Nokia 3210 - dress it up or dress it down
Apr 16 '00
***Why oh why is the Nokia 3210 not listed? Since the Nokia 2000 category is the closest I can get to it (Trust me, the picture above does the 3210 no justice), I'll have to place this mobile phone in this category instead.
__________________________________________________________________________
Remember the changeable Swatch watch that sent the world into a frenzy last decade? The Nokia company has come up with a similar line of product - changeable case covers for the Nokia 3210. I purchased this hand phone for $99 Australian dollars, and it came with 2 sets of case covers. My phone is presently wearing its matte metallic red and silver dress, and very happy with it. Okay, it's getting frustrating knowing that you, the reader, has no inkling of what this phone looks like. Click onto this: http://www.nokia.com/phones/3210/ and then come back to finish this review.
Back? All right, where were we? The 3210 is the epitome of hand phone high fashion. You can change covers like you change socks! There are the standard metallic IMac-like colours, and then are pre-customized ones. (None that I dare buy because they look overtly flashy) For example: -
1. Lasting Love (which I quite like)
2. Spring Leaf (risk losing this at a picnic)
3. Tribal Sign (Tattoo-imprinted)
4. Cyber Fish (Loud, bright and oh my God, where are the buttons?)
5. Free Kick (Only for the soccer fanatics)
Aside from the aesthetics, the Nokia 3210 is completely self-contained for your individual needs. Your selection interface is also animated, such a charm!
General features
1. Phone book: with memory up to 200 entries (SIM card memory inclusive)
-->Incredibly handy features: Assign tone to specific callers, speed dialing.
2. Message box
-->Inbox/outbox/write messages/picture messages. The 3210 also has predictive text input, whereby you type in a letter and it predicts what you're about to type. (I find it quite annoying and not very user-friendly)
3. Call Register
-->Records all missed, received or dialed numbers (Great if I happen to be in the shower). Shows your call costs, or duration of your last phone call.
4. Settings
-->Tailors your phone to your personal preferences. Set the phone to receive incoming calls, choice of preferred phone line, speed dialing, welcome note, network selection, security settings, language settings (I stupidly switched mine to Indonesian once, and spent one tragic hour trying to change it back because I had no idea what the text read).
5. Call Divert
-->Option of diverting all voice calls without ringing, when busy, unanswered, or no network coverage.
6. Games
-->Signature feature of many best-loved Nokia phones. Has an additional game called "Rotation", and the standard "Snake" and "Memory".
Comes with instructions and different levels of difficulties. (My snake top score is 603, What's yours?)
7. Calculator
-->Fabulous when you're stuck in the supermarket with a tight budget and you want to calculate your purchase before making a fool of yourself at the cashier. Basic add, subtract, divide, multiply nodes.
8. Clock
-->Sets your date, clock and alarm. I've had many plenty of rude awakenings with the alarm feature.
9. Tones
-->38 different ring tones, own tune composer, message alert/warning and game/keypad tones, volume adjustment and has a VIBRATING alert! (It can actually buzz itself off the table)
10. Modes
-->These features are the 3210's best! Silent/discreet/personal/loud. Combine silent with the vibration alert and you'll never miss a call in your meetings or classes again.
Battery Life
I quote from the Nokia website: "The Nokia 3210 stands by for up to 260 hours with the standard battery - that's over ten days. And you can talk for up to four and a half hours."
Yeah, right. And I'm an elephant that swims for a living. When I first got it, it lasted about 2 and a half days before I had to recharge it again. However, a few months later, it can barely last 1 1/2 days. I don't know if this happens frequently to all Nokia 3210 users, but I'll suggest getting a fresh new battery if it happens to you.
Radiation
Something I'm sure everyone's concerned about. (Unless you're not afraid to deep-fry your brain) Compared to my previous Ericsson 788, the radiation on the Nokia is much more bearable. (I used to pop an aspirin after each phone call with the 788) The Nokia 3210, if you don't indulge in 30 minute conversations, will not subject you to light-headedness or headaches. Unfortunately, I heard others complain that the radiation is terrible and they've ditched the 3210 long before me. The Dual band function is supposed to lessen radiation, but it's really up to you to judge.
Size and weight
At 123.8 x 50.5 x 16.7/22.5 mm, it's the perfect size for me. I don't like having to poke my keypad squinting, nor is it too clunky. It's not as light as you would expect it to be, weighing at 151g, but if you like a phone with a feel, so you don't lose it unknowingly, this is pretty ideal. I wouldn't mind taking off a few grams though.
Clarity
This is loud, really loud. I think when the manufacturers produced this, they sneaked in an extra sub-woofer. Even people around me can hear what the other person is saying on the other side, so you better hope your friend isn't cursing at the top of his/her voice.
Reception
The reception will vary according to the network you subscribe to, and your location. Sometimes the building you happen to be in has a bad reception, and thus affects your phone.
Ultimately unique
There is no external antenna dangling off the side. You can't break or unscrew your antenna either, because it's built-in!
So, aside from battery life and supposed brain-damage, (All mobile phones kill your brain cells anyway) the overall performance of the 3210 take 2 notches above satisfactory. I think it'll be a while till I change it...even though I have a major glitch with the battery. I'm planning to bury it soon, R.I.P.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
naturalhigh
|
|
Location: Melbourne/Singapore
Reviews written: 77
Trusted by: 134 members
About Me:
Skew the self absorption, soulless vanity, hyper consumption and celebrity obsession of the me decade.
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.