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Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 discussion |
Supa_Fly
Joined: Apr 16, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: Toronto, Ontario
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@Mizzle, excellent review! Shed' good light on the Xperia in a most impartial view; except two small parts. One I'd like to critize (more like an inquiry in observation)
On 2008-11-15 19:31:43, blog.se-nse.net wrote:
The keyboard itself is quite possibly the best keyboard on a smart phone ever. That’s quite a big claim to make, but let me explain why. The build quality is fantastic; the keys feel strong and robust whilst also being easy to use. The combination of metal and this robustness gives a very satisfying feel to the keyboard. It reinforces the X1’s status and makes you feel that you are using a handset that is at the top of the range. If I had one niggle with the keys it was that the tactile feedback could have been a little stronger, but overall it was perfectly fine. When you slide the keyboard out it does so with a feeling of weight, not heaviness, but of satisfying weight that makes you realise this isn’t a cheap product quickly and poorly built, but rather a handset that has been laboured over and wants to present itself well. The keys don’t feel cramped and I was able to use it to type both comfortably and quickly. That’s one of the things that you really notice about the overall design of the handset, the hardware has been made to look and feel good, but hasn’t been forced to sacrifice usability in the process.
* I'm not sure what the keyboard feels like in the X1 and its my BIGGEST concern. Dogman has used many phones before and also has used the Blackberry smartphones - considered across users/analysts in the industry to be the VERY BEST keyboards designed. Not so much for the layout but also the "touch" feeling and tactile-travel feedback when you press the keys - how deep it travels, how the keys bounce back, and how they retain this feedback/speed/touch to the fingers over a LONG length of time. Many blackberry users are corporate users/administrators - including myself (8310) - and I'm very worried about the very FLAT looking keys on the X1. My worry is not just the tactile feedback, but also possibility of dust getting in the device just looking at the keys.
Here you can see between the E, R, T, Y keys the small gap I'm worried of dust getting into.
On 2008-11-15 19:31:43, blog.se-nse.net wrote:
There has been much mention of the X1 being an ‘arc slider’ and I want to touch upon this concept. The idea is simple enough, the screen (it’s actually the screen that slides and not the keyboard) slides up in an arc away from the keyboard so that it is at a slight angle, which makes both typing and viewing the screen easier because one can hold the handset in a more natural position and be able to view the screen normally.
This 'arc slider' is quite simply the VERY BEST part of the design of the X1! It has brought back the image of  has a global smartphone creator/designer. Especially with the hoopla of the P990i (that design I did love very much), and initial issues of ppl not wanting to upgrade to the P1i. I think SE lost a lot of potential sales for those that wanted to upgrade to the P1i but didn't get a special discount for owning the P990i (via retail sales slip). This time around many ppl will be a bit cautious - especially the high price this X1 demands.
Oh yes 1 more observation ....
On 2008-11-15 19:31:43, blog.se-nse.net wrote:
The first thing that strikes you about this touch sensitive TFT screen is its size. The 3-inch display takes up almost the entirety of the front of the handset and is the most prominent aspect of the handset when it is closed. One aspect of the screen design that we both agreed upon was that it should have been flush with the handset casing rather than slightly recessed. This isn’t a major gripe by any means, but when you are dealing with a premium product small touches really do count. As it stands the screen is not flush, but this has no real impact on how one uses the X1, it was more an aesthetic point we were making.
Actually the screen is recessed for a specific reason! Its better displayed at wider angles and in sunlight because the glare that flush screens (HTC Touch, Touch Diamond/Pro, HD, and Blackberry Bold) suffer. Actually in your review you have proven that 
All in all a great review and I enjoyed reading it and will consider your points before going on an emotional phone upgrade from my Nokia E71. Right now only the Nokia N85 & Xperia X1 are in my sites for an upgrade, I almost bought a Euro N85 - willing to suffer lack of 3G where I live.
Personally I think should have considered a lower entry price for this phone, say by about $150-200. Considering there is no TV-OUT (a silly thing that SE missed and may affect purchasers of WM Pro phones may opt for a subsidized HTC TouchPro or Touch HD). I would not have tought twice for long considering to purchase the SE when it finally launches in several channels in North America.
I'm hoping Rogers Wireless considers subsizing this phone! | |
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pinguino1
Joined: Aug 20, 2008
Posts: 174
From: New York, USA
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On 2008-11-16 05:26:45, Prom1 wrote:
Here you can see between the E, R, T, Y keys the small gap I'm worried of dust getting into.
Actually the screen is recessed for a specific reason! Its better displayed at wider angles and in sunlight because the glare that flush screens (HTC Touch, Touch Diamond/Pro, HD, and Blackberry Bold) suffer.
Hi Prom1, very good review of the review. Here just a couple of notes
Acually, what we see in photo is not a gap it's a shadow noticible because in the last row the keys have a bit more travel ("taller").
I agree with your assesment of the recessed screen, imo that gives a more classy look to the Xperia plus a better touch response because doesn't have the extra layers.
@Mizzle
Question: Are the keys in the querty and front made of metal?
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Supa_Fly
Joined: Apr 16, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: Toronto, Ontario
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Thanks Pinguino1.
All in all I'm AMAZED that kept the 'phone' form-factor size in their smartphones and didn't deviate from this. Shocked how small vs the K850i this is.
