Need A Cell Phone

audiobliss

Well, I just walked back in from my trip to the beach a few hours ago - minus a phone. Turns out they don't like salt water too much. It was a V262, the third one I've had, and I don't want another one like it. I think I'm set on some version of the RAZR. I'd REALLY like a KRAZR, but just can't justify the expense.

So, my question. Where should I get one? A friend told me I could get one from from TigerDirect or NewEgg, call up Alltel, and they'd tell me (for free!) how to adjust the settings so it'd work right. Is that true? Is that the best route to go? I just pulled up TG's and NE's websites to browse a little.

What should I look for? Which version of the RAZR is the best? What's it mean when it says it's unlocked? What kind of capabilities does that really give me? How hard is it to unlock it yourself?

I'd really appreciate any input you could give me on this.

Thanks!

Strong Bad

I personally hate the Motorola's. I have the LG 8600 and love it. It feels solid and very well built. Lots of features, which most I don't even use.

I also have Verizon Wireless.


John

MrNightly

Nokia. They make the best phones on the market... IMHO.

audiobliss

Would that be the LG AX8600? That's all I can seem to find. I'll have to see if the local store has one so I can play around with it.

bobman1235

Since you didn't ask for opinions on phones, I'll bite my tongue and not give them, however much I'd love to

Unlocked means the phone is not tied to a specific carrier (Verizon, Cingular, etc).

If you buy an unlocked phone, it's going to be significantly more expensive than if you bought one from a carrier. Carriers assuage a large amount of the cost of most phones to get you to sign a contract. While a RAZR might be 50 bucks from Cingular with a 2-year contract, it's probably $250 "unlocked" with no contract.

Unlocked is the way to go if you don't mind the expense, because aside from the contract stuff, carriers will often cripple the phone's firmware with their own crap, doing things like barring you from installing your own ringtones and putting their "store" all over the place.

You can get unlocked phones from pretty much anyplace, though I would avoid eBay - lots of people have issues with phones on eBay, even when they say new, being refurbs, or even stolen (once a phone is reported stolen it is most often unusable).

Good luck.

audiobliss

Thanks for the info, bobman; much appreciated. Thanks for answering a question I didn't ask, too, though I would also appreciate your input on which phone to get, as I'm not dead set on a RAZR.

I DO mind the extra cost, but I already have a contract, and it's not up to expire soon...so thre goes getting one cheap.

bobman1235

I was just going to **** and moan about the RAZRs, because everyone I know who's had one hasn't been overly happy about them (though admittedly I haven't known anyone to have any of the new new ones). I agree with MrNIghtly on Nokias. And whatever you do, don't get the Samsung D807. Looks pretty, but SUCKS. I have it now, and am considering tossing it out the window and paying full price for another phone.

MrNightly

http://www.nokiausa.com/phones/6133/0,7747,,00.html

Here's the Nokia I have... love it. Top notch phone, and will withstand the most rugged use. (Trust me, i'm the hardest on phones of anyone I have ever met...)

Beautiful camera pictures, with a very slim feel to it. I am impressed.

Toxis

I've had my Razr for just under a year and a half. No issues yet and still works great. Some get lucky I guess.

In the past, I had nothing but severe problems with Nokia and wouldn't ever own one again. Kinda how some people feel about Sony TV's or what-have-ya.

schwarcw

Get a Nokia. Check with your intended carrier before you buy an unlocked phone. Some carriers will not support certain phones. It's their network, they can screw you if they want. They don't cater to the non-contract user. It not their bread and butter, and they have nothing to lose if they lose you!

audiobliss

Just as an update, I have a new phone!

Turns out the contract was up, so we just bought a phone at the Alltel store. I ended up with a V3m RAZR. So far I'd have to say I like it pretty good. I also got some box of accessories that included a case, second home charger, car charger, and a bluetooth headset!!

I've been playing with that headset for the last few mintues, and it's pretty neat! I've never had bluetooth on anything before, but I like it! It's a Motorolla H700, and I'm actually impressed with the quality of both its speaker and its mic. (I had Dad use it on his cell phone to call me, so I could hear what it would sound like on the other end when I call someone.)

When you're 'bonding' your phone to the headset and you have to provide a PIN number, what's that for? Is that PIN number already programmed in the phone and you just have to provide it in order to bond, or are you creating it on the spot, or is that setting it for the headset or what? I'd like to change it from the default setting, but I wanna know what it is exactly before doing so.

dorokusai

Did the new stuff come with an owners manual?

audiobliss

Hahaha.

*sulks away*

Yeah, I bet it did. To be perfectly honest, I hadn't thought about looking at it yet. Thanks!

joeparaski

I have a BRAND NEW Razor in the box...never used. My nephew bought it but it can't be activated here in Canada. I tried to sell it on e-bay but the winning bidder didn't pay up. It's sitting here all boxed up and nowhere to go.

Joe

audiobliss

joeparaski wrote: »

I have a BRAND NEW Razor in the box...never used. My nephew bought it but it can't be activated here in Canada. I tried to sell it on e-bay but the winning bidder didn't pay up. It's sitting here all boxed up and nowhere to go.

Joe

You've got great timing, you know that? :rolleyes:

bobman1235

Re: The bluetooth PIN : when you're "bonding" with a computer, you type a PIN at the computer and one at the phone, as long as they match you're all set. It's just to make sure you do in fact have ownership of the device you're pairing with

wallstreet

joeparaski wrote: »

I have a BRAND NEW Razor in the box...never used. My nephew bought it but it can't be activated here in Canada. I tried to sell it on e-bay but the winning bidder didn't pay up. It's sitting here all boxed up and nowhere to go.

Joe

Email sent!

audiobliss

bobman1235 wrote: »

Re: The bluetooth PIN : when you're "bonding" with a computer, you type a PIN at the computer and one at the phone, as long as they match you're all set. It's just to make sure you do in fact have ownership of the device you're pairing with

Oh, ok, that makes sense. Thanks for the explanation. I actually read through just about the entire manual this afternoon, and it never mentioned anything about a passcode for the bluetooth.

I do, however, have some type of 4-digit security code for locking the phone, and the manual tells me what is usually the default setting for it, only that's not it. I'm going to have to drop by the store sometime and get that one figured out. Not a big deal as I don't plan on locking my phone, but I would still like to know what it is.

joeparaski

wallstreet wrote: »

Email sent!

OOOOPS......I just had a look, it's not a Razer I have, it's a T-Mobile SideKick 3.


Joe

KrazyMofo24

Good choice on the RAZR its amazing how low the price is now, probably the phone I am getting my contract ends in June. Use to be $150 with contract extension now $35 and below.

The RAZR 2 does look nice though.

AudioGenics

what wireless carrier do you use ?

bobman1235

Several year old thread revived by a spammer, AudioG.

AudioGenics

geeeze... I still have alot to learn and recognize ...

ben62670

Reported

audiobliss

Hahaha, memories. Thanks again for your helpfulness, bobman!

Sometimes I'd really like to have that RAZR back....stupid LG phones...