Received as a present - questionable whether or not I'd pick it for myself again (Samsung / Bang&Olufsen Serenata SGH-F310)

Member Name: grey0220

Product:	Samsung / Bang&Olufsen Serenata SGH-F310
Date:	19/10/09 (13 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Unparalleled sound quality - it's function as a speaker (including pop-up stand) is phenomenal

Disadvantages: Pretty much everything else!

I'm currently on Orange PAYG, and prior this had only bought Sony Ericsson phones - I had the W610i right before this phone. I was looking for a more up-market phone though and received this as a Christmas present, along with the printed Louis Vuitton leather cover. If it had been my choice, I do not know if I would have bought this phone - it is initially very user unfriendly, especially due to the lack of a keyboard and the initial confusion as to which way is up (most people seeing it for the first time assume that the dial is the end which you speak into!). What is more, I was disappointed at the inability to customise your ringtone or even your wallpaper - the home screen is a very dull (though very B&O, I suppose) black and blue split screen. However, for all these misgivings, the phone's sound quality is, admittedly, unparalleled - the speaker is very handy, whether allowing for an impromptu music session in my office, or letting me carry on phone calls via speaker phone when I'm preparing dinner. Many have commented on the quality of the sound, and when used as a personal MP3 player (using the included B&O headphones), the sound quality is unparalleled. But even this has its drawbacks - the phone's memory capabilities are limited, even when compared to an iPod nano. Also, you can only use Windows Media Player or the B&O software to transfer music - your music must be perfectly labelled, or your artists/song names will all be 'Unknown'. This is incredibly frustrating, especially if you're used to the ease of using iTunes! As a phone, it also has a habit of freezing after I finish calls, necessitating a re-boot of the whole thing. I would only buy this phone if you are a true music lover or a big fan of B&O - any more casual admirers would grow frustrated quickly at the user-hostile design!

Summary: An MP3 player with phone capabilities, NOT the other way around

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