Smartphone Thoughts: Metallic Marvel: The Dopod 595 Reviewed

Product Category: Tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE + single-band UMTS Smartphone
Manufacturer: Dopod
Where to Buy: 3 (Australia) or other authorized Dopod sellers
Price: $603 USD (or $785 AUD) from 3 (Australia); varies from store to store
System Requirements: Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, or Windows Vista; USB port
Specifications: Windows Mobile 5.0 (Smartphone), Samsung S3C2442A 300MHz CPU, 64MB RAM, 128MB ROM, tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE + single-band UMTS (and undocumented support for HSDPA), 2.2" QVGA (65K-colour) TFT-LCD, 1.3-megapixel CMOS camera (primary), 0.1-megapixel CMOS camera (secondary), Bluetooth 2.0 (with A2DP & AVRCP), IrDA, microSD, USB 1.1, 112.4mm x 49.0mm x 14.8mm, 120g (with battery)

Pros:
[*]Supports UMTS + HSDPA;[*]Slim form factor;[*]Fast performance;[*]Bright, high-resolution display.
Cons:
[*]Tri-band GSM;[*]Poor battery life;[*]All-in-one Mini-USB port limits the use of third-party accessories;[*]Backlight lacks uniformity.
Summary:
The Dopod 595 (HTC Breeze) is proof that there's still a place in the market for non-QWERTY candy bar Smartphones. It's slim, looks professional, and is a solid performer, but unfortunately, it's not all rosy. Curious? Read on to find out!