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33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fully-loaded, functional and sleek, yet over-hyped, and certainly over-priced, December 9, 2008
I'll just list out the aspects of the phone. More convenient that way.
-Touchscreen: Not as responsive nor as user-friendly and intuitive as the iPhone, but definitely usable, stylus (which is provided), and finger-wise. Sharp, bright colors, with an auto-adjust function that works amazingly well, even in bright sunlight. Slightly recessed, so it does collect dust and other debris (which I found surprisingly annoying, since even lint easily picks up from my pocket), but overall, very attractive and usable.
-Windows Mobile 6.1: Though there are still some bugs, a marked improvement over the last version. The one really annoying aspect of the system is still the slow loading time, and the main nagging thing I noted is that there's a HUGE lag after text messaging, after the message informing you that the text was sent. The system freezes for a good 5-10 seconds, and won't let you do anything during that time frame. Mostly just annoying, though certainly not a detractor, especially if you don't text a whole lot.
-The keyboard: Spacious, despite the compactness, and slightly curved, with an assisted spring mechanism that feel very, very solid. The one qualm I have is that they keys are nearly flush with the tray, and the top row can be difficult to press, since it's nearly flush beneath the screen. Other than that, with some use, it's easy to get used to, and doesn't add bulk or awkward feeling to the phone, like some full QWERTY keyboards. The keys are also backlit, which is a nice touch, especially in shadowed or darkened areas.
-The keys: There's plenty of softkeys and shortcuts available, and they're very well-suited for the phone. There's an optical joystick (passing your finger over the surface allows you to scroll without physically pressing the top/bottom keys, or the screen), which also serves as an "OK" key. I really liked that addition to the phone, since I'm not a big trackball fan, and the sensitivity is customizable, since a too sensitive setting can sometimes lead to wrong commands. There's a dedicated panel key, which is somewhat like a home-screen key, since it takes you to the main panel selection every time. There are also dedicated phone keys, a toggle on the side for volume, and a power/sleep button on the top. They don't detract from the phone, and the only sticking point is that they're sometimes a bit stiff to press. Other than that, it's a nice, somewhat comforting feeling to have dedicated keys available, unlike the iPhone.
-The panels: These have been touted as, and are, really, the main attraction of the phone. They're are an interesting, very positive feature, since they're customizable (you can even move them around, though this has to be done through choosing a panel and editing it, instead of just dragging it across the screen, which would have been much more intuitive), and varied, and give the Windows system a more personal feel. They can be a bit laggy, but they're fun and functional (the fish panel is just amusing, with the ability of the fish to change color, follow the touch, or swim away if pressed), though I've yet to find a use for the Google page, since it always defaults to Internet Explorer, which I don't utilize.
-Internet browsing: Pretty snappy and speedy, even on the Edge network. The area in which I live doesn't support the 3G bands on this particular phone (I have the overseas Xi, while the U.S. will ship the Xia), though bigger cities with the 1900mHz towers do. I don't use Internet Explorer, since it's still one of the most useless and dated mobile browsers out there. The phone is shipped with Opera Mobile 9.5 installed, which works similarly to Safari on the iPhone, though thankfully the cut and paste options are available, unlike the iPhone. (Trust me, after you've given up that option, and then come back to it, you'll really notice the difference. Why Apple hasn't picked up on that yet, I'll never know...) There is also the option of downloading Skyfire, which works very well, sometimes faster than Opera. Both platforms support Flash, and display the full-page layout, like you'd see on your PC. Either way, pretty enjoyable experience there.
-Text/Multimedia Messaging: Windows finally incorporated the threaded conversation for text messaging, much like the iPhone did, creating a more "IM" feel to conversations, and making it much easier to keep track of specific conversations. It lags a bit, as mentioned prior, but a great improvement, without a doubt. It also does Multimedia messaging, and for that alone, in some ways, it is worth more than the iPhone, since Apple still refuses to include that basic function.
-Camera/Video/Music: The camera is 3.2 MP, a very decent camera, especially considering the phone size. It includes a flash, and can be adjusted for various speeds, colors, effects, etc. There is also a video-camera, which records up to 30fps, though only 24fps, I believe, for the American version. Why the difference, I couldn't say. The music player is easy to access (it has it's own panel), and there is also a Sony FM radio included, which is a nice touch, and easy to use, though only with the headphones included, since they act as an antennae, apparently. Still, very decent media package.
-Construction: I have the silver finish, which is really just stunning. It's very has a very durable, solid feel to it, though can be somewhat slippery, and feels very comfortable in the hand. The size in my opinion is perfect, compact and sleek, and though this means smaller screen size and somewhat cramped keys, it's really my favorite aspect of the phone. Has the old, comfortable handset feel of a Nokia candybar phone, actually. Sony really put a lot of thought and effort into it, and it shows.
-Other features: The 3.5mm headphone jack is WONDERFUL. I had a Sony a few years back, and the one sticking point that kept me from using it as a full-time MP3 player was the fact that I was supposed to use Sony's headphones. The fact that Sony has branched out, and incorporated the headphone jack, along with the capabilities for a Micro SD card slot (located on the side, when you remove the back cover), really shows that they're creating a platform which is more friendly to users who branch between companies. (Sony usually has their own M2 storage card, which is more pricey than the Micro SD.) Whether it lasts or not depends on their continued association with HTC, I suppose, who designed and helped create the physical phone. I suspect that if they next phone doesn't run Windows Mobile (which has been rumored), those features might disappear. Oh well. The fact that they're included on the Xperia is really a very nice, convenient touch. The phone also connected with the network very easily, loaded all the information, and formatted the phone, without any heavy programming from me, which was awesome.
