Just a call away

GIZMO GALLERY

The Nokia 6500 is a simple metallic coated slider phone and there’s also a Classic 6500. Both are crammed with multimedia functions and certain amount of web-based applications too. In the same stylish league is the Samsung U600i.

The large and tactile keys and controls set a right beginning while exploring the 6500 slide. Add to it, a 3.2-megapixel camera with a Carl Zeiss lens, a microSD memory card slot and FM radio, complete the basic package.

The good thing about 6500’s camera is the 8x digital zoom and a dual-LED flash. The camera also doubles as a video recorder, with a resolution of up to 640x480 pixels. Samsung U600i packs in a 3.2 megapixel camera but picture quality is not really outstanding.

Nokia 6500 slide features a 2.2 inch display screen, while Samsung has built a touch-based keypad interface. Although the Samsung U600i isn’t a full touch-screen device, it boasts of an intuitive and adaptive touch keys.

Annoyingly a slight touch of the answer key and the call goes. U600i’s keypad suits the design of the handset on a whole, but the keys are quite flat and aren’t well-separated.

The 6500 Classic has 1GB of onboard memory, which can’t be increased. The 6500 slide comes with on-board memory of 20 MB, and also includes a microSD slot. Samsung U600i has an internal memory of 60 MB, expandable up to 2 GB.

Nokia has included a swanky looking music player, but it’s just an external makeover. The interface is easy to use. Nokia has opted for a 2.5 mm headphone jack instead of the regular 3.5 mm, though the inclusion of A2DP stereo Bluetooth is a handy alternative to the included headphones.

The Download! Application, lets you find a lot of downloadable content, most of it free.

Samsung allows you to download content too, but mobile internet browsing could be frustrating as many pages aren’t optimised for viewing on such a small display.

If design and applications are your prime concern then Nokia 6500 slide is a great choice and if you are a touchscreen aficionado then Samsung U600i is great option.