I've been using cell phones off and on since the mid-90's, when my employer used to provide a basic Motorola cell phone. Since 1998 however, that ended (although they were happy to provide a pager). And the pager ended in 2002. In 2008 I got a job that involved a potentially major commute, so I decided I'd need a cell phone so I could check on traffic via the 511 service. I got a Samsung SCH-A870 little flip phone via Metro PCS. It is fairly basic, but does have a camera. My biggest complaint about it is that there is no way to save the photos unless one laboriously emails them to one's PC-based mailbox. So I have decided my next cell phone will have a removable memory card that I can use to transfer photos etc between pc and phone.
As luck would have it, the Samsung dropped off my belt holster while I was washing the pickup truck last week. I didn't know about it for four hours! When I got it out, and dried it as much as I could, it sort of works, but the camera no longer functions and the display is a bit tweaked. But at least I can still get go my contacts and calendar data.
So... I have more more less narrowed down my next phone to something from Metro PCS (I like the flat rate, you see). The two offerings are fairly different: the mil-spec hardened, water resistant (30 minutes) Motorola Quantico flip phone, or the Samsung Code "smart phone" with Windows Mobile 6.1.
The Quantico would have the advantage of taking the considerable abuse I generally put the phone through... I like to keep it handy when working on the car or on the house, for safety reasons. It does have a memory chip and a reasonably good camera. Even an MP3 player. Also has the WAP web access, same as the Samsung SCH-A870, which is slow and frustrating. Currently $119 at MetroPCS.
The Samsung Code is $209, but has a lot of bells and whistles that the Quantico lacks. Stuff like the full Windows mobile 6.1 office suite, ability to use multiple browsers, etc etc. Also ability to download a variety of applications free from Microsoft's moblie marketplace (or so the reviews say). This would be like having an extention of the home computer on the road. But of course it won't be as rugged as the Quantico, and I'd probably have to keep it in a special case instead of dangling from the belt. For safety's sake.
I don't make a LOT of phone calls, and don't text message much at all. I DO like using the internet and it would be nice to have a cell phone that could access the internet (albeit mostly only mobile-friendly sites, I suppose).
So.... any opinions about either choice?
As luck would have it, the Samsung dropped off my belt holster while I was washing the pickup truck last week. I didn't know about it for four hours! When I got it out, and dried it as much as I could, it sort of works, but the camera no longer functions and the display is a bit tweaked. But at least I can still get go my contacts and calendar data.
So... I have more more less narrowed down my next phone to something from Metro PCS (I like the flat rate, you see). The two offerings are fairly different: the mil-spec hardened, water resistant (30 minutes) Motorola Quantico flip phone, or the Samsung Code "smart phone" with Windows Mobile 6.1.
The Quantico would have the advantage of taking the considerable abuse I generally put the phone through... I like to keep it handy when working on the car or on the house, for safety reasons. It does have a memory chip and a reasonably good camera. Even an MP3 player. Also has the WAP web access, same as the Samsung SCH-A870, which is slow and frustrating. Currently $119 at MetroPCS.
The Samsung Code is $209, but has a lot of bells and whistles that the Quantico lacks. Stuff like the full Windows mobile 6.1 office suite, ability to use multiple browsers, etc etc. Also ability to download a variety of applications free from Microsoft's moblie marketplace (or so the reviews say). This would be like having an extention of the home computer on the road. But of course it won't be as rugged as the Quantico, and I'd probably have to keep it in a special case instead of dangling from the belt. For safety's sake.
I don't make a LOT of phone calls, and don't text message much at all. I DO like using the internet and it would be nice to have a cell phone that could access the internet (albeit mostly only mobile-friendly sites, I suppose).
So.... any opinions about either choice?
