Cool Yule rating: 5 stars
Price: $399.99 retail, free with AT&T wireless contract
Description: Initially, I experienced a bit of trepidation over the sliding form factor of this phone. I prefer clamshell/candy bar style phones, and have never been terribly impressed with slider phones. After spending a week with the W580i, I’m sad to give it back.
First things first: the W580i works great as a phone. Despite the emphasis placed on camera phones, music features, Internet connectivity, a cell phone should function first and foremost as a tool for voice communication. The W580i excels in this area, offering clear reception and good battery life. The keys, while flat, offer good tactile feedback. For example, if you’re dialing without looking at the screen, you’re not left wondering whether you actually hit that last key. The phone comes standard with power adapter, USB attachment cable, headphone adapter, ear buds and a MemoryStick (storage capacity may vary). The headphone port accepts standard headphones, so your favorite set of headphones will probably be compatible. If you get a call during music playback, the song pauses automatically, allowing you to answer calls without fumbling with the keys.
Unlike many feature-rich phones today, Sony Ericsson has done a good job ensuring the CPU in the phone is capable of doing all it promises. The W580i is no exception. Using it, you’ll notice instantaneous action every time you press a key or access a menu. Even during music playback, the phone functions as it should, with no noticeable delays. The 2.0 megapixel camera performs more like a 3 megapixel camera, giving us great photos. Music playback is first rate, the audio quality is great, and the interface functions are very similar to an iPod. The W580i phone is GSM compatible, so it’s available for carriers such as AT&T and T-Mobile.
