Not up to Nokia standards
Written: Feb 24 '01
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Pros: Good old Nokia menus and features
Cons: Volume problems with earphones, no dedicated "END" button
The Bottom Line: If you don't require the headset/earpiece functionality and can deal with the multi-function button, it's a fine little phone.
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| roadwarrior21's Full Review: Nokia 5185i Cell Phone |
I previously had AT&T service with a Nokia 6160 phone and had gotten very spoiled by its features, durability, and overall quality (AT&T coverage in MD/VA did leave something to be desired). I recently switched to Verizon here in MD and wanted the same type of phone, so I got a 5185i. Well, this is not a phone Nokia should be overly proud of.
It does offer all of the easy to use menus, one touch dialing, great display, and functionality I was used to, but there are several irritating problems that lead me to believe that this is constructed much more cheaply than my old 6160.
First off, when dialing numbers, the tones you hear are sometimes intermittent, almost as if the contacts in the phone are dirty. While this does not affect operation, it does leave you with an uneasy feeling about the phone's quality. Also, the response seems to be slow, meaning you can press several keys, and the display/tones can be just a little bit behind.
Since I am a road warrior sales type, I spend lots of time in the car and prefer a headset. The one I had with my 6160 plugs right in to the 5185, but does not work correctly with it. Sometimes the person you are calling can hear you fine, others, you'll sound as if you're miles away (lower volume), and if you plug or unplug the earpiece mid-call, you may get an echo, or your caller may not hear you at all.
I have gotten three other earpieces/headsets and even tried a new 5185i from my local Verizon dealer, but it's always the same thing. Something is not right with the headset interface circuitry or control software in these phones. Verizon is not very well informed about these phones and I am trying to find out if there are newer revisions of the software which might fix these problems, but so far, no one at Verizon is fessing up or offering any insight.
As a last ditch effort, I went to Target and bought a Navigator hands free unit ($50) hoping to overcome the earpiece problems. The volume and sound quality (on both ends of the call) seem to be OK with this set up, but it does not offer the privacy of an earpiece which is nice when others are in the car with you.
One thing I really miss is a dedicated Send and End button. This, and several other similar Nokia models have a multi function button just below the middle of the display. Normally, this button is labelled "Menu". When you start dialing a number, it changes to "Call". Once the call begins, it changes to "End". The problem comes when you press keys in the middle of a call, such as when you are entering an extension or a password for voicemail. Once you touch a key during a call, the multifunction button changes to "Options". To end the call, you then have to clear the display of all typed digits using the C key, which makes the multifunction key go back to "End", or press the multifunction key when it says Options, and scroll to "End all calls".
On a positive note, the Verizon service is great. I frequently drive from Harford county all the way to Herndon, Va, traveling out rt 70 and down 340 to 15. With AT&T, service along 15 was terrible, but with Verizon I recently carried a call most of the way down 15, even through the low-lying Point of Rocks area.
I failed to mention that after my initial disappointment with the 5185i, I switched it for an Audiovox 4000 which was highly recommended by the Verizon sales guy. Well, it was only a week or so before I decided that its menu system was for the birds, and took it back for my 5185i again. The Audiovox's sound quality was good, but I couldn't get past the absurdly difficult menus.
Verizon would be smart to get a software upgrade out there to fix the headset/earpiece issues if possible. It would also be nice if they offered another model of the Nokia that has a working earpiece interface and a dedicated send and end button.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 20
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Epinions.com ID:
roadwarrior21
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Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
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