vB Easy Archive - Razr2 V8 MicroUSB Port Cover...Design Flaw?

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Razr2 V8 MicroUSB Port Cover...Design Flaw?
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Posted by: davistld01

I have only had my Razr2 V8 for a few days, and already the tiny color-matched microUSB port cover on the side of the phone is all but falling completely off!!

I noticed the first time I charged it, that it was extremely flimsy and I had to be very gentle and careful not to mess up the rubber "hinge" that it swivels on. Now today...after charging, I notice that I cannot get the port cover to snap into place, instead it hangs loosely and flops around threatening to break off altogether. It's a shame that such a poorly engineered piece of equipment should find it's way on sucn an otherwise awesome mobile phone. IMO...Motorola should have left the port open and easy to get to a la the V3 Razr, no matter how less "sexy" it looked. I love the phone in almost every other aspect...and I'm not being a cry baby...but this is ridiculous on such a high-end phone.

If anyone has shared my grief with the port cover...how did you repair it? Did it "stay fixed"? Has anyone taken it off altogether?

Posted by: djdownhill

Crazy glue.

On 2 of my phones.

I just ripped it from one of my phones.

I feel your pain..........

Posted by: jsmithepa

Quote:

Originally Posted by davistld01

but this is ridiculous on such a high-end phone.

Anything new is high-end. V3 was also $400 when it first appeared.

Posted by: davistld01

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsmithepa

Anything new is high-end. V3 was also $400 when it first appeared.

Your point?

Yes, anything new is "high-end". Does that justify Motorola putting an unengineered part on their new "high-end" product...that either falls apart, or must be removed to keep it from flopping around? I might expect that on a $40 Go-phone, but on Motorolas new, heavily hyped, flagship phone...?

Oh well...certainly not the end of the world...just suprising.

Posted by: CDRWCDR

I dislike that port design. I'm afraid I'm going to break it one day. It's a matter of WHEN, not IF. Ouch.

Posted by: anorthrnsoul

I don't care for the design of it either but luckily mine has shown no signs of coming off after about a month and a half of use.

Another note, I'm sad that the entire wireless industry will be going to micro usb as the standard

Posted by: ptco911

Quote:

Originally Posted by anorthrnsoul

I don't care for the design of it either but luckily mine has shown no signs of coming off after about a month and a half of use.

Another note, I'm sad that the entire wireless industry will be going to micro usb as the standard

I wondered about the new standard too. I guess it is so they can pack more into small places.

Posted by: Riverman

I noticed that the USB cover on the test model Mobile Review had was missing, so I was wondering how sturdy it really was. The one on my Maxx V6, which I assume is similar, doesn't seem very durable, but it's still on there, at least.

Posted by: Squeedly Spooch

Okay, first off so many people are talking about Micro USb, is that different than the Mini USb on the V3, V3t and so on? Or is it simply called mini USB mistakenly on the Razr phones and those are actually Micro USB? Just wondering, because I've got a lot of mini usb (I think!) that came with my V3t and adapters and so on, and I would be choked if those are being phased out already. IF the V3 and V3t and so on actually have Micro USB and people (including me) have just been msitakenly calling them mini usb, then that's fine, I would just really like to know one way or the other.

Now about the cover, I do understand what you mean. I have never had a phone with this cover (although I wish mine did!) but all the display phones in teh stores that have the cover the little "hinge" always seems so flimsy and spongy that yes, I figure it's just a matter of time before it breaks off. They should really make one that is on a tiny little metal hinge that just flips open like a door rather than the flimsy litte rubber thing.

Posted by: Riverman

The RAZR 2 really does use a new port called Micro USB. It's the first Motorola phone to use it, but it's going to be the new standard for phone chargers since a bunch of companies, including Nokia and Sony-Ericsson, agreed on it recently.

Posted by: archer6

Quote:

Originally Posted by davistld01

I have only had my Razr2 V8 for a few days, and already the tiny color-matched microUSB port cover on the side of the phone is all but falling completely off!!

It's a shame that such a poorly engineered piece of equipment should find it's way on such an otherwise awesome mobile phone. IMO...Motorola should have left the port open and easy to get to a la the V3 Razr, no matter how less "sexy" it looked. I love the phone in almost every other aspect...and I'm not being a cry baby...but this is ridiculous on such a high-end phone.

I'm with you. This is a very poorly designed port cover. The one on my V8 is slightly better than the one on my V9, and yet both are unacceptable in my mind. I'm extremely careful with these, however that should not be required. They should be made to be handled frequently as obviously they must be removed and replaced with every charge. So then, why not make them durable? With all the great choices of durable plastics today, for a few cents more the port covers could be long lasting.

I expect mine to fail very soon, as they started out very weak and poorly designed. I've given them a very close look to see if there was any way of strengthening them, but no, they are just to flimsy and thin.

My Samsung A717 has a port cover that must be removed, and rotated 180 degrees to gain access to the charging port. Now _that cover_ is an _exception_, as it's very well made. I've rotated it around to charge the phone at least 100 times by now and it's still very strong, and in as new condition! SO - my only point is, if Samsung can do the right thing on a phone that is 1/2 the cost of a RAZR2, so can Motorola.

Shame on you Moto, for getting cheap on your new Flagship Phone. Your practice of choosing a poor design like this is _not_ in your best interest when it comes to building a good reputation. It's little things like this that cause you to be in the weak financial position your cell phone division is currently in.

Posted by: davistld01

I would have much rather they had just left the port open...and easily accessed like the V3 series Razrs.

I am more than sure that my cover will fail soon, as it barely stays in place...and does not snap in place anymore at all. I will probaby end up removing it altogether...leaving an ugly, uncovered hole where the cover should be. The open-port design looked good on the V3-series phones, but it will look ugly and "missing" on the Razr2. I am much bummed over this...

I agree with Archer6...Shame on you, Motorola.

Posted by: Squeedly Spooch

Ah no, great. I was hoping Motorola would at least keep the same plugs for a while but I just got an adapter from my mini USB to old style multi prong plug and so that my speaker phone could be charged off the one plug I have, and now if I get a new Motorola phone (Maxx, or Q9h,) I would STILL have to get all new plugs. I hope whatever standard cell phone companies start going to in the future that they stick with it for a while! I hate having a whole bunch of different plugs to charge each individual devices which is the whole reason I BOUGHT the adapters in the first place!

Posted by: DukeL

Quote:

Originally Posted by davistld01

I would have much rather they had just left the port open...and easily accessed like the V3 series Razrs.

I am more than sure that my cover will fail soon, as it barely stays in place...and does not snap in place anymore at all. I will probaby end up removing it altogether...leaving an ugly, uncovered hole where the cover should be. The open-port design looked good on the V3-series phones, but it will look ugly and "missing" on the Razr2. I am much bummed over this...

I agree with Archer6...Shame on you, Motorola.

At first I thought the same thing but I actualy prefer having the usb cover(not saying they couldn't of designed it better). It keeps dust out of the port and also I always used to get scratches on all my old razr's around the usb port from the wear and tear of plugging & un-plugging. With the razr 2 it is impossible to scratch that area and even if you do the plug is larger than the port so it will cover the wear & tear. There is method to their madness. Though the ideal port cover would be hard plastic and built into the phone and could be slid up & down like the samsung sliders. Way sturdier. Dosen't the V8 cover remind you of a water gun plug?

Posted by: joey_d

i have a v3xx and the same thing a flimsey usb cover i just removed it try taking it off