vB Easy Archive - Are you satisfied with the 8900?

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Are you satisfied with the 8900?
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Posted by: dtittus

I'm just off a 2-yr contract and want a camera phone. I'm debating on staying with VZW and getting the 8900 or going with Cingular and getting the Moto V600. I know that when I first checked out the 8900 there wasn't a data cable available for it but now VZW is selling a Mobile Office Kit.

Are the 8900 owners generally satisfied with this phone?

Dave

Posted by: tigerteam

If you have a data cable then yes, I love the 8900. If I didn't have my precious cable, all those .25 cent fees and Verizon Wireless banner would have made me chuck it!

Posted by: madnick

Despite not having the data cable, so far yes.

I am getting the cable though, so as to disable that ×××× banner, and maybe add some tones/etc. These things are simply annoyances.

My biggest complaint is the camera. Then again, I only use it for amusement, so once again it's not too big ideal.

Overall, it seems like an excellent, albeit somewhat buggy (ATM) phone.

Posted by: pnissen

i picked up the 8900 at verizon about 3 weeks ago and i'm very happy w/ it. fyi, mine came sans the scrolling verizon banner on the outside. there is a verizon banner on the inside, sort of. it was just the welcome message though and you can change it or remove it from the phone's menus. i have the data cable and have only used it as a modem for my laptop; get over twice dial up speed consistantly. i've been afraid to use bitpim w/ the warning against it on their page. (should i be??) the phone seems to have good signal, but the sound is tinny and hollow. put a clear plate on the front, because it looks nifty when it lights up. all that said, the motorolla v710 should be out pretty quick and it looks cool too.

Posted by: dtittus

Is the 8900 the same as the 8600 but with a camera? A friend recently got the 8600. It's very tiny - almost too tiny. He demonstrated the speaker phone, which he is not happy with.

Posted by: PlatMan

Posted by: train8900

love the phone, except the camera kinda sucks compared to one ive seen on a t mobile with zoom and 15 shot frame photo taking ability.... as far as verizon goes :-/ i hate the banner, the sub lcd banner, i hate the GIN BS with no games on the phone and monthly charges to have them... only get this phone if you plan on getting a data cable

Posted by: thePhallex

Quote:

Originally posted by train8900
only get this phone if you plan on getting a data cable

I didn't get the cable and I like my phone fine.

I'm able to upload stuff to my phone perfectly fine w/out a cable.

Changeable Ringtones, Background Wallpapers, and Faceplates all make this camera-phone better and more customizable than some others out there.

I would recommend this phone.

I also recommend to Verizon to change some of the software issues that we don't like!

Posted by: thecynosureone

blue lights feature in the car and stuff when it is dark is good, also in the movies or anywhere that it is dark, comes on when recieving a call/message, pretty nice feature

sounds like a cool phone 2 me~

Posted by: Rambie

Quote:

Originally posted by dtittus
Is the 8900 the same as the 8600 but with a camera? A friend recently got the 8600. It's very tiny - almost too tiny. He demonstrated the speaker phone, which he is not happy with.

The 8900 is a little wider than the 8600. I agree, the 8600 is too small to hold but the 8900 is just the right size for me.

Overall I like my phone... there are some annoying thing. But now that I got my data cable (the mobile office kit) and used BitPim to remove the sub-lcd banner it's OK.

Other annoyances:
- The camera takes blury pictures- Is that just mine?
- The mobile office kit doesn't schedule appoints from Outlook
- Cost of Get-It Now applications
- 25 cents per send/receive using Vzwpix.com service

If you were thinking of using BitPim and aren't very techy, I'd probably go with LG VX6000, same features as the 8900 but BitPim is designed to work with it.

Now, all that said, I like my phone and would recomend it.

Rambie

Posted by: thecynosureone

yes i love the audiovox 8900, i like the phones apperance, and the animated backrounds, i dont care if the pics are blury and the ringtones, just get a camera or a data cable(free wallpapers/ringtones/games..etc..) im happy with mine..

Posted by: dtittus

I looked at the LG VX6000 too. My only concern with that phone is that it is all digital, so if I'm in an area that hasn't converted to digital yet then I'll have no service at all. At least with the AudioVox phone I can pull an analog signal.

I haven't tinkered with BitPim yet. I'm still working on what to replace my Moto V120c with.

