vB Easy Archive - So, I want a new phone. A slider. What do you recommend?

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So, I want a new phone. A slider. What do you recommend?
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Posted by: Roasted

So after having my 2nd Blackjack II and having continuous problems, along with the lack of desire for a full keyboard phone (surprisingly I can type faster on a regular keypad, with the exception of having to hit 1 button 40 times to get through the menu to type . , ? " ( ) ~ * @ etc.

So I'm gonna sell it and get rid of it. K, need a new phone then. Upgrade available in mid June. What do I get?

I was looking heavily at the Z9 and the Shine. The Shine just sticks out to me. I love the keypad. It looks more phone-oriented and more user-friendly to texters such as myself. The Z9's keypad didn't appeal to me, however, it seems to have slightly higher reviews.

Besides that, I haven't seen anymore of a competitor in the ATT department for sliders. Sure, the W580 looks decent, but a few things stick out to me as major cons - such as no microSD slot. I'd have no use for my 2gb microSD card then.

What do you folks think? I'd like to hear user opinions from anybody who owns an ATT slider currently on the market and whether or not you'd recommend it. Build quality, call volume and call clarity are the big 3 I look for in a phone.

Thoughts?

edit - As I read more, I think I just may take a plunge and take a deeper look at the Z9. I wonder though, as a 2 year upgrade, how much does it cost? Maybe I should look at wal mart for upgrading when the time comes. Only wal mart (that I've seen) tends to have new customers + existing customers at the same discount price.

Posted by: knightendo

I have a w580i and i really like it. he GUI is much faster than the w810i and the walkman features are decent. Baterry life is OK. I have had mine for about 2 weeks now it feels solid there are a few weird craking sounds here and there ut nothng that i have noticed.
Call quality is awesome as well as signal reception (houston tx).

Posted by: drewyehboi

If you are looking for a phone that has style and sophistication and something that you will see someone else with maybe once a year... its 8801

Posted by: DukeL

Grab the Z9, its the only civilized choice for sliders on at&t. The feature set is far superior to the shine.

EDIT.Here is a bunch of pics I took and initial impressions from a few threads down...

http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1363735

Posted by: blacksrt4guy

Yeah the Z9 is a much better phone then the Shine. I had both. The Shine is locked down like Fort Nox! You cant do anything with it and the keypad sucks if you dont have girl fingers! Stay away from the Sony, the keypads break like crazy! I think Ive seen someone in the store returning one every time I go there!

Posted by: Roasted

Yeah, I kept looking more and more at them and reading reviews on phonescoop and cnet, and the Z9 just looks to have the better track record.

My question is, how much does it run for a 2 year upgrade? I'm heading out in an hour to see for myself but hey, if I can get a response before I leave, that's always great too!

Posted by: DukeL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roasted

Yeah, I kept looking more and more at them and reading reviews on phonescoop and cnet, and the Z9 just looks to have the better track record.

My question is, how much does it run for a 2 year upgrade? I'm heading out in an hour to see for myself but hey, if I can get a response before I leave, that's always great too!

$249-$50 mir=$199. At the at&t store.

Posted by: Roasted

Quote:

Originally Posted by DukeL

$249-$50 mir=$199. At the at&t store.

geeeeeeez. That's a big more than I wanted to spend...

Maybe walmart sells it cheaper?? ......

Posted by: blacksrt4guy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roasted

geeeeeeez. That's a big more than I wanted to spend...

Maybe walmart sells it cheaper?? ......

Walmart doesnt have the Z9.

Posted by: Roasted

Quote:

Originally Posted by blacksrt4guy

Walmart doesnt have the Z9.

%$*(^*#@(P$*#

Posted by: blacksrt4guy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roasted

%$*(^*#@(P$*#

Yeah Walmart doesnt do any higher end stuff. Just the cheap/free phones. Unless they vary by location maybe.

Posted by: DukeL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roasted

geeeeeeez. That's a big more than I wanted to spend...

Maybe walmart sells it cheaper?? ......

