Review for Verizon LG VX8575 Chocolate Touch

[C DM]

Has anyone tested out the web on this phone? I am downgrading from a smart phone to the Chocolate touch. I really hope that I'll still have some decent browsing capabilities. I mainly use the web for facebook and googleing random things when I'm bored. I suppose I'll give up my youtube obsession since I'll only have 25mb per month instead of unlimited like I do now. I just ordered two of the Chocolate Touches today one for myself, one for my husband. I have used bitpim in the past for making my own ringtones which is a big deal for me, so hopefully it will work for me again. Verizon is wanting me to pay $30 per month for an unlimited data plan if I get a new smartphone and I simply refuse. That is robbery considering it's $20 more than I have been paying. I had Alltel before they were bought out by Verizon; I activated my ppc6800 online and added the Connect Pack 1 with unlimited data and had was able to access everything the phone had to offer for only $10 bucks a month, unlimited. But my ppc is getting outdated, it's heavy, big as a brick and the hardware keyboard has stopped working properly, so I'm sure it won't be long before it goes kaput.

I do wish that I would have read on here a little more before buying these phones today... You guys say that the touch screen FLEXES? That is scary. And Some say the screen looks pixilized. Ouch. Thank God for the 30 day return policy, I may be using it.

SO my major question is the above. How is the web browser? Does anyone know if I can use Opera Mini on the Chocolate Touch? When browsing the web, can you save images or download files to the phone? Am I going to be terribly disappointed by switching from a ppc to this phone?

Thanks for reading!
APL

Thanks,
Apl

I can't speak to specific details of the browser, but it's supposed to be an HTML browser that should support most things (but certainly not Flash, advanced JavaScript, etc.). As for using a different browser like Opera Mini, as this is basically a VZW phone, it runs on BREW and you are limited to applications that you can get from VZW--no alternative browsers exist that you can get and use. Generally for browsers on phones of this type you are not able to download or save anything either. You might also be able to find some more information about it all in some threads about the phone in the VZW LG sub-forum and/or the general LG forum.

[aplawing]

I can't speak to specific details of the browser, but it's supposed to be an HTML browser that should support most things (but certainly not Flash, advanced JavaScript, etc.). As for using a different browser like Opera Mini, as this is basically a VZW phone, it runs on BREW and you are limited to applications that you can get from VZW--no alternative browsers exist that you can get and use. Generally for browsers on phones of this type you are not able to download or save anything either. You might also be able to find some more information about it all in some threads about the phone in the VZW LG sub-forum and/or the general LG forum.

Do you think the Versa would be a better choice? Im not concerned with the camera or music but rather options for customizing and browsing. Iliked the versas browser better in the store but everyone says the choc touch is better... yet the versa has revA and java flash lite... what is your opinion? i would rather not unbox the chocolate if the versa is better. they charge a re-stock fee. if the versa is better and has more custom features id rather just take it to a store and swap when it gets here. i think the versa is the last phone with revA that doesnt reqire a data package too.

[rickwhoo]

If I was going to use data on a mobile phone, I would get a real smart phone like the HTC Imagio, or new Motorola or a Black Berry. They are made to use data. The Versa and Chocolate are more of a mobile phone type of use.

[aplawing]

If I was going to use data on a mobile phone, I would get a real smart phone like the HTC Imagio, or new Motorola or a Black Berry. They are made to use data. The Versa and Chocolate are more of a mobile phone type of use.

Yeah, I have a smart phone now but can't afford the smart phone plan when I upgrade my phone and the one I have is getting old. I don't plan on browsing much, I'll only have 25mb a month, but I want to have the option there in case I ever decide to up my MB. I love customizing though, I don't want to look at the same thing all the time. I love the way the versa has the 3d cube to go through and several different home screens. I just want to know if the Rev A is going to be a big difference in Rev0??? I really don't even know what that is other than its a little faster. And the Versa has Flash Lite but I'm not sure what it's good for other than watching videos and I wont have enough data to worry with that anyway. I guess I'll just try out my husbands before I open mine and see if I like it. Thanks again for the advice everyone

APL

[C DM]

Rev. A would be somewhat faster than Rev. 0, but often not too noticeable (usually mostly noticeable if you tether and use the phone as a modem). As for Flash light, it basically allows for support of some Flash-like content, so some videos and the like online, but it's still quite limited. From what I recall, between the Versa and the Chocolate Touch there are probably not that many significant differences to truly make one much better than the other.

[aplawing]

Rev. A would be somewhat faster than Rev. 0, but often not too noticeable (usually mostly noticeable if you tether and use the phone as a modem). As for Flash light, it basically allows for support of some Flash-like content, so some videos and the like online, but it's still quite limited. From what I recall, between the Versa and the Chocolate Touch there are probably not that many significant differences to truly make one much better than the other.

