Think wireless
Written: Aug 07 '01 (Updated Aug 07 '01)
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Pros: Design, covers, light weight
Cons: rather wide, no free roaming wireless web or organizor programs
The Bottom Line: Although it's not perfect, it should make any person proud of owning this cell phone.
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| ss3goku's Full Review: Motorola V2397 Cell Phone |
To be honest, this is my first cell phone in which I have ever owned. Of course I know others with cell phones and I’m very familiar with them, but I never really saw myself as the kind of person to actually own one, heck I rarely even used them. I always thought of cell phones to be either to difficult or annoying to use, plus the contracts and fee’s really do scare me and make me think twice if this is for me. I mean you have to worry about your hourly rates, amount of minutes you get, what time you can use them, hidden fee’s and charges, your limitations, warranty, durability, the reception, your contract, and much more. However the pain of using the pay phones to call my friends or family was getting to the point in which it was a pain just to find one that actually worked and did not up my change. So I then decided that I was to find myself my first cell phone. And while I had some doubts about walking out with one, I some how managed to sign on the dotted line to AT&T towards a one year contract as I walked out with a shiny, brand spanking new Motorola V2397 cell phone.
-Layout-
The Motorola V2397 cell phone weighs exactly at 5oz, while it’s size measuring (inches) in at 2.03 x 6.50 x 1.16. So while the size of the phone may appear to be rather bulky, it makes up for it by its rather lightweight. The open faced design itself is rather slender and curvy, giving it a hip appearance (designed mainly for teenagers in mind) while also giving you a firm grip while making or taking a call or when carrying it in your pocket. The screen is roughly the size of a half dollar coin, making viewing such things as e-mails and phone numbers a breeze. The function keys are large enough to where a person with a big hand won’t make the accident of pressing two keys at once when trying to make a call, additional buttons such as the message center button, which is used to handle e-mails and such, and the smart and volume keys which are placed on the side of the phone help scroll through the menu’s with ease. Interchangeable colored covers fit over the phone with ease while protecting it from knicks and scratches without giving off a cheap, gleaming plastic appearance. Colors for the covers range from lime, silver, orange, pink, black, to patterns or leather cases, however most fail to prevent protecting the actual screen, rather protecting everything else around it, making you wonder on what the reason was to even buy one when one already comes with the phone itself.
-Batteries-
Three AAA NiMH batteries are used in order to activate the cell phone for a rather good amount of time, depending on how often you actually use it that is. Stand by mode can last an entire 110 hours while an actual use of the phone lasts for 100 minutes, which will result you to recharge your cell phone every 2 to 3 days at the most with an already packaged AC adaptor for 6 or so hours.
-Menu Functions-
As you scroll through the V2397, you’ll come across the following features:
Recent Calls (symbolized by a telephone)
Phone Book (symbolized by a book)
Time and Date (symbolized by a clock)
Timers (symbolized by a digital watch)
Tone Control (symbolized by a bell)
Lock Secure (symbolized by a lock)
Phone Options (symbolized by a wrench)
Network Section (symbolized by a antenna)
Recent Calls: This feature allows you to gather the phone number of those who had recently called you, no matter if you had missed the call or not. The maximum amount of telephone numbers that can be stored are 30, while I have never gotten to the 30 phone calls or not, I can not say if the cell phone replaces the most recent phone call with the oldest or rather not store any till you manually delete them yourself. When looking back at your most recent calls, they will only show the phone number of that person, however if you have their phone number stored in your Phone Book, then their name will be shown instead, and if not by the push of the “store” button you can keep their number along with their name in the address book for later preferences. If your plan allows you to have call waiting and someone happens to call you while your in the middle of a conversation, your phone will light up during the call and flash the name or number of that person and will be able to be viewed after ending the conversation with the person you were just talking to. At times, if the person calling you is restricted from revealing their phone number, your phone will flash the words “Anyomonous” or “Unavailable,” phone calls under these terms are not kept in the Recent Calls menu but are rather disregarded.
