posted
I'm considering getting a Razr phone later in the year but now I'm reconsidering after hearing some not-so-good things about them as of late.
Chiefly, I've heard the battery life and reception are not the best. I've also heard the one drop kills it, or the phone snaps in half. I've also heard the possibility that they work "funky" on US Cellular services because they were originally Verizon phones(I'm on USC.)
Does anyone have any experience with them, or have any information to back up anything I've heard? I'd hate to spend the money to get a less reliable phone.
-------------------- It can't rain all the time. Posts: 1102 | From: Iowa | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
No answers for you, but an addtional question about the Razr for anyone who has one.
I've heard that the phone book only allows one number per name, forcing you to have multiple entries for a single person ("Bob Home", "Bob Cell", "Bob Work", etc.). Can anyone confirm or deny this?
ETA: To clarify, this is opposed to how I have things on my current phone, where I have an entry for "Bob", then have slots for us to six different phone numbers, and it only takes a single entry.
-------------------- Come on, come on - spin a little tighter Come on, come on - and the world's a little brighter Posts: 5595 | From: Columbus, OH : The Soccer Capital of America | Registered: Sep 2002
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No complaints about mine, but i'm not an intensive user of the things, as long as they send and accept texts and calls i'm happy.
The battery is pretty good for me, but I don't play games on it or browse the net etc - I can imagine that would drain it a bit faster. Also, it get's knocked about a bit and it's stood up so far, so no complaints, and my mates who have them don't complain either.
-------------------- This is where I come up with something right? Something really clever... Posts: 6552 | From: UK | Registered: Oct 2002
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quote:I've heard that the phone book only allows one number per name, forcing you to have multiple entries for a single person ("Bob Home", "Bob Cell", "Bob Work", etc.). Can anyone confirm or deny this?
my Ex's razr did support multiple numbers per entry. I could not understand why any cell phone manufactureer would not implement such a feature.
-------------------- W.W.F.S.M.D? But this image of Bush as some sort of Snidely Whiplash tying the fair maiden to the railroad tracks is beyond the pale. - Joe Bentley Posts: 2311 | From: Minnnesota | Registered: Mar 2004
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Does anyone know if the razr easily switches from ring mode to silence all mode? The LG phone I have now switches with a long push of the * key and it has become a problem. Locking the keys doesn't help.
We were looking into the razr for our next phone, due to its thin size, but I don't want to be missing calls again because the phone pressed too hard against something and shut off the ringer and vibration.
-------------------- "Maybe getting in the last word doesn't really mean you win." - The Clarks Posts: 486 | From: Pittsburgh, PA | Registered: Sep 2005
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quote:Originally posted by smackmac: Does anyone know if the razr easily switches from ring mode to silence all mode? The LG phone I have now switches with a long push of the * key and it has become a problem. Locking the keys doesn't help.
I've got an LG, and I've NEVER had this problem. Have had it for about a year and a half now.
posted
I've had my Razr for about a month now, and I've had no problems at all. But then again, I only had a cheap T-Mobile before that, so I don't much to compare it to.
Yes, it's very easy to switch the ring styles, but be aware that because of how small the phone is, the vibrate function is useless. Even if you have it in your pocket, you won't know you're getting a call.
-------------------- "I'm going to start slapping you now and I may never stop." -Dr. Forrester Posts: 27 | From: Illinois | Registered: May 2006
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DrRocket, do you keep the phone on a belt or in a special carrier? Mine is typically carried in my pocket, because anything else would interfere with my work, and it seems to move easily from ring mode to vibrate only to silence all, just by my normal motion.
-------------------- "Maybe getting in the last word doesn't really mean you win." - The Clarks Posts: 486 | From: Pittsburgh, PA | Registered: Sep 2005
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As N11/N12 said, it is easy to switch, you do not even have to open the phone. Vibrate is pretty good for a phone this size, but is useless in a pocket, you will only know it is ringing if it is sitting on a desk (in vibrate mode). It seems to be durable, I have dropped mine several times, and it is no worse for the wear. Battery life is acceptable, I have to recharge about once per week, but I am not a heavy user.
-------------------- Where are we going, and why are we in this handbasket? Posts: 782 | From: Arlington, TX | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
Thanks for your help. Looks like the razr just may not be right for me.
-------------------- "Maybe getting in the last word doesn't really mean you win." - The Clarks Posts: 486 | From: Pittsburgh, PA | Registered: Sep 2005
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Interesting... my experience has been totally different.
