Kinda like a Kungfu Grip!
Written: Aug 09 '01 (Updated Aug 09 '01)
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Pros: Rubberised Coating, Extended Battery life compared to TX210
Cons: Menu isin't easy like Nokia's
The Bottom Line: DURAMAX stands out as a durable and resistant wireless phone. Great battery life, and nice sure-grip coating.
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| gujustud's Full Review: Panasonic DuraMax EB-TX220 |
Exactly! A GIJOE action figure with a Kungfu grip. Well lets say that this phone would serve GIJOE very well.
I haven't written a phone review in some time, mainly because I've been busy, and because there hasn't been any new additions to Epinions, that have interested me to write about. But when I saw the addition of the Panasonic DURAMAX EB-TX220 I just had to write a review.
A quick review on myself, I work as a Customer Service Consultant for Rogers AT&T Wireless, and have been doing this for close to 2 years now, so I believe my opinions on cell phones are pretty good.
Earlier this year, in January, Panasonic came out with the release of the TX210. Both my brother and sister had cancelled their accounts with Telus, due to their great nature of Customer service, and also their lack to give either my brother or sister a subsidy towards a newer phone, after 6 years of continuous service with a analog phone. So they both cancelled their service, and moved over to Rogers AT&T Wireless.
My sister was the first to get the TX210, because that was the only Panasonic phone released at the time, But only a few weeks later the TX220 was released.
Since I work for the cellular company, I can easily change ESN's around, and so I did this with my brothers phone for a good month, to get the feel of this phone.
First off, I have to say I LOVE the rubberised coating on this phone. Its kinda a sure-grip coating they've placed over the phone. Regardless of how careful you are with your phone, ONE day, you will drop the phone, and with this coating you will be happy your phone has it! With this coating the phone is also Dust and Shock Resistant. Now I'm not saying you should test this out by throwing your phone off a 40 floor building, and see if it survives when it smacks against the sidewalk, but I guess with the accidental drop, the phone will survive.
Sure, it does make the phone a little thicker than the TX210, but compare to my Nokia 6161, its almost a little smaller.
This phone is PACKED with features. Its amazing how much they fit into this small sucker. Below a list of its features:
Speaker Phone: this phone comes with a speaker phone feature, and by simply holding down the "#" button, it will activate. This is great if you're in the car, or having a group conference. Testing this feature out worked pretty good, and the other party on the other side, didn't have much of a problem hearing me, even when driving in a car.
Messaging: the TX220 is a fully functional messaging phone. It allows 2way SMS Messaging, and also has support of T-9 Text entry. This is suppose to make SMS much easier, but quite frankly, being use to my Nokia without T-9, I find turning this feature off, and just typing out the full message much faster.
Battery: is TOTALLY SWEEEEEET!! The price difference between the 210 and 220 totally is worth it when you compare the battery alone. The battery on this phone is the extended lithium ion battery, which gives you up to 240 min of talk time, and close to 400 hours of standby time. The TX210 only gives 120min talk time, and 200hr standby time. Keep in mind, the battery on the 220 is NOT compatible with the 210. The battery is much thicker, and won't fit on it properly.
Network: The TX220 is a Dual Band/Dual mode phone. It is designed to run on a 800 MHz analog, 800 MHz TDMA and 1900 MHz TDMA.
Backlight: Kinda kewl feature, more for personalization, but you can change the background color on your LCD display from either orange, or green, another kewl, niffy feature.
Phone Book: I really liked the phone book feature on this phone. It only holds up to 100 NAMES. BUT for each name, you can add up to four listing. IE: If you know someone who has a Home line, Cell Phone, Work Line, Email address, you can add all four, and its listed under one name. Pretty niffy feature.
Unlike the Nokia phones, the Panasonic phones do not allow you to download ring tones, or graphics to your phone. This wasn't a real problem for me, because I never had this option on my phone.
The phone has internal vibration, which is a great feature, and I REALLY liked having this. My Nokia phone I have now, doesn't have built-in vibration, but you can buy a seperate battery that vibrates. This is a great feature to have, specially when you're in a meeting (not me), or are at the movie theatres.
The antenna also on the phone is suppose to be much better. its better built on the phone, and from the signal strength I get on the 220 compare to the 210, I noticed the 220 has MUCH better reception, specially in fringe areas.
In the end, I was in total love with the phone, but my brother wanted his new toy back. The DURAMAX has me on the edge of changing over, but the main pressure points was the menu, I found it hard to get use to, and text messaging was slower for me on the phone. Also the absence of games, and a calender, and calulator was also a downer. Trust me those games are a time passer when you're on the throne, and I've found the calender, VERY helpful (almost like a very small palm pilot). But in the case of these missing options (you can't have everything), I would still highly recommend this phone, specially if you're a butterfingers. And if you're a Jabber-jaw, then the battery will suite you fine...
UPDATE: I wanted to add that out of the hundred of calls I take, I haven't yet to receive one person who has called to complain about this phone. And my brother, who WOULD complain to me, if he did have a problem, hasn't complained one bit.
For my Nokia 6161i Phone Review, check here: http://rendezvous2.epinions.com/elec-review-3A5D-2717A1C-39DF69E4-prod2
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 116
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Epinions.com ID:
gujustud
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Location: Richmond, British Columbia
Reviews written: 40
Trusted by: 14 members
About Me:
CNC Machinist. Previously Technical/Customer Service Support Consultant for Rogers AT&T Wireless. Sport/Tech/Outdoor Freak.
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