vB Easy Archive - Motorola Z9 or LG VU(CU915)

Pages: 1

Motorola Z9 or LG VU(CU915)
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: dshort09

I'm about to take the death plunge into another two year contract and i have landed into these two phones (Tilt is too expensive for this high schooler

)
Gone through 3 phones (lgcu500 sold it cause it was crap,v3xx stopped working, sync shuts off randomly.)
Its certain features I'm looking for and I was wondering what you people on HoFo recommended.

1. Call quality - no sounds as if a mosquito is trapped in the ear piece.
2. Decent web. like going to Google and looking for a store address or number. I'm not surfing all day.
3. Camera - one that takes good pictures that wont look like legos when transfered to a comp.
4. Decent music player.

and few things im not picky about but it would be a plus to have them.
1.ring tones that wont stop after just ten seconds.
3. decent video. if i wanted to i could put it on a comp.
3. some sort of gps or mapping system just in case i get lost going to Galveston.
4. decent volume. something that can be heard if im in noisy area.

Any advice is GREATLY appreciated. (or i could just buy one then save and buy another at retail price or ebay

)

Posted by: DukeL

Quote:

Originally Posted by dshort09

I'm about to take the death plunge into another two year contract and i have landed into these two phones (Tilt is too expensive for this high schooler

Any advice is GREATLY appreciated. (or i could just buy one then save and buy another at retail price or ebay

)

First off the tilt is no more expensive than the Vu or the Z9. New it is $299 & refurb is $149. I have used both phones here is my opinion.

1. Call Quality Z9 wins. Better reception & crystal talk technology

2. Web, Z9 wins hands down. Vu has terrible connectivity issues and cannot display many html sites while Z9 has the full blown Opera browser.

3. Cameras are comprable with 2mp w/ flash on both

4. Z9 on the music player as it can handle 8GB micro sd cards while the Vu can only take 4GB.

Round 2.

1. You will have to do a seem edit to have full songs as ringtones on the Z9. Not sure about the Vu.

2. Z9 wins. It supports 320x240 video recording.

3. Z9 again, the first non smartphone on at&t to have Gps. Program is accurate and provides audible turn by turn directions and mapping.

4. They both have decent volume but I believe the Vu is a bit louder though does not have better quality sound.

Posted by: Rcadden

The Z9 doesn't have GPS built-in, it requires a separate BT gps receiver. I just reviewed one for MobileBurn (should be live soon). Or, if it does indeed have built-in GPS, it's completely unusable. I stood literally in the middle of my street with the phone slid open and waited 15 minutes for it to attempt to get a fix, to no avail. Tried 3 times, just to make sure.

however, despite my biases, I gave the Z9 a highly recommended rating. The only complaints I could come up with is the lack of decent PC-synch options (without pirating PhoneTools or whatever) and the lack of a built-in Gmail-capable client (though the Gmail app works fine, I was hoping to use a built-in email client with auto-polling).

Other than that, in every arena, it's a killer handset.

Also, if the Vu can handle a 4GB microSD, then there's no reason it can't handle an 8GB, as they're both microSDHC. Support for HC is support for HC.

Posted by: dshort09

That $299 is with the rebate right? I don't have enough to spend $415 in store or more on ebay lol. The rep at my local store said I could use like google maps or another app of that sort on the Z9 is this right or was he just trying to sell me the phone?

Posted by: DukeL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rcadden

The Z9 doesn't have GPS built-in, it requires a separate BT gps receiver. I just reviewed one for MobileBurn (should be live soon). Or, if it does indeed have built-in GPS, it's completely unusable. I stood literally in the middle of my street with the phone slid open and waited 15 minutes for it to attempt to get a fix, to no avail. Tried 3 times, just to make sure.

The Z9 has at&t navigator on board and it works extremely well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rcadden

however, despite my biases, I gave the Z9 a highly recommended rating. The only complaints I could come up with is the lack of decent PC-synch options (without pirating PhoneTools or whatever)

MPT 5 is awesome. Well worth the $$ and syncs with outlook flawlessly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rcadden

and the lack of a built-in Gmail-capable client (though the Gmail app works fine, I was hoping to use a built-in email client with auto-polling).

As with most at&t branded Moto phones a simple seem edit will unlock the firmwares email client.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rcadden

Other than that, in every arena, it's a killer handset.
Also, if the Vu can handle a 4GB microSD, then there's no reason it can't handle an 8GB, as they're both microSDHC. Support for HC is support for HC.

You would think that but many phones that accept 4GB will not accept 8GB. Motorola V9 & LG Vu for example.

Posted by: dshort09

can you add your own slider tones?

Posted by: dshort09

And the reason this one is swaying me instead of the tilt, is that i hear that people have to hack and add stuff to the tilt to get it to work flawlessly and properly like no freezes and such. I have had some bad experiences with hacking lol(psp and ipod touch)

Posted by: soccernamlak

Nah, my Tilt has been fine, no problems. People hack it to make it faster (aka remove AT&T bloatware) and to try to get the graphics to work as pretty as possible (as HTC so graciously did not include graphic card driver software with the phone)

Posted by: coldsweat

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rcadden

mine took a couple of times and a wait, but the satellites found me and I was on my way with the Navigator software following my every move.

would love to find a way to get it working with google maps however

Posted by: Rcadden

That's interesting, then, on the GPS. I seriously tried everything I could to get a fix and it would get all the way to 96% while trying to get a fix and then like, 10 minutes later it would say get to a better area.