I don't believe it's possible to switch the RAZR accidentally from ring to vibrate in your pocket. I carry mine in my pocket all day long and have never had this happen. Also, I never have trouble feeling the vibrations when it is in my pocket.
There are two different versions of the RAZR in the U.S., depending on which kind of network you're on. I'm on Verizon, so I use the CDMA version. Verizon's software on the phone does allow for multiple numbers per person, and also supports other fun features like voice dialing. Other carriers will have slightly different software, though I'd imagine all the same things would apply.
If you're not sure what you want, I suggest talking to your cell provider about trying one out. Most will give you a trial period during which you can bring it back for a different phone if you aren't satisfied.
Posts: 25 | From: Raleigh, NC | Registered: Nov 2005
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The rep for my cell provider told me that if I locked the buttons on my LG that it would not accidentially turn off the ringer. Of course, locking the buttons only locks the number buttons, not the * button which actually makes the change.
yakkow I will see if we can have a "trial" basis on the phones because the razr really did seem like the phone for us. Thanks for letting me know there are 2 different types as well.
-------------------- "Maybe getting in the last word doesn't really mean you win." - The Clarks Posts: 486 | From: Pittsburgh, PA | Registered: Sep 2005
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I have a Motorola e815, and I love it! I've had it about a year, and have had absolutely no problems.
smackmac- I know exactly what you mean about the LG phone, and turning to vibrate accidentally. I had my LG for around 2 years, and that happened to me quite a bit.
I like Motorola phones in general. They're pretty intuitive, and include most of the higher-end features without being overwhelming.
The e815 has a nice battery life, speakerphone, bluetooth capability, and also voice activated dialing. Note: with this voice activated dialing, you don't have to program a name in. You can speak the name of any of your contacts or you can speak a phone number. No pre-recording necessary. You can also do this from the bluetooth headset. Did I mention that I love this phone?
-------------------- My software never has bugs. It just develops random features. Dr. Wilson: Beauty often seduces us on the road to truth. Dr. Gregory House: And triteness kicks us in the nads. -House MD Posts: 114 | From: Glastonbury, CT / Houghton, NY | Registered: Jun 2006
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We haven't had any problems with our RAZR-3 phones. We're on Cingular--but admittedly we didn't spring for extras like Web access.
-------------------- "No hard feelin's and HOPpy New Year!"--Walt Kelly Hear what you're missing: ARTC podcasts! http://artcpodcast.org/ Posts: 7581 | From: Gainesville, Georgia | Registered: Jun 2000
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I bought a RAZR but returned it because although the reception was fine, I found it didn't give a very close shave.
Posts: 403 | From: Ontario, Canada | Registered: May 2002
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quote:Originally posted by smackmac: The rep for my cell provider told me that if I locked the buttons on my LG that it would not accidentially turn off the ringer. Of course, locking the buttons only locks the number buttons, not the * button which actually makes the change.
smackmac, do you have the candy-bar style LG phone with the buttons exposed? My wife's LG phone is like that and it ALWAYS used to call me from her pocket. Finally, when I told her that I would randomly listen in on her conversations, she locked the buttons!
I have an LG flip-phone and have never had that problem. Since the Razr is also a flip-phone, I doubt you'll have the same problem.
-------------------- "Argument is an intellectual process. Contradiction is just the automatic gainsaying of any statement the other person makes!"
"No it isn't." Posts: 171 | From: Massachusetts | Registered: Feb 2006
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posted
Just because it is easy to switch, does not mean that it is easy to do accidentally. I have never had my phone change ring modes on me accidentally. You press the long button on the outside, then press the smaller button to toggle to the mode that you want. You can set individual rings for people, and it can display a picture as well (as ID for the caller). There are two places to store memory items. In the phone will only save one number per entry, but on the SIM card you can have numerous numbers per entry (I have all of my numbers in the phone, as it is where the voice tags are stored, and you can set an entry into several groups at the same time.
I love my Razr, and would recommend it to anyone upgrading a phone (I have had it almost 8 months, since my accident destroyed my Sony-Erricson S710A (which was much larger than the Razr).
-------------------- Where are we going, and why are we in this handbasket? Posts: 782 | From: Arlington, TX | Registered: Jul 2005
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My best friend T has a Razr. He's never had problems with it switching, has dropped it multiple times without problem, gets good reception and doesn't have calls dropped as much as other phones he's had and pretty much loves everything about it. It takes great pictures as well.
