Flip phones

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I'm in the market for a new cell phone. I currently have Verizon, who I don't really like, but I guess I dislike them the least out of all the telecommunications companies (that, and I have a family share plan).

So here's what I currently have:

The Samsung SCH-u340, which I guess is also called the cricket? I dunno...

Anyway, I'm assuming its been doing some auto-update type crap, because texting has recently become a little funky. Its sort of like the phone has developed dyslexia. It puts letters/spaces out of sync, and not how you entered them in. It's also got Samsung's notoriously awful T9 auto text. The camera takes cell-phone quality pictures, but the screen is beyond awful. I can't tell what the hell I'm supposed to be looking at when people send me a picture message.
In addition to that, the charger port has developed some slop, so it has to be positioned correctly just to charge.

I like flip phones because there is no stupid "unlock" sequence or code to enter every time you want to use the phone, and they are light, cheap, good size, and get good battery life. I don't use internet on phones, ever. I have computers for that.

Suggestions?

[nissangirl74]

This is what we got both of the boys because they are (1) inattentive and clumsy, (2) always dropping things, (Dar dropped his phone three times in thirty minutes while standing in the kitchen the other night), and (3) like to drop their phones in pools, the toilet, and other bodies of water. So far so good.

http://www.casiogzone.com/ravine/

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I hope their phone works better than their website... I was having problems with it loading through the flash menu. Maybe its my dodgy router.
Those are pretty expensive too. $200+ on Ebay for the ravine. I despise contracts, so I wont be renewing (but I'll have to pay extra for the phone).

[sbird1]

Those tough phones are supposed to be nice. They're expensive enough to be. I've got a buddy that goes through them like hotcakes, though.

[Jesda]

There's a Blackberry Flip, but its big and wide for some reason. Runs OS6 and I think it has a touch screen.

[nissangirl74]

We always renew our contract because there's never a danger of us switching providers. The phones are worth the money. Especially when we were having to replace the el cheapos all the time.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

There's a Blackberry Flip, but its big and wide for some reason. Runs OS6 and I think it has a touch screen.

Sounds like the worst of both worlds...

Bex- I'm not above dropping that type of coin on that phone, but I'd definitely like to see/use the phone in person first. Perhaps that justifies a weekend trip to Surprise?

[Zydeco]

Ive got the last gen of this phone. http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/stor ... egoryId=10

tough as nails, Ive really put this phone through hell and back and it still works as good as the day I got it just about 2 years ago.

[Pento240sx]

Or you could get this one, easy to use, very tuff phone and big numbers.

Jokin

I will recommend the Blackberry Pearl. Is a little bigger than your current flip phone. I had one and I loved it. Very good picture quality with flash, video recording with light, easy to text and very stylish.

[nissangirl74]

There's a Blackberry Flip, but its big and wide for some reason. Runs OS6 and I think it has a touch screen.

Sounds like the worst of both worlds...

Bex- I'm not above dropping that type of coin on that phone, but I'd definitely like to see/use the phone in person first. Perhaps that justifies a weekend trip to Surprise?

Sounds like a plan.

[HashiriyaS14]

We don't get cool "normal" phones in the US anymore, everything is either a BB or iPhone/Droid lookalike.



I like some of the new NTT DoCoMo handsets, too bad we have nothing like these.








And my favorite, the SH-01C:

[krash]

Chocolate 2. Yea, it sounds gay. But I put mine through 3 years of hell and it still works pretty dang good. Its a slider, but theres no unlock sequence, you just slide it open.

Actually, I can send it to you if you're interested.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Are you just going to get rid of it? What kind of shape is it in?

Do the buttons on the exterior work if the phone is slid shut? I guess I'm worried about anything that can function with the phone shut. This thing will be in my pocket, getting banged up against whatever else is in my pocket (work phone, point and shoot camera, chap stick, etc).
I'd hate to go use my phone and find out the battery is dead because it started playing Thriller in an endless loop.

[krash]

Yea, I got a new phone earlier this year. The chocolate has just been collecting dust.

Cosmetically, its not too good looking. Theres scratches and scrapes all over the place. But everything functions just fine, the screen can be seen just fine, all the buttons work, functioning camera, and its a good window chuck (I've used it to prop my car window open a few times to break in.)

The good thing is, when it is slid shut you can't do anything without the "unlock" secquence, which is pressing the center button twice. So I've never had it unlock when it wasn't supposed to. Battery life on it was great too, lasted me around a day and a half, and I have two batteries for it.

