in the market again

[SamuraiCatJB]

I am "reasonably" happy with my service, but my two-year service contract is coming up for renual. No one else still covers the valley with a single contract... for some reason alltell/cellular-one others still divide the state of NM into one half regionally merged with Arizona, and the other half regionally merged with Texas. And most don't cover the range with signal.... so still Verizon is my really only choice (without going satelite... ouch).

Anyhow.... December 16th I get $99 off any phone, or any phone up to $99 free with another two year. So the question comes... how much to add to get a better phone or if I should.... Anyone have some really good phones they love?

At the moment the one I am debating on:
Motorola E815

[Volchitsa]

Yeah, our family got a new contract not long ago, a week or so. Verizon is indeed the best choice out there.
As for the phones, we went to Radioshack's sale - they had lots of choices, all of reasonable prices.
One of the phones we got was indeed Motorola e815. We got it for $99, maybe you can find it cheaper?
When i read your post, I immediately thought of that phone. It is very awesome. I think it's one of the best ones out there. And I like the brand motorola. I hate the interface on the LGs and Samsung don't have great reception.
So I'd definitely recommend motorola e815 for you. If you have any questions about it, I might be able to help.

P.S. Sorry if some of this does not make sense, it's past midnight, my brain's a bit on the slow side... :D

[SamuraiCatJB]

P.S. Sorry if some of this does not make sense, it's past midnight, my brain's a bit on the slow side... :D

You don't have to hear me after midnight.... I think I make far less sense. :D

Thank you, I am curious about reception and battery life. My zone drifts from 1 bar to full strength with the occassional drop-out in the middle of the desert or the mountains. That tends to take a toll on my LG. I hate this LG, I have had nothing but problems since a few months after I got it two years ago. It survived, but nothing like my old Motorola did.

I just found out a new model is rolling out soon, or at least a verizon variation on a model that was available to others a year ago. The RAZR V3c is rumored to be coming out to verizon, and verizon even has an ad for it.... So they have two weeks to get their phone out.

I can get any phone for $99 and under for free as part of the new every two contract. I paid for the first phone and get $99 off the next every two years. I can afford up to $100 above that if the choice is competative. But so far, all I like is some Nokias that are not sold by Verizon, and the Motorolas.

[JackAxe]

That phones eh, I like this one (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006HBTD/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/102-1417242-8243321?v=glance&s=toys) better. :)

<]=)

[Volchitsa]

Reception? Well I don't exactly go out in the middle of a desert very often you see. But what I noticed is that Motorola's reception is MUCH better than the old LG.
Battery life. It's decent, I mean I charge it every week, but I don't use it much. I think the battery life is about the same as most other new phones.

Yeah. Your budget - I don't know. We got our cell phones on discounts, etc, so the motorola e815 was $99. But isn't the retail for all these phones like >=$300? I'm sure you can find some sort of sale or something. Budget is for you to manage.. :)

Razr? I actually know nothing about the player except for its popularity and flatness. But I'm sure many others here would help you with any questions you might have for it. If the Razr flatters you, go for it. :D

P.S. Please notice that it's 4:30 am here right now. :rolleyes:

[SamuraiCatJB]

I get the same discount.... from what I can tell the RAZR is the same feature set of the E815, just thinner... so it will all come down to price. I get the same discounts. we'll see in 17 days.

[Volchitsa]

That phones eh, I like this one (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006HBTD/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/102-1417242-8243321?v=glance&s=toys) better. :)

<]=)

Hahahahahaha
You guys are awesomely hilarious.

I get the same discount.... from what I can tell the RAZR is the same feature set of the E815, just thinner... so it will all come down to price. I get the same discounts. we'll see in 17 days.

Alrighty then. Good luck! :D

[SamuraiCatJB]

ugh! razr was released today at verizon.... 199 until 11th, then goes up to 299... not sure I want thin for that much. If it had other features, maybe...

[JackAxe]

You're scarce now days on this forum. :) You should buy a DS along with your new phone and join the fun. :D

I'm iffy on the Razor. My friend and cousin have them and they're nice, but seem to be missing something.

Why not get a Treo 650?

And why not the Elmo Phone? :p

<]=)

[dragonsgames]

I am getting the Samsung Blade!!!!
Smaller than the RAZR and plays MP3s! :D

[Volchitsa]

Razr, Blade, what next? lawn mower?
People, be creative!

Aww. I'm sawry, SamCat, mayhaps just go with the e815?

[dragonsgames]

The Lawn Mower would be too loud... ;)

[SamuraiCatJB]

Razr, Blade, what next? lawn mower?
People, be creative!

Aww. I'm sawry, SamCat, mayhaps just go with the e815?

yup, I am probably just going to get the e815, it has all the same features of the RAZR, including MP3 playing, though impliments it via smartcard rather than internal memory, so works more like a card-carrying mp3 player.

:) I don't need to talk to a wafer. :)

[Gizmo]

The Lawn Mower would be too loud... ;)
And dangerous when holding it up to your ear. :D

[pgenie]

That phones eh, I like this one (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006HBTD/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/102-1417242-8243321?v=glance&s=toys) better. :)

<]=)

lol @ ahahahahahha.... Will give you a year-free satelitte connection :D

[SamuraiCatJB]

okay, I've done a full comparison between the two, and there are some differences, though not what I think I want.

there are more text lines (11) on the RAZR over the E815(9). There is less battery life in the RAZR due to the size change, only 3/4 of the full battery time of the E815. Both have equal size cameras, though if you are looking at quality, from what I gather the noise is slightly less on the RAZR because of a newer sensor.

