Unveiling Eten M550 Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Overview

The Eten M550 was an advanced PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) device in its era, launching in April 2006. It was primarily designed for business professionals and tech enthusiasts who needed handheld computing power on the go. The device was discontinued later, but it left a mark in the niche market of Windows-based handheld devices.

Design and Build

The Eten M550 features a compact design with dimensions of 112 x 61 x 22 mm and a weight of 165 grams, making it portable and easy to carry. It comes with a Mini-SIM slot and provides an aesthetic appeal with its classic white color. The device is equipped with a removable Li-Ion 1440 mAh battery, promising reasonable battery life: up to 200 hours of standby time and up to 4 hours of talk time.

Display

The device has a 2.8-inch TFT resistive touchscreen, offering 65K colors with a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels. Although the display's screen-to-body ratio is about 35.5%, the display quality was considered decent for its time, providing satisfactory visuals for everyday tasks and applications.

Processor and Operating System

Under the hood, the Eten M550 is powered by a Samsung 2440 processor clocked at 400 MHz. This processing power was efficient for running Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 PocketPC, the operating system installed on the device. This OS was known for its user-friendly interface and capability to run various productivity applications, making it suitable for professional use.

Memory and Storage

The device comes with 64MB of RAM and 128MB of ROM for internal storage. Memory expansion is supported through an SD/SDIO card slot, allowing users to store more data, applications, and multimedia files. Although modest by today's standards, these specifications were quite adequate for the pre-smartphone era.

Connectivity Options

The Eten M550 is equipped with GSM technology supporting 2G bands, covering GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900. It offers GPRS Class 10 for data connectivity but lacks EDGE support. Although it does not feature Wi-Fi, it includes Bluetooth 1.2 for short-range data exchange and connectivity with other devices.

Camera

Equipped with a 1.3 MP main camera, the Eten M550 was capable of capturing photos, albeit with limited quality by modern standards. It includes an LED flash to assist in low-light conditions. However, the device does not have a selfie camera, which illustrates the different priorities of device specifications during its time.

Sound and Alerts

The device features a loudspeaker and supports vibration alerts alongside downloadable polyphonic and MP3 ringtones. However, it lacks a 3.5mm audio jack, a common standard even at that time, which might have required the use of an adapter for private listening.

Browser and Applications

With a built-in HTML browser (PocketIE), users could browse the internet though with limitations typical of early mobile browsers. Windows Mobile OS supported various productivity applications, crucial for business users needing access to documents and emails. The system could host additional third-party apps to increase functionality.

Overall Performance

The Eten M550 might seem outdated by today's standards, yet it was highly regarded in its time for its robust set of features aimed at business users. The absence of modern connectivity features like Wi-Fi and more advanced multimedia capabilities might limit its appeal today, but the device was a pioneer in offering portable computing to professionals needing to stay connected with work on the go.

Conclusion

In retrospect, the Eten M550 constitutes a significant piece of technology history. It represents a step in the evolution towards modern smartphones, emphasizing productivity and connectivity in a mobile form factor. While it has been surpassed by later technological advancements, the Eten M550 remains a testament to the innovative spirit of its time, catering to a market niche with specific needs in mobile communication and computing.