Test report and technical data Siemens SL42i
The Siemens SL42i in silver: Something for the eye with a lot of features
Positive about the Siemens SL42i: design, processing, good sound quality, memory capacity, excellent equipment
Negative about the Siemens SL42i: slow processor, organiser too small, keypad, IrDA doesn't work with the Siemens Software
I guess it's better not to tell u guys, why my boy-friend fell in love with the Siemens SL42i, but I guess I can tell u why I can't let go of that Siemens SL42i. U shall get to the story right away:
The sound quality of the Siemens SL42i is damn good, u can even communicate with the Siemens SL42i in jammed night clubs, since u can regulate the volume of the Siemens SL42i during a call.
Something on the reception of the Siemens SL42i: in border areas of the network some problems might occur with the Siemens SL42i, coz the connection with the Siemens SL42i will just collapse. It really didn't happen often. Once it occurred, and I couldn't be heard on the other line, however I still don't know whether this was a failure of my Siemens SL42i or a failure of the mobile on the other line.
During a vacation in Ibiza some sand got stuck in the body of my Siemens SL42i. The Siemens SL42i could be better sealed indeed. Whoever goes for Nokia will miss exchangeable covers with the Siemens SL42i.
Same problem with the SIM-card holder of the Siemens SL42i. The SIM-card does not adjust properly to the casing of the Siemens SL42i coz it sits a bit unsteady. I already had the very same problem with the predecessor of the Siemens SL42i and I used a piece of paper to re-steady my SIM-card. It does help, but that kind of improvising is actually not Siemens-like.
The screen of the Siemens SL42i has a very good contrast, the font however is a bit too small. A bigger font can only be chosen for the menu of the Siemens SL42i. The screen of the Siemens SL42i glimmers especially nice during the night, since u can chose between 6 different brightness-grades with the Siemens SL42i. Thus brightness and contrast of the screen of the Siemens SL42i are just perfect with the Siemens SL42i.
The keypad of the Siemens SL42i is made of a silver synthetic material and the keypad is better accessible than one would assume. At first I feared that I would never hit the right key of the Siemens SL42i, since the keys are arranged very close to another. But my fear was soon proven unnecessary. One thing however is regrettable about the keypad of the Siemens SL42i, it can't cope with fast entries. That has often been critcized with Siemens mobiles and the reason for that could be a slow processor.
The structure of the menu of the Siemens SL42i is easy to be understood and followed. The user manual is completely unnecessary for Siemens-users. Especially nice about the menu is the very easy navigation through the menu of the Siemens SL42i.
There are 10 graphic symbols for the SMS of the Siemens SL42i, which however only work with other Siemens mobiles. Users of other mobiles will not see the symbols, but the symbol will be replaced with its term (e.g. flower / holiday).
Equipment and technical data of the Siemens SL42i:
A true innovation for that kind of Siemens mobile: the Siemens SL42i features the java-application and a multimedia-card. U are able to listen to about 30 min. of MP3s thanks to the huge memory capacity (16 MB) of the Siemens SL42i.
Of course the Siemens SL42i offers various standardized functions, such as a WAP-browser (1.1), vibratory alert, T9, predefined messages, caller groups, clock with date and alarm, chronometer, integrated modem (sadly only 9600 bps), IrDA-interface, calculator and currency converter, voice-dailling, voice-memo, voice-command (for MP3 and dictaphone) etc.
7 games (Super Ming, Move the Bow, Wacko, Homerun, Reversi, Quattropoli and MAze) are part of the Siemens SL42i, 39 predefined ringer melodies and 3 composable ringer tones as well as picture messages allow a lot of fun with the Siemens SL42i. By the way, numerous ringer tones can be saved on the Memory Card of the Siemens SL42i, only the number of "active" ringer tones on the Siemens SL42i is reduced to three.
And in addition to that the Siemens SL42i just looks breathtaking and adjusts perfectly to my palm. With its silver colour and the great display, the Siemens SL42i gives us a taste of the future. Aside from the slightly weird keypad of the Siemens SL42i I would buy the Siemens SL42i again any time.
Test-review of the Siemens SL42i:
Technical features: ++++
Reception quality: ++++
Ease of use: +++
Battery stand-by time: ++++
Design: ++++
Instruction manual: +++
Value for money: +++
Overall rating: +++/++++
++++/excellent, +++/good, ++/satisfactory, +/poor
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