Sorry your browser is not supported!

You are using an outdated browser that does not support modern web technologies, in order to use this site please update to a new browser.

Browsers supported include Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer 10+ or Microsoft Edge.

Geek Culture / Benq Siemens EF81

Author
Message
David T
Retired Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: England
Posted: 6th May 2006 20:45
Link
Anybody got this phone?

My dad's just bought one but ont of hte keys doesn't work so I can only try out little bits of his but from what I've seen it looks absolutely amazing. Like a motorola razr V3 - except with an external screen, nice camera and is even thinner.

At 340eur (£230) from Germany it looks a good buy - especially since it's not out here for a couple of months.

Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
himynameisali
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 9th Nov 2003
Location: England, You...Rastards!
Posted: 6th May 2006 23:02
Link
That phone looks decent,

I might consider getting one

You'd be amazed on how many times I change my forum name
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Dazzag
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Cyprus
Posted: 8th May 2006 01:02
Link
Erm, the V3 does have an external screen... I know because I bought a pink one. Hmmm. Not for me I hasten to add.

Love Moto flips though (had a StarTac and a V50) and am looking to upgrade my oldish Sony effort (the one that spins). But not to Moto though as the software still sucks. I'd noticed the EF81 a while back and totally fancy it as my next phone. Is it as good as the usual Seimens software? Normally is top notch. And how about the camera? Decent enough quality? Finally is the screen of a decent crispness? Only the Sharps and the Sonys have that certain quality of LCD. Everything else seems a little dull to me. Probably because the res is pretty tops.

Anyhows, good phone? Oh, and whats the biggest flash card you can shove in it? (slightly annoying it's inside the phone rather than in a little ejectable side bit like on the Sony).

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
David T
Retired Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: England
Posted: 8th May 2006 22:02
Link
Quote: "Erm, the V3 does have an external screen... I know because I bought a pink one. Hmmm. Not for me I hasten to add. "


Yeah just saw today. Oops! Although it's pretty small - you could use the EF81 pretty much normally without opening it up! (although opening it up allows you to use the bigger screen and keypad).

Quote: "Love Moto flips though (had a StarTac and a V50) and am looking to upgrade my oldish Sony effort (the one that spins). But not to Moto though as the software still sucks. I'd noticed the EF81 a while back and totally fancy it as my next phone. Is it as good as the usual Seimens software?"


Never had a Siemens before however all the reviews say as usual the software is amazing.

Quote: "And how about the camera? Decent enough quality? Finally is the screen of a decent crispness? Only the Sharps and the Sonys have that certain quality of LCD. Everything else seems a little dull to me. Probably because the res is pretty tops. "


I haven't used it too much, mainly before my dad's was broken (the entire right hand side of the keypad was wired to the 'internet' button). I've used it a bit and the screen is great, camera looks v cool (it has a cool flip action, you take pics normally with it closed using the outside screen and you can video call by using the camera when the phone is open).

I have a Sony Ericsson right now and it's true the Sony screens are tops - although the EF81 screen doesn't look too different.


I've ordered one, arriving second half of this week. I'll keep you posted. Mine's from germany, they're out in the UK in June.

Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Pricey
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 22nd Feb 2003
Location:
Posted: 8th May 2006 22:41
Link
siemens phones are the sucks (or at least my experience of them)
all the ones i have used, including the one i have now... suck
they crash all the time and are slow to respond to button presses and there are many major design faults in my model (the SF65, with the swivel screen)

i would go for a motorola, i have had one of these and it was definatly the best designed phone i ever had and with the best software.

:: 3Ghz Pentium 4 / Hyper Threading, 1024mb RAM, 250GB HDD, 256mb Radeon 9600XT Graphics ::


Back to top
Profile PM Email
David T
Retired Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: England
Posted: 9th May 2006 00:03
Link
But the motorola software is a bit dodgy...

Best I've had so far is my Sony Ericsson, always found their design so satisfying and solid, although after using the EF81 I've fallen in love

SE seem to have lost their way recently, just upgrading models rather than bringing out new ones.

Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Dazzag
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Cyprus
Posted: 9th May 2006 20:24
Link
Quote: "with the best software"
Really? I've owned two (including my fave phone the StarTac) and used a V3 quite a lot. And all of them suck big time in the software department. Although not as much as my hated (spit) Samsung E700. Terrible software. I even emailed them how come you cannot get an ID pic to appear when someone phones (you could choose stupid smiley type images instead). They replied saying it was not possible. I replied with "WTF? What is the point of the low quality VGA camera then????". They said you take pictures of your friends to look at. Erm. Right. And no firmware updated. W**kers....

Friends Siemens (that small slidey one) was the biz though. Totally awesome with software. You even had like a file manager/ explorer that totally knocked the nuts of any of the phones I have used, which normally restrict you in one way or another where certain files can go (Sony for example insists on storing the games *only* on internal memory for example, and my 128mb memory stick was completely useless apart from photos basically).

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Pricey
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 22nd Feb 2003
Location:
Posted: 10th May 2006 18:35
Link
i need to see if there is a firmware update for my phone... because in the manual it is pictured using a much nicer looking software... i wonder if i could get that.

:: 3Ghz Pentium 4 / Hyper Threading, 1024mb RAM, 250GB HDD, 256mb Radeon 9600XT Graphics ::


Back to top
Profile PM Email
David T
Retired Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: England
Posted: 11th May 2006 20:59
Link
Arrived today. Wonderful little piece of kit. The main screen is pretty pin sharp, and regions of block colour don't look like a load of pixels in a grid.

The outside screen is awesome. So's the camera. In fact, all round I'm satisfied so far. Worth the £250, when you consider you could pay up to £500 for the top range phonessim free.

Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Dazzag
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Cyprus
Posted: 11th May 2006 21:01
Link
£250? Sim free? Point us in the right direction matey

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
David T
Retired Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: England
Posted: 11th May 2006 21:30 Edited at: 11th May 2006 21:32
Link
eBay - from Germany - 340euro. There's a german phone shop who also sell on ebay, called FreddyTel. Was £250 after postage and paypals fees were added, despatched monday, arrived today.

Only problem is I don't have a UK charger yet. No biggie, just use a transformer until I ccan get out and buy a siemens uk charger.

Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Back to top

Login to post a reply

Server time is: 2024-11-17 00:35:00
Your offset time is: 2024-11-17 00:35:00