Phone Book: It’s here in where you’ll be able to store and manage up to 99 people’s phone numbers, pause calls, phone card calls, e-mail addresses, and names for later uses. The Phone Book allows you to also customize the way you sort the people on your list by giving them a specific ring tone for then they call. Editing can be done as well without having to erase the entire phone number and such.
Time and Date: The Time and Date function allows you to set up your phones local time and present date.
Timers: With this your feature you’ll be able to time the length of your phone calls so you use your minutes wisely and more carefully, however after making your monthly payments you are required to manually reset the timer so you’ll not be mistaken for the amount of minutes you use or have left. Another feature is of setting an alarm for you to use for personal reasons or to limit yourself to a specific phone call so you don’t end up spending more time then you should when talking with friends or family.
Tone Control: By using this feature, you’ll be able to personalize your phone’s ring and volume. Straight from the box your given up to nine ring styles to select from when receiving calls, more can be placed on to your phone by visiting a cellular phone website and by paying with your credit, or by seeing your local retailer. Your given the options to turn the tone from your message alert, keypad, and scratch pad tones on or off by the push of a button.
Lock Secure: While your not the type of person to leave your phone alone, you’ll probably want to activate your lock secure when having to leave your phone for a certain amount of time. Locking your keypad does not require a password of some sort, to activate and deactivate this feature; you do this by the simple push of a button. If on, calls can still be received and answered, but once you end the phone call the cell phone resumes the lock feature, but if you lets say happen to miss the phone call, then the message “Missed Call” will embrace on to your screen. This feature disables the use of anyone trying to make a call or going through the functions, and can only be operated again when unlocked.
Phone Options: The Phone Options basically leaves it to you on how your phone sends and receives calls. You’re basically given the options on how you tune your phone for optimal performance, viewing information about the phone, and much more. The pager mode allows you to disable your phone from receiving any phone calls, but rather store them away in the Recent Calls area, but still allow text messages to appear at the time they are given. Your also able to view your own phone number which matches with the cell phone to switching to other phone numbers for when your traveling or trying to manage your other telephone numbers. Plus your able to change the language (English, Espanol, Francias, Portuguese, Hebrew, and Russian) to match the way messages are shown.
Network System: This area here allows you to send and receive text and voice messages from other cell phone users and computer users to your own cell phone e-mail account, where the maximum amount of messages one can hold is 30. You’ll also be given the opportunity to search for a non-public and public network to enable this feature to your likings.
-Accessories-
Accessories to the Motorola V2397 enable you the user to make your phone calls as convenient as possible with such products as headsets, belt clips, hands free accessories and more. In here you’ll be given a brief description of the overall accessories in which this cell phone is able to work with.
Travel Charger: This power adaptor connects directly to the cell phone, allowing it to recharge to the maximum capacity, and once full it shuts the phone off after a minute or two to preserve its use.
Vehicle Power Adaptor: The vehicle power adaptor allows you to charge your phone while driving in a vehicle.
Belt Clip: This item holds the cell phone securely while being worn on a belt. This item is meant to be used for convenience and not for protecting your cell phone.
Headset: The headset comes with both an earphone and microphone in which plugs in from the top of the V2397, giving you a hands free way of talking.
Phonewrap Covers: These soft or hard plastic protective covers not only allow you to change the appearance of your phone but to also protect it from scratches and dents.
-Overall-
While the Motorola V2397 lacks in having such important features such as a personal organizer, wireless web browsing, vibration alert, and the not so important games, I still don’t regret on buying this cell phone, mainly because I already own a Palm Pilot (reviewed) for my personal organizing, and obviously a computer for my web browsing, and the games I can catch up on my DC or PS2. So for those wanting more features then of putting their cell phone to it’s actual use, which is of receiving and giving out phone calls, then you may want to pass on the V2397. However those looking for a phone that will help them keep in touch when at work or outside with friends and family with clear and crisp reception, then this phone will suit you well, even though the design of the phone was to attract younger people rather then suit wearing adults, it’s good looks match the good reception and features you’ll get when picking this one up.
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Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 80.00
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Epinions.com ID:
ss3goku
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Location: U.S.A.
Reviews written: 117
Trusted by: 95 members
About Me:
"Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome."
- Isaac Asimov
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