Samsung Captivate/vibrant users: are you planning on returning your phone?

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Kanalua

Diamond Member
Jun 14, 2001
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I bought my Vibrant at walmart. The guy who helped me was really good, very knowledgeable and helpful. They will do the whole upgrade thing for you.
 

qwertyaas

Member
Jul 19, 2007
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Go to the phone page, and at the top where is says "narrow your selection", there is a drop down on the far right to show "choose purchase types". Drop down to "renewed 2 year contract".
Right now it is $89.99 with activation waived (saves you $18). If you go new customer, then you get it free after rebate.

I have the 550 minute family plan. Seems the only way I can get on the Walmart deal is if I actually upgrade my plan to 700 minutes. I can't just renew my line on the contract without picking a new plan?

Edit: I just called. I can extend just my line and the phone will come out to $150. I might opt to do that.
 
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Oct 9, 1999
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something annoying to me is when i have it plugged in charging if i don't manually power off the screen from a call/text/etc the screen stays on. didn't see an option to change that.
 

robphelan

Diamond Member
Aug 28, 2003
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A Captivate is $199 without a contract? Last I looked it was $499...?

Edit: it is $499. http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-pho...sku=sku4760319

So, Rob, why are you calling it $199? Is it available somewhere else for $200? At $200, I'm in. At $500, not so much. I'm an existing customer with AT&T still under contract and I can re-up for a phone in ~April '11.

i guess it's available for Premier accounts (valid through my employer) - I saw a 199 w/o 2 yr contract & assumed it was available to everyone.
EDIT:
[imghttp://imgur.com/Uq40O.png[/img]

double edit: Free 2nd day shipping, too - not sure if this is for Premier only, though
 
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pm

Elite Member Mobile Devices
Jan 25, 2000
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i guess it's available for Premier accounts (valid through my employer) - I saw a 199 w/o 2 yr contract & assumed it was available to everyone.

Wow. Nice. I need a better employer... ;)

Thanks for the clarification.
 

robphelan

Diamond Member
Aug 28, 2003
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hmm.. i guess i better jump on it for 200... except i noticed someone above saying they had issues with Exchange Server?

currently my work email is pushed to my iPhone.. this is incredibly helpful & I'd hate to lose that.

BTW, the wife's best friend lives in Ft Collins & absolutely loves it. The pictures they have of their back yard last winter were really cool
 
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pm

Elite Member Mobile Devices
Jan 25, 2000
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hmm.. i guess i better jump on it for 200... except i noticed someone above saying they had issues with Exchange Server?

currently my work email is pushed to my iPhone.. this is incredibly helpful & I'd hate to lose that.

BTW, the wife's best friend lives in Ft Collins & absolutely loves it. The pictures they have of their back yard last winter were really cool

There's a built-in Exchange server software in the Captivate (and maybe Vibrant) and I've heard from several people that it's not very good - better than nothing but not much better. At work, the corporate Android email solution is Good Mail - http://www.good.com/android/ I'm not affiliated with them - I feel like I need to say that since I've linked them twice in this thread - but they are the corporate Exchange Email/Calendar/Contacts software software solution at my company (Intel). Users are not thrilled with it, but it seems better than the Samsung solution.

I will admit that the primary reason that I haven't bought a Captivate is exactly this - I have my email/contacts, and most importantly calendar sync'd between my iPhone and Exchange and without it, it feels like a bit of my brain disappeared and I start forgetting things and missing meetings. The main reason that I haven't switched is that the battery life of the Captivate isn't much better than my iPhone (if not maybe worse) and the not-very-happy Good Mail users at work scare me. For $200, though, I'd probably give it a try.

Yeah, Fort Collins is nice. A bit cold in the winter - which makes for pretty pictures if nothing else. But it sure is nice here right now in the summer.
 
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Hmongkeysauce

Senior member
Jun 8, 2005
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There is a mail client that works with Exchange. The only problem is that the app is plain trash. If you have subfolders, you'll want to ditch the stock mail app because they don't automatically sync up. I've tried touchdown and K9 as substitute(s) because I really needed a functional mail program. Touchdown is close, but still doesn't give you the option of displaying all folders. You get to choose between to displaying a single folder or all mail. I couldn't get K9 to work at all.
 

s44

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 2006
9,427
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If you can get it for $200 without a contract, at least buy one to resell!
 
