Sunboi's review of Samsung D500C

I've been using the samsung e700a for one and a half year before it became "ill" a few days ago. I've to say I've been largely impressed by it's slick curves and it's VGA camera. The VGA camera produces the best pictures among it's peers.

If you are thinking that the D500C with it's 1.3MP camera produces digicam-quality shots then I think you will be disappointed. The 1.3MP camera merely captures a larger picture max at 1280x1024 pixels. The quality is almost the same as the e700a. However it seems that the picture is not sharp enough for my likely.Perharps i am used to digital cameras that's why i am not impressed by the "soft" shot taken with a phone camera. There is no slot for memery cards unlike it's competing models like the Nokia 6680,6670,6230 or the Sony Ericcson K750i among others. Thus the size for media is limited to just 96MB which is to be shared with ringtones,MP3s,pictures and photos which is not very large considering the large amount of content users downloaded into their phones. The D500C cannot support the viewing of animated GIFs as well.
Samsung always seems to be one step behind it's competitors in terms of functionalities of it's phones. The phone is not cheap as well, it costs $688 for a no contract phone and $488 with 2 yrs contract(almost the same as a 3G nokia 6680)

pics taken with D500C max size and quality

Pics taken with D500C in total darkness using autoflash(sorry never focus properly)


However the design of the D500C is very sleek, the slider has good feel. The samsung LCD as usual is great with very vivid colors. With this phone, you no longer need to transfer data through the Samsung PIMS and File Manager like older phones. U can just transfer media contents just by selecting the content frm the phone and "send" it to PC using one of the sending options provided; email,IR,bluetooth etc... just like the right-click of PCs. It is also bluetooth enabled. Configuration of it is very simple and I paired with my friend's Nokia 6680 and my china-made bluetooth dongle effortlessly. The interface was upgraded to the icon-based type which looks more user-friendly. A sound-mate aka loudspeaker was included to increase the sound of the phone and I say that even without the soundmate a MP3 sound loud and nice even when using just the built-in speaker.the soundmate just gives more "ohm" to the sound.The voice clarity function is great, I can't heard the background noise(buzzing) when talking to my friend even while he's walking along a busy street. Reception was good too.

Nice design and LCD,icon based interface(finally)



Plus points:
Nice and sleek design
Vibrant and nice LCD
Nice sound output
Good reception with noise filter
bluetooth enabled(finally)
no need for properiety software to transfer contents

minus points
so-so camera(not much improvement in quality over the e700a)
too little memory 96MB only and no expansion slots for mem cards.
high pricing

Nice phone to have if you are not a very techie gadget freak.

The day my e700a died...

Sighz told myself that I should curb my spendings but then just when I said that my precious Samsung e700a died..., yes RIP on Sat, 17th Jul The LCD screen just blanked off..just like tat it has become like this:

Ah no phone for me is like dd without a digital camera..very tong ku so the next day I strucked a deal with a guy for a set of D500C for $485 with unfilled warranty card means still wif full warranty lah. but then I still feel abit cheated by this seller.
Drat, I never checked the items properly, partly bcos he was very late (745pm) and i was a bit anxious to go home and I usu have no probs wif such transactions... Frankly prior to that I have no chance to check what's in the standard package of the D500C. He told me that it's std package with xtra battery that's why i willing to pay $485. but then when I went home and double check, missing from the box is the english operating manual and the soundmate. shit! I contacted him immediately...even though he did replied, till now I still haben got the stuffs I requested although he promised that he will give me. then grrr... I went to Sim Lim Sq with some frens today(cos they wan to buy RS-MMC card). then saw this soundmate selling for $35, managed to bargain down to $18 then I just bought it lah..aiyah curse my luck lah.. now just pressuring him to get the english manual back to have the full set back so that when I trade in will be more valuable...
next time when u wan to buy from a guy with this mobile num, plz beware!
96805430

Wah spent alot last weekend cos of the D500C and also bought a bluetooth dongle for $16.90 to transfer data between my D500C and PC.

These are my new gadgets...
my soundmate and Bluetooth Dongle

...and my D500C

Hurray! managed to fixed my e700a after much difficulty and have to spend $4 on a special set of screwdrivers to open up the screws of the casing..although the LCD still cranky...color also very funny.. see below..

Curbing Spending Habits

I just realised that spending $$ can be pretty infectious. I don't know why but I suddenly feel like buying alot of stuffs. Guess it started with my Benq DVDRW which I bought got $99, been aiming for a DVDRW for quite something, think about a year already ... After that purchase, the floodgates seems to be open, I keep wanting to buy stuffs. Like MP3 player, a faster computer(need MB and CPU+RAM), and now eyeing for a new handphone(Samsung D500C). just bought a canon ixus 500 wif dd so cannot spend anymore else will have no more $. Have to stop all these tots...else will end up wif no $$ soon...

Hmm I just found that my blog is pretty boring, haha almost 90% are words ...not much pictures...

Ok uploaded all pics my "wants"

Samsung D500C

Samsung Yepp MP3 player

Dream Homestead

Was cycling at Bt Panjang when I came pass these flats. Quite near to my dream flat design already haha cos I always envisioned myself living in a flat with a full windowed living room.
All pics taken with my trusty Samsung e700a which have been with me for a year plus liao but now showing some signs of old age..

Notice the full-sized windows... can get quite a majestic view of the outside from ur living room, dun even need to stand near the window ledge...
Are the flats nice? Do they look like condominiums? They are all HDB flats!

Really hope that one day i can own one of these flats and live in it with my loved one... Guess that will probably gonna take quite a long time still...