UIQ 3 now has a full-function, Windows-like task manager which allows you to close down applications you're not using, or switch tasks. The problem is accessing it, as for some reason Sony Ericsson decided to use the smallest icon possible, stuck up in the top right-hand corner of the screen. This makes it impossible to access it without using the stylus. Equally annoying is the menu on the opposite side of the screen, which gives you quick access to various phone features from within most menus. The tiny icons make it awkward to use both of these handy additions and it makes it more difficult to use the M600i than should have been the case.
Using the keylock is also quite frustrating. When you want to unlock the phone, you press the star key and then the screen, but the back-light doesn't come on bright enough to clearly see where to press on the screen.
Cost-wise the M600i is reasonably affordable considering the type of device it is. As long as you're happy with the white model you can pick one up without a contract from £310. Oddly enough, the black version is £325, although if you're willing to spend £35 a month with Vodafone you can have the black version for free.
Verdict
The Sony Ericsson M600i is the first UIQ 3 device from Sony Ericsson and it does have a few rough edges, both in terms of features and the user interface. It's not a replacement for the P910i by any means, although it is the better email device out of the two. If you're after an alternative to a BlackBerry, then the M600i might be for you. ®
Sony Ericsson M600i smart phone
COMMENTS
Psychic phone
Previous poster said: "You *can only search on last name OR first name* depending on how you flip that switch on the phonebook. Keyboard, pen, whatever...you can still not search the *whole* name.
The predicament is that sometimes I need to search for first name and sometimes for last name - to do this I have to re-sort the phonebook. Not going to happen."
Yeah, when I buy a phone, one of the criterias is that when I think of the person's name, the phone should call it too. :D Your comment made no sense whatsoever in searching for name criteria. Maybe you should stick w/ a regular phone line and not use cell phones at all and not post such stupid comments for everyone to see.
Keylock
Re the keylock issue highlighted in the review, you can actually take keylock off by just pressing and holding the "back" button on the side of the phone - avoids the carry on with pressing the unlock button on the key pad and then tapping the unlock button on the screen.
Re: M600 better than you think
"Searching Contacts, for example, can be done using the keyboard so need to scroll the long list of 1000 contacts."
Yes, but that's not the point...
You *can only search on last name OR first name* depending on how you flip that switch on the phonebook. Keyboard, pen, whatever...you can still not search the *whole* name.
The predicament is that sometimes I need to search for first name and sometimes for last name - to do this I have to re-sort the phonebook. Not going to happen.
Disabling USB charging may be a good idea
I can think of a good reason why you might want to disable USB charging. You may be connecting to a device, such as a palmtop, which doesn't have oodles of spare power to throw at the phone. So I think it's a good idea, though whether it should be disabled by default is another matter.
Lack of Camera
Claiming that a lack of camera function is not a quirk its a godsend. More and more companies and firms are denying entry to people who use cell phones with cameras. I use a Nokia 9500 at the moment and find it s camera to be a nuisance:
Ian
