An image of Nokia 5300
Testing camera

For the past 2++ years of using handphone, I finally experience using a "super" one, that is, more than just a basic-entry type: the Nokia 5300. Previously, I've used 2 Nokia 3310 and a Nokia 2600, all which excels in battery lifespan, rather than competing against a proper EOS digital SLR camera or Snailmyx's download speed. Or with greentooth, Infra Maroon, quintupleband, 6763532G, blablablablabla. In other words, I've never used a handphone for any reason other than calling or messaging. Unless of course, if I had to become a cameraman for someone else's k750i/n70/blablabla.

But now, about 30 hours ago, I've started to jump into the supherphone bandwagon with a temporarily-mine 5300. Although it's not exactly mine (for my sis who's in Dublin now), I guess I'd like to use it until my 2nd sis fly to Dublin this 10th. Or until my soon-to-be-my-very-own Sony Ericsson w810i. Either way, my handphone lifestyle will bound to change, so starting up a.s.a.p. won't hurt I suppose.

The bad things first. The battery cover seems to be accidentally glued with a superglue. Then, to open the SIM cover, I'll need to use two Euclid trucks to open it, pretty much the same way Jeremy Clarkson had to use to kill the Lada. And then there's the LCD and camera lens plastic cover. Why, do they have to make it irresistably pointless by peeling it away? Unlike the LCD cover on my Ixus, it's glued faithfully to the screen, leaving no possibilities of peeling it away through an extra "leftover" on one side. Lastly, the charger's head is much smaller than the normal ones in older Nokias, which means older chargers cannot be used to charge this phone (unless if I pay RM50 for the optional converter), and so I'll need to take care of the charger extremely well. That sounds stressful, so I think it is best to just not worry about it.

However,

It is still as easy to use as I'd expected, and by saying this, I mean I don't have to read the manual at all to start using it. It still feels like the Nokia that I know all these while. Brilliant indeed. And then there's the head plugs, which is very comfortable despite being a little bit too big for my ears, but all the songs played in it sounds crispy clear. Being a phone made to listen musics, it delivers well in this feature I suppose. In the past, I hate using plastic covers cuz they'll disrupt the feel of the keypads, and this is extremely annoying when I want to text someone. 3310 is easy to type, but unfortunately, for the 2600, I'll need to press each key with enough force to move the Earth out of its orbit. So I'd thought Nokia have gone stupid again and made this model another phone that's all style and music, but utterly useless when you want to text so that you'll buy its optional greytooth wireless keyboard, but nope. The keys are great to press, not too small nor not too close to each other. And because it is a slide phone, I can now wear it a NASA-technology polycarbonate cover without messing about the keypad's feel. It really felt like the good old 3310, although the problem is, since I've been using the 2600 for quite some time, my typing skill is as good as a Malaysian footballer.

All the handphones that I used in the past only requires charging every 4-6 days, but this one seems worrying. Because now I can use it to replace my old 256MB Apacer mp3 player, I'll be tempted to drain its battery for more than to make calls and texting. Oh well, there's always a price to pay for these superphones, and battery life is one of them :(. Well, I can always cheer about its colour, as the seller told me grey is more rare than red.

GODDAMIT!! I've been trying to insert an image to this post using the normal blablabla or [img]blablabla[/img], and NONE WORKED??!?!?!

Hm....I'd like to talk abt the man in the automotive industry that I respect: Proton's Managing Director. From Proton's website:

DATO' SYED ZAINAL ABIDIN BIN SYED MOHAMED TAHIR

Managing Director

Dato' Syed Zainal Abidin bin Syed Mohamed Tahir was appointed as the Managing Director of PROTON on 1 January 2006. He graduated from the University of Maryland, USA with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1983.




Dato' Syed Zainal Abidin began his career in 1987 as a Project Engineer with Petronas Gas Sdn Bhd before joining Petroliam Nasional Berhad in 1992 as a Senior Executive, Corporate Planning & International Business Development. In 1995, he joined HICOM Holdings Berhad and assumed various senior positions in the company.

In 1999, Dato' Syed Zainal Abidin joined Perodua as a Senior General Manager. In 2002, he was appointed as the Executive Director of Perodua Auto Corporation Sdn Bhd and was later promoted as Deputy Managing Director in October 2005.

Dato' Syed Zainal Abidin also sits as directors in several subsidiary and investee/associate companies with the PROTON Group.

He has attended 4 out of 4 Board of Directors� Meetings held during the Financial Year. He has no conflict of Interest with the Company and does not have any family relationship with any Directors and/or major shareholders of the Company. He has had no conviction of any offences within the past ten (10) years.


Previous, I gave up on Proton. The supersmart ex-CEO thinks they're invulnerable in the automotive industry. Things however, changed when the new Proton management seems to constantly be "doing something" rather than bullsheezing abt how they're the BMW of Asia. I like how he seems to be man who's there to lower Proton's head and admit that they're nt perfect, and they know where they need to improve: quality control. Of course, there's still QC problems in Satria Neo, the new model launched under his management, bt I think it is safe to say that it's nt as severe as the older models under the old great CEO.

If all goes well, around next month (August), they will launch the Gen.2 saloon. Priced well, I suppose it (and hopefully VW too) will be able to save Proton from their dying position. So they've got the price issue ironed out, next, to make it desirable. Mayb they shud play wit the fact that from the mid-line version, it comes wit a driver airbag to attract customers. Reliability? Oh, I dunno, bt I suppose it shud be aroun Neo's quality. Looks? Hm....that's tricky, bt who cares? The frog-like Myvi sells, so looks are negligible.

May The Force be with Syed Zainal and Proton!!