When you just gotta have text...
Written: Oct 09 '06 (Updated Oct 09 '06)
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Pros: Keyboard, IM, GPS, camera, perfect for texters!
Cons: A little harder to carry.
The Bottom Line: If you love photos, music, texting, mobile web, e-mail, and im, this phone could be for you!
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| xiphoid's Full Review: LG VX9800 Cellular Phone |
This phone is pretty much perfect for me. I do have a couple of issues with it, but the pros greatly outweigh the cons.
I was planning on getting a new phone recently, when mine got wet and died - an old LG - so that kind of sped up the process for me. I did a lot of research, mostly with Verizon, because most people I talk to are on the network and I can talk to them for free - huge plus. I did check out other carriers to see what kind of phone were available.
I'm mostly a texter. I do talk, but very little. I knew I could get away with the least amount of minutes if I had the most amount of texts. Something like the Sidekick seemed like a good choice, but I wanted to stick with Verizon - enter this little guy. The LG VX9800 aka "The V" seemed like the perfect solution. It looked similar to the Sidekick, but more phone-like. So, after much research, I headed over to Verizon and got myself one.
Physical
The biggest complaint I see is how bulky the phone is. I honestly don't agree. I don't have a problem with the size - if I did, I wouldn't have gotten it! I carry a bag, and it fits just fine. I imagine the only time the size would annoy me is if I had to rely on carrying it in a pocket - but I don't. I don't talk on the phone very much, so holding it up to my ear doesn't bother me, as it only lasts a couple of minutes at a time, and less than once per day. If you're a big talker, you might want to try it out before buying - or just get a bluetooth headseat.
I do have one tiny issue with the size, though. The second day I owned the phone, I was holding it in a pocket and it slipped out as I was getting out of the car. It hit the pavement and scuffed. I was pretty annoyed with myself, so I went looking for a simple case so that I could put it in something when I'm carrying it around for extra protection. I found nothing. I refuse to buy a leather case like the one Verizon sells, so I was left with very few options. I really just wanted a sleeve that I could slip it out of. I ended up getting an iPod case that it barely fits in (a little hangs out the end, but the velcro just reaches).
Display
There are two screens on this phone. The front screen, which is visible when the phone is closed (looks like a normal phone) and the main screen, which appears when you flip the phone open. The front screen is a normal sized screen, but the main screen is a larger display at 320x256 pixels. It allows you to easily view photos, videos, the web, text messages, etc.
The display is great. It's bright, crisp, and perfect for my eyes. The front screen is hard to see in sunlight, but that is no problem for me. I've heard complaints about the text size on the main screen.It is small text, yes, so if you have troubles reading the tiny print, I would imagine it could pose a problem for you. For me, I see it just fine. I actually think the smaller the better, because I get the most lines without having to scroll. Within reason, of course!
Communication
As I mentioned, I'm not a big phone person. In fact, I hate talking on the phone. That's why I got this phone in the first place. I use it mainly for text messaging and mobile im. Texting is super easy with the mini QWERTY keyboard when you flip open the phone. The only issue I sometimes have is that I press enter too soon and it sends an incomplete message. That's because the "enter" button is located in the center of the directional buttons, so if I slip, I get the wrong one. My finger are small, though, so it rarely happens. So, I should mention that the keyboard may be hard to use if you have big hands.
Mobile im is also easy - it comes with AIM, MSN and Yahoo messengers. I have had the phone 2 months, and have already gotten several updates to the software, each providing more improvement.
As far as talking - it seems ok. Voice quality is average. Not great, not terrible. It does have speakerphone when you flip it open, and it plays through the mini speakers. I actually like that, because I can just set it down and talk.
Oh, and as a funny feature, the phone will read texts outloud. I do it mainly for fun, just to see how it will pronounce certain things...or not!
Camera
The camera feature is new for me, as my last phone lacked anything fancy. I like that I can take random pictures if I'm caught without my camera - or just to waste time. The camera is actually pretty advanced for a phone. It has way more features than I would expect. The camera is 1.3 megapixels, and offers zoom, and a portrait and close-up mode. You can also add effects such as sepia, black and white, vivid, and negative. You can also adjust picture size, white balance, brightness, and there is even a flash.
I usually take my pictures at the largest setting, so I end up not being able to store very many. You can get a MiniSD card, but I'm not really ready to buy anything extra, yet.
Here are two picture quality examples:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c334/specimenq5/sky2.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c334/specimenq5/robinnew1a.jpg
I've used the video a few times, and I'm disappointed that no matter how much memory you have available, you can only take 15 second video clips. Not that I'll be using it that much, but it would be nice knowing it wasn't limited.
The biggest annoyance I have with the picture feature, is that while browsing, you can send each picture to VZW PiXPlace, where you can send it, download it, etc. However, after you send each one, the phone defaults back to the main screen. It's not hard to get back to the picture folder, but it's annoying to have to repeat a bunch of times in a row.
V Cast
Honestly, I haven't used this feature and don't really plan to. I know you can subscribe to the V Cast, and get music and video clips, but I dont' have much of a need for that. I do think it's nice to be able to listen to music on the phone, but I don't need to. However, it does come with speakers when flipped open that would come in handy for sharing video/music. Otherwise I would recommend headphones, as the speakers aren't that great.
Web and E-mail
I don't pay for the web service, but the phone lets you browse the Verizon account info page for free, so you can view your plan, make changes, check your balance, etc.
GPS
The phone has GPS, with location and 911 only. I downloaded a free trial of the Verizon GPS program, and it did come in handy a few times when I was lost and needing directions. It costs $10 a month, and if you don't have any other GPS, it's worth it. It will even read the directions out loud as they come up. Very handy!
Bluetooth
It has it, but I don't use it. Figured I would at least mention that it's possible, though!
Battery
I'm sure people wonder about battery life, but sadly, I don't! I hardly ever charge this, and I haven't ever lost battery power. I usually just plug it into th ecar when I'm commuting, which is about a half hour per day, and it's almost always fully charged, or at least 3/4 of the way. So, I haven't had a single problem with this phone dying. I do a lot of texting and mobile im and Tetris, and haven't gotten it below half charged so far, so I give it a thumbs up.
So, to sum it up, it's really a great phone if you're more into texting and games - definitely makes those things quicker and easier than a regular cell phone!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 150 w/Rebate
Recommended for: Stylish Trendsetters - Hip and Trendy
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