SUMSUNG J600 A GOOD BUY, FOR NOW

While it lets you into the magic of multimedia, the magic stops there

As technology makes new devices of existing gadgets, with fresh functions added to them each day, mobile phones are the favoured ground for experimentation. Few gadgets have evolved as fast as the cell phone, which has literally branched into new species like the flip open, screen and buttons, slider and the newer multimedia variety. Even as the bodies have lost bulk, a new spectrum of functions has been added. Samsung J600 is one such phone.

It packs all essentials while taking the first, firm steps into the brave, not-so-new world of multimedia. Targeted at low-end users, it comes in a range of dazzling colours, which is primarily an eye-catching tactic; the bright metallic blue, for instance, is a must-have for Govinda fans. After recovering sufficiently from the blinding sheen, check out its features.

The J600 has a single screen, which offers more than 65,000 colours on a tiny 1.9-inch screen. Right below the screen is the most interesting feature: four touch-sensitive keys (more like spots) that make taking and making calls a breeze. You don’t have to look for a tiny button; instead, sliding your finger over the spot fires up the functions.

However, the appeal of the touch keys is mitigated by the large direction key and centre button placed smack in the middle of the phone. Though this makes perfect sense when navigating through the menu or surfing the Web, one wonders why it couldn’t be used for taking calls as well.

The phone is equipped with an FM player and channels that can be easily set. It also has a music player, a 1.3-megapixel camera and can store 1,000 phone numbers with contact details. For connectivity, the phone has Bluetooth, WAP and USB. This makes transferring music, videos or even MMS a one-touch affair.

But the J600 falls short on various fronts. The menu is annoyingly slow, so you have to wait till a crummy animation lets you choose what you want. It only lets you use an SD memory card, which means that even though you can store up to 2 GB of data, you can’t use your old card.

The phone also has only one point of connection. So you can’t attach your headset to listen to music while it charges or transfers data. Even the screen doesn’t match up to the competition, which are bigger and have more colours at comparable prices.

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Still, it’s not a bad buy; for Rs 7,249, you can enter the universe of sound, visuals and multiple connectivity. But after that, you will need a more advanced companion.