Typical price: £310
What is it: A touch-screen media player with a 20GB hard drive and built-in camera
What we think: The M:robe 500i is a beautiful-looking, multifunctional device, but we can't recommend it due to poor overall performance
What you need to know
Reviewed on: 3 March 2005
Tags: Olympus, Olympus M:robe 500i (20GB), headphones, displays, menu items
We like:
Minimal touch-screen design; beautiful interface graphics; built-in 1.2-megapixel camera; neat Remix slide-show mode
We don't like:
Touch screen isn't always responsive; mediocre battery life; bulky; slow processing; must use Olympus M:trip software; cradle is required to recharge device; subpar photo quality
You might also need:
Bigger, better headphones
CNET UK judgement:
The 500i certainly makes a good first impression, thanks to its multifunctionality, its touch-screen display, and its beautiful graphics, but it needs to back them up with better performance
Full review:
IntroCamera maker Olympus has joined the MP3 domain with the genre-bending M:robe 500i, which features a built-in 1.2-megapixel digital camera and a vibrant, touch-sensitive, 3.7-inch VGA colour screen. This multifunctionality as camera, a photo viewer, and an audio player, along with a refined industrial design that features just a single button, makes the 500i one of the most intriguing gadgets we've seen of late. Priced at a premium £310, the 20GB 500i gets high marks for its original approach to music and photos, but issues with the touch-screen interface and overall performance keep us waiting for the next version. Continue Reading...
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