The Sagem my501c is an entry- to mid-level clamshell handset similar to the Virgin Lobster 544 in terms of its design and features. If you want a cheap handset with some useful extras then this is worth a look.
It's currently available at Orange on pay as you go for £60.
Design
The my501c consists of a classic clamshell design with smooth edges and a simple colour scheme. It's divided into different shades of matte grey and reflective silver. As with most entry- to mid-level handsets, it's a little plasticky, but it does feel like it could take a few knocks and drops.
The front section of the my501c features a 1.3-megapixel camera at the top, surrounded by a reflective silver section. Further down there's a small OLED colour screen in the middle of the front section that displays battery life and signal strength, call and message alerts and the time and date.
On the left side of the my501c there's a volume rocker that lets you adjust call and music volume, and underneath it is a dedicated music button. The music button gives you direct access to the music player, which can be heard using the proprietary headset that plugs into the bottom right of the phone, or the loud speaker at the top of the reverse. Aside from listening to music, the loudspeaker can also be used during calls in amplified mode, increasing the volume of your caller's voice.
At the bottom of the my501c is a Mini-USB port that not only lets you connect the handset to your PC to transfer files and use it as a modem, but it will also charge the battery. This is particularly useful if you forget your charger -- USB cables are quite common these days -- however be warned: the my501c will not charge from a USB cable if the battery is very low.
The inside section of the my501c houses a colour screen and keypad. The bright colour screen measures 28mm by 35mm and sits in the top section of the open clamshell. On the bottom section is the navigation key, soft keys and alphanumeric keypad. The keypad area has a wave-like theme that, aside from adding a touch of style, makes using the keys feel good. The navigation key is a simple circle slightly smaller than a ten-pence piece, and while not a particularly original design, is easy to press.
As with most entry-level clamshell phones the hinge on the my501c is rather ugly and doesn't have the finesse of phones like the Motorola Razr V3. Indeed, this phone does lack something in terms of design -- it's functional but it won't get you noticed.
Features
While the my501c doesn't have high-spec features, it does have a wide range to choose from. There's a 1.3-megapixel camera that shoots basic snapshots and takes video; a music player that plays MP3 and AAC files; an expandable microSD slot so you can store all your pictures and music; Bluetooth connectivity so you can use a Bluetooth headset or send files to friends; and GPRS so you can browse the Web using the WAP browser.
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User reviews3
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Philippa Jones 7 August 2008
Good: That fact that it is as good as other phones
Bad: It broke, well the speaker did anyway, i can't hear anything on calls
Comment: I've had this phone since March '07 and as a clumsy person im pretty pleased that it lasted this long! I drop it all the time and the battery cover now falls off when you tap the phone on a hard surface, this is of course enitrely my own fault! when i am nervous i slide it on and off! the games are nothing exiting but everything else works brilliantly!
JOHN CALLOW 29 December 2006
Good: It' a clam type
Bad: Not the easiest to understand
Comment: It does the job as a phone with Bluetooth to run hands free on
Gordon Jackson 17 November 2006
Good: The look, the feel, the two colour screen functions, the cameras, the games, the video playback.
Bad: The operating system, it is HORRIBLE!
Comment: I've been using mobiles now since they were analogue only and conversations could be intercepted on scanners. I've had Nokia, Motorola, Alcatel, LG, Samsung, Phillips. This was my first (and probably last) Sagem.
I bought the my501c brand new as a replacement for my previous LG 3300 flip phone, which was a great little flip phone. On taking it out of the box I was immediately impressed with the look, the size, the weight and the feel of the phone. Open or closed it looked great and felt like it would be equally comfortable to use for long periods talking, texting, watching videos or playing games. The keypad layout was great with nice contoured buttons equally suited to large or small fingers.
In went the sim card and a 256mb transflash card and I switched it on. Oh dear, on came a horrible screen backdrop which I changed to one a little less horrible. The icons in the menu system looked like they were designed by a 3 year old using spilled paints. And the heavily text based menu system did nothing to ease the pain on the eyes. Accessing anything was unneccessarily long-winded, and none of the options or selections seemed to make sense or follow any logical path. The camera and video picture quality didn't match the spec they've been given by the manufacturer either.
I haven't even used it long enough to listen to any of the sounds or ringtones so if they turn out to be fantastic, sorry Sagem, but they'll need to sound like a fanfare of Heavenly trumpets to redeem the unfriendly OS.
I don't need a mobile to come with a steep learning curve, mobiles should be instantly easy to use, even those with multiple features.
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