New SprintPCS Phone: Sanyo 8100 for $200 (very similar to 5300)

[Solema]

If you get the USB Data cable off of eBay, those ones supposedly also charge your phone at the same time, so I think that would be the way to go.

 

[aphex]

Saw one of these in BB today... Very nice phone... Its meant as a mid model between the 4900 and thr 5300. Main differences I noticed between the two, was that although the 8100 is smaller, its fatter... The screen also looked a little worse than the 5300, but still MUCH better than the 4900, and the lack of a flash and zoom on the 8100. One thing that the 8100 has better than the 5300 is the 32 chord polyphonic ringtones, where as the 5300 only can support 4-8-or16 (i dont remember offhand).

All in all a great little phone, Im still keeping my 5300 as its still a more powerful phone.

 

[PDubs]

Originally posted by: TJ69
Some have scored this phone for $150.
...
As for data/modem, pick up a usb cable on ebay or radio shack. Mine was $19.99. Download drivers from Sanyo's site. Then use it like any other dial up modem.

There are no weird configs you have to change on the phone? The LG 5350 had some odd ones.

 

[kt]

Originally posted by: Solema
If you get the USB Data cable off of eBay, those ones supposedly also charge your phone at the same time, so I think that would be the way to go.

Why are the ones sold on eBay able to recharge and not the ones from Radio Shack, et al? Just curious because I don't want to wait/pay for shipping.

 

[TJ69]

Aphex:
The screen is actually a bit brighter and more vivid IMO. But, the 5300 has a much better camera features (zoom, resolution, etc). For the price, the sanyo 8100 can't be beat.

PDubs:
It took me less than minute to get it going. I plugged in the cable. Windows XP detected a new device. I pointed the installer to sanyo drivers I just downloaded. I put in user/pass/number and clicked connect.

kt:
Thanks for pointing that out. I will verify if the radioshack cable will charge the phone when I get home. I would much rather get the charger/data usb cable as well.

 

[yodayoda]

go to costco and get the Samsung A500 for $199. free extended life battery, free hands-free kit, free belt clip, free car charger. the phone is $100 less than anywhere else and also comes with $100 in goodies for free. best deal around--kick ass phone too.

 

[sak]

Hey i dont know if someone has told this but there is also a $100 MIR with the phone for new customers so its a smoking deal for new members.

if u not a new member but outta a contract then also u can all sprint up and say that u'd like to stay with them if thye give u a deal to get this phone. most likely they will do something to keep u as a happy customer.

 

[chin311]

i HAD a samsung a500, good phone, just had its hangups, sometimes didnt get good reception, wouldnt call out/receive calls.

I brought it back to Best Buy and got the 4900, best phone i've had w/ sprint so far. vision is a little slow, but besides that stellar.

8100? yes, looks really nice, i dont need the cam, and the battery life is so-so. also, its a rather thick phone for you who have it or have seen it. GREAT buy for $99 dollars tho, impossible to beat.

IMO, if u can go w/o the flashy features, the 4900 is the better buy, but im sure the 8100 is great as well.

 

[Solema]

kt - I think the RadioShack cable is an older cable that came out for the 4900 and 5300, which might be why it doesn't have the charging functionality. I know that it doesn't state that it is compatible with the 8100, but the CSR said it was.

yodayoda - The reception on the 8100, and any of the color Sanyo's for that matter, is FAR better than the a500. Hell, it was even apparent on the display models in Best Buy! The Samsung n400 and a500 both had 2 bars, whereas all three Sanyo's had a full signal. I can attest to the n400's crappy signal, as I have been places with my dad where my phone was searching for signal and his 4900 had full strength. As for the a500 outside of Best Buy, I don't know. All I DO know is that even the Sprint PCS guy at Best Buy told me to stay away from the a500, he said it he has it and it has even worse reception than the n400!

Anyway, what I seem to be seeing about this phone is that it does some things better than the 5300 and some things worse, with tradeoffs in picture and screen quality. If you don't have the 5300, and don't want to spend the money on it, the 8100 is an EXCELLENT buy. But, if you already have the 5300 there is no reason to "sidegrade" to the 8100.

 

[KevinH]

Solema - I concur wholeheartedly about the reception. I used to be one of those people who've said, "receptions the same on all phones".

As it were, I picked up the 8100 with KT here on these forums on Saturday. The reception on this phone is incredible. There are certain area's I frequent where I get dead spots or trouble picking up reception with the Samsung A500 and using the Sanyo, everything is crystal clear. In nearly every single way this phone absolutely demolishes the A500...(thank God I bought that at Costcto). I've gone through the Nokia 9860, Samsung 3500, Sanyo 5150, Samsung A500 and now this phone. Without a doubt for 162.99, no phone even touches it.

Comparing apples to apples, this phone's browser is faster then my 500's, the ringer's sound better, reception AND clarity is better, DUAL TFT's, an integrated camera...all for a lower cost. About the only thing the 500 has going for it is a better design. That said, I'm going back to Costco to return the A500 right now.

 

[Solema]

Yeah, I forgot about the ringers. Don't get me started on how bad the n400's ringers are (No "normal" ringer? C'mon now.)

