PocketMatrix Reviews the Orange C500

[Mike Temporale]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pocketmatrix.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=19590' target='_blank'>http://www.pocketmatrix.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=19590</a><br /><br /></div><i>"I've been extremely impressed with the build quality of the C500. In-hand the phone is comfortable, and the keys are soft to touch. The paint finish on the phone's body has not worn at all. There has been some wear on the end button, but it's hardly noticeable. Don't let the phone's size fool you—it's solid as a rock. I accidentally dropped it off the bleachers at a local University basketball game from 15 feet onto hardwood floor. I was expecting the worst: a broken screen. Not only is the screen fine, but there's hardly even a scratch anywhere on the phone! This could possibly be an isolated case of luck, but it appears the build quality has definitely improved over previous models."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20041315-PocketMatrixC500-Review.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />Chris Edwards puts his new C500 through it's paces and the C500 seems to have preformed very well, especially at the <i>free fall</i> event! :lol: Has anyone here put their new Smartphone through the tough-enough test?

[ThatTree]

I dropped my Audiovox SMT 5600 a few feet onto a tile floor. No screen damage (maybe thanks to JavoEdge protector), but one corner of the black phone body has a scratch that seemed to pick up the tile color -- and that Novus plastic polish can't get out.

My paint wear is on the upper-right surface of the very center, most raised part of the rocker pad. So far it's not visible at all angles or at night, but I wish that the rocker pad had been just a solid color throughout rather than painted.

And of course there's plenty of dust under the screen; thankfully this is (also) not visible at night or easily seen indoors.

I wish I had as good an experience as did Chris, but I'm still happy overall because the phone is great.

[Chris Edwards]

Yeah, I've had the phone for over 2 months now, and haven't noticed any dust. Having an iPAQ 3650 in past years, I'm glad that I don't have any dust in my phone :).

[kennyg]

I thought this was sounding fantastic but, my coworker got one and paired it with a blue tooth headset and forever after would keep jumping into 'headset' mode at seemingly random times. Even when switched into 'silent' it would go into 'eadset' and alarms and calls would disrupt the meeting. He has since returned the phone.

Kenny.

[nikjones]

I thought this was sounding fantastic but, my coworker got one and paired it with a blue tooth headset and forever after would keep jumping into 'headset' mode at seemingly random times. Even when switched into 'silent' it would go into 'eadset' and alarms and calls would disrupt the meeting. He has since returned the phone.

Kenny.

My C500 did a similar thing - after pairing, even with Bluetooth off, it was stuck in Headset mode - wouldn't let me switch to any other mode. Did a Hard reset - not documented in the manual, I was annoyed to find, and everything now fine.

RE the drop test - this is why I wanted a Smartphone - I doubt a touchscreen would've fared so well.

Nik