The only things he dislikes are 1) He can't easily change faceplates, he has to use skins or whateverthey're called instead. Apparently to change faceplates on a Razr you need a little tool kit. 2) Dust gets under the screen easily, which is annoying and makes it hard to view clearly but doesn't actually harm the functioning AFAIK. When he had a problem with that Cingular just sent him a new Razr though.
I hope this was helpful to anyone
-------------------- Me: "He's 19? Uh oh, I bought him a beer." A: "You contributed to the deliquency of a minor in drag!" "Sweet spell check: keeping drunks off the radar since 1995."- IND GodRe-AnimateGreenPorkBush Posts: 3986 | From: Illinois, jealous? | Registered: Nov 2005
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quote:Verizon's software on the phone does allow for multiple numbers per person, and also supports other fun features like voice dialing. Other carriers will have slightly different software, though I'd imagine all the same things would apply.
In my experience with phones, the software differences mostly occur on provider specifc features. My Ex had a razr (with Tmoble) and she had mulitiple phone number, voice dialing, the works.
THe difference comes with carrier specific modles like the Vcast funcitonality only available for Verizon. Im sure they distictify by different models iin that case since these models are carrier unique. In other words, there arte several different types of Razrs depending on your carrier.
-------------------- W.W.F.S.M.D? But this image of Bush as some sort of Snidely Whiplash tying the fair maiden to the railroad tracks is beyond the pale. - Joe Bentley Posts: 2311 | From: Minnnesota | Registered: Mar 2004
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My LG is a flip phone. It just seems that the * button is easily pushed. It's not so much a problem with me as it is with my SO, who is always missing calls because the ringer has been shut off. From what you all have told me, we will not experience this problem so much with the razr.
I'm planning to get the razr next week, when our plan is up. I'll let you know how it works!
-------------------- "Maybe getting in the last word doesn't really mean you win." - The Clarks Posts: 486 | From: Pittsburgh, PA | Registered: Sep 2005
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I feel much more assured now. This is why I love Snopes.
That's why I had to ask. I've had a Motorola V262 for a few months now, and it has performed brilliantly. That's why I questioned the scuttlebutt I've been hearing about the Razr. I'll have to look into that trial period thing, too. Besides, maybe that will let me get it a little sooner than I planned.
Thanks guys!
-------------------- It can't rain all the time. Posts: 1102 | From: Iowa | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
I have a Razr, and I'm not that impressed with it. It looks awesome, very sleek and small. In my experience, the vibrate function works ok, and I've never accidently changed from vibrate/ring to silent, because when the phone's closed, you need to press 2 buttons to do so.
However, I have been very unimpressed with the Razr:
- The battery doesn't last that long (I need to recharge mine every other night/every 3 nights, depending on usage) - The Motorola OS (for want of a better term) is pretty basic and unimpressive. There have been no upgrades from my old V600. - The screen. When the phone is closed, some of the buttons on the keypad are actually touching the screen. In particular, the '5' key is raised on the keypad, so it pushes against the screen and leaves a mark. I'm forever wiping my screen to try and get rid of the marks where my keys were. - I haven't had much fun with the Bluetooth. It's not very user friendly, and often I've found compatability issues with my friends' phones. - The texting system is so slow. I use predictive text, and I'm forever having to wait while the screen catches up to where I am (to see if it comes out as 'me' or 'if', or I'll end up having to go back and edit it). I need a phone that can keep up with my texting (and I'm not even that fast!) - Small point, but it's got a very small memory (plenty for pictures, games, messages and phone numbers, but not much after that), so if you were thinking about storing mp3s or anything on it, forget it.
That said, it has a nice camera, it does video, and it has a nice big screen and big keypad (for those of us with chubby digits!) And as I said it looks pretty nice and compact (although quite wide).
Hope this helps!
-------------------- "The fact that "uvula" and "vulva" look and sound similar was just a happy coincidence." - Lainie Posts: 548 | From: England | Registered: Sep 2005
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I've had my Razr for about 2 weeks now and so far am not impressed. It is small and sleek and oh so neat looking. It has not accidentially turned the ringer off. The buttons are bigger and I almost never accidentially dial the wrong person. It takes decent pix & has a zoom.
But the charge only lasts about 2 days, and I hardly use mine. My old LG, I charged it Sunday night and it was good until Friday night, unless I had heavy usage. It feels awkward against my ear, but that's just something I have to get used to, I guess.
