Going pro

MANILA, Philippines - In the world I move in technology makes it go round. And, pet ownership, too.

So, I guess, I hope that I am never put to the challenge of being on an island without a device that has some sort of connection to civilization.

I have often wondered what it would be like — and then I get a call on my cellphone or a text message or an e-mail — the wondering stops.

Blame my addiction on the many cute, quirky, funky, hi-tech, not-so-high-tech, weird gadgets that I encounter on a daily basis.

I admit that I am no techie expert like the real techie pros that I know. But I do admit that I am willing to learn how gadgets work — no matter how simple or complicated they may be.

“Why don’t you try out working in the MIS business,” Lloyd, a real techie friend, once asked me. “You seem to be really into finding out how the systems work.”

I laugh at the suggestion.

“Just because I want to know exactly what you did to get my connection up does not a techie geek make,” I reply.

“You never know,” added Lloyd. “I started out just like you — and look where I am now. “

The discussion was triggered when I asked Lloyd to help me configure the Samsung Corby B5310 Pro so that it would work with the Wi-Fi connection.

Easy does it

I had actually been fiddling with the Corby Pro when Lloyd came around.

Now, I am of the mind that a good cellphone is one that makes using all the functions it has easy. If there are too many steps or if setting up requires more than my regular intelligence — then the device is not for me.

Let’s see I had successfully configured the Corby Pro to my liking. And I like the look of the Corby Pro. It is a more businesslike addition to the Corby range, which offers touch screen and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

I also like the fact that the Corby crosses the line between what might look like a kiddie cellphone and what is considered a business cellphone.

The Samsung Corby Pro is no lightweight in the looks department. I mean, I really liked carrying it around because most folks I met gave it not only a second look, but asked if they could give it a try as well.

And after giving it a go, my friends said it was a great cellphone and asked about whether making connections (like Internet browsing and downloading e-mail) was as easy as texting and calling.

The answer to that is a resounding yes — because if there is one thing that the Korean cellphone company has done, and done well, is to make devices that make connecting easy - texting, calling, browsing, retrieving e-mail, social networking and any other form of communication there might be.  

Looks good

For starters, the Samsung Pro is a touch-screen cellphone with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

I just love it that the Corby Pro let me personalize my three home screens with a choice of about 100 different widgets, including clocks and Twitter feeds.

I really like that the Corby moves fast — I mean setting up was quick with no lag time while waiting for the cellphone to display an option that I had made.

It was fun turning the Corby upright and then sideward because the Pro switched between landscape and portrait very quickly as the keyboard was slid in and out. Better yet, the home-screen layouts were automatically reconfigured with every movement.

Great.

Yes, I know the Corby Pro is not a breakthrough device. After all, there are other cellphones that are capable of doing as much. But what makes the Corby Pro a great option for anyone in search of a cellphone is that it does what it can really well.

I have tried many other cellphones, but I appreciate the Corby Pro for its quick response to each press of the key on the QWERTY keyboard. 

The best way to start

I still know a lot of people who are new to using a cellphone for more than just texting and calling. I understand them because I am part of the generation that starting off using a cellphone just for texting and calling. And I understand them when they tell me that they really aren’t sure if cellphones can really do more than just call and text. I might add that there are many among my peers who don’t trust technology and are not as willing to embrace its advances as many of our young folks are.

And, yes, there are a lot of young people who I know who believe that there is no other way to go but forward. So, they test each gadget and rate it with how well it can keep them connected on the Net.

For the not-so-young folks like me I would recommend the Corby Pro as the cellphone to start with if there were a need to do more than texting and calling on the cellphone.

Lloyd and I were able to get the Wi-Fi connection of the Corby up and running. I also used a SIM card that allowed me to get connected to the Internet in a snap.

It was easy once the Samsung Corby Pro got the setting it needed from the telco - connections to the Internet were made in no time.

I wanted to do some Facebook connections and a little Twitter. So, I headed off to a Wi-Fi hot spot in the Makati area and sat with the Corby Pro.

I am no Facebook junkie and I don’t need to be on Twitter 24/7. But the few times that I have been able to connect to these social sites - I have been entertained.

I must say that the connections were good and I was able to easily shift from Wi-Fi to telco connection by just a single press of a button.

In the past, like about two or three years ago, it was not that easy to make connection in Wi-Fi hot spots — no longer.

It is not only easy to make these connections, but cellphones have made making the connections a necessity. And getting Wi-Fi connected on the Samsung Corby Pro was so much fun.

Way to go

The Samsung Corby Pro is not yet a smartphone as we know smartphones to be. Yet, it delivers a good set of features.

For the techie readers, other tech features include HSDPA connectivity, a QVGA touch-screen display, a three-megapixel camera resolution, the media player with support for DivX, FM Radio, Bluetooth, internal memory of 100 MB expandable with microSD cards. 

The Samsung Corby Pro seems to have been developed for those who want their cellphone to have some advanced features such as e-mail, chat and direct access to social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace — in a device that looks fun to own, and keeps one looking young, too.