I also have a Motorola E816 thats in close to new shape. Not sure if it works on the VZW network anymore. It used to, but whenever I talked to a VZW customer service person about it, they'd be like "wtf how did you do that". That one I'd want a few bucks for, but the chocolate 2 is yours if you want it.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Yeah man, I'll take it.
Even if the scratches are a little too much to take, I can at least verify that the phone is what I want functionally, and get a new one. I'll PM you my mailing addy. Let me know how much shipping is.

[nissangirl74]

Yeah man, I'll take it.
Even if the scratches are a little too much to take, I can at least verify that the phone is what I want functionally, and get a new one. I'll PM you my mailing addy. Let me know how much shipping is.

no visit?

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Wweeeeeellllll, I wouldn't say that

[elwesso]

Get a smart phone.. A regular style flip phone is like using fax instead of email!

[Dattebayo]

Get a smart phone.. A regular style flip phone is like using fax instead of email!

...or you could read the thread.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Get a smart phone.. A regular style flip phone is like using fax instead of email!

What's a ZJ?

[Jesda]

[elwesso]

Get a smart phone.. A regular style flip phone is like using fax instead of email!

What's a ZJ?

If you have to ask you cant afford it?

[Chaotic_Warlord]

We don't get cool "normal" phones in the US anymore, everything is either a BB or iPhone/Droid lookalike.



I like some of the new NTT DoCoMo handsets, too bad we have nothing like these.








And my favorite, the SH-01C:

Actually all of those phones are available here in the states, the first ones you have there are pretty much the same as the Motorola Razor/Krazors, the second one is available through T Mobile (both the gf's mom and sister each have one) and the 3rd one is the same as the LG CF360 offered by ATT Wireless. Granted we don't get the wild colors but that's because most of the people who own those phones have changeable cover/faceplates on them.

As far as flip phones on the Verizon network go, I'm pretty sure that they will be a dying breed as they are trying to real hard to be the 4G wireless provider of choice, and with nearly everyone going to smart phones or black berries the flip phone will be left to the pre-paid companies and that company that is geared toward the geriatrics.

My question to is how much texting do you do? Or is your cell phone just there to make phone calls?

[PapaSmurf2k3]

My question to is how much texting do you do? Or is your cell phone just there to make phone calls?

A decent amount of texting. Maybe 1500- 2000 per month? I really don't have a problem with it using T9 until the phone goes all dyslexic on me.

[HashiriyaS14]

WAT?

This LG CF360? Certainly appears to be a different phone to me:




First phone doesn't look anything like a KRZR, IMO.


Also, all these have 1-SEG, which we don't get in the US.

If you can find the exact same handsets for sale in the states, please link.

[Rex]

I recently picked up a Pantech Dou (?I think?). It's a dual slider and has an "unlock sequence", but it serves it's purpose.

I'm surprised by the "quality feel" of such a cheap phone.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Well I got the used LG Chocolate II in the mail.
I know I told Krash differently in another thread, but much like a woman, I have changed my mind.
Its not a bad phone, but there are some compromises I would make with it that I really shouldn't have to make. Examples:
I can't open it with 1 hand. My phone should be able to be completely operated using only 1 hand. The sliding function requires me to grasp one side with 1 hand, and slide the other half with the other. I tried the bra removal method (kinda pinch and and "snap") to no avail.

The other negative is that the number buttons are pretty small. I found myself mis-typing a lot more than I normally do. So we're back to square 1. FLIP PHONE!

[frapjap]

Blackberry Storm? Flip phone that has a keyboard and a touch screen. Some of the folks at work have it, its nifty. I have a Bold. Not a flip phone, but still a decent phone but in no way fits your parameters.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I despise touch screens. I also don't really like blackberries.

[Red coupe]

Well I got the used LG Chocolate II in the mail.
I know I told Krash differently in another thread, but much like a woman, I have changed my mind.
Its not a bad phone, but there are some compromises I would make with it that I really shouldn't have to make. Examples:
I can't open it with 1 hand. My phone should be able to be completely operated using only 1 hand. The sliding function requires me to grasp one side with 1 hand, and slide the other half with the other. I tried the bra removal method (kinda pinch and and "snap") to no avail.

The other negative is that the number buttons are pretty small. I found myself mis-typing a lot more than I normally do. So we're back to square 1. FLIP PHONE!

?

I had one.. Opened one handed easy. Your hands suck at being hands. Hold the back, stick your thumb against screen and push up... done.