After my reliable and much loved Nokia 6630 had an unfortunate run-in with a washing machine, it was written in the stars that I was destined to get a new phone. I eventually decided on the Sony Ericsson W800i, incidentally the same as Ryan’s who lauded the phone’s features.
First off is the 2.0MP camera. I took a few photos at the maximum resolution and found the quality excellent. None of the same grainy issues of the 1.3MP on the 6630. I have only taken daytime photos thus far, and have found them all comparable to photos I have taken on standard digital cameras. There is no flash, but a rather powerful light, I will test it later. Here’s a sample pic in Midleton:
Second is the most prominent feature of the W800i, the walkman. It comes with a 512MB memory stick, and the process was smooth, I simply dragged and dropped MP3’s to the memory card, no issues. The sound quality is excellent, both from the loudspeaker and the included headset. The 6630 had a similar feature, but I always found the Nokia software fiddly and slow.
As for other aspects of the phone, the menu system does take getting used to after years as a Nokia afficiando. The space on texts uses a different button, but the predictive texts differs slightly in its use, and I found it just as easy as the 6630. The games included are substandard, but I will be getting more shortly. The screen is high-res, very clear, very bright, it also has nice animated wallpaper.
What the phone lacks is a standard 3.5mm jack for headphones. I am forced to use the Sony handsfree kit, and then attach a 3.5mm headphone to that. I have found the connection to the phone to be slightly loose, in which case the phone automatically reverts to the loudspeaker, which I could imagine being rather embarrasing if it came loose in a public place. The built in radio is fine (the 6630 lacked one), has RDS, and I get decent quality from all radio stations.
The W800i also has IR and Bluetooth (why they include IR anymore is beyond me), and I trust all these things work as normal.
Overall thus far I am happy with the switch. All I need now is to switch to the new Macbooks. 🙂
Be very careful if you decide to port video to the W800i. We crashed ours beyond easy repair when we asked for 25 fps with high-bit rate audio tracks alongside the music videos. Something around 12 fps and 96 kbps audio would probably be the way to go.
Bernie – I found video just unwatchable on it’s business sibling the K750i, I think I’ll change to an iPhone next year 😉
Gavin – I actually used the IR a few months back, with cr*ppy Siemens work laptops… You might like to know that there’s actually a flash add-on accessory, I saw one the other day in the Sony Centre in the Jervis Centre.
I was having W550i same features as w800i , difference is only the camera W800i is having 2mp when W550i is with 1.3mp,
When you load any video clip , do convert in 3GP you can get 3GP coverter on website.
If you really want to enjoy the video clip as as good as on your computer , set it 133kbps for 3GP video,
I have converted several WMV,AVI and MPG videos to 3GP videos , even you can down load Jawa programmes like Money Manager, and Secreat coades.
Unfortunatly last week my mobile has been stolen , Now I want to buy W800i………..
If any one having any problem regarding video, audio and Programes on W550i or W800i do contact me on satya1802@hotmail.com