Posted by Mia in Modest, elegant, graceful – these definitions are suitable for the new communicator from Rover Computers. This device runs Windows Mobile 6.0 and has a very attractive price for its class.
Construction
In fact, RoverPC S6 has a twin brother – the communicator Lenovo ET600, released only for the Chinese market. But unlike it, the device from Russian brand has its own complete set.
As Lenovo is one of the largest manufacturers of computer electronics in the world, there is no need to worry about the quality of this novelty. Indeed, if you hold RoverPC S6, you can feel that you do not hold a plastic toy, with which the market is filled but a solid weighty (128 grams) device. The build quality of this communicator can be assessed a firm “excellent”! Even the more expensive devices may envy this novelty.
RoverPC S6 seems to be quite voluminous (110x59x15, 8 mm), but due to the rounded shell the device is simply perfect in the hand. In this case the index finger and thumb clearly fall into two blocs of control buttons.
The buttons are decorated in accordance with the style of the communicator – it seems that designers have worked on this device.
Now let’s talk about the design … RoverPC S6 is made of high quality and very pleasant to touch plastic, and the front panel is covered with metal. The main color is purple metallic unobtrusive light shade. The sides of the case are decorated with a wide silver border, where control buttons are placed. There is a camera activation button, and “reception / retreat” rocker. Of course, the location is a bit puzzling, but as it turned out during the operation, there is nothing uncomfortable about it.
Another cluster of four buttons and a multifunction joystick is located below the display. All buttons of RoverPC S6 have the best short course and excellent tactile feedback – tactile feedback is very clear. The same applies to the joystick.
It has a microSD slot for memory expansion, and the proprietary interface to connect the device to a computer located at the lower end which is closed with plastic plugs. Here (in the lower right corner) is located and the metal telescopic stylus.
Unfortunately, we could not find a separate audio output on the shell. It turned out that the headset is connected directly to the interface connector without an adapter. This means that in case of losing or damaging the headsets you have to make friends with a soldering iron, or … find a new one. In addition, the headset from the package can not compete with headphones Koss or AKG.
Display
LCD touch screen with 240×320 pixels, 2.8″ diagonal, which is one-tenth more than most competitors have. However, this is not the most important feature. The display supports for 262 thousand colors and has an excellent color reproduction.
The contrast and brightness allows you not only enjoy viewing photos, but even working with ordinary office programs. The brightness of the display is regulated in a very wide range, so it is comfortable to work with the communicator in a dark room, and in bright sunlight. Certainly in the latter case, the screen fades, but this is typical for any LCD panel.
RoverPC S6 is built on a processor from the Texas Instruments company, as some other smartphones and communicators from Rover Computers. OMAP 750 processor has a frequency of 200 MHz and does not pull serious calculations. But in order to work in the office programs this is quite enough.
There is 64 MB RAM and 128 MB ROM – a standard size of memory for communicators. Well, to expand the memory the user can take Micro SD.
Performance of the device was tested using Spb Benchmark.
Spb Benchmark index 268
CPU index 975
File system index 98
Graphics index 2359
As expected, the results are not very high. However, the novelty is quite suitable for listening to music, and for reading electronic books, as well as for watching movies. It is unlikely that someone would do mathematical calculations with this device, somewhere in the underground.
But for the purposes of office, this device fits very well. By the way, as we already mentioned, RoverPC S6 runs the operating system Windows Mobile 6.0, which comes with an expanded package of Office Mobile, which includes not only Word and Excel, but also a package for working with PowerPoint presentations in the Mobile-version.
Communication abilities
The device operates in GSM: 900/1800/1900, supports GPRS, and also has a traditional set of wireless communication interfaces: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Contact for all these interfaces is carried out without any problems, but some details still saddened. Thus, the novelty does not support GPRS called EDGE. In addition, Bluetooth is fairly new to the old version 1.2, and therefore works relatively slowly.
Camera
Camera is located on the reverse side of the battery compartment. The camera does not have a curtain – the manufacturer has decided to limit with the usual protective glass, behind which are hidden the lens and built-in LED flash. In terms of ergonomics the camera is ideally located.
The device is equipped with 2 megapixel cameras with autofocus. Of course, this won’t surprise anyone, but do not forget that RoverPC S6 does not claim to be named a fancy (expensive) device.
A software application that is responsible for the camera with one hand catches the eye with its stylish design, but on the other hand – disappoints with its slow work.
It takes only photos in JPEG format with a resolution of 320×240 up to 1600×1200 pixels. In addition, there are settings such as brightness, contrast, white balance.
You can even choose one of the preset user programs of shooting – portrait, daytime, night, landscape, standard. You can set the timer (2/5/10 c) and take pictures yourself in.
Video recording is available in formats 3GP, 3G2 and MP4 with resolution 160×120 or 176×144 pixels. The settings for video are the same as for the photo.
The quality of the images can be assessed as a solid four. There are some noises, but only when the lighting is really not enough. The camera focuses on a fairly long time, but accurately.
Video quality is worse, and the colors are not very natural.
Sound
On either side of the built-in camera there are two stereo speakers that produce rich and loud sound. The quality of their sound pleasantly surprises. Of course, you are not going to listen to music in the crowd, but you can stand out with your stylish and beautiful as well as loud ringtone.
The sound quality is quite standard.
But the built-in microphone has surprisingly high quality – the noises are little. In addition, the system has a special program, which also helps to reduce annoying background noise while recording.
Battery power
RoverPC S6 is equipped with Li-Ion battery with a 1100 mAh capacity. And here is the full opening of improvement in the low productivity of the communicator. The manufacturer claims that in talking mode the novelty will work up to 6 hours and in standby mode up to 200 hours. But we have found out that these indicators more or less correspond to reality or even a little understated.
Conclusion
This novelty from Rover Computers is a device for practical people. The build quality and long battery life with the convenience of control is adjusted for an adequate price. Yes, this device is for practical people… but only for those who are not behind the fashion world of electronics and appreciate the design of the communicator.
