Best choice for PocketNet....but not for voice.
Written: Aug 08 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Best choice for ATT Pocketnet service
Cons: Phone has several annoying flaws
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| cmcclave's Full Review: Sony Ericsson R280LX Cell Phone |
The Ericsson R-280LX is a very suitable phone, yet there are better choices out there (for voice use at least).
Overview
I purchased my Ericsson the day it was made available for ATT pocketnet service. I was so eager to start using the web wirelessly that I just had to have it. Thus I turned in my old Nokia 6100 and began using the Ericsson. A few months later I must say I am pretty satisfied, yet I feel the phone does have several flaws.
Things I like about my Ericsson
1. Great reception. Although this is more due to the network I am on, I rarely drop a call on my new phone.
2. Web browser is easy to use. Ericsson did a good job in efficiently using its relatively small screen for web use. Navigating through web pages as well as switching between voice and data is a breeze.
3. Phonebook is large.
4. Button layout. The scroll button on top center of the keypad makes using the phonebook and the internet very easy.
5. Overall the phone is very easy to use, especially compared to any Motorola phones. The menus make setting up the phone pretty easy. Yet as you will read later, I find Nokias menus and navigation to be far superior.
6. When entering text the phone automatically capitalizes the first letter and then makes the rest lower case.
Things I don’t like
1. No signal strength when on data mode. There is no way to tell if you are in an area where you can use wireless internet.
2. Buttons are mushy. Its sometimes hard to tell whether or not you have hit a button.
3. Does not give time of when an incoming call came in. My old Nokia gave the time of when a missed incoming call was received.
4. Battery life is just OK.
5. The phones call screen feature is very confusing to set up. Still have not figured this one out.
6. Text messages can only be received when on data mode. I find this annoying because some days I never use the internet on the phone so I will miss an important message.
7. I wish Ericsson would just automatically alphabetize all names in the phonebook and stay away from giving each name an assigned number in the phonebook. Who cares that mom is listed a position 67? I just want to scroll to her name alphabetically.
8. When dialing a number with an area code in front of it the phone does not automatically add a hyphen. This is REALLY annoying. With seven numbers all lined up together it is hard to tell what number you are dialing. This also goes for when you are getting an incoming number on caller ID, it just does not add hyphens to the number.
9. Ear piece is not very loud. I always find I have a hard time hearing people.
10. Cannot change the display when the phone is just on standby. On the Nokia you can change where it says ATT and put your name. This is useful to distinguish your phone from others.
11. Antenna seems unnecessarily large. It’s always catches on things when taking out of my pocket.
Conclusion
If you really want pocketnet service from ATT then you only have the choice of this phone or a Mitsubishi. I my opinion the Mitsubishi is a piece of junk, therefor you have to get the Ericsson. Yet, pocketnet service is really not that great, navigating the internet on a tiny screen gets old fast. Thus if your main purpose of a wireless phone is for voice then I suggest getting a Nokia. The Nokias offer better battery and ease of use, as well as numerous 3rd party add on products such a different faceplates. The R-280LX is an OK phone and I have had no real problems with it, yet I would recommend to my friends that they stick with a Nokia (such as the 6160) till ATT offers a better pocketnet phone. Perhaps we will soon see the fabulous web-enabled Nokia phones that Europe already has. Yet, ATT is to slow to adapt new phones to their offerings. By the way, there is a reason I have not really mentioned any Motorola phones as an alternative, they suck. If you want a phone in which you will never figure out how to change the ring tone or add a name to you phonebook then get a Motorola.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
cmcclave
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Reviews written: 14
Trusted by: 5 members
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