Welcome to the 21st Century
Written: Oct 04 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to use, good quality, good features
Cons: antenna seems flimsy
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| Quebecoise's Full Review: Kyocera QCP 2760 Cell Phone |
Two weeks after purchasing a Qualcomm Dual Band cell phone I feel like I've finally arrived in the 21st century. For years I've watched people chatting casually on their cell phones, and wondered why theirs, unlike the heavy clunker I'd previously lugged around, actually produced reception clear enough to make using their phones pleasant. Now I know the secret--everyone found the Qualcomm 2760 before me.
While it's neither the lightest nor the fanciest phone on the market, I can't imagine that many produce clearer reception or come with more useful features.
Here's a basic description of the phone:
Unlike the tiny, paper thin models on the market, the 2760 is about half an inch thick and about six inches long. It is, however, fairly light. It has a sizable display screen on the front (it can accommodate 13 letters of type on a single line), and a comfortable "ear" section. The antenna can be lengthened about 5 inches.
Other practical physical features of the phone are two "smart" keys, which are arrows that sit at the base of the display screen. These allow the user to click on "menu" (which allows you to set and use various features) and "book" which allows you to access pre-programmed phone number information.
On the side of the phone is another set of arrows, which allow the user to scroll through various menus of information up on the data screen.
Using the Phone:
While all these features make the phone sound complicated, the reason I like it so much is that it's not. It's a simple phone. Really. (If I can figure it out, then you can!)
While the phone is internet ready (a feature I neither use nor plan to use), the instructions do make using the internet easy as well. Still, since I haven't tried it, I won't elaborate.
The features I do use, however, include caller ID and call waiting and voice mail. Caller ID requires no programming at all. When a call comes in, the display screen either displays a phone number or announces the call is "restricted" (meaning the caller has an unpublished number). If the incoming call is from someone in your address book, the name will appear on the screen as well. The phone then stores that number as well as the amount of time the call lasted. In fact, the phone stores the last 30 calls in and out, saving them for future reference.
The voice mail feature is one of this phone's true gems. Instead of calling a voice messaging phone number to retrieve messages, the user simply presses a button with a photo resembling an envelope. No password is needed. To set caller ID, the user simply presses the button and follows the voice prompts on the other end. When a message is present in the mail box, an envelope icon appears at the top of the display screen. (I much prefer this to the standard system of using a syncopated dial tone).
Programming the phone book is also simple. The user simply keys in the phone number, clicks "save" and then keys in the name of the person/company using the phone keys. Each contact is assigned a number. To call a stored number you can either remember the number and key it in, followed by hitting the "talk" key, you can scroll down to the name and hit "talk", or you can input the first letter of the person's name, select the appropriate person, and then hit "talk." The phone stores several hundred names. (I've only stored 18!)
Another useful feature is the backlight on the display. Both the keys and the display are lit for 10 second after you hit any key. And the user has the option of increasing or decreasing that time as he/she sees fit.
Other practical features include the ability to determine ringer volume and ringer sound (there are nine options to choose from--several of which are pleasant and several of which are incredibly annoying).
Potential Problems:
Since I've only had the phone for two weeks, I haven't yet encountered any difficulties. However, I could see the antenna, which is rather flimsy when extended, getting broken or damaged. Particularly if it falls into the hands of a curious toddler. (Or gets thrown into the purse of a harried mother...me!)
I was also surprised that my phone didn't come with any kind of carrying case (even a soft one would have sufficed). This would have gone a long way toward protecting the phone from potential damage.
To Sum Up:
So far, I've been exceedingly happy with this cell phone. It's sound is sharp and clear; the reception is good; the features were simple to understand and program; and the weight, size and modeling make it comfortable to use. I give it a two thumbs up. (Or ears, as the case may be)
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Quebecoise
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Location: New England
Reviews written: 78
Trusted by: 29 members
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