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Written: Nov 15 '00 (Updated Nov 15 '00)
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Pros: Convenient size, VERY easy to use, wireless web
Cons: Sprint service snafus
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| ron's Full Review: Samsung SCH 8500 CDMA / AMPS Cellular Phone |
Type of Cell Phone User I Am
- I'm on a 500 minutes a month plan.
- I use my phone primarily for social, rather than business reasons.
- The Samsung SCH-8500 is my first cell phone.
- I did TONS of research before buying this phone (on Epinions!)
Here's what you should know before you get a cell phone, and specifically, the Samsung SCH-8500:
Know What's Most Important to You
There are a bunch of different reasons to get one cell phone over another. Take a look at the list below and ask yourself what your top 3 priorities are:
-- Size of Phone
-- Battery Life
-- Reception
-- Associated cell phone service
-- Features
-- Wireless Web
-- Dialing Convenience
-- User Friendliness
-- Price
The factors that weighed most heavily in my purchase of this phone were:
-- Size of phone - small enough to fit in your pocket, but not too small that you can't dial easily
-- Wireless web - it's not Star Trek yet, but it is powerful and easy to use
-- User friendliness - big, bright screen, GREAT menus, VERY user friendly.
Here's the lowdown on all of the factors:
Size of Phone
Small enough to fit in your pocket, but not too small that you can't dial easily. There are smaller phones on the market but this phone was designed well and it's size does not impact its dialing usability. I love that I can just drop in my jeans pocket and not worry about it.
Battery Life
Good but not great. Heavy users will have to recharge almost daily or every other day. Infrequent users, like me, will recharge about twice or three times a week.
Reception
The Samsung SCH-8500 is sold with the Sprint PCS service. The reception is clear, although some claim that AT&T's service is clearer.
Associated Cell Phone Service
Don't fool yourself -- Sprint is not the most reliable service on the market (AT&T is.) However, the price is right with Sprint and the service has been there for me when I needed it, which is all I ask for. Occasionally you get a dropped call, but you learn where the trouble spots are and deal. If you are a business that needs 24/7 service, Sprint may not be your option. If you are a social butterfly that needs to get in touch with your friends after dinner, don't worry... Sprint will take care of you just fine.
Features
This phone has plenty of them. From voice recognition dialing, to voice memos, to built in calendar, to a calculator, to a built in vibrating ring option, this phone is packed with features. The best are the voice dialing option (20 voice dial numbers can be stored... convenient when driving!), the voice memos (convenient as well when driving!), and the built-in vibrate ring. Other phones require you to buy a separate vibrating battery. It's fantastic when it's built in, so you can take your phone to the movies and not worry about disturbing people around you when it rings.
Wireless Web
It's got it, and it's great. There are a lot of critics out there of the state of wireless web. Here are some reasons why I'm a fan:
1) I will never look in the paper for movie showtimes again. Wireless Web makes going to the movies on the spur of the moment a convenient reality.
2) I forgot an address of a restaurant I was driving to and used the wireless web to get its address in 2 minutes.
3) It's fantastic for up to the minute information (e.g., sports scores, stock prices, presidential election information :)
4) It's great for checking email or just browsing when you're bored at an airport, carwash or anywhere else.
For entering words or addresses, you do have to push each button a number of times to get the letter/number you want to show up. I'm pleasantly surprised to say that this multiple-punch dialing does not bother me at all, and I seriously thought it would. You get used to it quickly and it's easy to use.
Dialing Convenience
Very convenient. The buttons are a good size, and even if a woman has longer nails, the rubbery buttons are easily punched. AND, the backlighting is very good making dialing in the dark easy.
User Friendliness
New to the world of cell phones, I didn't want to take 5 weeks to figure out my phone. I mastered this phone in a couple hours. It's just easy. Big, bright screen. GREAT menus. And very easy to adjust the volume naturally with the hand holding the phone. Also, it's extremely easy to pull up phone numbers alphabetically or by entry number. VERY user friendly. This is one of the best reasons to get this phone. Compared to the Motorola StarTAC, this phone is FAR more intuitive.
Price
$199. Not so cheap. However there are rebates offered by Sprint all the time, and with these mine came down to ~$149. The good news is that you get what you pay for. This phone is worth the extra cost.
Buyer Beware...
1) The voice memo features -- and voice dialing, etc -- only work in digital service, not analog service areas. This means if you record a voice memo about a street address in the city and drive out into a rural area and want to play that memo... you can't. Hasn't been a problem for me ever, but it's good to know before you buy.
2) Sprint's service is infamous for the no-ring-I-have-a-message? routine. Occasionally, you will find that your callers will be sent directly into your voicemail, which would be frustrating if it happened all the time but it doesn't. Minor annoyance.
3) The minutes-left countdown clock feature needs to be reset each month manually by you. Fortunately, Sprint has a free number you can call to find out how many minutes you have left, so it's not that big of a deal.
REASONS TO GET THIS PHONE
Convenient in size and function, extremely easy to use, and wireless web capabilities. Every person I've talked to that has this phone -- and there are a LOT of us out there -- is happy with it. I honestly don't know of anyone that doesn't like the phone.
REASONS TO AVOID THIS PHONE
You don't like the thought of having Sprint's service. It's good, but it's not great. If you MUST have the clearest calls around and the reassurance of call reliability all the time, try AT&T. You'll pay more, but you'll be paying for that reassurance.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 149 (after rebates)
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Epinions.com ID:
ron
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Member: Ron Rappaport
Location: San Francisco, CA
Reviews written: 20
Trusted by: 57 members
About Me:
18 years in LA, 6 years in SF, 3 years at Epinions, back in LA.
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