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I'm not the kind of person that needs to have the latest and greatest phone so I generally just get whatever free phone comes with my plan. However, this year I've been given a few choices and I could really use some advice on which is best from people that shop phones a bit more. These are my choices:
LG Vu CU 920 LG Xenon Nokia E-71 LG Neon GT365 Samsung Eternity Samsung A777
I'm researching them now as much as I can but I figure I'd ask TL first anyway. I really know nothing about phones these days, never used it for anything past making calls.
I have no intention of paying for any special features beyond the basic cost of the plan which I believe is a pretty bare bones setup through AT&T so that's something to consider.
I have no idea if this is something you normally need to pay extra for, but it would be really cool if I could have a phone that could send pictures it takes to my pc. My current phone doesn't do that and it sorta sucks. :/
Thanks in advance, in TL I trust.
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Errmm, I haven't been keeping up with phones since the iPhone because imo, it still dominates the phone industry.
Most phones nowadays have more features than you really need and if you are mostly just going to take pictures, make phones and nothing too techy, most phones have the capability to do that. About sending pictures to your phone, just plug it into your computer via usb or whatever the phone uses, most phones these days come with PC software to put music on and sync/upload files/pictures and all that.
Generally I go with the best looking phone, but that's just me xP
Anyways I'm sure others will know about phones and stuff and will probably give you better advice than me.
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Go for the E71 Nokia, good features also great battery life.
Also all phones can send the contents on it to your PC if you have a usb cord, which is pretty standard and comes with almost all phones, or you can transfer files with Bluetooth connectivity if your PC has it.
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On December 31 2009 05:15 QuickSandSlowly wrote: Go for the E71 Nokia, good features also great battery life.
Also all phones can send the contents on it to your PC if you have a usb cord, which is pretty standard and comes with almost all phones, or you can transfer files with Bluetooth connectivity if your PC has it.
Yea, the E71 is a great telephone. Unless you're after a touch screen, I recommend the Nokia. The keyboard is really user-friendly.
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I sell At&t phones, all the ones you listed, and i've played around with all of them so i know whats decent and what isn't. Out of the ones you listed the E-71 is a really nice phone. I would go with that one for non touch screen phone. If you get a touchscreen phone go with the xenon. It's been cosumer rated as their best (non iphone) phone along with the samsung impression (should check this one out too it's an awesome phone.) The vu and eternity are crap. And the neon is a real cheap flimsy phone that's even sold for like 70$ as a go phone now (pay as you go disposable phone).
In short. E71 or Xenon (or impression).
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AT&T coverage is HORRIBLE compared to Verizon. I wish i hadn't switched.
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On December 31 2009 06:39 KaRnaGe[cF] wrote: AT&T coverage is HORRIBLE compared to Verizon. I wish i hadn't switched.
This is true for the most parts. But I switched to AT&T because it has coverage in some parts of NY city that Verizon doesn't, like my own house. And no, my house is not on some farm somewhere in upstate NY, it is in the middle of the city. I get full bars in my basement with AT&T, and no bars on the roof with Verizon. This, and the iPhone made it easy to forget what I was giving up with Verizon.
Seriously, before I got the iPhone, I usually waved it off as another passing fad. Now, I am a true believer. It is seriously one of the greatest inventions ever made
Since I have gotten it, I no longer need to carry multiple gadgets. I got rid of my GPS, Mp3 player, obviously it's a cellphone, it has INTERNETZ, e-mail, open/edit documents, remote control of my computer and DVR, bank statements, movie tickets, and redbox movies with the push of a button; I even got rid of my cycle computer for my mountain/road bikes because... well, there's an app for that.
To get back on topic, I know you want the bare minimum, but if you can absolutely find a way to afford the iPhone, I would suggest you do so.
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A simple search on the Neon will show you that very little consumers are happy with it. I recently ordered one without researching it enough and when I found out that there were tons of customers unhappy with it, I returned it without even opening the package.
They all had the same complaints: low battery life, freezes constantly, hard to hear callers and for them to hear you, and in need of a replacement every few weeks. You don't wanna go near that phone.
Also, the Samsung Solstice is the successor to the Samsung Eternity. I'd get the Solstice instead.
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51282 Posts
E71 is the best out of that list.
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I'm in the process of reading a fairly lengthy "buyer's guide" now but from what I've heard in reviews it seems that "smart phones" generally cost more per month to use. Is this true just for normal use i.e just making calls? If so, that automatically rules out the Nokia E71. I want to minimize those recurring costs as much as I can.
Thanks for all the advice everyone! It seems like everyone is suggesting I go with the E71 but I'm a little wary of it's "smart phone" categorization for the reason above. Also, after watching a few video reviews of it I really don't like the interface nearly as much as the LG Xenon or the Samsung Impression which Probe suggested. I'm definitely leaning towards the Xenon or the Impression if I can get it for a small additional fee. Xenon seems a bit smaller (pro), Impression has the nicer screen (pro). I've heard people complain about LG phones not having as good reception as other phones in reviews as well, which is certainly something to consider. As of right now, if I go to the store and the Impression is affordable and it doesn't feel too huge I think I might get that. If not, the Xenon is one of the free choices so it seems like the obvious choice.
