Reviewed by: Zain - Dec 04, 2003
Introduction
Fun and personalization. These are the guidelines that the Sony Ericsson
designers followed in the creation of the new Z200. This fashionable phone
was presented by the Japanese / Swedish venture during the last days of
summer.
The Z200 is a radical change from conventional flip phones. And mainly
targeted at fun-loving youths and style conscious adults.
Design
One look at the phone and everyone will agree that it is quite unusual.
As it deviates from the normal clamshell path followed by other handset
makers like Samsung, LG and Motorola.
From the colored keypad to the off-center external LCD, the Z200 is definitely
unorthodox.
For
instance the loop at the top of the phone can be used as a strap holder, the
off-center placement of the round status display and the uniquely shaped
5-way navigation key create a phone that breaks away from the conventional
design of most other clamshell phones available today.
In fact, as the company highlights, the Z200 combines well designed,
easy to use details with a design that is unconventional, fun, fashionable,
and an unrivaled possibility for personalization. A common trait throughout
the Z200 is the ability to customize just about anything.
But perhaps one of the major features that makes it so unusual are its
unique faceplate shape and design. The front panel of the Z200 can be changed
with Style-Up covers, so the outside of the phone can be coordinated with
your appearance or mood to create that special look. The phone comes with
2 sets of Style-Up covers and additional options are available as accessories.
Screen
The Z200 has two displays. The external display is a 64 x 64 px monochrome
screen. It shows the status information, such as signal strength, battery
life, and time. The time can be displayed either in analog or in digital
format.
The internal display is a 4096 color STN display with a resolution of
128 x 128 px. STN display (as opposed to TFT) does not have the circuitry
on the glass and has to scan the pixel locations. This slows the response
time and produces what is commonly referred to as "ghosts." Most phones
use STN because the need for fast refresh rates aren't needed, and ghosts
aren't a big deal. However, if you plan on playing a fast action packed
games with a lot of motion, then this could potentially be a problem.
With
games that change a lot, you'll see remnants of the previous screen when
it changes to the new screen. It's not that noticeable when you're using
slow changing menu functions. The screen is bright and clear in dim
conditions. However in sunny weather, the screen becomes a bit washed out.
Keep in mind that most of the Nokia phones have the same resolution and
screen size. This is very similar to previous models such as the 7210, 3650,
or 6610 which were released over a year ago. Thus the display is a bit under
expectations, although it is still very good.
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