Sleek, sexy, good quality.
Written: Mar 06 '04
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Pros: Great looks, solid overall build quality
Cons: Bass-ackward phone book, cheesy ringtones
The Bottom Line: I recommend this phone to anyone who is not a 'power user' and wants a sleek, stylish design.
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| nolabar10der's Full Review: LG SP510/TP1100 Cell Phone |
I've been using the touchpoint for over a year now and it still feels 'fresh.' Unlike most phones that were released over two years ago, it still has a very modern design and could easily pass as a new model.
When shopping for a cell phone I do look for certain features, but bells and whistles pale in comparison when it comes to size. Being a man and therefore not having the luxury of a purse, I need a phone that does not weigh down my pants or produce unsightly bulks in my pocket. If I have to constantly be reminded that I am carrying it around, I am most likely to leave it at home. The TP 1100, while slightly thicker than some of the Motorolas and other clam phones, is so tiny that I often forget that it's there.
I have had no problems with call quality aside from experiencing a few dropped calls in my living room. I blame this on the ancient construction of most New Orleans buildings rather than the phone, however. I seldom if ever miss incoming calls, even if the phone is smothered in a jeans pocket.
There are a few shortcomings, notably in ringtones and the bizarre phone book system. I had grown accustomed having my entries automatically alphabetized, but the TP1100 arranges them by order of entry. Therefore, when searching the phone book, I have to think of when I first met the person and added them to my list, as opposed to the first letter of the first name. Old friends are at the beginning. Recent friends and associates are at the end. It is not something that would prevent me from purchasing this phone again, however.
Also, there is no alarm! This DOES irritate me, as I travel quite often and find it necessary to lug along an extra alarm clock or beg someone to call me at a certain time.
There have been a great deal of complaints regarding the TP1100's battery life. I am not a 'power user,' but I consistently get about three days of average use away from the charger. Again, I am not a habitual user...I keep the phone so that I can be contacted moreso than to make calls. But I imagine that if I were the type born with a phone stitched to my ear I would opt for a phone with a better reputation for battery life.
The external caller ID is a godsend. I know that as technology progresses, we become unbelievably lazy. Ten years ago having a phone hardwired to your car's electrical system was considered a luxury. These days we're p*ssed if we have to flip a lid to see incoming caller information. :) It's the nature of the wireless business to convince us that these are features we absolutely cannot live without. That having been said, I can't live without it!
The shell and overall design are, as I said earlier, still thoroughly modern. The fit and finish are quite good, and the phone has an overall solid feel to it. I've dropped it on more than one occasion and it has suffered nothing but minor cosmetic scratches.
Like almost every other phone, it's equipped with a browser, which I do use during football season if I'm working and can't get near a tv, or to check my email for ebay bids and assorted information. However, Sprint treats wireless web minutes like plan-exceeding minutes, so beware. My last invoice showed a total of 24 web minutes (mostly from real-time playoff scores, natch), at a charge of roughly $10. That's approximately 50 cents a minute, and if it's important enough, I can live with it. And sports scores, to me at least, are worth ten clams a month.
I don't view the lack of analog support as a con. You have to make that decision at the time of purchase. I live in a major metro area and most of SE Louisiana is covered by Sprint, as are the major interstates travelling to other states (though the coverage does not extend too far from the highways). The only time this has ever been an issue for me was when I went camping with friends somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere, MS. But I only brought the phone with me out of habit, and my girlfriend had a dual-band phone in the event of an emergency.
Overall, this is a great phone. I took a peek at new phones while shopping for a new laptop at BestBuy, but none of them seemed to have made any major leaps in technology aside from having added a camera, which I really don't need. And they didn't seem any sleeker than the two year old phone I have now.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 50 new
Recommended for: Stylish Trendsetters - Hip and Trendy
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Epinions.com ID:
nolabar10der
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Reviews written: 13
Trusted by: 0 members
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