taxing after a while. Once you get used to using two hands, the menus are easy to navigate, and options are clear and easy to understand. We love the 3D games, which are dangerously addictive so beware. Using the camera in the same way as a standard camera, with the shutter release on the top was a novelty. The photos turned out okay, but they wouldn’t win any awards let’s just say. The internet feature was a pleasure to use, and gave us a high-speed performance as promised. |
| Overall Opinion |
| The model featured in the picture above is the golden white model which we have not seen, but we are hoping this one is designed for the ladies. So for now, we really like this businessman’s phone. The W850i has every application you could need on offer, with great connectivity too. The only downfall we would mention is that two hands are needed to handle it. Apart from that it is a smashing little model that is well worth investing in. |
| By Lisa Malyon |
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Pros + 2-megapixel camera + Stores 1000 songs + Business applications + Great connectivity |
Cons - Masculine design - Slide phone requires two-handed use |
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Overall Rating 
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10/11/2006 at 4:08:15pm
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