The ring tones are different on the RAZR, the E815 has 38 of standard tonal ringtones, the RAZR is extendable and personalized (not sure if that means you have download them). The E815 does have removable storage to put MP3's, the RAZR has built in storage (non extendable).

The RAZR is significantly smaller and lighter and newer technology (which is why it is smaller and lighter).

However, what few pluses the RAZR has, is not enough for me. Come Wednesday or sometime after, I will go down and get an E815 assuming they are in stock at the store, or order an upgrade online if they are not.

[Volchitsa]

Good luck! (Tell us how your new toy is when you get it)

Imagine... The Sony (or something else) new Lwn:Mwr! Get yours today!

[SamuraiCatJB]

Good luck! (Tell us how your new toy is when you get it)

Imagine... The Sony (or something else) new Lwn:Mwr! Get yours today!

The sound is louder than you would believe! ;)

[Volchitsa]

Many useful features such as bluetooth, speakerphone, and say... a dishwasher?

[dragonsgames]

What is with you and dishwashers? :p

[Volchitsa]

Me? Nothing. It's just that my mom...
I'd show her a new gadget or something and show how cool it is. And she'd go "can it wash dishes?"
Haha, don't get me wrong, she loves gadgets...

[SamuraiCatJB]

What is with you and dishwashers? :p

if I could buy a cell phone that did my dishes, I'd do so in a heartbeat! Feel free to tell Motorola...

[SamuraiCatJB]

Well, I did it! I went back over various features of the LG9000 (oops, should be 9800) and the E815 and the RAZR with the folks at verizon, and still settled on the E815.

We'll find out about battery life today, but so far reception was decent. Interestingly enough, it managed to go most of my trip to the office without loosing reception. There was one point where it lost reception briefly and then immeadiately popped up to 5, I assume by switching cells. I expect that verizon defaulted to a home-zone until unavailable option on the phone setup, which I always hate. Give me the tower with the best reception, don't let me drop the reception. I'll figure that one out tonight.

It does have a flash, which I didn't notice before. it's a little 3-LED diffuse flash, which isn't bad. In fact it is better for indoors than my SLR which has an overpowering flash except at a specific range (though I picked up a technique from a magazine about attaching an old translucent 35mm film canister into a diffuser that I will use soon to help it).

So far I am pleased, reception is better, and I am already walking about talking to invisible people via bluetooth earpiece. Yes, I have joined the millions who are visibly indistinguishable from those who "hear voices" in their head.... (at least I don't talk with my hands and argue with the voices)

I haven't loaded up the MP3 player yet, give me time, that isn't a priority, more convience. I have my Ipod as a primary MP3 player (and photo wallet for my DSLR), but this will give me anywhere I go, anytime I get bored access to a few albums.

The salesman did try to convince me to drop the TH55 in favor of a Treo650... but still not for me. yeah, all the same functionality plus organizer, but I would miss my organizer and larger screen, and the E815 is as bulky as I want to go in a phone. Maybe two years from now when they have the organizer display tied with the successor to bluetooth to a sunglass mounted display unit. ;)

all in all, so far so good. :)

(addendum: it didn't do my dishes while I slept either :p )

[RichieFarmer]

Are you talking about the LG VX9800? Or is there a 9000 that I'm not aware of? I know the 9800 is supposed to be pretty great.

[SamuraiCatJB]

sorry, mistype, yes 9800, it looked really good, dual screen, full keyboard, only $50 more after rebate ($100 more up front), and email sync capability (for an extra cost). As with the Treo, I just couldn't see me needing what it had extra, outside email can be accessed via mobile web, or via get-it-now (for less of an extra cost), and I don't send near enough text messages to justify the keyboard as cool as it looks, it was more than I need. Stereo speakers built into the unit just at a cool design, but effectiveness is up to the individual. All in all, for the extra cost, just wasn't willing, plus still had a slightly bitter taste in my mouth from my last LG which gave me trouble from almost the day the warrenty ended. Never completely failed, just became a major annoyance (it even called someone without recording the call on its log, the bill shows I made the call, the receiver shows I made the call, but the cell phone never logged the call going out, and the phone was holstered until I got the call back asking why I called but nothing but silence was on the other end).

so I didn't go for the LG.

[Volchitsa]

Oh. Awesomeness.
It sounds like you were driving (walking?) to work constantly looking at how many bars there were. :D

Well of course it didn't do your dishes while you slept, thilly you! You have to buy a special accessory, the iDisher, plug it into your phone, and program it.

Wow. I think my imagination is drained. Lack of sleep shows...

[SamuraiCatJB]

well, actually, just checked it during the "trouble spots" for my LG and it was okay. I did turn on the tone to hear it change service or drop service and left my blue-tooth headset on all day beaming radiation into my head. ;)

dang... so I forgot an accessory? do they have any other accessories like an iMaid? they don't sneak you any underhanded features like an iWife do they?

[Volchitsa]

hahahaha

Yeah, I think they do have iWife. Compatible with bluetooth (iDentist?) and volume-controllable.

:D

[SamuraiCatJB]

I have never heard of a volume controllable iWife.... must be a newer technology, probably too young for me. :)

I think I will just settle for the iPet... :) doesn't mind being left alone for long periods of time. :)