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Reviews (2)
03 Sep, 2008
Sony Ericsson C702 review
7 of 7 found this helpful Having recently moved from an 18 month contract to a 30 day notice "Sim only" contract, this was only the second time I've ever had to buy a phone. The first, a Sony Ericsson T250i two weeks earlier didn't exactly go to plan, so this time I did my homework...
The phone it's self is a very ordinary (to this reviewer anyway) looking phone. It's a reasonable size and weight, similar to the k800i and Nokia n73, but what sets it apart are its killer features - built in GPS and water and dust resistance making it an excellent choice for runners/cyclists/outdoor use. The phone uses Google maps (free) and Wayfinder (free trial, pay after the trial) for navigation duties and both are good apps - although some consistancy regarding zoom buttons etc would be nice to ease the transition between the two apps. Wayfinder gives you voice directions whilst Google opts for a map view and directions. Different approaches for different applications.
The other killer app (for me at least) also uses GPS - Tracker is a training utility. It tracks your running, cycling or hiking, mapping your route, distance covered and energy expended. It's great for keeping records or training and monitoring progress. Well done Sony, nice one!
Other than that the phone applications are pretty standard stuff - Built in FM radio (that requires headphones to be plugged to act as an antenna), a media player (MP3, 3gp music and video etc) that whilst it won't put an iPod to shame is perfectly useable for being on the move , a couple of (pretty awful) games and the video, photo and music DJ applications. There is also a web browser that works reasonably well.
The screen is a decent size, with vibrant colours and a good refresh rate - beware though, in bright light it's well nigh unreadable.
The OS is nice and far less buggy than the Nokia's I've been used to using (note to Nokia - please test your phone's software before release, or pay me if you want my software testing skills. Beta software is irritating.) It shuts down when it's supposed to, starts up pretty quickly and is fast enough to cope with everyday use - it's a massive step forward from the old days of the dog slow (but very nice) Z7 AND T650's of old.
The keyboard isn't the nicest to use = the lozenge shaped buttons are thin and slidey and don't work well with nails, or at least this reviewers nails. It's not the worst however and works acceptable well in my hands. Females, or those with smaller hands would probably have noissues what so ever.
The camera is maybe not befitting of the cyber-shot moniker - no zenon flash severly limits the phones capabilities and best pic mode is missing too, but if you accept that a phone camera is never going reach the giddy heights of even a basic point and shoot camera, you'll have little to complain about. It's decent enough for quick, "on the hoof" snap shots and the video camera will just about do for youtube silliness. It's no n95 in this respect, but it's cheaper, sturdier and much, much less buggy.
Battery life isn't bad, but not spectacular. Expect 2 days between charges with reasonable use (I use 1800 minutes a month and it's 2 days per charge for me).
All in, the phone is a very nice, reliable and sturdy phone. It doesn't excell at any one task, but then that's not where it's aimed. It's not a walkman, it's not a media player, it's a tough phone designed for everyday use - something that less and less phones offer. No need to hide when you see rain with this baby.
13 Jun, 2020
Fantastic saw at a competitive price.
I went from an Evolution Fury to this, the DW717. Firstly, out of the box it was dead on accurate. The sliders are far beefier, and as such this improves accuracy over the length of the whole cut. Cuts with the included blade are reasonably clean and perfectly acceptable for the in box freebie blade. THe lifespan of the blade will be another matter, but we'll see how that goes. The XPS guide system is a revelation, unlike a laser that requires setting up and only shows the edge of the blade, XPS shows exactly where the cut will be and its thickness. Although this sounds easy, going from a laser ot this tool me a wee while to get my head around, due to this difference - your IQ maybe higher and you'll get it straight away! The saw is remarkably smooth and vibration free and is markedly quieter than the evolution. Performance wise, it would be hugely unfair to compare this to the Evolution saw, they are in different leagues (one a DIY saw and this a pro tool), but I also compared this to a similarly specced Scheppach saw. The Scheppach is hot garbage compared to the DW717. The difference in quality is so marked they're like two different tools. On power, accuracy, comfort, noise and vibration the DeWalt destroys the Scheppach. Dust extraction - with an extractor fitted, the dust removed is good - I don't have a frame against other saws, but I was more than satisfied with the performance. There was still some dust, but is was reduced hugely from just cutting without any extraction.
The saw can be had at a good discount from RRP and I'd happilly recommend it to anyone. It's well built, strong, accurate and looks built to last. The XPS system is fantastic too. I cut in daylight and could see the shadow, but bright sunlight might alter that.