An epic battle...!

N

Nectar

New member
Hello world!

After doing a search, I see that the A717 is a VERY highly regarded phone. I have the option to upgrade before my plan actually is over and has to be renewed (customer loyalty ftw!) and I am a-going phone shopping.

I am stuck between three phones really. The A717 and the CU500 and the V3XX. All three of these phones offer what I am currently looking for in a phone. Music player, 1+ MP camera, and Bluetooth.

I've played with my friend's Sync (A707 I think) and I dislike it. He hassels with it daily but it never is anything big. It also seems REALLY quite to me and I have relatively perfect hearing.

My mom has a newly acquired V3XX and I seriously think they have come a LONG, LONG way since the first Razrs. It is amazing how much sleeker the UI is and how much BETTER, overall the phone is. /impressed

I'm a very technical player so features don't daunt me and I'd like to put the phone in higher ratings if it also has:

1) Reception/Call quality
2) Snappy Interface
3) Phone layout
4) Ease of customability

In that order, really.

So my question comes to you guys; What phone would you recommend to me?
What comments do you have about these three phones in their respective abilities?

Keep in mind I'm coming from the V551. That thing was a GREAT first phone. It was indestructable, but I plan to treat my new phone MUCH better.
 
Out of the 3, I'd go for the V3xx, followed by the CU500. I had a bad experience with LG, but I had WORSE experience with Samsungs...I'm pretty sour on them right now.

If A2DP (Stereo Bluetooth) isn't terribly important, you might want to check out the N75 as well. Nice interface, roomy keypad, monster-huge 2.4" screen, very easy to customize (Symbian Series 60 OS), and great call quality and reception. There are reports that battery life on some of them can be a bit short, but I haven't experienced that problem. It's UMTS, rather than HSDPA, but I don't live in a 3G area anyway.

Anyway, look into it, compare it with the V3xx. One downside of the RAZR is the lack of front controls for music. I'd also look into the upcoming RAZR2 V9, which DOES have front-controls for music.
 
Initially, I was gung-ho about the N75 when I realized it was S60 interface. After reading NUMEROUS reports of the battery life being abysmal and call quality suffering, I dismissed it in favor of the CU500. To be fair though, I have heard terrible things about the LG having dismal reception and call quality. This leads me to be some-what biased towards the V3XX and A717 (I think the matte plastic and OLED screen is absolutely original and classy.)

Regarding the MotoRazr2 V9, I seriously doubt that the phone will be near my price range upon release. I am willing to spend $150, (near tops) on a phone and it will most likely drop for over that.

Front music controls are only mildly important to me. I have a weird twinge to where I like to know what's playing if I don't recognize the song, so if I have to open the phone to change it, that is far from a hindrance.

I'd really be unable to take a risk on battery life. Since I want to use the phone as a permanent replacement for my iPod (I hate it ) I need it to be able to play music relatively frequently while not sacrificing call time.

To this extent, I had heard that the A717 can stop the song when you receive a call, and then resume automatically when you hang up. Is this true?
 
Yeah, but most music phones do that these days...the N75 and V3xx will as well as far as I know.

If I were you, I'd wait for the RAZR2 V9. See if it drops within your price range. If it doesn't, at the very least the price of the V3xx should fall significantly. Same with the N75 and the Samsungs, come to think of it (I'm not sure they're going to continue selling the CU500v).

With the N75, you can change it with the phone closed, and also see which song...the outer display is INCREDIBLY flexible and informative. You can do quite a bit (changing songs, photo settings, read text messages, send calls to voicemail) without opening the phone. Like I said, so far I haven't had battery issues, but if you're in a 3G area, 3G will use more juice. I don't think there's an extended battery available, so you're probably safer sticking with the V3xx (the V9m I hear will have fairly rotten battery life too...it's got a rather fact CPU on board).
 
Thank you for answering that question about the song interruption.

Is the CU500 I was referring to the CU500v? I thought they were two different brands, (possibly carriers ((V for Verizon ))). The price drop would be neat maybe, but the phone will launch for what, $300 retail and $199 with activation/upgrade? I'm not to good at guessing the price thing since I am not that familiar with the pricing scheme. I am a major PC buff and I know how playing the, "this is coming out 3q '07" game is. There is always something better right around the corner... I suppose waiting wouldn't be THAT big a deal... However, if all I want is a respectable Cell Phone that will play media, looks good, isn't cumbersome (like the big block N75?), then will the MotoRazr2 v9 REALLY be that much a jump on the V3xx, for example?

I am in a 3G area ! That was the battery drain I was referring too. The N75 just gets pummeled pulling down 3G. I was really attracted to it in the store too, but I just am not willing to put up with always having to stretch my battery.

This comment confuses me... What mean you by the v3m? Is that the actual name for the MotoRazr2 V9 or is it the name for the V3XX? Is it a different phone entirely? What is a "fact" cpu?
 
Sorry, I meant V9...I was kind of in a hurry. The V9 is the upcoming RAZR2. The V3xx is the currently available 3G RAZR. Anyway, if you are in a 3G area, you probably want to stay clear of the V9 as well, since it's rumored to have pretty short talk time. It IS supposed to be a fairly serious jump in performance, UI, etc, but it's got a fast CPU, and that's probably going to eat up battery. Too bad the MAXX V6 was never released with the US 850 band...that would be a great choice for you if it were US compatible. But I digress.

Normally I wouldn't bring up what's coming up, but the thing is literally coming out next month, and it should knock the V3xx price down a bit when it does (otherwise AT&T is going to have trouble selling said V3xx, right?). My guess is the V9 will drop for around $200 with contract, and the V3xx will get knocked down to $50 or less with contract. So it's up to you if the wait is worth the money savings. The V3xx will suit your needs nicely, and should be better on battery than the V9 or the N75.

The CU500v is the current version of the CU500...some sort of minor revision or something, I was never really sure. But the CU500 isn't available anymore...technically they sell the CU500v. And I think they're not even selling that anymore...not with the SYNC at $50.

And the N75 is indeed a big block. I like my phones that way...I am a big guy who has big hands with big fingers, and the smaller phones are a REAL pain with their teeny-tiny buttons sometimes. To each their own, right? But people who don't like larger-sized phones probably wouldn't like it, true.
 
Well, like I mentioned, I was srsly attracted too it. The big silver/black color scheme and HUGE landscape was win! Alas, battery killed it.

I just read that a member here seemingly set the ''packet sending'' option to "as needed". If I am in a 3G network, how will this affect my phone? It saves him alot of battery apperently, but he is not in a 3G area.
 
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