Oct 9, 1999
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Go to the phone page, and at the top where is says "narrow your selection", there is a drop down on the far right to show "choose purchase types". Drop down to "renewed 2 year contract".
Right now it is $89.99 with activation waived (saves you $18). If you go new customer, then you get it free after rebate.

then it asks about what plan i want or can i skip that and go straight to cart?
 

Uppsala9496

Diamond Member
Nov 2, 2001
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You need to pick a plan. I selected the same one I had. Even carried over the rollover minutes for me when I looked at my att bill this morning.
 
Oct 9, 1999
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alright. i'll see what plan i have as i can't remember. so it won't change anything(other than the data plan)?

it says backordered in the cart but still gives me the option to check out. i wish we could do this in-store.
 

gar655

Senior member
Mar 4, 2008
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Played with a Captivate at the ATT store today. Pretty unimpressed. Interface and overall operation was laggy and sluggish compared to my iPhone 4G, plus the screen was meh! as well.

Not impressed. Glad I didn't wait for this phone.

From a happy iPhone 4G owner.
 

dougp

Diamond Member
May 3, 2002
7,909
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Played with a Captivate at the ATT store today. Pretty unimpressed. Interface and overall operation was laggy and sluggish compared to my iPhone 4G, plus the screen was meh! as well.

Not impressed. Glad I didn't wait for this phone.

From a happy iPhone 4G owner.

What ... the ... fuck.

Really? The screen was MEH? You must have taken your glasses off or something, because the clarity & brightness compared to the iPhone 4 is way better. Hell, everyone I know has said that when they see my phone. As for the "laggy" operation - it's a display device at a store - who knows what is running on it and when it was last rebooted. I remember trying to play with WinMo phones that people said were fast and the speed was so slooooooow cause of all the things running/installed.
 

richierich1212

Platinum Member
Jul 5, 2002
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lol the captivate is awesome and i've only had it for less than 24 hours.

I've finally fixed the GPS as well:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=732030

And I use:

Second suggested setup (from other posts and claimed to have great results):
SUPL/CP Settings/SErver FQDN Type/Custom Config
Application settings/Operation Mode/MS Based
SUPL/CP Settings/Server/supl.google.com
SUPL/CP Settings/Port/7276

Accuracy - 30
SkyHook - On

Then you have to reboot, and make sure GPS is turned on. I turn mine on using the power control widget.


Captivate >>>>>>>>>>> iPhone 3G by miles.
 
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robphelan

Diamond Member
Aug 28, 2003
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So i jumped and ordered the Captivate.. free 2 day shipping, will get here tomorrow.

I did notice that even though the page clearly did not have a "*2yr contract required" blurb, my contract was extended 2 yrs.

http://imgur.com/Uq40O.png

All the iPhones have that blurb, so I presumed it didn't apply to the Captivate.

I called AT&T locally, & they were surprised that the reduced price smartphone didn't have that term. I told her that I would have just bought the iPhone 4 in that case.

They wanted me to screenshot it and send it to them.. they could possibly honor it if approved.

HOWEVER, I'm seriously considering not making a fuss over that. I was 14 months into my current 2yr contract(so this extended it only ~ 1yr more), plus they haven't figured out that the wife has her own iPhone withOUT a data plan.

I'm afraid if I make too many waves, they'll see that she needs a data plan, even though she'd never use it.

I'll try it out for a couple of days & maybe return it for the iPhone 4 because of the aforementioned Corporate Outlook issues.
 

Nvidiaguy07

Platinum Member
Feb 22, 2008
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plus they haven't figured out that the wife has her own iPhone withOUT a data plan.

I'm afraid if I make too many waves, they'll see that she needs a data plan, even though she'd never use it.

I'll try it out for a couple of days & maybe return it for the iPhone 4 because of the aforementioned Corporate Outlook issues.

i wouldnt be too concerned. ATT isnt as strict as enforcing as youd think. In the time ive had ATT I: had a blackberry with unlimited data for 10 dollars a month - I called and told them i no longer used the blackberry and just used a razr. I said im not paying for a BB data plan for a razr. I read the guy my imei from the back or my razr and he switched me to the cheaper plan. It even showed up in my account that i was still using the BB8310.

I also used an iphone for about ~3 months in that time with the same plan, before i switched back.

