Comparative review of E-TEN M600+ and E-TEN G500+

Shortly after we published reviews of two Pocket PCs from E-TEN Corp, namely E-TEN M600 and E-TEN G500, we have here a duo of their successors. The differences between the "old" and the "new" models are minute; that is why I opted for a brief comparative review of all four in one article, rather than standalone big reviews.

I would like to thank Sunnysoft, a Czech-based mobile solutions company, and Eshop, a local vendor of E-TEN devices, for lending me the two specimens for review purposes.

Please note: The E-TEN M600+ had an English ROM version WWE_100_0230, the E-TEN G500+ had an English ROM version WWE_100_0061. All parameters, benchmarks, applications and screenshots herein pertain to those systems. Other versions may carry different features and/or yield different results.

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E-TEN M600+

This device is a successor to the E-TEN M600, which a range of wireless communications, including a GSM/GPRS, WiFi, and Bluetooth modules. The main differences between the two models are listed in the table below.

Feature	E-TEN M600	E-TEN M600+
Weight	165 grams	174 grams
OS version	Windows Mobile 5	Windows Mobile 5 AKU2
Integrated camera	1,3MPix (1280x960 bodů)	2,0MPix (1600x1200 bodů)
Memory	64MB RAM, 128MB FlashROM	64MB RAM, 256MB FlashROM
Bluetooth version	Bluetooth 1.2	Bluetooth 2.0

As for the design, there are just minor differences, such as the aforementioned inscriptions, and increased weight of the new model due to innovated features (174 grams).

The M600+ boasts better parameters. Whereas the processor is the same, a Samsung S3C2440 running at 400MHz, the M600+ offers 256 MB of the crucial NAND-type FlashROM memory, which is double the amount found in its predecessor. In addition, this is slightly faster in write operations (approx. 8 % gain). After a hardware reset, the user can access exactly 32 MB of RAM and 182 MB of FlashROM. Also new is a factory reset utility - instead of thumb-breaking combinations of buttons, you just activate a utility called Default Settings (how inventive a name:), enter a check number as a prevention of accidental resets, and reboot. The device will return to its pristine shape.

The new E-TEN carries a welcome innovation for those who need to use it as a modem for their laptop. Whereas the M600 worked as a modem only when connected over the USB cable (and not very reliably, either), its successor works as a modem over Bluetooth as well (now in version 2.0 with greater speed and lower consumption). It is relatively slow (GPRS only) but stable over Bluetooth as well as USB.

The phone does not offer anything new but a SIIM contact manager. The AKU2 update, which is kind of service pack for the Windows Mobile operating system, brings about Push Email, a technology that works with an Exchange server to keep your emails and contacts up-to-date without your active participation. How it works? When an e-mail arrives, the Exchange server will force the device to synchronise and deliver the message to your mobile mailbox. Another addition, which may have appeared in the latest versions of the ROM in the M600, I am not sure, is Connection Wizard that contains a database of internet connection settings for a long list of cellular operators. A press of a button is all it takes to set up data connection with your operator without any special technical knowledge.

Let's take a look at the camera now. If you are not new to this site, you probably know my dismissive attitude towards integrated digital cameras, which are generally of very poor quality. That is also the reason why I am suspicious about every new pocket device fitted with a digital camera, the more after having taken a few snaps with the E-TEN M600. A switch from 1.3 MPix to 2 MPix is not a big deal if you see it on paper in technical specs. One should bear in mind that the maximum resolution has little to do with the quality of images, especially if the camera uses this type of tiny plastic lens. In other words, higher resolution does not automatically mean higher quality. Nevertheless, I was astonished by the images taken with the E-TEN M600+ and proclaimed it the king of camera-equipped Windows Mobile PDAs I have ever seen. This one, and perhaps the recently reviewed HP iPAQ rx3715, deserves to be called a real mobile camera. Check the photos below and judge (images are scaled down, the original ones are available for download here [6355KB]).

So, what do you think? Do you like the photos? I do. Naturally, you can find some minor drawbacks (the camera is not suitable for close-range photos and could have been faster - for instance, the photo with the tram was taken in the moment when the whole tram was in the left half of the photo). Nevertheless, these are negligible issues completely overshadowed by the quality of the photos. The E-TEN produces photos with perfect sharpness, excellent colours, minimum aberrations, and other positive features unusual in cameras integrated in PDAs. Besides, the camera is very fast. Just great!