Meanwhile, my N95-3 can get a fix standing in the driveway in under 30 secs.

Posted by: DonATcentral

Z9 is an excellent device. I've been using it since it came out and I love it. I'm constantly switching between the z9 and my v9. The LG VU sucks in my opinion. I just got mine in today, and it went right back in the box after about 40 minutes of me playing around with it. It feels like a cheap toy and would make anyone who has ever handled an iphone cry. The VU is an overpriced POS. Don't even bother. I think the best device that will suit the needs you stated is either the Moto v9 (no nav) or the Moto z9. Look into them

Posted by: dshort09

I have begun to hear some complaining about battery life, is it that bad?

Posted by: MCKINNIE

All, (and I mean all) 3g phones have a less than stellar battery life. That is just the price you pay for high speed internet built into your phone.

Posted by: dshort09

Thanks for all your responses. They are greatly appreciated. I have checked alot of reviews and there is always a constant debate over signal, ex. Person A says they get a constant good signal everywhere while person B says it disappears inside houses and such.

Posted by: VOLTACO

I have almost the same needs for a phone as dshort, and was also looking into the Vu and the Z9. I played with the Vu at the local store, and definately wasn't impressed with it for the price. I like most of the features on the Z9 (I dont even mind the color) but does the Z9 have T9?

I've seen a couple of specs of the Z9 on different pages that say it has T9.

I was messing around with the Z9 at the store also, but when I went to send a text message, the only input mode that came up other than the traditional ABC was iTap or something, and it didn't appear to work nearly as well as T9, i.e. it didn't recognize words that T9 did (and I'm not talking about words that I have added to my t9 library).

I was looking into a smart-phone w/ a qwerty, but decided I dont need all that extra stuff, plus I really like sliders vs. bars or flips. And I cant afford those mega-expensive, non-branded/unlocked models a lot of you have. I'm due for an upgrade with AT&T and I'm looking forward to my discount.

Or should I wait for something better to come? (iphone 2, Xperia, etc.)

Posted by: VOLTACO

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rcadden

That's interesting, then, on the GPS. I seriously tried everything I could to get a fix and it would get all the way to 96% while trying to get a fix and then like, 10 minutes later it would say get to a better area.

Had the same problem, but I was in the store when I tried the GPS out. It took forever, got to 96% and then it gave up. But that was the store demo model.

Posted by: DukeL

The first time it takes a while to initialize the app. After that it starts up alot quicker.

Posted by: coldsweat

aye, thats actually my only gripe about the phone...the gps starts up painfully slow, it hangs at 96% for me as well for a while, then it finally locks on. sometimes it takes a second try for it to go

that and the inability to use with the google maps still

Posted by: dshort09

Voltaco i think it does have t9, you have to press the pound or star key(i think star) thats how it was for me and most motorola phones.

Posted by: dshort09

POUND lol my bad.

Posted by: Rcadden

Seriously, though, unless GPS is a deal-breaker for you, I'd still recommend the Z9. It's built like a rock, and the UI is pretty snappy. All the multimedia functions work well.

Posted by: MCKINNIE

iTap isn't near as good as T9, but it's better than clicking out all of those letters. It doesn't bother me that much though. It just isn't as smart as T9.

Posted by: PPZ

Here are two reviews for your comparison:

http://www.mobiletechreview.com/phones/LG-Vu.htm

http://www.mobiletechreview.com/phones/Motorola-Z9.htm

Touch screen or no touch screen, is that the question?

Posted by: blacksrt4guy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rcadden

Seriously, though, unless GPS is a deal-breaker for you, I'd still recommend the Z9. It's built like a rock, and the UI is pretty snappy. All the multimedia functions work well.

Id agree with this statement. I had one and this is very accurate. The phone is a rock and works very well. The Vu is like a big overgrown touch screen Shine. Way over priced for what you get and the limitations that is has on it. One thing that really impressed me with the Z9 was the music players sound quality, it kicked arse!

Posted by: VOLTACO

Anyone have any comments on the Z9's browser?

I've never used Opera and all I have now is whatever came with my D807. I'm not looking to be on the internet all day via my phone, but I like the idea of being able to get on when needed.

Posted by: Rcadden

Quote:

Originally Posted by VOLTACO

Anyone have any comments on the Z9's browser?

I've never used Opera and all I have now is whatever came with my D807. I'm not looking to be on the internet all day via my phone, but I like the idea of being able to get on when needed.

the browser is pretty capable, though low on options (I mainly stick with S60, so I'm used to a pretty powerful browser). Within reason, I didn't find it was too limited, though. Clearly it's not going to work great with YouTube or something, but it's MUCH better than a standard mobile browser.