I'm also going back and forth over whether to switch to Cingular or not. Plan costs after discount are close. On the plus side for VZW is coverage. However, as long as I'm covered in most all areas of my metro I don't know if I care about the other areas. On the plus side for Cingular, the similarly priced plan will give me more anytime minutes plus roll over. I've also been comparing the 8900 against the Moto V600.

Posted by: Synergie1

A few points against the LG VX6000:

-No analog mode
-No Speakerphone (there is a monitor mode I believe that lets you hear but not talk)
-Smaller main color screen

I have the Telus 8900 and love it! (I also have the data cable)

Posted by: JL_in_MN

I've been using the 8900 (Verizon) for about a month, after two years with the LG TM-510. The 510 is a hard act to follow in terms of reception, but the 8900 seems to do fine so far. Battery life is good with the big battery (another $35 or so - the supplied battery is barely sufficient), usually about 3 - 4 days between charges. I've dropped it once (hip-height to pavement) - the battery came off, but otherwise no damage.

I also spent $15 on the USB cable (Radio Shack) and downloaded BitPim and the hacks to eliminate the banner - worked great.

I'm pretty happy overall - if you don't need analog, I'd choose the LG VX6000 instead, but I think the 8900 is probably the best option in a tri-mode phone (at least from Verizon).

Posted by: Rambie

Quote:

Originally posted by dtittus
I looked at the LG VX6000 too. My only concern with that phone is that it is all digital, so if I'm in an area that hasn't converted to digital yet then I'll have no service at all. At least with the AudioVox phone I can pull an analog signal.

That was my reason to go with the 8900 as well.

Now that I got the mobile office kit from Verizon, I love it even more. I can edit the phone book on my PC and upload it to the phone. I wish I could do meetings (events) with it too and used BitPim to take out the Banner in the Sub-LCD.

If you want Tri-mode, go with the 8900 if your going to go with Verizon. The menu system is very intutative, like Nokia's menu system. That was the other feature I love about the 8900, motorolla's usually have a horid menu system, but then I haven't used a Motorolla since my StarTac.

Rambie

Posted by: Rambie

Quote:

Originally posted by Synergie1
A few points against the LG VX6000:

-No analog mode
-No Speakerphone (there is a monitor mode I believe that lets you hear but not talk)
-Smaller main color screen

I have the Telus 8900 and love it! (I also have the data cable)

Synergie1, good to see you dude. I couldn't PM you about the data cable you know. Anyway, my company's Verzion salesman, we just switched from AT&T Wireless, sent one to me on promotion discount.

Posted by: TKS_CO

I just ported over my service from AT&T Wireless to Verizon last week, and got the 8900. So far I haven't been thrilled. Reception at my home is nil, whereas my AT&T phone (a Nokia 6360) had reception that was not great but at least enough to make and receive calls.

I have had many unresolved problems with Verizon, including being unable to send or receive text or picture messages (although tech support has assured me that I am absolutely set up for all that), and that whole banner thing that I won't get into here, there are other threads on that.

My reason for getting the 8900 was the same - I need analog service capability in many areas that I drive, and the LG doesn't support that.

I'm still hopeful that Verizon will be able to resolve some of my issues, and I do think the 8900 is the best choice Verizon offers in a tri-mode phone, so I'll probably stick with it. But I can't really say that I recommend it based on my experiences so far....

Posted by: Rambie

I also just switched from AT&T Wireless using a 6360. I loved the phone. It wasn't anything special to look at, but AT&T wireless coverage here in Utah is better than Verizon's. With the IR port on the 6360, it was nice to synch my Calendar and Contacts. No extra cable to buy just to edit the phone book... I didn't like the headphone jack though.

With a cable the banner is easy to fix... and otherwise I like my 8900.

Posted by: TKS_CO

Yeah, I really liked that 6360. Great reception, worked perfectly all the time, put up with lots of stress (for some reason I drop my phone a lot), battery life was incredible, etc., etc. Not the fanciest phone out there by a long shot, but oh so reliable. And great coverage with AT&T Wireless here in Colorado and in Wyoming as well.

My husband is still with AT&T Wireless but using the truly ancient boat-anchor 5160, so I offered to give him my 6360 since I'm not using it any more, and he jumped at it. For anyone who wants a very good, basic phone for AT&T Wireless, I'd definitely recommend the 6360.