7.22.2010

A Love-Hate Relationship

I have this phone:
The Samsung Propel.
Let's just say, things have been better.

I do love the color.
But why wouldn't I?  It is my fave color ever!  
Mine has been nicknamed "the Lilypad."  Kinda works out well with my thing for frogs too.  ::snicker::  As far as navigating through the menu (etc.), I find it user-friendly enough.  And all phones in our house are Samsung at this point, so chargers are universal. 

What I can't stand about this cute little thing?
  • Crappy battery life
  • QWERTY keyboards are for texting suckers! (Despite what they'd have you believe, QWERTY does NOT make texting easier.  I used to be a marathon one-handed texting champ.  No longer the case.  Now I have to slow down to use BOTH HANDS to crank out a stupid little blurb that would've been quicker to just call & say over the phone!)
  • QWERTY keys are too tiny even for my mini-fingers.
  • Have to stop & LOOK at my phone since now I have no idea which keys are my number keys for when I want to dial a number and actually PLACE a call!  On a tradition keypad, at least I could always dial without looking.  And I could text that way since I knew 2-3's = e, 2-5's = k, and 3-9's = y, etc.
  • The last few months, it WILL NOT keep a call going for more than a couple minutes without the phone going quiet on both ends, and all signal going out the window.  (I've even tried to update my phone with the system & it won't let it.  Crumbs!)
I have learned cute doesn't cut it. 

It's not like this is a Pantech, or an HTC by any means.  But when phones cost what they do & you're committed to them for 2 years, it's aggravating to have 'em dump on ya before you can officially say "Sayonara, Sweetheart!"
Luckily, Sunday marks the day I can upgrade.  (So I'll be ordering it on Monday.)

What am I going with?  Not sure.   
I know I don't want an iphone.  
I hear it from everyone how great they are and how I really need to get one.  But the truth is, I don't need one at all.  I don't even like cellphones.  If I didn't have a kid, I wouldn't have one.  Period.  I don't check my email constantly.  (I've got a computer at home.)  I could care less about apps.  (Just another reason to have my bank account sucked dry.)  I'm not a big facebooker, so even that doesn't matter.   

Seriously, this is how old school I am: 
I heart my big, old, HEAVY-DUTY rotary phone at home.  Yep, where making a phone call actually requires you DIAL the number (not punch it in)!  Where you actually have to HANG the phone UP!  And you never worry that you'll either break or lose the receiver from it's proper place, wedged between the jawbone & shoulder.  It just fits.  It even SMELLS like an old phone should.  And I love that, if you want & your grandma doesn't catch ya, you can unscrew the earpiece & mouthpiece just like Matthew Broderick did in WARGAMES, hello!!!    =)

One friend HIGHLY recommends the Blackberry Curve since it's a "workhorse."
 However, again, the SAHM that I am isn't worried about getting time-sensitive emails.  Though this friend SWEARS by it's exceptional reception.  And reception is a big deal to me.  Apparently the battery life on it is nice too.  Another plus.  Only other things I'm concerned about is how easy is it to actually use?  And a smart phone means paying extra $$$ for a smart phone data package.  Not keen on that.


I am considering the Samsung Mythic.  
I do like how simple it is.  There's NO SLIDER function, Hallelujiah!!!  Instead of heat-sensitive, like the iphone, it's got a pressure-sensitive touchscreen.  However I CAN text using a "traditional-style" keypad on that touchscreen.  So that's nice.  Plus its not so complicated that I feel like I'm in another country every time I have to go further than skin-deep for a feature.  Kudos that the camera is better mp's than the one I've got now!  And, it's NOT A SMARTPHONE!!!  Woot woot!

But that's as far as I've gotten on the research end of things, and there are what seems like a gajillion & one phone options out there.  Sheesh!  A girl just can't keep up, and when she tries she winds up disappointed & wishing it all could go back to the simpler days of Motorola StarTac or a good old Nokia brick w/ Snake on it for those boring afternoons stuck in the doctor's office waiting room.  (Remember those?)
 

Bottom Line: I need a good phone I can make & receive calls with, dependable reception, solid battery-life, & one-handed texting friendly.  (BTW, bigger mp's on the camera would just be icing on the cellphone cake.)  

So, what are your thoughts & recommendations?  Please pipe-up, cause I think my head my start spinning between now & Monday!


P.S. I am kinda crushin' on this Bluetooth for my car...




5 comments:

NaDell said...

So, I don't have much to say about cell phones since I have only had one (a tracfone) for a month or so, but I was wondering why your blog doesn't all show up in Google Reader? I was looking through my blogger settings and I think that if you go to the settings, site feed, and change it to "full" blog feeds that it will show up all the way, not just the first few sentences...
Sorry about the huge long sentence. Good luck with the new phone.

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

I have a Droid Eris and for the first time in my cell phone life.......I am in love.
I recommend that one.
We could be twins.
Then I'll call you and see what you're wearing to school tomorrow and we can continue the twininess!
(OK I'm tired I admit)

Good luck and let us know what you decide. Better than that, call us all!

Heidi D said...

I'm needing a new phone too. Mine is coming apart. Our contract with AT&T is going to end soon too. What to do, what to do.

CB said...

Ha ha well I think we are at odds on a few things here :-)
First, like you, never really wanted a cell phone, never thought I needed one but have one anyway.
I have an I-phone though. I have to say it is truly the best! It simply does everything and then some! The keyboard is awesome I have never found it difficult at all, battery great!, reception is great everywhere (and my hubs travels round the world with his), I blog on my phone, in fact I am writing this comment to you from my I-phone. I love it. There truly is a reason so many people have them!
We have Bluetooth (sp?) in the car and I hate it!! I also really do not like talking to people using Bluetooth - sounds like a submarine!
So there you go!
Good luck on your quest!!

Unknown said...

gals in these reproductive shoes can feel as though
they're a complete failure as a woman, wife, and mother.
I fight that feeling on a regular basis.coques iphone 4

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