Eten G500+ Comprehensive Review of Features Pricing Pros & Cons

Design and Build

The Eten G500+ is a representation of the design sensibilities common in mid-2000s technology. With dimensions of 119 x 62 x 23 mm, the device is moderately large, suggesting a substantial presence in hand. It weighs 191 grams, making it solid but not overly cumbersome. The Mini-SIM card support is indicative of the period, a commonality before the advent of micro and nano SIMs.

Display

The Eten G500+ sports a 2.8-inch TFT resistive touchscreen. With a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels at approximately 143 ppi density, it offers modest clarity and color rendition typical of its era. The resistive technology, unlike capacitive touch technology used today, means the screen responds to pressure, allowing for stylus inputs, common for devices using the Windows Mobile platform at the time.

Performance

Under the hood, the G500+ operates with a Samsung S3C 2440 processor clocked at 400 MHz. This processor is in line with what was common in PDAs (personal digital assistants) and smartphones of that era. It offers limited power by today's standards but was capable of handling the basic tasks on Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC like email, browsing, and basic applications.

Operating System

Running Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 PocketPC, the G500+ was part of a generation of devices bridging the gap between traditional phones and modern smartphones. The OS provided users with features like multitasking, a file explorer, and support for a suite of productivity tools adapted from the desktop Windows experience.

Memory and Storage

The device comes with 64MB of RAM and 256MB of ROM, which was relatively standard at the time. While insufficient for the intensive apps today, these specs ensured smooth operation for available applications and basic multitasking. Expansion was possible through a miniSD card slot, allowing users to increase storage for media and applications.

Camera

With a 1.3 MP main camera accompanied by an LED flash, the G500+ camera features are rudimentary by current standards. However, it allowed for basic photography and videography. The presence of the flash helped improve photography in low light, a valued feature at the time despite the comparatively low resolution.

Connectivity and Network

The Eten G500+ supports GSM networks with 2G bands (850/900/1800/1900), making it versatile worldwide. GPRS (Class 10) connectivity allowed for basic internet usage. However, the device lacks EDGE support, meaning data transfer speeds were significantly slower than the EDGE-enabled devices of the time.

Positioning and Navigation

One of the standout features of the G500+ is its GPS support, powered by the SiRF Star III chipset. At the time, built-in GPS was a relatively novel addition to mobile devices, offering significant appeal to users needing navigation capabilities without external hardware.

Battery Life

The device features a removable Li-Ion 1440 mAh battery. With stand-by times up to 200 hours and talk times of up to 4 hours, the battery life is decent for its class. Removable batteries allow users the flexibility of carrying spares, a practice not as convenient in modern, unibody-designed phones.

Audio and Media

The G500+ comes with a loudspeaker and supports vibration alerts, downloadable polyphonic, and MP3 ringtones. However, it lacks a 3.5mm jack, a common limitation at the time, requiring proprietary adapters for personal audio listening. The stereo FM radio with RDS capability provides live radio streaming, enhancing the device's media flexibility.

Conclusion

The Eten G500+ encapsulates the transitional era of mobile devices, preceding smartphones' explosive advancement. Its blend of telecommunication, GPS navigation, and PDA functionalities made it a powerful companion for business users and early tech adopters. While its specs and capabilities may seem modest today, the G500+ was an integral step in evolving mobile technology.