New Cell Phone Needed (Updated: got the E715, PICS!)

[Modeps]

Looks like my phone is about kaput. it's a samsung flip phone with a color display... and I guess all the flipping has worn out the connection between the phone and the screen, because when I open it, it doesnt turn on anymore. Anyone have any experience with the Samsung E715, the Nokia 3650 or possibly the Motorola V300? Those are pretty much the only choices I have.

Sample Camera phone shot, pitch black room using the built in "flash": Sample

 

[BigSmooth]

I have the V300 and I like it a lot. Good battery life and reception, very nice screen, mp3 ringtones, voice commands (can be used for dialing phone numbers, going to internet sites, etc.), and speakerphone are the features I most appreciate.

 

[isekii]

yea you can't go wrong with eitehr the E715 or the V300

 

[Nanotech]

Links

 

[Modeps]

E715
v300

How long have you been using your v300 BS?

 

[ckk81]

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
I have the V300 and I like it a lot. Good battery life and reception, very nice screen, mp3 ringtones, voice commands (can be used for dialing phone numbers, going to internet sites, etc.), and speakerphone are the features I most appreciate.

how does the mp3 ringtone work? do you just plug it in the comp. and load your favr. song? please give details, thanks.

 

[Danman]

I have the V400 for the past several months. I love the phone, just Cingular sucks here in Orlando.

 

[BigSmooth]

I've only had it for a little over a month now. I've downloaded a variety of games, wallpapers, ringtones, etc. with no problems.

I should add that my last phone was a Nokia 3360 so I feel a bit like an Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer using a modern phone with all these crazy features that scare and confuse me.

 

[Chumpman]

Originally posted by: cashman
I have the V400 for the past several months. I love the phone, just Cingular sucks everywhere.

fixed for you

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: ckk81

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
I have the V300 and I like it a lot. Good battery life and reception, very nice screen, mp3 ringtones, voice commands (can be used for dialing phone numbers, going to internet sites, etc.), and speakerphone are the features I most appreciate.

how does the mp3 ringtone work? do you just plug it in the comp. and load your favr. song? please give details, thanks.

It's a little more complicated than that... normal mp3s are too large (they are too long to be used as ringtones, plus they will fill up the phone's memory as well as cause lag when the phone has to play them).
So usually you have to re-encode the mp3 at a lower bitrate like 64 or possibly 96 Kbps and trim it to about 30 seconds.

Then you can upload the mp3 to the 'net and download it with your phone, or buy a $5 USB data cable from eBay so you can drag and drop the mp3 into the phone's memory,

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: BigSmooth

Originally posted by: ckk81

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
I have the V300 and I like it a lot. Good battery life and reception, very nice screen, mp3 ringtones, voice commands (can be used for dialing phone numbers, going to internet sites, etc.), and speakerphone are the features I most appreciate.

how does the mp3 ringtone work? do you just plug it in the comp. and load your favr. song? please give details, thanks.

It's a little more complicated than that... normal mp3s are too large (they are too long to be used as ringtones, plus they will fill up the phone's memory as well as cause lag when the phone has to play them).
So usually you have to re-encode the mp3 at a lower bitrate like 64 or possibly 96 Kbps and trim it to about 30 seconds.

Then you can upload the mp3 to the 'net and download it with your phone, or buy a $5 USB data cable from eBay so you can drag and drop the mp3 into the phone's memory,

Thats a really cool feature! How's the camera's resolution? The E715 has 640x480 I think and has built in flash.

 

[Danman]

Originally posted by: Chumpman

Originally posted by: cashman
I have the V400 for the past several months. I love the phone, just Cingular sucks everywhere.

fixed for you

Can't say that dude. Back at where I used to live with my parents in Melbourne/Palm Bay area Cingular was great. I got perfect signal everywhere, good connections and no dropped calls. Can't say the same thing here in Orlando since I get dropped calls everyday. I thought it was my phone so I went through three different phones before I gave up. I'm switching to Sprint or Nextel at the end of the year.