I may just end up going for a regular phone for the next 3mths before going smartphone again. Why? Because I see no reason that the Xperia for North America - in using a new Qualcomm ship - still has the ATi Mobile video graphics chip, still has limited video recording capabilities than the K850i (I would consistently get 24-31fps video @ QVGA on it. I'm NOT going back to that when paying over $500CAN for a smartphone or any phone. Regardless of the technology infringement, I think Qualcomm should've cut all manufacturers a deal in using some of the NEWER chipsets offering more video abilities that did NOT infringe on the Broadcomm patent. However I do understand that this phone has been in developement begining 11mths ago and thus the chipset deal was struct back then couldn't have been changed & tested without overall affecting phone code performance & release date targets.
|AppleTV2|iPhone 12Mini 256GB|iPad Pro 256GB| Previously ...  K750|Z500|Z520|K700|K790i|K850i, :Ericsson: T18z|T28World|T36m x3|T68m (Ericsson, not the rebranded T68i). |
Mizzle
Joined: Oct 06, 2006
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Thanks for the feedback guys, especially you Prom1.
The keyboard isn't really flat. It's slightly beveled, and while it's not really noticeable in the pictures, it sure is when you use it  I'm not sure what your point was when you included Dogmann, but I wasn't initially that impressed with the keyboard. Having been used to the plastic keyboards on M600, P1 and P990, this was quite a change, but I love the keyboard nowadays. It really is very good.
Regarding the screen, sure there are some pros of it being recessed, but it collects dusts in the corners and I hate that 
@pinguino1
Yes, they are in metal.
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[ This Message was edited by: Mizzle on 2008-11-16 07:53 ] |
mobman
Joined: Sep 23, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Manchester UK
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reeally - my keys are plastic |
Mizzle
Joined: Oct 06, 2006
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On 2008-11-16 10:49:55, mobman wrote:
reeally - my keys are plastic
Odd. Mine feels like they're in metal. Hmm, don't know if this has anything to do with mine being a hardware prototype. Doubt it, though.
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Unofficial Sony Ericsson Blog
Best dedicated blog ever!
[ This Message was edited by: Mizzle on 2008-11-16 13:09 ] |
masseur
Joined: Jan 03, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Sydney, London
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xperia tweak is now at V2 and the latest update allows you to define which panel should be your default
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Nitro Fan
Joined: Jun 11, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: London
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On 2008-11-15 17:20:03, myth® wrote:
@Nitro
Obviously you've missed his later post:
On 2008-11-13 21:40:56, pmcg wrote:
Just a short time ago when I had connection problems on my N95, turned out to be a network problem.
It's all working now.
I emailed our sales lady & explained that a colleagues SIM worked but mine did not & they are on the same price plan. Explained I can't see how it can be a handset problem. It's either a SIM or a Network problem in my view.
She agreed, contacted a higher level in technical, asked them to compare the settings for the two SIM's and they found that, think it was APN was not active on mine so they switched this on.
Ten minutes later and it was fixed.
Thanks to all here for the pointers too.
Thanks I did miss that, I am going to see if I can get my hands on an X1 next week and satisfy myself. I am out of commitment with T-Mobile on the 19th and I have just seen that Expansys ae offering the X1 on T-Mobile, I assume that as T-Mobile are NOT going to be selling the X1 these will be unbranded SIM free units!
I was under the impression that the keys were supposed to be metal is this NOT the case?
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Sony Ericsson you have to start building them better
[ This Message was edited by: Nitro Fan on 2008-11-16 13:02 ] |
mobman
Joined: Sep 23, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Manchester UK
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the qwerty kets are indeed made out of plastic. they have the same metalic paint as the rear of the phone (not the battery cover) . i like it this way because otherwise they wouldn't have been able to light up the letters on the keypad... |
koto
Joined: Sep 18, 2006
Posts: > 500
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@Mizzle
Super review. Just one question. Is it possible to type fast and convenient by putting the phone on the table - laptop simulation, or you have to hold it in hands in order to use keyboard? |
hghaly
Joined: Sep 14, 2008
Posts: 5
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It is released in Dubai as X1 without any prefix neither X1i nor X1a, it is 850/900/1800/1900 is it in line with Europe release? |
pinguino1
Joined: Aug 20, 2008
Posts: 174
From: New York, USA
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On 2008-11-16 18:13:28, hghaly wrote:
It is released in Dubai as X1 without any prefix neither X1i nor X1a, it is 850/900/1800/1900 is it in line with Europe release?
Hi hghaly,
Those numbers are GSM bands. They are universal in any phone.
Check the UMTS bands in settigs. or even better, look at the sticker in the box.
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hghaly
Joined: Sep 14, 2008
Posts: 5
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On 2008-11-16 18:41:15, pinguino1 wrote:
On 2008-11-16 18:13:28, hghaly wrote:
It is released in Dubai as X1 without any prefix neither X1i nor X1a, it is 850/900/1800/1900 is it in line with Europe release?
Hi hghaly,
Those numbers are GSM bands. They are universal in any phone.
Check the UMTS bands in settigs. or even better, look at the sticker in the box.
I looked at the box it is UMTS that's all, I might need to get into setting |
M.Noordin
Joined: Oct 01, 2002
Posts: 94
From: U.K
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hows everyones message tone sound?? mine is low.. can barely hear it.. i dont know y. is there a way u can increase the sound or something?? |
frank2345babies
Joined: May 29, 2005
Posts: 303
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Hi all just some more questions regarding windows mobile.
can i change the default folder that the phone goes to(currently my pictures on My device) when i go to view my pictures within the pictures app in media folder of spb panel? (not when using the media panel)
Is it possible to make it so beamed items are stored in memory card and not defaulted to my device?
I would also really like to know how you guys would recommend to set up your files on the storage card? e.g. would you recommend setting the folders up like they are in my documents as default on the device?
its just that everything seems geared towards storing media on the device itself. but obviously this isnt going to work out when i have alot of media
answers much appreciated, thanks | |
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Posted: 2008-11-16 05:26
K750|Z500|Z520|K700|K790i|K850i, :Ericsson: T18z|T28World|T36m x3|T68m (Ericsson, not the rebranded 
