Samsung SCH-8500

[Little Po]

Hey you SprintPCS ppl out there....

Currently I have a Startac 7867W under SprintPCS. One of my friends just broke his startac recently and I was thinking about swapping phones with him. He offered to buy me a brand new Samsung SCH-8500. I was just wondering what you guys thought about the Samsung phone and if this trade is worth it?

Let me know soon! I have to get back to him by tomorrow!

 

[vette9898]

I have had this phone for the last year and think it is a great phone. My last phone was a startac and I think this phone is much better. Way more features than the startac too.

 

[chiwawa626]

I have this phone, its kinda plane, the only outstanding feature is a calender, webbrowser, and voice recorder/recognition. The webbrowser looks realy good, but i havent activated it, i saw on their site u can get over 2000 games thru webbrowser sites and all kinda cool stuff like yahoo and mapquest...its 10 bux more..i mite try it...

 

[Sluggo]

I sold mine to my brother in law. I hated having to open it to see who was calling. A few phones have a small display on the front now, to eliminate this problem. The only other thing i disliked about it, was it was a bit on the heavy side, and there isnt a good leather case to protect it.

I bought this phone instead. $129.99 @ CompUSA and Office Depot.

 

[ricerx]

I've owned my 8500 for 1 1/2 years now and have to say it's been one of the best if not the best I've ever owned. Let me tell ya, I've owned quite a few phones these last 12 years. I'd say go for it. The phone looks plain but has quite a bit of features. However, the best feature I have to say is that it is a very clear phone. Unlike nokia and motorola phones I've owned, this phone cancels out a lot of the background noise so the receiver only hears your voice. Most people think I'm at home when in fact, I'm in a crowded noisy room.

 

[calpha]

The phone is great. Battery life is great and durability is great. I agree with teh one complaint, you have to open it to see who calls, but so do you with the StarTac.

As far as Sprint PCS this is their best phone in the past year, not counting the New TouchPoint with the LCD Display on the Front (Touchpoint has a bunch of models, but there is a flip-model Touchpoint like this).

Size is great too..but screw the leather cases....get a plastic clip. Works perfect.

 

[phatcow]

Id rather have the startac or have him buy you a timeport 8767. I used to have samsung before it didnt charge and had it swapped for a Timeport.


Why buy korean when you can buy american! =P

 

[bunker]

I've had it for about a month now and love it. Got wireless web free and the browser is pretty good, but it is a pain in the ass typing messages in AIM on a phone keypad!

 

[phatcow]

sprint has the touchpoint replacement out now, the blue phone.

Id rather have that phone. Samsung quality is <ludricris lingo> HOrrendous, HOrrible, HOrrid </ludicris lingo>

 

[fr]

The Samsung 8500 was my first phone. I'd still use it if it had a few more features and was a little bit more updated.

What really bothers me is that it doesn't log calls from blocked caller IDs. I'm using a Sprint TouchPoint TP1100 which does all that I need. I really like the dual LCD display, but I like the feel and styling of the 8500 more. The 8500 also has voice recording which is cool.

 

[Little Po]

Hmm, okay. My friend decided to get the SCH-8500 so I still have my startac. I'm still considering getting the SCH-8500 myself. The thing I am most concerned with are what I hear about the clarity of calls as well as the range of the phone. I heard that the phone tends to drop calls quite a bit.

 

[bunker]

The dropping of calls isn't so much the phone as it is Sprint's service. My friend also has PCS and he has a Kyocera phone and drops off in the same places I do. We live in Atlanta, so it's not like Sprint shouldn't have coverage here!

 

[ricerx]

<< Samsung quality is <ludricris lingo> HOrrendous, HOrrible, HOrrid </ludicris lingo> >>


I don't know where you got the info from but if you check Epinions, it's the 2nd highest rated phone that's been reviewed by everyday people (99% recommendation). Also out of 502 user ratings on CNET it's got a 93% approval rating. Out of all 3 Timeports reviewed, the best rating from users is only an 86% approval. One of my previous phones was a Startac and I have to say, this phone (8500) feels more sturdier and better built. Startacs click and feel flimsy when you open and close them. Don;t get me wrong, they're good phones but I found the clarity better on the 8500.



<< The thing I am most concerned with are what I hear about the clarity of calls as well as the range of the phone. I heard that the phone tends to drop calls quite a bit. >>


As I stated previously, the phone is very clear. If you know someone who has one, have them call you from a busy area and you'll see what I'm talking about. Most other phones pick up the background noise and it sounds like an echo. The 8500 cancels most or all of this out. As for dropped calls, it depends on the service. I've had my phone for almost 2 years now and have probably only had a max of 4-5 dropped calls since owning this phone. It's always been at the same place (Mid-Span of San Mateo Bridge). The previous Sprint phone I owned (sony 1300) dropped repeatedly because Sprint wasn't well established out in the Bay Area yet.

 

[jpsj82]

I have it. I love the calendar, especally the month botton on the side. Its easy to use too.

 

[Little Po]

Thanks so much everyone for your help I think I am going to get this phone for myself Now I just have to find a good deal on it... heh...

 

[blakeatwork]

I really love this little phone...i've had mine for close to a year now... and I still haven't gotten sick of it... the vibrate function is great for meetings, if yer expecting an important call. It's compact, non-descrepit, especially if your worried about someone lifting it off you. I say go for it, but that's just me..

 

[ZeroBurn]

i just bought mine a week ago, so far so good. only problem is i've had some people go "what what?" frequently so there may be a clarity problem. the features are awesome, i _love_ the voice dialing.

it just got dropped to $150 with an $80 instant rebate at the sprint store, and being a student they waived my $35 activation fee, i was out with an activated phone for $80.

not bad, my friend paid $200 for it and then activation for it a while ago

 

[Little Po]

Update! Apparently there was a defect with my Startac and the SprintPCS store could not replace it so they gave me a Samsung 8500 as a free replacement Nice deal eh?

 

[mrchan]

the samsung 8500 is a nice phone. i've had that along with several startacs, qualcomms and other samsungs.

 

[ZeroBurn]

ha, congrats =)