Overall? Fantastic phone, with very reliable software, convenient system, sleek and sturdy construction, speedy network connections (even overseas), and plenty of opportunities for personal tweaks and modifications, given the open platform from Windows. I'd love to give it five stars, instead of the four, but the price was ridiculous, especially considering that it's really just another Windows Mobile smartphone, albeit better-looking and more personal than some others. Still, it's without a doubt my favorite phone to date, when combining the ease of use and construction appeal. Well worth buying, if you can burn the money.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
More than a few pros, a few cons, November 23, 2008
First the disclaimer: I'm an avid Windows Mobile user so am familiar with the Windows Mobile interface.
I love the camera. Of course it doesn't compare with a point and shoot of course, but pictures are rather sharp. The shutter runs a little slow, so sometimes you might miss the action, but for quick snaps in bright light it is pretty good. The LED gives a little bit of light in low light situations. Auto focus is a very nice feature too.
The panels are an interesting concept. I've actually given up my mp3 player and am using the Sony Ericsson music player with an 8G SD card (a touch heavy for this, but not bad). Also the integrated FM radio panel is nice. I haven't found a use for the fish panel yet!
The curve of the sliding keyboard is pretty nice. I like how when you slide the keyboard there is a solid feel to it. Makes me think that Sony Ericsson paid attention to the design here.
Very stable. Doesn't crash.
I've dropped it a few times...ugh. Hasn't scratched or died (yet)
The device is responsive. a touch snappier would be nice, but definitely usable.
People definitely notice the phone - not that I pay attention to that anyway ;)
Cons:
A little heavy - just a little lighter and I'd be happy.
The keys on keyboard are a little too flush - sometimes hard to type, but now I've had a bit of experience
The panels are a little slow.
The speakerphone is a little quiet - I wish it were a little louder, but doable.
This could be a con if you don't like or haven't used Windows Mobile, but since it is Windows Mobile so it might take some getting used to.
Neutral:
The screen has a bezel, which flys in the face of recent "smartphones - iPhone etc. I don't mind it personally.
Like most Windows Mobile phones, the battery doesn't last as long as my old Nokia 3510. But hey, I'm using 10 times the features and it always lasts me more than a whole day from sun up to sun down.
I personally don't like the touch sensor to scroll - I like clicking through menu entries rather than swiping.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hardcore tech brilliance. Not quite the iPhone killer tho., March 18, 2009
I won't begin to judge fellow reviewers and their knowledge of WinMo phones but will say that you simply cannot judge this or any current multi app piece of hardware by the same standards as other phones.
Nor can this be judged on how it performs 'out of the box'. Like a laptop, you can only cast an opinion when you've uploaded your favorite software, got it to run your prefered media player and tweaked the OS to your own personal specs. Judging something this high tech as it is, is like admiring your new plasma TV but not adjusting the contrast or brightness or tuning in any new channels; or to test driving a car on half a tank of petrol and then focusing your complaints only on the fact that it ran out of fuel. You got to fill it up to go the distance!
Out of the box, on UK Vodafone, this is as chunky a brick as ever was produced. The keyboard is gorgeous, a tactile joy and a beautiful piece of kit but the rest is slow and unresponsive. The Windows Mobile system (WM6) is cumbersome for a phone OS, the touchscreen is slow with a noticable delay between press and reaction. The panel system, although novel and full of possibilities has been woefully under supported by Sony Ericsson (The X1 is very obviously a test bed for future X-series handsets!)
And this isn't my first touchscreen, HTC or Windows Mobile handset, so i'm not comng down hard on the Xperia through inexperience...
However...
I've had my X1 for a little over a month. The Vodafone ROM has gone. The OS is tweaked and touchscreen responsiveness is immaculate. Screen pop-ups, information messages, unwanted screen closings etc. are gone. IE has been swapped for Opera. WM6 has gone in favor of the touch friendly WM6.5. Youtube works, Synching doesn't need Outlook, video playback is faultless and (the high point for me) the infinitely adaptable customisation that Windows Mobile supports means the handset is tailored exactly how i want it.
Yes, i had to do some research; downloading, resetting and repeating on occasion. With previous generation handsets that kind of effort for a mobile could simply have been dismissed as pimping my ride; chintz and bling, but for this kind of device it's more the equivalent of putting enough fuel in the tank and getting your driving position right.
You HAVE to put the time in to get the most out of it.
This is the best phone i've owned. It's not as innovative as the iPhone and it doesn't yet have the apps support, but Sony Ericsson have created, after a bit of personal tweaks, a wonderfully intuitive, highly adaptable, beautiful piece of kit. It works fine as a phone, an email client and media player tho it is lacking in games. The 3.2MP camera has a great flash and gives excellent results for a mobile camera. And for internet use the X1 is incomparable. Turn it to landscape and the touchscreen coupled with the motion sensitive touch pad make browsing a joy.
True, the $600.00+ price tag is steep but you are paying as much for the potential of the hardware as you are for the hardwear itself. Just remember you have to use that potential or what's the point?!? I think it's a bargain and don't see myself changing handsets for at least a couple of years.
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