Well you can get it for $199-$50mir=$149 at at&t online store.

Posted by: Roasted

Quote:

Originally Posted by blacksrt4guy

Yeah Walmart doesnt do any higher end stuff. Just the cheap/free phones. Unless they vary by location maybe.

My local wal mart has the Q9 and BJII and stuff... I figured they'd have the Z9 then...

I'll check another wal mart just in case... I'll report back IF I end up finding it at a wal mart.

Posted by: SuxBeingU

also check RadioShanck and WalMart online they have far more phones online than they do in store.

Posted by: macintoshcx

Quote:

Originally Posted by blacksrt4guy

Yeah Walmart doesnt do any higher end stuff. Just the cheap/free phones. Unless they vary by location maybe.

Where I live the wal-marts' sale the curve, the pearl, the blackjack II and the tilt

Posted by: Roasted

Okay so... I was thinking about a rizr from ebay, unlocked. What do you folks recommend?

Keep in mind - I'm looking for solid build quality, reception, sound quality, volume level. So far, the rizr seems to fit the bill. 130 bucks shipped, brand new unlocked on ebay... That's certainly up my alley. Moreso than the 150 bucks AFTER mail in rebate with a 2 yr extension on the Z9. Plus, I looked at the Z9 tonight... not sure I was really feeling it. Nice phone, but... ehh.

What do you folks think? I mean, in reality, I do like both phones. I had a weird complaint about the Z9, though... I'm a heavy texter, and I was tinkering around with it in the store and it felt like the keys were stiffer than normal. Maybe it was that particular unit that was like that? I don't know. I worked all day, and my hands are always sore by the end of the day, so I don't know if I was being a wuss or what.

I guess what it comes down to is Rizr for 130 unlocked on Ebay no contract extension or Z9 = 150 w/ 2 yr extension. Ehh?

Posted by: helix66

I'm looking to switch over from vzw soon and trying to figure out what phone I'd want to start with myself. I read this reply on the thread that is linked here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by davistld01

I had the Z9 for an very brief time. And, although I am simply not a "slider-guy"...here are my initial impressions...

Pros:
*Ultra-solid build quality - the largely metal construction makes it vault-like.
*Smooth, non-wobbly (read: non-N95-like) slider mechanism
*Excellent call quality & call volume - "new school" Moto CrystalTalk technology rocks!!
*Nice, colorful screen and display
*Updated Synergy OS - Apps fade on change, faster speeds, etc.
*Unique size and design - gets lots of looks from people who notice.

Cons:
*It's heavy!!! - Metal construction is solid, but makes it very hefty to hold.
*Reception is spotty - The Razr2 V8 & V9 are both stellar in this area. Why not the Z9?
*Keypad is stiff - Moreso than the V8/V9. Takes some adjustment.
*It's wide!! - It fills the hand completely, even if you have gorilla hands.
*No "thumb-bar" to aid opening slider - makes it almost clumsy and cumbersome to use

Like I said, my history with this phone was brief...but the Z9 definately has a personality all its own, and gives quick and lasting impressions. I think it's a great phone, if you like the slider form and can get over the sheer mass of the phone. If you can & will...then the Z9 might be your cup of tea.

The rebuttal to this was that the v9 does get better reception and width is the same as the razr2 v9 but the z9 is a bit taller.

Posted by: Roasted

Quite frankly I just didn't like the keypad to the Z9. Like I think I stated, I had gone to the ATT store after work yesterday. My hands were sore cause my line of work (part time job till I graduate wednesday from college and move on) is "very high risk of carpal tunnel" so my hands are always sore. I typed on the Z9 keypad for like 30 seconds or so and I realized my hands were cramping. I was like, what? seriously? I'm a huge texter, and even though my job will be overwith in the next month, I can't help but to see my hands getting sore after typing a couple lines of a text. Maybe I'm just being stupid, but that's my thoughts.