 

[BigSmooth]

The resolution of the screen is 176x220 pixels with 65K colors, larger (and IMO better-looking) than the E715's 128x160.
The resolution of the camera is 640x480, but there is no flash. The quality control of the cameras does not seem to be that great. My phone and my fiancee's both take pictures that often have a slightly yellowish cast in the upper right-hand corner, especially indoors. Not that big a deal to me since cameras in phones aren't really that useful to begin with.

BTW, this site has a useful comparison tool: http://mobiledia.com/specs/side.html

 

[Modeps]

Thats a pretty nice feature comparison site BS, thanks!

 

[Actaeon]

V400 for life!

 

[Modeps]

My buddy works for T-mobile and informed me that cell phone are only built to have an average life expectancy of 1.2 years... I really dont like that because it costs so much to buy a dang phone.

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: Modeps
My buddy works for T-mobile and informed me that cell phone are only built to have an average life expectancy of 1.2 years... I really dont like that because it costs so much to buy a dang phone.

It'll last longer than that if you take care of it.
The Battery Life on the Motorolas decrease significantly tho after a bit of use.
I haven't noticed that on the Samsungs tho.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

read about your phone possibilities

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Modeps
My buddy works for T-mobile and informed me that cell phone are only built to have an average life expectancy of 1.2 years... I really dont like that because it costs so much to buy a dang phone.

Tmobile doesnt really give discounts to their long time customers anymore either. I called for a phone upgrade and they offered me a samsung e105 for 99 after a mail in rebate. As for the customer discount, that was it. I remember verizon offering me $150 off towards any phone.

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: Modeps
My buddy works for T-mobile and informed me that cell phone are only built to have an average life expectancy of 1.2 years... I really dont like that because it costs so much to buy a dang phone.

Tmobile doesnt really give discounts to their long time customers anymore either. I called for a phone upgrade and they offered me a samsung e105 for 99 after a mail in rebate. As for the customer discount, that was it. I remember verizon offering me $150 off towards any phone.

Yea T-mobile doesn't do anything like that They do give you a lil more minutes tho.
I remember getting the Motorola T720 when it first came out from Verizon. I didn't pay a dime.
Man it was cool getting it free back then, but what a piece of sh!t it is

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
read about your phone possibilities

Nice link FFM... check this out, exactly what happened to my phone:

http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/user_reviews.php?phone=124

This was a nice phone at first, but then it went nuts. I paid way to much for the phone to have it go out only a little after a years time. On my phone the front caller ID box no longer works or displays any type of information, it's just simply blank. I'm also having trouble with the large insdie screen when the phone is flipped up. The inside screen every once in awhile goes blank just like the small screen on the outside of the phone when it's flipped down. I called customer care, but they said the phone could not be fixed and the only thing I could do is just bye a new phone. Maybe that's why T-mobile only offers a one year warrantee with the phone. Although now, T-mobile no longer sells this model, but I feel sorry for everyone who bought one. Especially if they paid anywhere near as much as I did.

 

[ckk81]

anyone used the new V600? some input please.......

 

[BamBam215]

between the phones u listed, i suggest the e715. a lot smaller, a lot lighter, a lot sleeker, and a lot more features.

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: BamBam215
between the phones u listed, i suggest the e715. a lot smaller, a lot lighter, a lot sleeker, and a lot more features.

and $100 more expensive

 

[geno]

I just snagged a Nokia 3620 on eBay for less than 200 bucks, It's the same as a 3650 except with 16 bit color and a much better keypad layout. I love it so far, I've been able to browse the web by dialing up a PPP connection, listened to MP3s, download games... all for free with the exception of dialing up to the internet, that costs airtime of course The feature list is massive, built in camera, 16bit display, bluetooth, spearkerphone, java support, much much more. Here's a link

It's bigger than most phones, so if size is a concern to you, you may want to look at the Samsung. The V300 is cool, but it's a little on the cheap feeling side for me to really recommend or like. I'd go with the 715 if you need something smaller. The 3620/3650 is a toy as much as a phone, it's been great to me so far.