Samsung N200---Great little phone, and the price just came down
Written: Dec 24 '01
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Pros: Great reception; great sound quality; packed with features; really a powerhouse little phone
Cons: No games? Battery life might be a trifle suspect
The Bottom Line: A great little phone---the price has finally come down, and with its features and styling, I highly recommend it.
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| s_trimble's Full Review: Samsung SPH-N200 Silver |
I recently purchased an amazing little cellphone: The Samsung N200 Blue for use with Sprint PCS wireless service. I had needed a new phone for a while, and had my eye on the n200 because of some positive word-of-mouth and online window-shopping. But until recently, this phone had been priced at $179 before mail-in rebates, so I had been holding off until the price came down a bit. And lo! it finally did. While checking out my local Radio Shack one day, I noticed that the phone had been drastically reduced: I bought mine for $99, before a $30 mail-in rebate.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
First of all, the phone is quite attractive. It is small, but not too small, has an appealing clamshell design and a large viewscreen. It features an easy-to-use joystick feature that makes navigating its menus a breeze. And to top it off, it has a cool metallic blue color that makes the whole package look quite stylish.
One good thing about the clamshell design is that it allows you to see who's calling you without opening the phone. The viewscreen is large and clear, and is easy to read thanks to the very clear text. You may also navigate the main menu without opening the phone, as the menu key, the clear key, and the navigation joystick are all located above the flip.
Once you open the clamshell, you are greeted by the standard cellphone stuff: A talk button, an end button, and the standard number keys. The design is friendly and accessible, and I think that even novice cellphone users (how many of these are there nowadays?) would not be intimidated by it.
FEATURES
The phone has a wealth of features. Apart from standard cellphone features, the n200 sports an alarm clock, automatic time and date set, a personal calendar and to-do list, voice-activated dialing, wireless web browser (with subscription), and a comprehensive phonebook that allows you to input several different phone numbers for the same name. That's handy nowadays, when most people have home, work, mobile, and pager numbers.
The calendar feature is very appealing to me. It's as functional as the calendar you'll find on most PDAs, allowing you to program events for specific dates and to set alarms to remind you when something important is coming up. I use this feature heavily already, and it's easy and intuitive to use. Likewise, the to-do list function is handy and easy to figure out.
The wireless web is fun too. When I signed up for Sprint PCS service, it happened to be the last day to sign up for a free three-month trial of wireless web. After that, it will cost me $5 a month, and I think I might just spring for it. It has all the standard mobile web services---like sports scores and news, financial news, search function, etc., plus one thing I didn't expect. It has AOL Instant Messenger built in, and will import your buddy list automatically (when you sign in with your AOL IM username and password). I love this feature. I can check my buddy list anytime to see who's online---especially handy when I'm at work and can't log on.
FUNCTIONALITY AND DURABILITY
So far, the phone has functioned exactly as promised. Signal strength is excellent, and in my limited travels, I seem to have excellent Sprint PCS coverage in my area (suburban Philadelphia). The reception on the phone is impressive---incoming and outgoing. Yesterday, I was at a noisy carwash and needed to make a call. Even though there was a high level of ambient noise, I was able to hear the other party quite well, and they too were able to hear me clearly. I also made a long-distance call and was surprised at the clarity. The phone is only partly responsible, true (the network has a lot to do with the clarity of calls), but I've talked on plenty of cellphones that simply do not have the clarity of this one.
As for the durability, that remains to be seen. However, the phone has a solid, high-quality feel to it, and as long as I take good care of it, I see no reason it won't last me a good long time. It is not heavy, but not insubstantial either, and the clamshell flip has a satisfyingly tight feel to it.
One minor quibble I have with the phone is the battery life. It is advertised as allowing for up to 138 hours (more than five days) of standby time, and I think 2.8 hours of talk time per full charge. I don't think this is the case. I used my phone sparingly for two days after a charge, and the battery indicator was down to one bar---signifying I'd need a charge soon. The phone comes with a two-slot desktop charger, but I'd suggest a car charger too, and perhaps an extra battery just to be sure.
OVERALL
Overall, this seems to be an excellent little phone. Its features, clarity, durability, and design all seem to indicate a winner. And with the recent reduction in price, I'd heartily recommend it.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 99
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Epinions.com ID:
s_trimble
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Member: Stephen Trimble
Location: West Chester, PA
Reviews written: 127
Trusted by: 95 members
About Me:
I'm back to my roots, writing business newsletters for Progressive Business Publications.
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