Cell Phone - Please Give Me Some Advice

[wintersummer]

My cell phone is very old and it's time to upgrade. I've decided on carrier (Alltel), primarily because parents and most of long-distance friends have this service. Now I need to decide on a phone. How is it possible???

The store had about 50 models. I told the person helping me that I wanted something easy to use, straightforward, no bells-and-whistles. She recommended a LG AX 390 ($59.99), adding the slightly insulting information that "it's a favorite with our elderly clients". I figured that was a pretty good sign that it would be easy to use.

My parents visited over the weekend and I checked out their Motorola MotoRAZR v3M. It's got bells-and-whistles (which they are not using, they just use the phone part), but I really liked the phone! It was intuitive, felt good, had features that I would actually use. I went to some review sites and the reviews (many) were all over the board. It's either the best phone people have ever had or the absolute worst. Cost of this phone is $29.99 with contract.

How do you make the decision about the best phone for you? Is it just a gamble? Are there real differences? Do any of you have these models and have comments? Any help would be appreciated!

[Robyn1007]

You mention features that you would use, what are those? I'd make a list of features you'd like to have and look at their importance for you and then look for phones that match those features and feels good in your hand etc. Personally, I wouldn't get a Razr because I've had a number of friends have problems with them but I have yet to meet a cell phone that doesn't end up with some issues eventually. I have a Sanyo Katana but I believe it's only available with Sprint PCS.

[LakeMartinGal]

I'm going through the same process! I already use Alltel, since they're the only ones who have good reception in my area (very rural). I think I'd go online to look at the phones at alltel.com (http://www.alltel.com), since you won't have anyone hanging over your shoulder, like they can do at the store. You can see all the phones that meet your needs and even order the service online, but I'd recommend that you go to the store for better service, once you've picked a phone, unless it's an online-only special.

By the way, I really think Alltel is wonderful because last week, DH lost his cell phone, and we didn't have the insurance at $5/month/phone, because we *never* lose our phones! When I called Alltel, the gal said that I would have to pay full price for a new phone for him -- no deals! We were not eligible for an upgrade, yet. But when I went into the store, they had refurbished phones for WAY less than the cheapest new phone! And, they looked at our usage, and saved us $15/month while adding services! I was very impressed!

Different phones have different degrees of reception, so it's important (for us) to get the highest degree of reception, since we are often on the fringes of the coverage area.

[Meganator]

DH has a Razr, and it doesn't appear to track the #s for the missed calls. It has RECEIVED calls, but doesn't pick up the #s for the incoming calls that you didn't answer, or at least not for most of them - oddly it seems somewhat random. Extremely annoying. Not sure if it is entirely the phones fault, but my phone has separate commands to look at "missed" and "received" calls, and the Razr doesn't have that.

Edited to add that DH's vision isn't what it used to be, and he finds the screen on the Razr a bit hard to read; and you can't program it to display the time in giant font like his previous phone.

[wintersummer]

LakeMartinGal - I'm glad to hear about your good experience with Alltel. We also live in an area where reception is not-the-best (in a little valley like area). At most, I get one bar...but it seems to do the job.

Let me know what phone you choose!

[Beth]

DH just got his second Razor through his work. He's not that crazy about the phone -- he'd be happy with something smaller and simpler, but I like the feel of it just fine. The one thing I will tell you is that they are known to be more tempermental and delicate. I've been told that dropping them often damages or kills them. They also seem to be a bigger theft target than some of the other brands. His only choice is a Razor or a Blackberry, so he stayed with the Razor.

When we were looking at phones for our sons, my brother told me that LG has a great reputation for durability and longevity. I liked the LG phones, but there was one feature that set apart the phones in my price category and I went with another brand.

[LakeMartinGal]

My current phone, just like the one DH lost, is an LG. I think I'm going to get a camera phone next time, but get the pay-per-use plan, because I don't need to use it often, but would sure like to have the feature. DH will probably just get the basic phone, I think there was a Motorola that had no bells or whistles -- he carries a camera in his car. I'd rather have features I don't use, then need features I don't have (within reason). I carry a palm pilot, and I've been looking at the smart phones (Treo) but I don't think the screen is big enough or the memory big enough to use all my programs...

[aggie94]

I have an LG VX8300, and I love it! It has a ton of bells and whistles, but everything is easy to use, and it's very intuitive. I personally would not buy a RAZR. I have heard nothing but complaints from friends who own them.

[SandyM]

I have the LG VX8300 also, and I'm very happy with the phone.

I know at least 5 people with the RAZR, and the same comment comes from each of them - you have to let the battery run down completely, every time, and recharge. Otherwise, the battery life is roughly 2 hours. Even the salesperson at the Verizon store talked me out of it for that very reason. That's a nuisance if you don't have a land line.

[aggie94]

I have the LG VX8300 also, and I'm very happy with the phone.

Copycat. :rolleyes: ;) :p

[SandyM]

Oh. And I'm buying a Murano next week. :p

[badunnin]

I have a RAZR, and haven't had any problems with it.

[funnybone]

I have a RAZR, and haven't had any problems with it.


Me neither. I've had mine since Jan. and really like it.