Also I did notice that the ringers are in 32-bit MIDI or whatever it is called, and I definitely noticed a fidelity difference in the Knight Rider theme from the n400 to the 8100. It sounds so much better! Yes, I love Knight Rider.

 

[NEU]

Guess I should go and check this phone out too........sounds like a good deal....

Originally posted by: KevinH
Solema - I concur wholeheartedly about the reception. I used to be one of those people who've said, "receptions the same on all phones".

As it were, I picked up the 8100 with KT here on these forums on Saturday. The reception on this phone is incredible. There are certain area's I frequent where I get dead spots or trouble picking up reception with the Samsung A500 and using the Sanyo, everything is crystal clear. In nearly every single way this phone absolutely demolishes the A500...(thank God I bought that at Costcto). I've gone through the Nokia 9860, Samsung 3500, Sanyo 5150, Samsung A500 and now this phone. Without a doubt for 162.99, no phone even touches it.

Comparing apples to apples, this phone's browser is faster then my 500's, the ringer's sound better, reception AND clarity is better, DUAL TFT's, an integrated camera...all for a lower cost. About the only thing the 500 has going for it is a better design. That said, I'm going back to Costco to return the A500 right now.

 

[wildta]

After finding the differences... IMHO the price of the 8100 is a lot cheaper with very similar features of the 5300

 

[PDubs]

nm. Drivers work like a charm. I love this phone! =]

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: wildta
After finding the differences... IMHO the price of the 8100 is a lot cheaper with very similar features of the 5300

True.... Although when i got my 5300 it was only $99 after rebates

 

[tmung]

Originally posted by: KevinH
Solema - I concur wholeheartedly about the reception. I used to be one of those people who've said, "receptions the same on all phones".

As it were, I picked up the 8100 with KT here on these forums on Saturday. The reception on this phone is incredible. There are certain area's I frequent where I get dead spots or trouble picking up reception with the Samsung A500 and using the Sanyo, everything is crystal clear. In nearly every single way this phone absolutely demolishes the A500...(thank God I bought that at Costcto). I've gone through the Nokia 9860, Samsung 3500, Sanyo 5150, Samsung A500 and now this phone. Without a doubt for 162.99, no phone even touches it.

Comparing apples to apples, this phone's browser is faster then my 500's, the ringer's sound better, reception AND clarity is better, DUAL TFT's, an integrated camera...all for a lower cost. About the only thing the 500 has going for it is a better design. That said, I'm going back to Costco to return the A500 right now.

So very true. I traded in an A460 on this phone (Extended Service Plan) and couldn't have imagined the difference in reception. My A460 had horrible reception in my house, usually one little bar on the meter on the phone. Frequent dropped calls, looking for service, etc. This phone consistently has at least 2 at home, often more, and that's inside. Outside is incredible! This is a much better phone, as far as that goes, it's only flaws compared to that A460 is the thickness of the 8100, a little thicker, but a small price to pay for a phone that is smaller in both height and width, has better reception, color, a camera, and a faster wireless web browser. It's camera is lacking compared to the 5300, but I am a high school student and for my basic purposes it isn't necessary to have an amazing camera. It works beautifully for photo call ID and little snapshots (I'll use a real digital camera for other stuff, anyway, or just use 35mm). A great phone, especially for $200 (If you have an ESP it's hard to beat this type of full featured phone for free).

 

[courtjester]

My local Costco Sprint sales rep is saying they will get the 8100 by the end of this month. I'm going to trade my A500 in for it.

 

[deftron]

How do you get the Radio Shack cable to work with the phone and XP?

Keeps saying device not recognized

 

[Viterix777]

I heard from a guy at a cellular shop here in Seattle that Sprint could be offering two of the 8100's for $100 after rebates if you sign up for the 2000 minute plan. He said that this promo should be out in about a month or so. He said that sprint usually runs these kinds of promotions during the summer. Anyone else heard anything about this?

 

[KokomoGST]

Just a note... most loyal Sprint customers (iow, if you're with Sprint and you're off contract or have been with Sprint for more than 1+ years with the same phone) can get a credit on their account if you're looking to buy a new phone.

Yeah, RadioShack has them for $100 after IR for new customers. Also unmentioned is audio capability for the 8100... been selling them like crazy in my store. It's physically a tad smaller than the 5300.

 

[howhao]

replying to the radioshack deal...
new customers $100 IR, do you still get the $100 rebate?

 

[Krutoy]

No,
either IR or MIR, Sprint wont honnor the MIR if you go the IR.

Originally posted by: howhao
replying to the radioshack deal...
new customers $100 IR, do you still get the $100 rebate?

 

[dakata24]

what's even hotter is the Sanyo 5300 for $149 at Sprint store. someone mentioned that in another thread and i got in on the deal. there's a $25 credit if you purchase $36 worth of accessories. this also waives the $36 activation fee. so out the door for me (got a belt holster and jarba headset) was $178. got the $50 visions plan (300min anytime / 1000 night and weekend minutes since im going to mainly use it for web/mail/data services).

as far as i know, the $25 credit is only good for the weekend.

 

[cyberdogs]

so did you have to pay for the activation or the accessories?
or was the activation waived totally?

 

[dakata24]

Originally posted by: cyberdogs
so did you have to pay for the activation or the accessories?
or was the activation waived totally?

had to pay for the accessories, but the activation fee was waived.