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Posted 31 May 2006 - 07:54 PM
Sony Ericsson W900i Specs:
- Dimensions: 4.2 in. (width)* × 1.9 in. (length) × 0.9 in. (depth)
- Weight: 5.2 oz.
- Screen Type/Size: TFT, 256K colors / 240 x 320 pixels, 1.2 x 1.7 in.
- GSM Coverage: Tri-band (900, 1800 and 1900 MHz bands) [should work in most parts of NA, EU and Asia]
- features GPRS, Bluetooth 2.0 and USB 2.0
Remember that this is an unlocked GSM phone! As such, it requires a GSM provider to use (such as Cingular.) For those of you in the USA, Verizon is not GSM based!
The Sony Ericsson W900i was released a few months ago, and is currently the premier mobile phone of the Wxxx series. As it has not yet been released in North America, I imported an unlocked model from the EU. As the mobile phone is tri-band, it will work with all GSM networks throughout most of the world, such as Cingular or T-Mobile in the USA. The gadget cost me $680, but I feel it was worth the price for all that is packed into this powerful device.
Packaging
The W900i comes in a large plastic box, nicely displaying the phone and the included remote. The box itself plays on the orange Walkman theme, and while nothing special, it's certainly nice to look at. The packaging includes, specifically, the W900i, the remote, instruction manuals, Disc2Phone software, and the usual yada-yada warranty and legal info.
First Impressions
When the mobile phone arrived via UPS, I took one look at it and wondered if I made a mistake. The phone seems to be very large, and appears like it might be heavy. But, as I've learned time and time again, you can't judge a book by its cover. It only looks big and heavy. Once you hold it, it's actually quite comfortable, and not all that heavy. The physical dimensions of the gadget are 4.2 in. (width)* × 1.9 in. (length) × 0.9 in. (depth), and it weighs 5.2 oz. *when closed (6.4 in. when opened) See? That's not so bad.
One thing that strikes me as ironic is how much this phone stands out against other phones such as the Motorola RAZR, SLVR, etc. While the current trend seems to be making phones that are small and thin, the W900i is unique in that it isn't at all small and thin, but still has a great ergonomic design.One thing that I was rather skeptical from initially holding the phone was the way you have to access the keypad. Unlike nearly every other Wxxx series phone, which is "candy bar" style, the W900i uses a "jack knife" form factor, or a design where you must swivel the keypad into position. Think of it like an inverted slider. I was skeptical not because of the design, but of the design integration. In the past, I've seen slider phones literally wear out. But fortunately, my first impression of the swivel action was favorable. Sony Ericsson did a great job of making the connection nice and tight. It's very easy to swing out the keypad whenever you need it. In fact, the W900i is semi-automatic in this regard, and you can actually swing out the keypad really quick, like a sheath knife. However, it's hard to do that when closing the keypad. You usually have to use two hands. Don't ask why. Now that I've played with this type of form factor for a while, I must say it's a pretty cool idea. It protects the keypad, unlike a candy bar style, but does so at the compromise of adding thickness to the unit.
Mobile Phone Migration
The W900i is only my second mobile phone. My first phone, a $20 Nokia 3120, was a locked phone given to me when my family signed up with Cingular. As Cingular is GSM-based, I simply had to take out the SIM card from my Nokia and plug it into the Sony Ericsson. From there, everything booted up correctly, and I was also treated to a host of new features that exist on high-end phones like the W900i.
Sony Ericsson OS
The W900i marks my first experience with a Sony Ericsson phone. Luckily, it wasn't too difficult to get the hang of it. Like my old Nokia, much of the OS is a GUI, driven by large, colorful icons that make it very clear what each button press will do. I found the hardest part of adopting to Sony Ericsson wasn't the OS, but the buttons on the phone themselves. Since every manufacturer uses their own lingo and commands, it took me a while to figure out how to actually call someone. But once I did, using the phone that second time was a breeze. To date, I still haven't played around with every little setting, but I have figured out the basics, like operating the digital camera, using the Walkman, etc.
