Comments on Samsung F480

Ok, this is not an economics topic, or anything related to my 'original posts'. I test drive a Samsung HP F480 and part of the condition attached is I have to do a review of the HP in my blog. So here it goes:

Pros:

• Aesthetically appealing (I love the leather cover & the half metal casing looks cool)
• Small and Light (although Ultra edition still trumps.)
• Alternative to Samsung Omnia (which I am currently using)
• 5MP Camera, no more bringing out of digital camera
• Interface considered quite intuitive
  

Cons:

• Screen not very responsive sometimes.
  
• Does not run on Windows mobile = limited applications.
  
• The camera function of Samsung still lose out to Sony Ericsson and Nokia. This applies to the Omnia too. The flash is simply a LED, far inferior to Sony Ericsson's Cyber-shot Xenon flash. The shots becomes very pixeated when using the zoom for photos/ videos recordings. (the digital camera market is still very safe!) This also implies night shots are lousy.
  
• Touch screen is a killer for people with thick fingers. And there is no stylus! I tried to use my Omnia stylus and strangely, it doesn't work! Apparently the screen only works with fingers (some heat detecting technology?).
  
• The small screen of F480 means people will only buy it for the better aesthetic appeal (though it's subjective) and a pain to use especially when sms-ing. Omnia will almost definitely cannibalize the product. LG's Soul looks almost exactly the same as F480 minus the leather design (which gives F480 the edge).
• It's obviously a phone for women. Guys will go for Omnia, since it's more masculine and functional.
  

For some videos on Youtube.

A Personal Comment:
I think the Ultra edition is wonderful. I used the U600 before it spoils (just a couple of months after warranty ends...I hope the same thing don't happen for my Omnia or else I'll suspect Samsung is deliberately causing their products to fail) and out of novelty, I bought the so called 'i-Phone killer' Samsung Omnia. From what I know, Samsung has stopped producing the Ultra edition which to me is a pity. Samsung seems to be rolling out touchscreen phones as the main focus with the Omnia, Innov8 and then this F480 (it's newer than Omnia apparently).

In short, I'll prefer Omnia over F480 any time.