OTOH, my SO loves it. Even with the case, it's still much smaller than the old one and with his job, that's a bonus for him.
I don't use the text & bluetooth, so I can't comment on that.
And of course, I was so excited about finally getting a new phone that I forgot to ask for a trial period. At least with all the credits & rebates, we got 2 Razrs & a cheap flip phone for my mil (don't ask, but at least I got brownie points) for around $50.
All in all, I don't think I'd get it again.
-------------------- "Maybe getting in the last word doesn't really mean you win." - The Clarks Posts: 486 | From: Pittsburgh, PA | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
I know the gimmick of the RAZR is the "flat-ness" (in other words sleek-ness) of it, but I don't like that about it at all.
It seems that even though it's flat, it's wide and that bothers me a little bit.
I'm not a big fan of the huge buttons either.
OTOH, I am looking into getting the new(ish) Samsung MM-A900 ("the Blade") phone.
Cingular is my current carrier and they suck, in a word. Sprint is better I think for my needs.
-------------------- Licorice of the Lord! This is classy stuff...Should I be wearing a tie? Or, at least, pants? ~I'mNotDedalus Posts: 975 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
A couple people have mentioned the good picture quality, and I'm just curious: have any of you had any of those pictures printed? Do they still look OK as 4x6s? I think I'm going to hold off on buying a new camera phone until I can get one that will actually take decent snapshots that I might look at years later.
-------------------- "If God wrote it, the grammar must be infallible. Perhaps it is we who are mistaken." -MapleLeaf Posts: 977 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Oct 2005
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Also, are there any cool new phones out there that do take good pictures and have long-lasting batteries?
-------------------- "If God wrote it, the grammar must be infallible. Perhaps it is we who are mistaken." -MapleLeaf Posts: 977 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Oct 2005
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As long as you don't mind NOT having a flip-phone, I have the Motorola SLVR. It has AMAZING photo and video (yes, I said video) quality (my pictures sometimes look like I took them with a standard digital camera).
My batteries, on weekends, last 3 days ("on weekends" meaning I talk to people for 30 minutes-1 hour at a time, 3-6 times a day. So average that to be about 7.5 hours of talk time), and I'd recharge the phone when it had one bar of battery left (not "low battery". One bar gives me another 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours on its own until it dies).
Additionally, I have a memory card in it, so it can store photos, video, and- get this- mp3s. I also use the phone as an mp3 player (I have the headset to use for it- you have to buy it separately, but it can double as a phonecall headset). I had been considering getting an iPod Shuffle or a Dell DJ Ditty before I got this phone, and now, this is what I use instead. Don't get me wrong- the battery life WILL be shorter if I use it as the mp3 player consistently (it's Java enabled), but for having a 1GB memory card that's about the size of your standard USB male connection in your phone, it's worth it.
Oh yeah, and speaking of USB...if you're willing to spring for the computer program, you can connect your phone to your computer (it can CHARGE from your computer) and make your own ringtones, backgrounds, etc.
In short, I'm VERY pleased with my phone. It's taken a lot of abuse, and while it does have some scratches, it's no worse for wear.
If you'd like some examples of the picture quality, PM me. I have to head to bed, actually. I just thought I'd give my two cents.
-------------------- My mom, about my nervousness with Jeopardy!: "Don't worry about it. Just get drunk and you'll do fine." Blog Just call me Mickey 2 Posts: 3295 | From: Radford, VA/Herndon, VA/Orlando, FL | Registered: Jan 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Esprise Me: A couple people have mentioned the good picture quality, and I'm just curious: have any of you had any of those pictures printed? Do they still look OK as 4x6s? I think I'm going to hold off on buying a new camera phone until I can get one that will actually take decent snapshots that I might look at years later.
The picture in my profile is taken with a razr, an older model though, I think the newer ones have a higher mega pixel camera.
(Edited to stick quote in for sense)
Posts: 1555 | From: Leicestershire, England | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
For those that may have been intrigued by my description of my phone, here are some pictures I took with it, to see the kind of resolution it has. I couldn't figure out how to upload video, though. Once I do, I'll try to post that, too.
-------------------- My mom, about my nervousness with Jeopardy!: "Don't worry about it. Just get drunk and you'll do fine." Blog Just call me Mickey 2 Posts: 3295 | From: Radford, VA/Herndon, VA/Orlando, FL | Registered: Jan 2006
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