A step up from the old phone
Written: Sep 18 '02 (Updated Sep 18 '02)
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Pros: stylish, flexible, manner mode button, good reception and sound
Cons: leather case comes off, hard to learn features, must remove case to charge.
The Bottom Line: It's not the smallest phone, nor was it our first choice, but we are quite pleased with it and would probably choose it again given the opportunity.
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| mommyauri's Full Review: LG VXI Cell Phone |
We used our Motorola StarTACs for three years and were, for the most part, quite happy with them. It came to be that we wanted to get a better plan through Verizon but our old phones were not tri-mode phones and therefore didn't qualify for America's choice digital plan. Since we qualified for a 100.00 upgrade on a new phone we went looking.
We always liked the flip-style and never cared for the "Nokia" style phone. We always found the flip phones more comfortable and felt more natural than the "Nokia" style which made you feel like you were talking to nothing so we wanted to stick with the flip-style phone. Our choices were Sharp, Motorola V60, LG VX1, and another brand I don't recall. We wanted the Motorola because we trusted the name and knew they made a good phone but we couldn't afford the 300.00 out of pocket it would cost us to upgrade. So we looked at another phone that was only 129.99 (or 60.00 for upgrading two phones) but it was more like the Nokia style with a small flap that came down. We didn't like that. So it came down to the LG VX1 and a Sharp (I believe it was). The Sharp had a color screen and was slightly bulkier with the antenna on the top part of the phone when flipped open. We liked it, but it ended up costing 100.00 extra after rebate than the VX1. So we decided to try the VX1. After rebate the phones cost us 100.00 total to upgrade which we feel wasn't bad at all.
WHAT WE LIKE ABOUT THE VX1:
First thing I fell in love with was the battery life. The old StarTAC only got about 3 days max stand-by time and this phone gets about a week (with some short calls). That's great for me who forgets to charge it all the time.
Sound quality: better than the StarTAC and much louder and stronger as well. Remember we had the same server but we seem to pick up better signal and this phone can make and place a call on two line signal whereas the starTacs did not or didn't do it well (cut off or staticky)
The charging cradle: although it makes you take the phone out of the case to charge, it allows for a convenient and quick charge, much faster than the old Motorola StarTAC. I think (not sure) that it takes about 2-3 hours from dead to full, but it doesn't seem like much time at all.
The battery is slim and doesn't bulk out so the phone is light weight and comfortable to carry.
The front display on the face of the phone makes it convenient to see who's calling so you don't need to flip it open (which is automatic answer on our phones) and it also makes easy access to read battery level and time. The red light on the face flashes when someone is calling so if you can't hear it you can see it (helps if you're searching for it).
Phone book requires a few extra steps over the StarTAC to enter, like selecting home vs work or mobile number, but it does have an auto-number so you don't have to remember which slots you've used already. I find it easier to use regular letters but it also does a special text which is (I think) pager code.
It has a scheduler and a calendar for convenient access to see what you're doing on a day if you can't remember. For those who use a simple Palm Pilot I think this works about as well but maybe entry not as easy. I still like using Grafiti on the Palms and some other features the phone doesn't use.
The backlight for the screen is very clearly visible.
Manner Mode is a wonderful thing. Push a button and all sounds are disabled and the phone goes on vibrate. That's a fabulous thing and I wish more people had phones with this feature! Makes being courteous a little easier while still being able to answer calls.
Buttons are easy to push and volume easy to adjust (with side buttons). Rings are fun, although I only need a simple ring. My husband has his on "Take me out to the ball game".
I like the styling, which is somewhat similar to the StarTAC. It is smaller and more light weight with a slim battery, but the antenna is in the same location on both phones which I like. I love the silver coloring which I think just makes the phone look more expensive.
It has a jack for a headset on the side which is convenient and easy to use with good volume as well. I just don't like the headset as I find it hurts my ears.
THINGS WE DON'T LIKE ABOUT THIS PHONE:
There aren't many and the things we complain about are, in my opinion, relatively small.
Must remove the phone from it's case to charge. The StarTAC never had to have the case removed unless changing the battery but this phone must be stripped of it's leather case any time we want to charge it on the cradle. Charing in the car is different, and does not require removal of the case.
Rubber stoppers inside the car charging port are difficult to remove (only need to be removed once).
I miss having a smart button and a function key but the phone makes up for it with the six keys up top it has. One on each side (typically for select and back) and then four arrow keys (up down left right) which can also be short cuts to the calendar, phone book, and voice mail. It took a little playing around with to learn how it works, but once I got used to it I found it pretty easy.
I like having a power button. This phone uses the END button as the on/off button which means you have to hold it down for 2 seconds to get it to do either. I don't like that, but I think most or all phones do that now.
Leather case offered at the Verizon store for this phone had a swivel clip which was bulky and uncomfortable. We bought another generic brand for this phone online which has the belt clip that fits much nicer but comes off the phone sometimes.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
Overall we're quite pleased with these phones and would recommend them to people looking to buy.
NOTE: Price we paid is the price with a 2 year agreement with Verizon. They retail around 250-300 I BELIEVE. They did have 50.00 rebates on them and Verizon paid 100.00 for the upgrade so the phones cost us 50.00 each out of pocket all said and done. Ebay has lots of accessories on auction VERY CHEAP for this phone, and they do a decent job. Got a full set of accessories for each phone for 32.00 total.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 199.99
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Epinions.com ID:
mommyauri
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Reviews written: 27
Trusted by: 2 members
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