Brandon Miniman | January 2, 2008 12:02 AM
The idea of a BlackJack Slider, that is, a device similar in appearance and specifications to the original BlackJack but with a slide out keyboard, is a great idea. One doesn’t always need to type on the keyboard, so why not hide it away for when text entry is needed and save some space in the process? Enter the SGH-i620 from Samsung, a device slated for release in the UK on the Vodafone network. What is to follow is a compilation of the video reviews that we performed on the device.
INTRODUCTION
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Device
|
Size (inches)
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Weight (grams | ounces)
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4.44" x 2.47" x 0.52"
|
132 | 4.65
|
|
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4.44" x 2.27" x 0.63"
|
156 | 5.61
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|
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4.74" x 2.63" x 0.43"
|
157 | 5.53
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|
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4.33" x 2.09" x 0.59"
|
117 | 4.12
|
|
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4.66" x 2.48" x 0.47"
|
130 | 4.58
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|
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4.56" x 2.33" x 0.67"
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188 | 6.63
|
|
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4.64" x 2.36" x 0.48"
|
129 | 4.55
|
|
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3.96" x 2.34" x 0.67"
|
133 | 4.76
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|
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4.68" x 2.44" x 0.67"
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188 | 6.63
|
|
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4.58" x 2.42" x 0.47"
|
120 | 4.20
|
|
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4.56" x 2.33" x 0.65"
|
178 | 6.28
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|
|
3.92" x 2.41" x 0.60"
|
137 | 4.83
|
|
|
4.24" x 2.09" x 0.53"
|
117 | 4.12
|
|
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4.17" x 2.00" x 0.85"
|
151 | 5.34
|
|
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4.41" x 2.24" x 0.49"
|
122 | 4.30
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|
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4.57" x 1.70" x 0.64"
|
140 | 4.94
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|
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4.88" x 2.44" x 0.53"
|
130 | 4.56
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|
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4.21" x 2.20" x 0.55"
|
120 | 4.20
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|
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4.53" x 2.47" x 0.47"
|
146 | 5.15
|
|
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4.63" x 2.19" x 0.67"
|
158 | 5.57
|
|
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4.35" x 2.07" x 0.67"
|
158 | 5.57
|
|
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4.56" x 2.41" x 0.51"
|
125 | 4.41
|
|
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4.44" x 2.36" x 0.55"
|
133 | 4.69
|
|
|
4.01" x 1.98" x 0.55"
|
124 | 4.37
|
|
|
8.28" x 4.67" x 1.08"
|
640 | 22.5
|
|
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4.48" x 2.52" x 0.59"
|
154 | 5.43
|
|
|
4.17" x 2.38" x 0.68"
|
147 | 5.18
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|
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4.01" x 2.00" x 0.71"
|
165 | 5.82
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|
|
4.41" x 2.24" x 0.49"
|
122 | 4.30
|
|
|
4.41" x 2.28" x 0.73"
|
140 | 4.94
|
|
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4.01" x 2.00" x 0.45"
|
110 | 3.88
|
|
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4.56" x 2.36" x 0.70"
|
200 | 7.05
|
|
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4.30" x 2.40" x 0.60"
|
120 | 4.23
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|
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4.20" x 2.30" x 0.60"
|
136 | 4.79
|
|
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3.70" x 2.30" x 0.60"
|
126 | 4.44
|
|
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4.48" x 2.39" x 0.51"
|
116 | 4.09
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|
|
4.60" x 2.60" x 0.50"
|
134 | 4.70
|
|
|
4.10" x 2.10" x 0.60"
|
150 | 5.30
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|
|
4.40" x 2.32" x 0.75"
|
190 | 6.70
|
PRODUCT FEATURES
The obligatory unboxing video.
In Part 1, I look at hardware on the phone.
In this video, I talk about using the heat-sensitive buttons and rotary scroll wheel, and also explain an annoyance with the keys locking too easily. I also reveal that the phone is triband, lacking the GSM850 band, which may make the phone unable to access a 3G network in parts of the US.
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In Part 3, I go over the software that’s built into the i620, including the Samsung Homescreen, Task Manager, Opera browser, and ClearVue suite for document viewing. The processor of the i620 is about two times faster than the BlackJack, at 400MHz. I can report that the i620 feels significantly faster than the BlackJack, probably 40-50% faster. If you’re in the US and want an i620, head on over to Negri Electronics where it’s selling for $552.50. If you’re in the UK, the i620 will be on Vodafone soon. Check this page for more details. I really, really like this phone. I’m a BlackJack fanatic, and anything that improves upon its form factor is a potential winner for me. Trouble is, I can’t use this phone because it doesn’t have the GSM850 band, meaning that I cannot connect to the internet at 3G speeds. What’s worse is that the lack of 850 band means that I experience a lot of call drops and reception issues. If you’re in Europe and a triband phone isn’t a problem for you, the i620 is a fantastic choice. If you’re in the US, I’d start praying that a quadband version drops soon (or at all)!
PURCHASING
PROS
Great form factor
Heat-sensitive buttons
Rotary scroll wheel
Good build quality
CONS
No GSM850 band
Flat keys on the keyboard
Low speaker volume
No GPS or WiFi
Value
Ease
of Use 
Features
Overall
OVERALL IMPRESSION
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