Does any one here have a decent cell phone?

[gizmo]

getting OT...Australian TV ads

There is a good series of ads on TV here. They are for Telstra, the largest phone company. Telstra are introducing NextG, a new mobile phone technology. Their ads for NextG show famous people from USA and UK having trouble with their mobile phones, getting frustrated with them, then shouting, "This wouldn't happen in Australia!"

The first I saw was Bob Geldof, in an aeroplane, trying unsuccessfully to download an email. The hostess says to him, "Mr Geldof, you'll have to turn off your phone, we are about to take off." Geldof says, "just a minute, I'm just downloading an email." A few more times she comes back to get him to turn off the phone. Getting tense, he says," Yes, yes, It just dropped out and I'm trying again." When she says "you really MUST turn off your phone, we are about to take off", he shouts at her, "this wouldn't happen in Australia."

Another ad in the series has John McEnroe (former bad-tempered tennis player) in an elevator trying to use his mobile phone, but it isn't working. Someone else in the lift has recognized him but can't remember who he is. As the lift doors open and MacEnroe leaves, he angrily snaps his phone shut and shouts, "this wouldn't happen in Australia!" The other guy looks like a light has gone on in his head. "I know, Australia. Tennis. You're Pat Cash, right?"

I don't have a mobile phone so I can't give an opinion on what's good and what's not.

Chris.

 

[sikiguya]

TMobile Dash

I have a TMobile Dash, given to me by my husband who got a new phone through work. I am learning to like it! I didn't think I would, as I really loved my Blackberry 7100T.

I love being able to read my e-mails, take care of my eBay items I am selling, and it even has WiFi if I need it. Oh yeah, and Google Maps for directions.

TMobile has pretty good coverage in the Chicago suburbs but his other cell phone is Cingular (Motorola Razr or Slvr-I can't remember) and it works much better while traveling to central Illinois where the home office is.

http://cgi.ebay.com/UNLOCKED-HTC-DA...ryZ64355QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[exploder3211]

Thanks Guys. Wow... I have no issues with verizon, they have been easy to deal with and if theres a techinical issue they do fix it quickly.. Seems like Nokia and Samsung are good phones.. LG is another popular phone, but do i wanna deal with a company that treats customers like crap? So maybe its just me killing the phones

 

[washertalk]

I have Verizon for 2 years now and have had US Cellular in the past and both companies are very good.

I currently have a bol nokia that I have had for 2 years. I have never had a prob. with it. It does seem the battery is loosing longevity now. I keep it plugged into charger when ever I can.

AT&T is the worst, I had them in 2002, OMG. It is kinda well known.

i have a problem with electronics named after food or other appliances.
T- "where's your raspberry"
U- "their in the freezer. Are you making a smoothie?"
T- "no, I want to make a call"

B- "Do you have a razr?"
G- "I do, but look at me, my beard is touching my pecs and no I don't approve of body shaving. Do you think I use it?"
B- "I wanted to make a call"

S- "what do you think of the chocolate"
P- "I don't like chocolate. It looks, smells, and tastes like a petroleum product"
S- "I meant the cel phone"
P- "a chocolate covered cel-phone? That must be messy."

Keep the charger plugged in and be sure to update the software.
It is said that cel phones, in the U.S. are at the point computers were at 10 years ago. There needs to be streamlining and better products in addition to network continuity.

 

[cadman]

"Does anyone here have a decent cell phone?"

Exploder, here's one for you! Built Bell-System Tough!

My Kyocera slider finally bit the dust recently; performed great on the original battery for years but as of late, would refuse to pick up a signal. This was the perfect opportunity to go through with what I had envisioned for years. It's an early issue 500 series deskset (G1 bakelite handset w/metal fingerwheel, leather covered feet) using a SparkFun cell module w/PCB.

Reception is so loud and clear I've had to cover (internally) the receiver element with tape and a swatch of paper towel! It does require a SIM card so I moved providers to AT&T to get one. I think that's quite fitting actually : )

I've only been using it a couple days and it has its pros and cons, but I find myself able to carry on conversations the way I did years ago, without the annoyance of delicately holding a chiclet to the side of my head. Plus it had the convenience of a mobile without always being on my person. Lots of psychological fodder here!

Best thing about it, the mechanical ringer actually works!

 

[hoover1060]

Motorola RAZR

I'm on my 2nd one, the first one lasted 2+ years and would be still going if some B**CH hadn't bumped it out of my hand when I was in the grocery store.
I have Cingular wireless, their service is ok but not outstanding. I've had some other Motorola phones too, but the RAZR is the best one so far.

 

[lavamat78800]

Really can recommand LG

I really can recommand LG, never had problems with it, even of the fact that it fell for minimum 15 times down and is used by an teenager who mails a lot with it.

 

[hydralique]

Wow!

Cadman wins the prize here for both the most rugged and most creative phone! Years ago I was driving in heavy traffic in Hollywood and saw that the guy next to me had a lovely Princess phone bolted to the center of the dash top of his '59 Bel Air. I assumed it was there just for looks, but perhaps, like Cadman's phone, it really worked. I'd like to think so.

I'd love to have a cell version of one of my Ericofons . . . tiny, soft touch push buttons just don't have the feel of a real rotary dial.

 

[volvoguy87]

I love the WE 500 cell phone!

