Panasonic Allure - What A Cellular Phone Should Be!
Written: Feb 12 '02
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Pros: Lightweight, long battery life, excellent signal strength
Cons: Only available through one carrier, pricey, limited accessories
The Bottom Line: To be honest, if I wasn't an AT&T customer, I'd seriously consider switching just for this phone.
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| twnboys's Full Review: Panasonic Allure EB-TX310 (Silver) |
I waited awhile to write this review - I've had the handset since October (I purchased it the day AT&T released it to the public). Even though I was enamored with it, I wanted to see how I'd feel once the bloom was off.
Now, 4 months later, I love this telephone as much as the day I got it.
I wish I could say that I meant to buy it, but I can't. The AT&T rep was in the office and I did the "Cellular Mating Dance". I was a Sprint PCS customer and could not have been less happy. My coverage and connection was so bad that on 9/11 I didn't realize we were in a crisis because that's what my connectivity was like normally.
So I was kicking the tires of a few units and the rep pulled out the Allure.
"To be honest," she said, "I don't know a lot about it. We got it today, and it's supposed to be the next generation, but no one's got one yet, so I don't know how well it works."
Well, telling me no one has it is like leaving a trail of chocolate chips from my front door. AT&T had a 30 day return policy, so I figured I'd give it a shot.
Wow!
First of all, the thing is so light I've lost it on my body! I'd stick it in my pocket - even my shirt pocket - and forget it was there until it rang! The battery, wafer thin, gives me about 140 minutes of talk time, and around 200 hours of standby - my Samsung 8500 gave me about 45 minutes of talk time, and if i left it in my car in the garage overnight it ran down.
It has a speakerphone option which has been handy in business meetings as well as in the car, and the call quality is as good as any other cel phone I've had.
I've been very impressed with where I've been able to receive calls. Other friends (with both AT&T service as well as competing carriers) are constantly amazed where I can get calls - in the skybox at the football stadium, on the subway, in doctors' offices - it's great!
Now, I will admit it has some drawbacks. You are at the mercy of AT&T for accessories - there are NO other outlets, so discounts aren't an option. And even then, a lot of AT&T stores don't carry paraphernalia for it, so you have to order from the website.
Also, the overall telephone, as well as the buttons, are a little small. I wear an XL glove and it can be a little challenging dialing on the fly.
But overall, I have been more pleased with this cel phone than with any of the other 14 I've owned.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 149
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Epinions.com ID:
twnboys
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Location: Southeastern United States
Reviews written: 57
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