LG Electronics C1300 - The Little Phone That Couldn't
Written: Aug 26 '04 (Updated Aug 26 '04)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Durability: |
 |
|
| Clarity: |
 |
|
| Portability: |
 |
|
| Battery Life: |
|
|
|
Pros: Compact size, great price, decent sized address book
Cons: Weak signal - dropped calls and inconsistent connections
The Bottom Line: Small stylish design, long list of features for everyday use, plenty of advanced features but too many dropped calls and broken transmissions forced me to return it.
|
|
|
| michiman1's Full Review: Philips 636 Cell Phone |
We all remember the story of the little engine that could, "I think I can... I think I can..." If you're considering the LG Electronics C1300, be advised that you may be about to purchase the little phone that couldn't. No matter how hard this little phone tried, it just couldn't get the job done for me.
For the past two years we were using the Nokia 6340i for our personal use. Using the Nokia along with service through Cingular Wireless supplied us clear transmission and dropped calls were non-existent. Since our two-year service contract was about to expire and I had read ads offering a choice of sleek new phones with a new sign-up or extension I decided to "upgrade" our phone. If you were to ask me my main reason for selecting the LG Electronics C1300 cellular phone... my reason would be simple... Price.
This LG phone is a full dual band device which operates on both GSM 850/1900MHz and GPRS for high capacity data transmission. This particular model is currently being offered as a free* choice(*After $100.00 rebate) through Cingular Wireless.
Sometimes the old saying is true, you get what you pay for. For those that still may consider this option after reading this review, here's a list of some of the features offered:
Compact and Stylish Design
Full-Color Internal LCD
Customizable Wallpaper, Caller ID
5-Way Navigation Key
Integrated Headset Jack
Manner Mode
Web Browser WAP 2.0 with One-Touch Access Button
JavaTM Support for Application and Game Downloads from Cingular†
Mobile Instant Messaging using AOL Instant Messenger†
Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) - send and receive text messages with photos and sound†
Two-Way Short Messaging Service (SMS)†
GPRS for High-Speed Data Transmission
My Folder - store downloaded pictures, animations and sounds
SMAF SMF for Polyphonic Ringer and Sound Capability
Customize with 10 Ringtones or Download More
Supports Voice Key Tones
Personal Organizer: Calendar with Scheduler, Alarm Clock, Memo
Tools: Calculator, World Clock, Unit Converter
Address Book with 255 contacts - each stores multiple phone numbers and text entries
Speed Dialing (9 Entries)
†Cingular Service Required. Product features subject to change. Features based on carrier program availability.
One look at this phone will tell you there's a lot to like. The compact 3.23" x 1.69" x 0.85" size and extremely light 2.84 oz. weight makes this device a convenient option. LG has placed the volume control on the side of the phone for easy access. The control buttons normally set ringing volume yet the same buttons also control call volume while calls are in progress. I also liked the fact that users can quickly switch the phone to vibrate mode by simply holding down these same side keys with the cover flipped closed.
Once you've powered up the LG Electronics C1300 the first thing you notice is the high-resolution color display. The 128 x 128 pixel, 65,000 color LCD screen is of ample size. The display is sharp while indoors or in normal lighting conditions but a does tend to be a bit difficult to see in direct sunlight. The screen is capable of displaying 6 lines of text with 15 characters per line. LG also offers a couple of customizable options for wallpaper as well as message tones and key sounds. I found most of the wallpaper designs and tones a bit over the top and distracting.
This model includes a 5-Way Navigation Key similar to many models on the market today which makes it fairly simple for customers with or without previous experience. The phone's navigation buttons are sufficiently backlit for use in poorly lit locations.
On par with most phones, the C1300 keeps the last 20 sent and received calls in memory for quick one-button redial. The phone also keeps track of the last 10 missed calls as well. The LG Electronics C1300 is also capable of storing up to 9 speed dial numbers, a feature mobile users will appreciate if making a call is necessary while driving.
The phone book function allows storage of up to 255 contacts. I liked the fact that text and multiple phone numbers could be saved for an individual contact. This feature is great for keeping track of personal, cellphone, pager and office numbers for each contact. I found this a nice addition with sufficient amount of storage for my needs.
While I did not have the phone long enough to use it extensively, the personal organizer included with the phone is a valuable feature. The calendar, with both daily and monthly views are supplemented with a scheduler for either personal or business planning. The calendar feature is further enhanced with the availability to set an alarm clock or create short notes up to 30 characters each. The owner’s manual did a pretty good job stepping me through the menus which were fairly intuitive and easy to get through on their own. Don’t expect to solve complicated calculus problems but a calculator function is also available for basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Unfortunately, I don't subscribe to any of Cingular's advanced data services which allow users to use a number of features of this phone. This leaves me at a disadvantage in detailing personal experience but a good number of those features are enumerated above.
The manufacturer's standard battery boasts of up to 3.4 hours of talk time and 240 hours of standby time. The talk time touted by LG is quite believable however the standby time suggested to be 240 hours seems to be an extreme example of marketing hype that this phone won't be able to live up to. The lithium ion battery charges quickly without the long overnight waits of it’s predecessors. I no longer own the device and never specifically timed the charge but I would estimate charge time to be between one and two hours.
One would assume after all this, I am recommending you run out and select this phone. Unfortunately, from the first day we encountered dropped calls and inconsistent transmissions. Sound cut out on nearly half the calls we made. At one point in time I would have pointed a finger at my service provider but Cingular Wireless has improved their service here in Michigan over the past several years. As I alluded to earlier, my Nokia 6340i never experienced any of these problems,even one day earlier.
We did sincerely give this phone as much of a chance as possible. We held it for nearly two weeks, hoping our experience would improve. Just before the 15 day return period expired, it became apparent the service supplied by this phone was going to be unacceptable. The little phone that kept repeating “I think I can… I think I can” had to finally admit “I just can’t… I just can’t”. I can’t give the LG Electronics C1300 my recommendation but was glad Cingular offered a 15 day return window because despite the phone's trendy look and list of features, I ended up replacing it with the Samsung SGH-x427 as an even exchange.
I would like to thank one of the Category Leads in electronics, Howard_Creech, for getting this phone added to Epinions database. If you own a product and don't find it listed on Epinions, check with the respective Category Lead - there's a pretty good chance it can be added.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): free*
Recommended for: Stylish Trendsetters - Hip and Trendy
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.