Customer Reviews

PCS Phone Samsung i600 (Sprint)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The phone's capabilities are extensive, and contrary to the other reviewer's comments does support T9 predictive input.

I would suggest any potential purchaser of the phone obtain the user manual from Samsung's web site (NOT Sprint's) as Sprint has left out many capabilities from the manual that are competitive to them. As an example, you can download and install custom ringers (free) from many websites, but Sprint's manual leaves the section out that describes how to install these, in hopes you will purchase ringer's from their website; as well as a section on voice auto-dialing that the phone supports "built in" but Sprint hopes for customers to use their paid service.

This is an excellent phone for users who use Microsoft Outlook. I have had no problems synching mail, calendar, contacts and tasks and have found the synchronization of Outlook contacts to be particularly helpful (you can set up profiles on multiple computers using ActiveSync).

PROS

- Excellent integration with MS-Office products

- Nice design and bright screen

- Speakerphone (a little tinny, but definitely usable)

- Lots of hardware included: regular and extended life batteries, headset, leather case with belt clip, synchronization cradle with detachable charging cord (if you don't need to synch and just need the charger)

- Multiple text-entry options, including T9

- SD card expansion slot (I have a 1GB card)

- Windows Media Player can play MP3s and WMV files

- IR for beaming contacts

- Completely customizable sounds, wallpaper, themes, etc.

CONS

- Phone is thick, fine for me but definitely bulky with the extended battery on

- Leather case barely fits phone with extended battery (mine is starting to fray and loosen because of it

- Button sensitivity - I have encountered a noticeable button lag at times that can be frustrating

- Caller ID chops off first names with spaces (just a little thing I noticed that is annoying)

I don't use Bluetooth or find camera phones particularly useful, so I do not consider the absence of these functions cons. A couple of other notes: the documentation included with the phone is awful, especially in terms of customizing ringers and wallpaper (obviously excluded intentionally with the intent of having customers buy these things from the Sprint Store installed on the phone). Ringers can be added by placing WAV or MIDI files in the My Computer\Mobile Device\My Smartphone\Storage\Application Data\Sounds directory using Windows Explorer on Windows XP. Custom wallpapers and themes can be developed using Microsoft Smartphone 2002, transferring the generated package onto the phone's SD card, and selecting it using the phone's Smart Explorer, which will install it.

All in all, I am very pleased with this purchase.

I've had this phone for about a year and a half now. I use it every day and really enjoy many of the unique features it has.

Pros:

Great sounding stereo headset

Very solid construction.

Calendar syncs with Outlook and switches the phone to meeting mode when scheduled meetings start.

Reminders sync with Outlook.

Audible Player for downloading and playing audiobooks (my favorite app)

SD card expansion for MP3s and audiobooks.

Windows Mobile 2003 expandability (Pocket Streets is pretty cool too)

Cons:

No bluetooth support means remembering to connect wired headset before driving.

No WiFi support means using Sprints slow internet connection

No camera (which is actually a plus for me since work prohibits cameras, but most people consider that a con)

Overall, a great phone with great features.

I'll keep this short. First, the i600 has a great display. It's also well built, with a really decent set of specs and a good keypad. There's even an extended battery pack that comes with this unit! And it benefits from the excellent Sprint 1xRTT data network.

But the i600 suffers from the restrictions brought about by using the operating system that is built into it (Windows Mobile Smartphone). The user interface is horrible and requires way too many key presses to do anything. The i600 doesn't support T9 predictive text, there isn't a built-in camera, no Bluetooth and no WiFi. I was thoroughly underwhelmed by this phone.

If you're a Sprint customer in the market for a Smartphone, go for the much more capable and easier-to-use palmOne Treo 650.

Forget MOST of the negative garbage you've read about this phone. I am actually a dedicated Palm user and have had the Treo and just about every other device/phone/pda you can think of over the years. As opposed to many, I really use these devices for ALL the features they have.

Let's discuss it's REAL use - A PHONE!!! Is this a wonder to anyone??? It's not a camera, a word processor, a laptop, or even a handheld like a Palm or PocketPC.

It is, in fact, one of the finest and solidly built phones I have ever used. It's solid aluminum housing, strong flip and extra accessories make this a complete professional package.

Consider this a phone on steriods. Why?

1. It completely synchronizes your Outlook contacts into the phones memory with EVERY number you'll ever need.

WHAT IF YOU DON'T USE OUTLOOK ??? Guess what I don't! I use Goldmine. You could use Act! or any other data manager. Why? BECAUSE EVERY PIM ON THE MARKET SYNCHRONIZES TO OUTLOOK.

Once you've synced with Outlook the phone does a FAST and thorough job of getting numbers into your phone. Changes on either side sync up perfectly.

2. IT's DISPLAY IS OUTSTANDING!!

Duh!, isn't this a requirement for a great phone? With it's easy Zoom it's display is EASILY READ while driving. That's awesome

3. It's keys are big, solid and well lit AND IT'S EASY TO SEARCH THROUGH NUMBERS with the D Pad

4. It's sound is STEREO with a great built in speakerphone with audiophile quality stereo headset included.

5. It's got a SD card if you need it.

6. The EMAIL actually works perfectly for GETTING THE SHORT EMAILS DONE. This is not a word processor but it get's the important replies done anywhere anytime. Unlike Wi-Fi. I use Wi-Fi for my Palm T5 NOT my phone.

7. It's NOT a stupid camera that you won't really use anyhow.

8. It's not WiFi - Why in the world do you want that on a phone anyhow? YOU WANT WI-FI ON A PDA!!!!!!! This is NOT a PDA but Flip Phone that comes damn close.

THE ONLY THING I WISH IT HAD??

- Bluetooth. There are a FEW occassions I could use this but it's not enough to make me bring it's rating down. I knew that when I bought it.

For the most part Bluetooth sucks, literally. It sucks your battery, it's sound sucks, it's speed sucks and in most cases the overpriced headsets suck. I would ONLY use bluetooth for my Palm T5 to get online for something urgent which isn't too often.

Don't you just love people who complain about how bad a flip phone is because there's no camera or wi-fi? Makes you wonder how they buy anything else in life since they demonstrate such a lack of forward thinking on something a simple as a phone.

Hope this has helped.