Eten M500 PocketPC Phone Edition Reviewed

Darren

I have just complete the review of Eten's M500 PocketPC Phone Edition device.

The M500 is a small form factor device competing with the HTC Magician and it fares very well in comparison. With a 400MHz Samsung processor, 130Mb of RAM and Bluetooth as well as Quad Band GSM support it is ideal for the business user, world traveller or more importantly for us, the GPS user who requires GPRS Data to supply a traffic service etc.

What is different from the other similar devices is that the Eten M500 is sold SIM free so you can connect it to any GSM network you want to. As a result there is no contract subsidy for the phone but it is being sold at a very attractive price which compares well with other top end PDAs.

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Darren Griffin

Dave · Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2005 4:26 pm Post subject:

Big question is, would you trade in the O2 XDA II for the XTEN ?

Must admit now using an XDA II I do like it, but I still can't use it for phone calls, the C500 is a much better form factor and still does everything I need from a PDA/Phone. If I need a slightly larger screen then I switch to the PDA, but C500 does it for me still.

Darren · Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2005 5:06 pm Post subject:

I've always favoured my XDAII over the C500 purely because it has all the utils and info I need to hand. Good as the C500 is, for me it is still a pain entering information and so it was resigned to duty when out in the eve or other times when I didn't want the bulk of the XDAII.

However I would swap the XDAII for the Eten M500 in an instant if I had the option. It really is superb to hold, very pocketable and the smaller screen is very crisp. It does all that the XDAII does in a much smaller package.

Of course the real problems then begin, new Krussel case, new Brodit cradle etc etc.

I also hear that an M600 is on its way complete with WLAN.

But it's all immaterial, I'm holding out for the HTC Universal ;)
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Darren Griffin

Dave · Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2005 6:17 pm Post subject:

Yeah, can't wait to see some of these new devices in the flesh.

I do like the XDA II but my Pocket PC app usage is getting less and less by the day (apart from SatNav of course!), so where a year ago I was never caught short without a Pocket PC in my pocket, now it's the C500. And the C500 works well for SatNav too, so I have everything I need in one device.

Just need Pocket Informant to come across and I'll be sorted Laughing

Cerberus · Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2005 10:48 pm Post subject:

Does this allow caller groups for your phone book like on Nokia phones and then allow a different ring tone for each group. This is a major thing for me as I need to be able to distinguish between customers who can ring me at any time of the day or night for support so I have to drop what ever I'm doing or get out of bed if its early/late or friends/family etc who can wait.

I realy want to get something like this as I'm getting sick of taking a phone and PDA + laptop etc every where with me. I want to leave my existing Medion PDA in the car to do the sat nav and something like the Eten to do day to day PDA stuff + phone

Thanks

Darren · Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2005 9:08 am Post subject:

Yes it does, in fact I can also do this on my XDAII and C500.
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Darren Griffin

mrhumphreys · Occasional Visitor Joined: 12/02/2003 00:08:20 Posts: 31

How does this unit compare to the i-mate jam?

Many thanks

Matthew

Darren · Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2005 9:02 am Post subject:

It compares very well with the I-Mate Jam. In size it is slightly smaller but also 'thicker' but this in my opinion is a plus as the extra depth makes it more comfortable to hold.

OS wise it runs WM2003SE as does the Jam but has the added speed dial feature and some other apps such as allow/deny lists for callers.

Personally I prefer the M500.
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Darren Griffin

mrhumphreys · Occasional Visitor Joined: 12/02/2003 00:08:20 Posts: 31

Is it fitted with an sdio slot. so wlan could be added?

Thanks,

Matthee

mrhumphreys · Occasional Visitor Joined: 12/02/2003 00:08:20 Posts: 31

Just to answer my own question - yes it does!

mrhumphreys · Occasional Visitor Joined: 12/02/2003 00:08:20 Posts: 31

Just found someone selling these on contract - no links, never used them before, but makes it much better value..

http://www.mobiledealsdirect.co.uk/display.asp?handset=m500e

Does the "e" mean anything?

mrhumphreys · Occasional Visitor Joined: 12/02/2003 00:08:20 Posts: 31

Does anyone know if this works with the parrot bluetooth car kit?

Can it connect to a bluetooth gps and bluetooth car kit at the same time?

If you are running tomtom, and a call comes in, do you lose sat nav for the duration of the call?

Apologies for all the questions - but I need to make sure before I take the plunge!

Cheers

Matthew

Darren · Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2005 2:23 pm Post subject:

I don't have a Parrot Kits so couldn't say but it connects to a BT GPS and BT headset at the same time.
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Darren Griffin

mrhumphreys · Occasional Visitor Joined: 12/02/2003 00:08:20 Posts: 31

Many thanks for that Darren.

Anyone know what happens if you receive a call whilst using sat nav?

Cheers,

Matthew

Darren · Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2005 6:01 pm Post subject:

The phone rings, the display switches to incoming call and you answer it. As soon as you drop the call the display returns to GPS. At least that is how it works with TomTom v5 and my XDAII.
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Darren Griffin

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