Build Quality
Phone Materials
The phone itself feels very solid. Nothing creaks or moans whatsoever. As I noted earlier, the swinging hinge is very sturdy, and you needn't worry about it breaking off. However, like in Dazzla's review of the Sony Ericsson K750i, the Memory Stick Duo Pro slot is still a bit of an issue. When you initially open it, it will hardly move. You have to tug at it pretty hard before it will breakaway, giving you access to the port. Don't worry if it sounds like it's breaking the first time you open the flap; it's normal for it to bend. Other than that, the construction is great. The phone is made out of plastic, but it feels like a high quality plastic, almost metallic. This is a phone that can definately take a beating. Of course, as I've already stated, such quality produces a thick unit, though at 0.9 in. in thickness, it's only 0.2 inches thicker than the W810. So, you really won't be able to feel much of a difference. It will still fit in your pocket.
Calling Volume
But what about the sound quality? After all, a mobile phone may have lots of things built into it, but it's still a phone at heart, so good sound quality means everything. Fortunately, I have no real complaints here. I could hear the person on the other end of the line very well, and the phone has a large enough speaker so that I can hear my phone ring even in a loud area, like a shopping mall. You can also plug in a pair of earbuds (included with the phone) for better sound isolation, or hands-free operation. And like most phones, there is also a loudspeaker option.
Phone Apps
Digital Camera
The W900i has a built-in 2.0 megapixel digital camera. I've never had a camera phone before this one, so it'd be biased to say this is the best camera phone I've ever owned. However, I have played with a Motorola RAZR in the past, and the built-in VGA camera on that model doesn't touch the quality that you can get with this megapixel camera. Like the other Walkman phones, the camera features auto-focus technology, which is a welcome addition. One downside is that the camera lens isn't protected anymore by a lens cover, which was present on the K750i. However, the camera lens is now recessed into the back of the phone, so it still protected to a slight degree.
Digital Video Recorder
The W900i can also record video feeds. While the digital camera is very good, the same cannot be said for the video feeds. They are of fairly low quality, as the resolution is not as sharp as the still photos. (I believe video feeds are limited to 600×800 VGA.) While the quality can be labeled as "decent," the W900i cannot replace a dedicated digital video recorder. Speaking of video feeds, there is actually a second, smaller VGA camera on the front of the phone, which is designed to record yourself in video conversations, which are (obviously) supported by the W900i. Again, the same low quality restrictions apply, so this also can't replace a dedicated video phone. Think of it more as a novelty or a bonus than a true feature.
Walkman
This is the selling point of the entire Wxxx series. The integrated Walkman on this phone is great! You have one-touch access to it, and you can also run the phone solely as a MP3 player, freeing up battery life. New to the W900i are two things, though. First, you can now operate the Walkman without ever touching the phone itself. It can all be controlled from the included remote. Secondly, you can now downloads songs wirelessly, with a new service from Sony Ericsson. Personally, I don't use it, but at least the option is there. I would imagine that future phones in the Wxxx series will include this service, as well.
The W900i comes standard with 470 MB of internal memory. This is quite generous for a phone, and allows you to hold a modest amount of songs. The phone does allow for memory expansion, though, by means of Memory Stick Duo PRO. Sony Ericsson claims the phone can be expanded up to 2 GB, although some speculate that claim was made before 4 GB memory sticks became available. Theoretically, there may be no limit to how much memory can be added externally.
FM Radio
Strangely, the radio on the W900i is a step backward from the radio on the W810i. While there is nothing wrong with the radio being controlled from the remote, it still should have been built into the phone itself, like with the W810i. After all, not everyone may want to use the remote. Another issue is that the radio no longer sports RDS, like it did on the W810i. All the remote displays is basic information, like the radio station. You have no way of knowing what song is playing, etc. It's certainly something I can live without, but it's just annoying that the W900i, which is supposed to take the Wxxx series to new heights, downgrades an important selling point.
Web Browser
The W900i features a small web browser that is similar to the one found on the PlayStation Portable. I don't really find it all that useful, when I can just log onto the PC or use a laptop, but it's there for those who need it. There is a full screen option, as well as "Smart Fit," just like on the PSP.
