Rich Menga is PCMech's video guy, an author and part-time host of PCMech LIVE.Ask anyone’s opinion of Verizon and you’ll get one of two responses:
1. They love them.
2. They hate them.
I have never had a problem with any of Verizon’s services. I use them for internet (DSL), wireless phone and land-line phone.
One perk of using Verizon Wireless on a post-paid plan (i.e. a 2-year contract) is the "new every two" special where you can get a brand new phone for free or at a discounted price when the contract renewal approaches.
Since I’ve almost had my current plan for 2 years I was eligible for a new phone, so I logged into the web site and checked out what was available that I could get for free with the applied discounts.
There were about 10 freebie phones I could choose from and I narrowed it down to these five:
- Motorola RAZR V3m
- Motorola KRZR K1m
- Motorola W385
- Samsung SCH-u540
- Samsung Juke SCH-u470
As a casual wireless phone user, I value convenience over features.
I chose to go with the Motorola RAZR V3m.
Here’s why:
- It has better reception compared to the V3c (previous model). This means it has longer range.
- No dopey antenna sticking out of the top. I appreciate this because the antenna won’t "stick" me when in the pocket.
- It will accept any mini-USB cable plugged into it. You can basically charge it from anywhere USB goes. From the car, from the PC, from the laptop, etc. If there’s one thing I can’t stand about wireless phones, it’s proprietary charging ports. The V3m does not have this problem.
- Bluetooth-wise it’s more compatible compared to other phones. It will pair with more stuff. The more it can connect with, the better. I’m hoping it will pair with my Garmin StreetPilot c580 for hands-free use. That would be very trick. Garmin’s web site states that the V3 is 100% supported but I don’t know if that applies to the V3m. Hopefully it will be compatible.
- It didn’t cost me one red cent.
Even if this phone sucks, it’s about.. oh.. a million times better than the piece-of-crap LG VX3300 I have now. I jokingly call LG "Low Grade" because their phones are just awful. There is no POSSIBLE way the RAZR can suck worse than the VX3300.
Concerning the ordering process:
I did it 100% online. I logged into my Verizon Wireless account, checked out the phones, did some research on what would work for me, click-click-click and ta-da.. a new phone will be mailed to me in 3 to 5 business days, free of charge. And by free I mean truly free. No shipping fees, no extra charges, none o’ that. Free.
Yeah, I was amazed how easy it was.
Hopefully the phone will perform the way it’s reported to. Once in my possession and I try a few calls with it I’ll write up a review.
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2/25/2008 2:07 am
Personally, I would go steer clear from Motorola.
Heres why:
That’s why every carrier gives them away.
1. I get better reception out of my Samsung when side by side with my wife’s Moto.
2. Agree with you here - an external antenna is very 2000.
3. Agree with you here - mini USB is the future for phone charging.
4. Can’t comment on compatibility with BT. I’ve had no issue pairing my Samsung and Nokia with anything… Garmin, Plantronics, other phones, etc.
5. They aren’t WORTH a red cent!
Motorola handsets have saturated the market so badly that they have to basically give them away - even to celebs when a new model comes out. It helps sell them.
If I may offer a word of advice before buying it - go to a store first and play around with it. The software is a HORRIBLE in the speed department. I’ve been using/selling cell phones for 11 years (both in Australia and Canada) and never have I come across a slower software than a Motorola. It’s like going from 7Mb/s broadband to 512Kb/s - you know it could be worse, but it still sucks regardless.
As a test, type a text message of decent length. If you can type in T9 or even standard text input faster than the phone can keep up with you, you’ll want to return the phone in less than a week.
Trust me - Been there done that.
Hope it works out for you either way you go!!
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2/25/2008 5:31 am
Well I don’t text, take photos or any of that stuff with a phone. I just want the phone to make calls and pair to my StreetPilot.
I almost went with Samsung but decided not to because of the proprietary stuff and the outright weirdness. The Samsung Juke for example opens by a turn (not flip) and must be turned upside down to talk on it. Very odd phone design. Definitely not my thing. The other traditional models offered won’t pair with my StreetPilot at all unfortunately.
The RAZR may be crap - I understand that. But the USB sold me along with the better reception (even if inferior to other new models).
Anything is better than the LG VX3300 I’m using now. I’ll be so happy to junk that thing.
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2/25/2008 4:12 pm
Wow! A tech guy who doesn’t text or anything? Color me surprised!
The USB is awesome for functionality. You can charge it anywhere really. But so long as it does all you need (Garmin pairing and calls) that’s the main thing.
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2/25/2008 5:47 pm
I’m very anti-frills when it comes to wireless phones. At the risk of sounding like an old fart, it’s my belief that phones are meant for calling people and nothing else. And the only reason I want to pair it with the StreetPilot c580 I have is because it’s the one feature of that GPS unit I haven’t used yet (been dying to see if it will actually work).
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2/25/2008 6:40 pm
I paired my Samsung with a Garmin and absolutely LOVED IT!
I called my brother back home in Sydney, Australia and even going through all the jumps from one network to another, the quality was A+. Very clear, no lag time, no distortion and all in all a great way to have a handsfree setup in your car without getting an actual in car kit.
You can set your the GPS up to answer the calls automatically for you too I believe so you don’t have to touch the phone.
What with the insanely idiotic Tampa drivers we have to deal with down here, handsfree is definitely the way to go if you need to take/make a call.
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