Thanks so much again TL.
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Xenon is a really good phone but at&t coverage is so bad compared to verizon.
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United States4126 Posts
I have the E71 right now and I feel like it's going to waste without a data/texting plan. I end up praying that I can steal some wifi whenever I need it. Just a note, it can watch youtube/livestream with a good connection . If you want to transfer files to your PC, you can do it via Bluetooth or the USB cable it comes with.
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LG Xenon <3 I have no reason to this besides that I like the look.. and that's about it.
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Yes to purchase the E-71 or the Iphone you have to get the required data plan since they are both considered smart phones. It's 30 dollars a month extra to whatever your bill is right now however you get unlimited internet and emails and iphone and E71 are kind of useless without the internet. If your going to buy the phone on a contract like upgrade or new plan got to costco. Its like 59 dollars for the impression right now i think plus they give you extra shit with it.
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On December 31 2009 08:34 Probe. wrote: Yes to purchase the E-71 or the Iphone you have to get the required data plan since they are both considered smart phones. It's 30 dollars a month extra to whatever your bill is right now however you get unlimited internet and emails and iphone and E71 are kind of useless without the internet. If your going to buy the phone on a contract like upgrade or new plan got to costco. Its like 59 dollars for the impression right now i think plus they give you extra shit with it. Ah, okay thanks. So the E71 is off the table for me.
Not sure if it makes a difference but what we're doing is some family plan thing and as part of our renewing the contract we got a choice of the original phones I posted for free. I believe we're getting it through RadioShack. I'll ask about the Impression I guess, just incase. We also don't have a Costco around here.
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The only phone I've used on that list and am currently using is the Samsung Vu. For general purposes like making and receiving calls and messaging it's fine, but this phone is not a smart phone like an iphone. Also, with a usb cable (that you have to buy separately) you can send pictures and other media files to/from your phone, but the camera on this phone doesn't have the greatest quality (2.0 mb pixel). The main special feature is the live TV that can be broadcast to your phone, but it will cost extra monthly.
Overall, there isn't much customization for this phone and not being a smart phone, can't really be compared to the other phones on your list.
For general and basic phone features: 8/10 Extra features and customization: 6/10
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nokia E71 for sure, not the best phone for web browsing as its not touch screen but its does everything else very well
"Nokia E71 is a powerful business tool - in fact it is one of the most capable we've ever seen. Plus, it has completed the demanding task of adding style and slick looks to the QWERTY messenger breed. The performance of Nokia E71 is praiseworthy, save for the below-par camera.
Rarely has a handset had us so impressed so quickly as the E71. The Nokia messenger seems a great purchasing option if you're after a device of this kind. We still feel a fair warning is due for those upgrading from E61 - the keypad and screen of E71 are notably smaller. If they can live with that though, nothing stands between them and the pure messenger power unleashed. As for the ones who like the business features but aren't so much into QWERTY keyboards - E66 is the way to go.
We admit to a tinge of excitement over a great rivalry shaping up with BlackBerry Bold. But it's fair to say that at this point every day of Bold delay is Nokia's gain, securing the E71 stand as the single ruler of the QWERTY messenger realm. It seems at least one long wait was well worth it."
from gsm arena
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On December 31 2009 10:58 CorsairHero wrote: nokia E71 for sure, not the best phone for web browsing as its not touch screen but its does everything else very well
"Nokia E71 is a powerful business tool - in fact it is one of the most capable we've ever seen. Plus, it has completed the demanding task of adding style and slick looks to the QWERTY messenger breed. The performance of Nokia E71 is praiseworthy, save for the below-par camera.
Rarely has a handset had us so impressed so quickly as the E71. The Nokia messenger seems a great purchasing option if you're after a device of this kind. We still feel a fair warning is due for those upgrading from E61 - the keypad and screen of E71 are notably smaller. If they can live with that though, nothing stands between them and the pure messenger power unleashed. As for the ones who like the business features but aren't so much into QWERTY keyboards - E66 is the way to go.
We admit to a tinge of excitement over a great rivalry shaping up with BlackBerry Bold. But it's fair to say that at this point every day of Bold delay is Nokia's gain, securing the E71 stand as the single ruler of the QWERTY messenger realm. It seems at least one long wait was well worth it."
from gsm arena I've ruled out the E71 due to the extra monthly cost. The features are nice but I don't really need them enough to justify the added cost.
Thanks for the gsm arena mention though, I've been fishing around that site and it's very useful.
As of right now it's still between the Xenon and the Impression. I looked at the Solstice but I'm not sure I trust having all the typing done on a touchscreen, I think I would prefer the physical keyboard that the Xenon and Impression have.
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then i would go for the impression, much better quality screen thats a little larger and better camera
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