How to start a small nuclear war from your phone (Sony Ericsson K750i)

Member Name: adamkilleya

Product:	Sony Ericsson K750i
Date:	04/08/06 (695 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Small, attractive, easy to use and they go

Disadvantages: Text predictor not so good. No snake!

Well OK, not quite. Yet. I ask you though, how long can it be before we hear that the PM can now launch our nuclear arsenal in under 30 seconds using his mobile phone, just in case Al-Queda attack when he's in the loo? After all phone's seem tpo be able to do pretty much everything else that you can think of under the sun. Indeed I'm now, at 25, in the embarrassing position of having to ask people younger than me how to work the more obscure bits of the damn thing (didn't have bluetooth when I were a lad etc.). But enough of this nonsense: the phone

I will concentrate on what I like and don't like, rather than minute analysis of features, since that's been done very well elsewhere. I will also focus more on the uses as a phone, since I'm still not fully au fait with all the technology

Basics
Compact (four inches by two roughly), light (around 100g) and packed with all the usual refinements including

2 megapixel camera and video with zoom and light
MP3 player
Bluetooth
Radio (earphones included with set)
Text and picture messaging
Internet access
Games: Super Real Tennis, PuzzleSlider, Aero Mission 3
The usual organiser / alarms / light / stopwatch etc. etc.
USB port

To work these various functions you are also provided with
a USB cable, memory stick, headphones, charger etc. I was also given a set of speakers, though these aren't standard

My handset was free through 02 if you signed up for at least 6 months, but obviously I can't speak for others. Full handset price for replacement purposes is about £250

What I like

1. The phone book feature is very comprehensive, with the potential for adding a whole host of numbers for each person (work, home, mobile, other etc.) as well as email address etc., avoiding the annoying necessity of multiple entries for the same person.

2. The camera is easy to operate and provides decent quality for a phone camera. The USB with lead also makes retrieval easy.

3. Menus are reasonably self-explanatory and easy to navigate (using a joystick)

4. Hundreds of hours of standby time, plus about 9 of talk time make recharges relatively rare, and they are also quick.

5. The size and weight - no dangers of anyone thinking that you're just pleased to see them.

6. The more complex features seem to be reasonably easy to navigate provided you have a short tutorial from an 11-year-old

What I don't like - all minor niggles

1. My most persistent complaint is that the 'K9' text predictor is annoying to use for such an advanced phone and takes far longer than the preductor on my previous, much more low-tech, phone. In particular if you want to turn the damn thing off you have to go via the menu, rathwer than just hitting a button to toggle.

2. Very minor point, but the few-second delay after switching on before you can actually navigate the menu is annoying, particularly when in a hurry. No doubt this is due to the number of bits that need to get working, but if you're used to a simple and quick phone is can give you the urge to throw it accross the room.

3. The video camera works fine, and is good for catching short segments on the hoof, but the quality isn't great and the picture is not quite smoothly flowing

4. The choice and play of games is pretty poor, and I cannot forgive the lack of Snake

5. As someone whose whose pockets are a black hole into which things disappear and do not re-emerge, I don't tend to carry round all the associated bits with me and therefore the radio function isn't much use for casual listening, since it requires the headphones.

It's also worth mentioning that some could find the joystick fiddly, but it works well for me. Finally I must in honestly re-emphasise that if you're really after the associated technology, the bluetooth, internet, MP3, etc., then you need to read a review by someone with a better idea of the intricacies.

Summary: Good all round phone which looks good but isn't too tricky to use

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