My best phone is my WE 302, but it has a cord. My best cell phone was a Motorola V60, but after several years of use and abuse, it snapped in half and Verizon said I couldn't get a new one just like it. Now I have a Samsung and it has been pretty good. I had the battery replaced once because it started shutting itself off. Just recently I had the entire phone replaced under warranty for the same reason. I went with Samsung because they have strong hinges, sound pretty good, and were affordable. I do know that the newer Motorolas have weak hinges and tend to break.
When my trusty V60 broke, the salesman at the Verizon store tried to sell me one of those phones that has more features than the Sears catalog. I told him that I didn't care it the phone cleaned my bathroom and cooked me breakfast, all I wanted it to do was make and recieve calls. I think that sometimes we get so wrapped up in all the extra features a phone can offer that we loose sight of its basic functions, like being a phone!

I'm 25 years old and I still use a LAND LINE,
Dave

 

[bundtboy]

So maybe its just me

I think you've hit the nail on the head with that hypothesis.

In every post you put up, you have a problem..

I keep waiting for you to post something about vintage appliances and to say how much you love and appreciate them.

My cheap cell phone works perfectly for me, and it's on AT&T. It's made by Sony Ericsson and I have even published many photos taken with that phone onto this site.

Here goes one now...Yesterday's Strawberry Fiesta Bundt...now just a memory.

 

[jonv112]

I have a Sony Ericsson W810i, and it has been very good and reliable. It has a nice MP3 player, but I use my iPod for that. Camera quality is good, has never crashed like my old Motorola V635. Alot of my friends have the W810i too, and they like it alot. I wouldn't mind a 2nd gen iPhone though...

 

[selectomatic]

Cadman, I think I love you!

I hate cell phones for so many reasons, but near the top of the list is the fact that new ones don't seem to be designed to line up with parts normally found on the human head.

I despise programmable ringtones, I can never get the speaker to put sound into my ear, I hate having to shout to be heard. A Western-Electric desk phone connected to a cell adaptor is the next best thing to having it connected to a wall with a wire!

I'm surprised that you can get rotary dial to work with it. I think I'd need one if I ever thought a cell phone was necessary.

-kevin

 

[super32]

old motorola

Im still using my motorola i90c. I have been with nextel since 03'. I also have a company phone which is a new i560 with nextel. There is a night and day difference between the 2 phones. The company phone loves to drop calls and loose it signal. I can then turn to my personal phone and have good signal. I'm a firm belever, there is something to be said for type/brand of phone. Me thinks i need to keep my old phone even though its kinda on the big side and so not fashionable. lol

 

[sudsmaster]

Don't have a personal cell phone. In past the only cell phones I had were provided by employers, these were the older (bulky) Motorolas. They were ok, never had one die unexpectedly.

After 15 years in the IT business, I don't want an "electronic leash". These days I don't have a pager or a cell phone. If someone needs me they can call me at home (unlisted number), write a letter, or send an email. All of which I can ignore, LOL.

 

[brisnat81]

Sony Ericsson

Hi,

I've also got a W810i, have had it 18 months without a problem, and its my 3rd Sony Ericsson phone.

The first one I got, had some issues, but it was their first colour model, the T68i, the two I've had since, have been perfect. We used my 2nd one in the US last year and its now 4 years old. The only issue we had, was that we got a T-Mobile prepaid SIM card and the reception was horrific. Next trip we'll get a different provider.

 

[bundtboy]

Z500A

is my sony ericsson model, and I'll be sad when I have to trade it in. The battery stays fully charged a long time depending on use, and I tend to use many of the additional features, such as the calculator, the timer, and the alarm. I take video's with it, and can send short ones. It's been used to record the sound of a Wurlitzer Pipe organ, and also a giant Carillon for sound souvenirs. Text & I are good buddies, and I just adore the T9 intuitive speller~.

This phone was 60 dollars with a 60 dollar rebate..and this was over 2 years ago. It's been a good'n'. More expensive does not always mean better when it comes to this type of device.

Sure, I'd like an iPhone.

B

 

[exploder3211]

I think if i can find a Sony phone through verizon i'll get it... My very first cell was an ericsson and it was a good phone and it lasted until i was 19 years old. 3 years.. I had forgotten about that phone

 

[perc-o-prince]

I'm glad to hear...

that you're obviously doing better, apparently didn't have to make the last-minute, emergency trip to MI to spend weeks in the hospital, and didn't have to depend on your other half to try posting for you. Too bad you had to "miss" another wash-in.

Maybe, as bundtboy said, you're right about it being you. My other half and I have both had several different cell phones for at least a couple of years each, and never a problem with the phone itself.

Chuck

 

[danemodsandy]

Disposables...

There's another option, maybe viable if you don't use the phone all that much.

Since I only use the cell phone in emergencies (I detest telephones in general; why should I drop everything just because someone dialled my number?), I opted for a Tracfone. It's a basic Motorola, with pre-paid service that can be purchased at most any large grocery, drug, or discount store, in the form of a phone card. Dirt-cheap ($15 for the phone), no contract, no hassles if you lose the thing- whoever finds it (or steals it) can't use any more time than it's loaded with. I've had no coverage problems, and no unexpected expenses.

I'm sure it's not for everyone- talk time is more expensive per minute than a contract phone- but I don't talk much on a cell phone, and so it works for me.

 

[kenmore58]

I, too, have to agree with Perc-o-Prince and Bundtboy that perhaps it is operator error. I have had a cell phone since 1990 and in all that time, the only problem I've had was that the headset jack on one of the phones stopped working. Other than that, no problems. In fact, my contract just ended with Verizon and I'm due to renew and get a new phone. I just haven't had the time to get to the Verizon store, and not in a hurry because my two-year old Kyocera is doing fine.

Ron