I just keep coming back to this. I love my krzr. I really do. So, that being said, I think I would love the rizr. By getting the rizr I'll avoid extending my contract and then down the line if I find something more up my alley that ATT offers, I can go with that. It's great that the Z9 has the crystaltalk stuff, I hear good things about it. But... how's that any good if it has spotty reception? I NEED solid reception...

Maybe I'm just being overbearing... but part of me just keeps bouncing back to the rizr. The only thing with the rizr is, it's a dated phone, it's been out for over a year. Not that it's a bad thing, but maybe I'm just a tech nerd - I like to have the latest stuff. However, the latest stuff in this instance means stiff keypad + potentially spotty reception...? Not my cup of tea...

I'm gonna head out to the mall and see the rizr in person. Maybe I can make better judgment then.

Posted by: Roasted

I keep reading more about all phones and I'm starting to think I should just wait. I'm due for an upgrade in a month and a half. Maybe by then something more decent will be out. I noticed on phonescoop under "new phones" there was a quad band Motorola slider, the Z6w. Seems kind of cool... maybe something like that will be on the market then.

Anybody know of a relatively basic but decent slider that's projected to come to ATT??

Posted by: SuxBeingU

if you can wait a month or two SE is also coming oiut with a 3G 3.15MP camera with a large keypad for texting, In a slider, the w760 should a late summer addition. Its a bad *** phone with motion controls for volume and gaming and gesture control to send calls to VM with a wave of the hand. Will be less than the Z9/V9 by at LEAST 50.00 closer to 100

http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_ericsson_w760-2197.php

Posted by: Roasted

Yeah, I definitely want a slider. I'm very basic with what I want in a phone... just build quality, reception, and volume level. The Z9 is everything I'd want in a phone... maybe I should take another look at it. Maybe I can get used to the keypad. I don't know. I just look at the Z9 over my krzr and I see no big upgrade to it, as far as what my tastes and such are like.

Posted by: blacksrt4guy

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuxBeingU

if you can wait a month or two SE is also coming oiut with a 3G 3.15MP camera with a large keypad for texting, In a slider, the w760 should a late summer addition. Its a bad *** phone with motion controls for volume and gaming and gesture control to send calls to VM with a wave of the hand. Will be less than the Z9/V9 by at LEAST 50.00 closer to 100

http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_ericsson_w760-2197.php

Is it coming to at&t or are you just talking as an unlocked phone? We all know unlocked is better then carrier ruined. That does look like a nice phone. My only issue with SE is the ear piece volume always suck. Ive had a few SE's and this was the case with each one. Very nice phones if they could just figure out how to actually make a loud ear piece. I always wonder how they test for this back at SE. Completely quiet sound isolated room? Wow yeah thats very loud, it passes!!

Heck maybe its too loud, turn the volume down before you release this beast!!

Posted by: blacksrt4guy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roasted

Yeah, I definitely want a slider. I'm very basic with what I want in a phone... just build quality, reception, and volume level. The Z9 is everything I'd want in a phone... maybe I should take another look at it. Maybe I can get used to the keypad. I don't know. I just look at the Z9 over my krzr and I see no big upgrade to it, as far as what my tastes and such are like.

Well not to burst your bubble but I took mine back because I hated the keypad lol. Motorolas T9 sucks too, its very counter-intuitive. Maybe you'll end up getting used to it but I couldnt!

Posted by: helix66

Just curious, isn't the krzr a pita to text on because it is so small?

Posted by: Roasted

Quote:

Originally Posted by helix66

Just curious, isn't the krzr a pita to text on because it is so small?

Nah, I don't think so. It's actually one of the more text-friendly keypads I've used.

About the rizr - yeah I was talking about unlocked from ebay. I just youtubed a couple video reviews and it's getting piss-poor feedback on the comments. Makes me wonder if it's worth the 130 bones to drop, or if I should just keep my krzr until I get an upgrade (and pray something worth a **** is out then)

Posted by: DukeL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roasted

Yah. Rizr is the same generation as the Krzr. Just in a slider form factor. It wouldnt really be an upgrade. The Z6 or Z9 would be a sure improvement.