Regional Annoyances
GSM Network Coverage
Okay, to qualm the horror stories... This phone does in fact work in North America, specifically the USA. If you use T-Mobile, no problems whatsoever, as T-Mobile is completely within the 1900 MHz band. Cingular, on the other hand, is more of a problem, and it's my service provider. Throughout most of the USA, Cingular in fact does use 1900 MHz. (Especially in large metropolitan areas, like NYC, LA and Chicago.) However, in more rural areas, like Wyoming, the 850 MHz is being used more predominately. However, Cingular offers free roaming on the T-Mobile network, so if you are in an area that uses 850 MHz, you should still be able to roam onto a 1900 MHz network. Naturally, if you don't like the idea of not always having good reception, then I recommend you go for the W810i, which is quad-band, and also features EDGE, so you get faster speeds when browsing the web. (Although that has more to do with uploading and downloading data from the web, not actually just viewing it.) EDGE is based off of 2.5G anyway, so 3G, which is supported by this phone, will ultimately replace it worldwide. I have included a network map that shows Cingular's current network. As you can see, most of it is 1900 MHz, with only the rural areas and Canada being covered under 850 MHz. (And again, in those areas, you should get free roaming on nearby 1900 MHz networks.) The areas not yet being covered will likely become 1900 MHz networks.
Charging the phone (within North America)
Out of the box, the only way you can charge the W900i in North America is through USB (2.0 or 1.1.) While a power adapter is included, it won't fit in American outlets, and it also operates on 220 volts, not the 110 volts in America. My advice is to purchase a third-party converter that is designed to convert European appliances into American-style power plugs, and vice versa. While charging via USB is almost as fast, it can get annoying.
Instruction Manuals
This phone is sold in the EU, so the instruction manuals may not be relevant to you. I found only one (warranty information) that was in English. The rest are in German, Slavic, Finnish, Icelandic and a host of other languages. I'm sure they all say the same thing, but I obviously have no idea what issues they cover. Based on the pictures in the manuals, it's probably just how to operate the phone. Fortunately, playing with the OS for 10 minutes showed me just about how everything worked.
Misc. Info
There seems to be a bit of misinformation about this phone. Yes, the phone is larger and heavier than most other phones, but it's still plently portable within a pocket, and you'll barely know it's there. Text-based reviews can't do it justice. Once you actually hold the phone, you'll understand that the size and weight really aren't that big of a deal. And one great feature of the W900i is that you only really need the keypad for entering in phone numbers and text messages. Beyond that, the entire phone, from answering phone calls to using the Walkman, can be done when the phone is in its closed position. In the closed position, the button layout looks somewhat like the iPod click wheel. You have a center button, and then four buttons that run in a circular fashion along the outside. There are four other buttons off the edges of the phone, which act as confirmation/deletion buttons, and call answering and call ending. At the very bottom are three more buttons, each with a dedicated purpose, one being for the web browser. Like all Sony Ericsson phones, you are able to reprogram some of the button as "shortcut keys." Being able to operate the phone in its closed postion was a great design idea, as it'd be extremely annoying having to constantly open the phone and close it. However, one design oversight is that calls can't be started and ended by opening and closing the phone. That would have been a great time saving idea, but alas, it doesn't work that way.
Conclusion
The Sony Ericsson W900i is arguably one of the best phones on the market right now. While it isn't quad-band and lacks EDGE, it still manages to pack in a little something for everyone. You have a great phone, a good digital camera, a great MP3 player, an optional FM radio, a web browser, a video camera, address book... the list goes on and on. For all the things that it does, this is why I felt it was worth the $680. Hopefully this phone will become mainstream throughout North America, which would warrant a major price drop. While I do recommend this phone to anyone, some people may hate jack knife phones with a passion. In that case, I would recommend the W810 over the W900. Otherwise, this is one great phone!
Pros:
- 2.0 megapixel digital camera (with auto-focus)
- Fully featured Walkman
- 470 MB of internal memory
- Can be expanded to 2 GB of external memory
- Tri-band; (W810i is a cheaper model and is quad-band); (tri-band also means this phone won't work in Latin America, which is almost exclusively 850 MHz)
- No EDGE; (within the USA, EDGE allows you to browse the web at high speeds)
- Thick and heavy (for some people)
This post has been edited by Quillz: 31 May 2006 - 07:56 PM
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