A practical, no-frills, and affordable phone for the non-business person.
Written: Jul 17 '02 (Updated Jul 22 '02)
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Pros: Large screen, one-touch volume control, joystick
Cons: Does not fit well in case, difficult to remove car recharger socket cover
The Bottom Line: Your satisfaction depends on the deal that you get. I paid $50, and the phone performs better than some $100 phones.
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| laswaigas's Full Review: Samsung SPH-N200 Silver |
Most people blame the clarity of calls on their phones, when in fact the service provider, your position in relation to an antenna, your surrounding, and if applicable, the earpiece all contribute.
Even in big metropolitan areas, with ANY phone, there'll be "black holes", areas where reception and clarity aren't what they could be. These problems do not necessarily have to do with the phone itself. Since this is a review of the phone, I'll just say that when I'm not in a black hole, reception is clear and dependable.
As for the phone itself, I manage to not expect the same functionality as a $500 Inspector Gadget phone that is good anywhere in the world, all the while doubling as a Swiss Army knife. I managed to get a good deal and paid $50 for the phone, and the phone has met my expectations for a $50 phone. As with any flip phone, if you clip it to your belt, you'll find the phone opened at times when you reach for it. Just be careful; that's all there is to it.
The flip design doesn't allow the phone to fit well in a case, especially when you open it. But unless you're trying to flip open the phone Mission Impossible style with one hand, you'll be fine.
I like that the microphone plugs into the top of the phone, unlike my previous Nokia. This is when you're using the earpiece while clipping the phone to your belt, or recharging the phone and using the earpiece at the same time in the car. The cover for the car recharger socket is a tiny rubber piece with a lip for pinching. The lip will inevitably be torn, at which point you WILL need a Swiss Army knife to remove the cover. Not a big deal if you just leave the cover off.
As for the electronic features, the only complaint I have is that the maximum number of characters for name storage is 12. So all the Jack Anderson and Jill Mitchell you know will have to have their names shortened. Again, not a big deal unless you can't remember your friends' last names. Ring tones is not comparable to other phones I've seen, but as one reviewer put it, if I shouldn't be deciding on the choice of a utility like a phone on appearance, ring tone probably shouldn't be a factor either.
This is a Sprint PCS phone, and for $29.99 a month, I get 2500 night/weekend and 200 any time minutes. I also get free voice mail, messaging, call-waiting, 3-way calling, and the ease of viewing and paying my bills online at SprintPCS.com. I also received a free earpiece, car recharger, and case as part of the deal. Not bad for a $50 phone that includes a $10 rebate for activating your phone yourself online.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 50
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Epinions.com ID:
laswaigas
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Location: California
Reviews written: 7
Trusted by: 2 members
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