The E-TEN M600+ sells for around $520 USD, which is the last difference from the M600. Applications are the same (or just updated, in some cases), so are the bundled accessories. Battery, time on battery, and other parameters are absolutely identical.

Summing, up, the E-TEN M600 was a strong, well balanced device. Its successor, the E-TEN M600+, takes many of the positive features a step further. First of all, I should mention the integrated digital camera of unique qualities that makes the device an idol of amateur photographers. 256 MB of memory for data and applications is the biggest amount you would see in any Pocket PC (with the exception of some specialised navigation PDAs). That's good news because storage space can never be large enough. A significant improvement is a new Bluetooth profile that makes it possible to use the device as a modem for dial-up connection. It is a pity E-TEN designers did not include this feature to it to it before.

Other changes are more or less cosmetic. A new version of the operating system can hardly be considered an innovation. All in all, the E-TEN M600+ is a step in the right direction, having gained on attraction for a broader target group. It can be expected to be a worthy competitor of stronger brands on the tight market.

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E-TEN G500+

The other new device under scrutiny is based on the E-TEN G500 and integrates a GSM/GPRS module and GPS satellite navigation including support for the TMC traffic information system. There is not revolutionary innovation, as is the impressive camera in the M600+ (G500 and G500+ have the same camera), but all the changes can be called improvements. All the changes are listed in the table below. Some of them are the same as those between the M600 and M600+, which is why I won't elaborate very much.

Feature	E-TEN G500	E-TEN G500+
OS version	Windows Mobile 5	Windows Mobile 5 AKU2
Memory	64MB RAM, 128MB FlashROM	64MB RAM, 256MB FlashROM
Bluetooth version	Bluetooth 2.0	Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR

As for the design, there are negligible differences between the old and the new model. The appealing (or appalling?) blue frame around the display has remained in place, so the only visible change is the name of the model below the display.

The G500+'s parameters are absolutely the same as those of the M600+. The processor is a Samsung S3C2440 running at 400 MHz. The data and application memory (NAND-type FlashROM) is now 256 MB instead of 128 MB in the M600. After a hard reset, the user can access 30 MB of RAM and 193 MB of FlashROM. Those nearly 200 MB of free storage memory is good news. If you load maps of just a few countries you really need instead of, say, the whole Europe, your navigation application should be able to go without a memory card. The G500+, too, is easy to return to the factory defaults using the Default Settings utility, which is the same as in the M600+.

The phone module is also the same, with two new applications: SIM Manager and Connection Wizard. Corporate users will probably welcome the AKU2 update of the operating system with support for Push email from an Exchange Server.

The GPS module has not changed, either: it is identical with that integrated in the G500. Users of Destinator 6 will be able to enjoy their ride without traffic jams thanks to TMC. However, other navigation applications do not support this implementation of TMC. On the other hand, unlike to the G500, I was able to connect the NaviLock BT-313T GPS receiver to the G500+ over Bluetooth. The NaviLock includes a TMC module that works with Dynavix, so I could test this functionality in real life.

Those who would like to listen to FM radio on their Pocket PC will appreciate a new application that looks much better and offers up to 150 presets.

The last change is Bluetooth 2.0, which supports faster transmission speeds. However, unlike the M600+, the G500+'s Bluetooth driver lacks the dial-up networking profile. That means you can use the device as a modem only via the USB cable. Nevertheless, I suspect the DUN profile may appear as part of a system update in the future.

If you will ever be deciding between the M600+ and the G500+, the price is unlikely to be a factor. The G500+ has not been launched yet when I am writing this review, but the device is expected to sell for around $520 USD, like the M600+.

Other changes are only cosmetic, if there are any. The E-TEN G500+ does not boast any breaking feature, such as the M600+'s excellent camera (all right, no further mentions of the camera:) However, every change is an improvement, including larger memory, faster Bluetooth, and a new version of the operating system.

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In conclusion

It seems that E-TEN has started positioning itself as a competitor that should be taken seriously on the Pocket PC market - let's wait for their next model. I should note that I tested all the features mentioned herein the same way as in a traditional review. However, it would be uneconomical to produce big comprehensive reviews of virtually identical devices, which is why I opted for this format. Don't forget to check our site again soon because more reviews of nifty gadgets are on their way:)

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