Posted by: Roasted

Quote:

Originally Posted by DukeL

Yah. Rizr is the same generation as the Krzr. Just in a slider form factor. It wouldnt really be an upgrade. The Z6 or Z9 would be a sure improvement.

The Z6, according to ebay, is pretty darn expensive for what I want to spend. Blah.

I keep looking back at the LG Shine. It's the only phone that actually feels decent in my hand. Nice keypad and seems well built. But I don't want to go off of initial impressions, I want to hear some feedback. Does anybody have anything to say about it? How's the build quality, reception, etc?

I was reading some reviews on phonescoop and some people were saying that the ringer volume was low. I don't know if these people are just straight up stupid or got bad models or what, but I did a youtube search and one video in particular actually played a ringtone to show how loud it gets - and that sucker was definitely loud. I have to question whether or not the actual call volume gets loud as well.

Any input?

Posted by: Roasted

Is there any hope of the Z6, or something very similar to it (since I tend to like moto's) coming to ATT?

Posted by: SuxBeingU

Quote:

Originally Posted by blacksrt4guy

Heck maybe its too loud, turn the volume down before you release this beast!!

I hear its coming to ATT mid to late Summer.

The phones are not only tested by SE but they also go through 400-1200 Hours of testing by the carrier. I hear what you;re saying about the earpiece but it must be passable.SE had some of the loudest speaker but the earpiece is lacking a little. I haven't played with the 760 yet so I will have to get to you on that.

Posted by: muncie21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roasted

I'm taking my shine back tomorrow and getting something else. Call quality sucks (very low volume &static-ee) and the keyboard is absolutely hideous. I really want to like it, but in the end I need a phone that I can actually dial and hear with.

Posted by: Roasted

I'm pretty much certain that I'm gonna get the Z9 once I get closer to June when my upgrade is available.

I just keep hearing such good things about it, I can't resist to try it.

Posted by: coldsweat

yeap...really digging my Z9 atm. coming from a qwerty with the 8525 its still taking a bit of time getting used to texting on a dialpad again, but its worth it. this phone is a beast

Posted by: Roasted

cold - I've heard some people compare the Z9 and Razr V9 in terms of reception and say the Z9 isn't 100% to what the Razr V9 offers. However, others say the Razr V9 is "hands down the best RF phone ATT has."

So, with that being said, I wonder how the Z9 stacks up, RF wise, against other phones besides the Razr V9. I'm curious to see how it does against a krzr... cause my krzr is pretty darn good in terms of RF!!

How does it compare against your 8525? Do ya got a basement test for us?

Posted by: DukeL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roasted

cold - I've heard some people compare the Z9 and Razr V9 in terms of reception and say the Z9 isn't 100% to what the Razr V9 offers. However, others say the Razr V9 is "hands down the best RF phone ATT has."

So, with that being said, I wonder how the Z9 stacks up, RF wise, against other phones besides the Razr V9. I'm curious to see how it does against a krzr... cause my krzr is pretty darn good in terms of RF!!

How does it compare against your 8525? Do ya got a basement test for us?

Funny thing is I've had two Z9's and the first is how most everyone describes...Good but not stellar like the V9. The new one I got is full 5 bars awesome and seems just as good as the V9. Who knows, maybe like the iPhone they are not all created in the same factory or something cuz my current Z9 is perfect reception. Full 5 bars 3G coverage. Also comparing the krzr and a 3G phone is not the same because The Z9 also runs on WCDMA and must manage 3G & gsm connectivity.

Posted by: Roasted

Hm, that's interesting to know. If I get the Z9 and it isn't as expected, I'll just do a return and try another and see how my luck is.

Why'd you end up with a 2nd Z9?

Posted by: DukeL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roasted

Hm, that's interesting to know. If I get the Z9 and it isn't as expected, I'll just do a return and try another and see how my luck is.

Why'd you end up with a 2nd Z9?

Yep, thats what great about at&t. 30 day return policy!

I got to try out the LG Vu also.(Piece of Crap)