Olympus M:robe 500i (20GB) review

What you need to know

Reviewed by: James Kim

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...