My mom is currently using my BB9700 that i gave to her. Shows up on the account page too, but she currently doesnt have a data plan.

Just threaten to return stuff and say you never wanted it in the first place. Act appalled.

Even when i finally switched from my 10 dollar scam to the 30 a month plan, i called and said that i had previously spoke with someone and they promised me nothing would change on the account. I didnt expect them to make me pay 10 a month, but they did give me something like a 100 dollar credit. (I actually wanted the 30 unlim data in fear that if i kept the 10 and eventually got caught out, they would make me get a higher priced plan and i would not be able to get grandfathered in to unlimited data- which means more to me than paying 10 a month) I go through 2GB pretty quick.
 
Aug 23, 2000
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If anyone has the Vibrant. i just rooted my Vibrant, got rid of most of the bloatware I don't use (Amazon mp3, Telenav, mobiTV, write and Go, slacker radio) and did the lagfix...wow...phone flies now...huge performance improvement...

How did you uninstall those programs?
I've rooted my Vibrant, but haven't found a way to uninstall those apps. yet.

The lagfix has helped my phone a bit.
 

robphelan

Diamond Member
Aug 28, 2003
4,084
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i guess my next step will be to test out the captivate for a few days.. if I like it, I'll return & re-buy it from Walmart for $89 or less since I'm renewing my 2yr contract anyway.

If I don't like it, return it for the iPhone 4.

I guess it all hinges on the Corporate Email compatibility
 

gar655

Senior member
Mar 4, 2008
565
0
71
What ... the ... fuck.

Really? The screen was MEH?

Yes. Really. The screen on the iPhone 4G is quite a bit better at least indoors under normal lighting.

As for the lagginess it possibly could be from having many things running but the iPhone does not do this no matter how many apps are "running".

Time since "rebooting"? Another reason to skip this phone. Shit is it running Android or Windows?

My phone don't need no stinkin reboot! :)
 
Oct 9, 1999
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Yes. Really. The screen on the iPhone 4G is quite a bit better at least indoors under normal lighting.

As for the lagginess it possibly could be from having many things running but the iPhone does not do this no matter how many apps are "running".

Time since "rebooting"? Another reason to skip this phone. Shit is it running Android or Windows?

My phone don't need no stinkin reboot! :)

i'd rather use my phone without chains wrapped around my feet.
 

dougp

Diamond Member
May 3, 2002
7,909
4
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Yes. Really. The screen on the iPhone 4G is quite a bit better at least indoors under normal lighting.

As for the lagginess it possibly could be from having many things running but the iPhone does not do this no matter how many apps are "running".

Time since "rebooting"? Another reason to skip this phone. Shit is it running Android or Windows?

My phone don't need no stinkin reboot! :)

Funny, because all the things you said, I don't experience on my Captivate. But I did experience them on my JB 3Gs that backgrounds things just like an Android device does. No matter what you want to think, the iPhone still doesn't do proper multitasking. Doesn't matter, because my coworker gets pissed at his iPhone at least 4 times a day, complaining about battery life or not being able to turn his 3G off, or even pick up a new signal after activating it.

And about the screen, I'm sorry but you're full of it. The pixel density is *slightly* more, but there is absolutely no way it's as bright.
 
Aug 23, 2000
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Funny, because all the things you said, I don't experience on my Captivate. But I did experience them on my JB 3Gs that backgrounds things just like an Android device does. No matter what you want to think, the iPhone still doesn't do proper multitasking. Doesn't matter, because my coworker gets pissed at his iPhone at least 4 times a day, complaining about battery life or not being able to turn his 3G off, or even pick up a new signal after activating it.

And about the screen, I'm sorry but you're full of it. The pixel density is *slightly* more, but there is absolutely no way it's as bright.

I looked at the iphone 4 before getting the galaxy s. The galaxy screen isn't as crisp but to me it has better color reproduction. And the swype text input kicks ass.
 

richierich1212

Platinum Member
Jul 5, 2002
2,741
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Yup Samsung AMOLED is pretty nice, and I love the color reproduction. It has a less of a resolution but makes up for it with the Aspect Ratio and colors:

http://www.mobiletechworld.com/2010/06/26/samsung-galaxy-s-vs-iphone-4-display-video-comparison/

samsung-vs-iphone4.jpg