Samsung YP-T9 Review - Design

Overall, I would say that the YP-T9 is very attractive and ergonomically designed with easy controls. The casing is a shiny black finish which is very appealing and also helps to minimize scratching. The shiny casing is attractive, but it will tend to attract fingerprints. These are easily wiped off with a cloth or shirt sleeve however.

The YP-T9 is a great size which will easily fit into a pocket. When compared with the iPod Nano, the YP-T9 is a bit smaller in size but a few millimeters thicker than the Nano. The dimensions of the Samsung player are 3.3 x 1.7 x 0.4 inches, and it weighs in at a feathery 1.7 ounces. The small size and lightweight, durable plastic used for the YP-T9 help to keep this player very lightweight and easy to carry around. 

The display of the YP-T9 is a very good size at 1.8 inches, which is much larger than the Nano's tiny screen. This Samsung's LCD screen is very colorful and clear.  The display will function in portrait and landscape modes when viewing pictures or watching video clips on the player. The picture clarity in this player is tough to beat for MP3 players in this price range, and all of the reviews which I have read about the YP-T9 have raved about the vivid colors and crystal clear picture in this player.

Underneath the screen, Samsung has put the main five-way control button.  This control will help the user to toggle easily through the menu system, as well as adjusting the volume and switching between songs.  I like the five-way controller very much, because it is easy to use and it seems like it will pass the test of time in terms of durability.

The only other controls on this player are located on the right spine. They consist of a record button, back button, menu button, and the power button. The power button also functions as the play and pause button. These buttons are quite small, and they take some getting used to when trying to figure out which button is which without actually having to look at the side of the device.

The top of the device sports the headphone jack and a pinhole microphone for voice recording. The proprietary USB port can be found on the bottom of this player; it is used for file transfers and recharging. It would have been nice if Samsung had used a standard USB port with this player rather than one which is specific for this device, because if you lose the USB cord you will need to purchase another one from the factory. This is not very expensive, though; I have seen the USB cord for the YP-T9 for under $10.

All in all, the design of the YP-T9 is excellent with good looks and functionality.  The controls work well and are in good locations on the device. The LCD screen is above average quality, and it is a good size for viewing pictures or short video clips. The size of this player is great; it's very mobile and would even be good for joggers and bikers.

Next: Features >>
 

More Mobile Devices Articles
More By Joe Eitel