Thank you! I truly appreciate the advice. Since the screen is a bit bigger and the chocolate is newer I will more than likely stick with it since you said there isn't much of a speed difference. I don't plan on tethering to my computer for internet and I won't have unlimited data for videos so it seems the chocolate would be better for me.

Thanks everyone,
apl

[HelplessSEAL]

No opera mini afaik, the Polaris browser is great (at least from my very minimal use of it, which means once, for googling and going to howardforums). Renders the pages just fine, and scrolling around/zooming in is fairly snappy. The chief complaint that many have about the internet experience is that it's a bit sluggish, and I'll have to agree with them on that one. The phone is REV.0 3G, so that may explain it.

I think if you really want a great phone for web browsing, and you feel that is the main feature that you want in a phone, I suggest the env touch. Same browser as the choco touch, but much faster connection and a physical keyboard to boot.

Btw

Do you think the Versa would be a better choice? Im not concerned with the camera or music but rather options for customizing and browsing [...] i think the versa is the last phone with revA that doesnt reqire a data package too.

Are you planning to use data without a data plan?

An update regarding the screen
It's been about two weeks now with this phone, and I must say that the screen is really good. I am not consciously aware that it is flexing at all. The amount of pressure required to get a good response from the screen is minimal. Using the drawing pad has been incredibly fun for the past few days, and I'm impressed with how well it responds to the strokes of my finger (heh, don't get me wrong though, it's no Wacom Tablet...). Wonderful time waster when you're bored.

With that said, after getting used to the touchscreen for while now, I hereby upgrade the touchscreen and ui score to a 4.5/5 amd the overall phone score to a 4.3/5

[aplawing]

No opera mini afaik, the Polaris browser is great (at least from my very minimal use of it, which means once, for googling and going to howardforums). Renders the pages just fine, and scrolling around/zooming in is fairly snappy. The chief complaint that many have about the internet experience is that it's a bit sluggish, and I'll have to agree with them on that one. The phone is REV.0 3G, so that may explain it.

I think if you really want a great phone for web browsing, and you feel that is the main feature that you want in a phone, I suggest the env touch. Same browser as the choco touch, but much faster connection and a physical keyboard to boot.

Btw

Are you planning to use data without a data plan?

An update regarding the screen
It's been about two weeks now with this phone, and I must say that the screen is really good. I am not consciously aware that it is flexing at all. The amount of pressure required to get a good response from the screen is minimal. Using the drawing pad has been incredibly fun for the past few days, and I'm impressed with how well it responds to the strokes of my finger (heh, don't get me wrong though, it's no Wacom Tablet...). Wonderful time waster when you're bored.

With that said, after getting used to the touchscreen for while now, I hereby upgrade the touchscreen and ui score to a 4.5/5 amd the overall phone score to a 4.3/5

Well I plan on having at least the 9.99 data package for awhile, but if times get tough within two years(you never know lol) I want to at least have the OPTION to get the 9.99 removed. With the enhanced multimedia phones it's required, so that option was out(meaning I couldn't get the env touch. I hate to say it but Alltel was so much more reasonable with their plans.

Anyway, I was thinking about this.... I ordered the phones thru the mail. I'll be getting them tomorrow(Monday). I am currently still on my alltel plan and have Alltel's connect pack 1. When I get my chocolate touches I plan on activating them online verses calling Verizon to do it. The salesperson specifically told me to call to have them activated but I think this was only so that they could change my data package! The rep told me that I would have to change my formally alltel connect pack 1 unlimited data to their 9.99 25 mb package because these phones weren't "compatible" with my 9.99 unlimited data(what a CROCK! I think they just want more MONEY!), but if I activate them online myself I am HOPING that it won't change a thing about my plan, meaning I could KEEP my unlimited data connect pack one. I am locking into my plan for another two years because it was such a good price, I agreed to stay with Ver. if they would let me keep my current plan.

I hope it works, I would be thrilled to keep my unlimited data because it's going to be a big change going from a smartphone to a feature phone anyway.

[HelplessSEAL]

The online activation will not allow you to use those phones on your current alltel plan. You'll be forced into the nationwide plan as I was when I had the America's Choice II plan (which I thought was better since 1000 minutes was just perfect for me and my family and we used no dumbphone data, now we have the 1400 minutes plan and +$20 a month since the 750 wasn't enough, I hate being forced into these things .)

[aplawing]

I know what you mean! I already have the Nationwide plan, just Alltel's version. I hope that it will let me keep it. Here's an overview of my plan:
2 Lines, 1000 Sharred Mins - Nationwide Calling
1000 sharred texts to any carriers, Unlimited Mobile to Mobile Texting
Unlimited Data(Connect Pack 1) on my line(& I have a SMART PHONE at the moment! With Alltel I could activate a smart phone(bought off Craigs list or ebay) over the internet, add connect pack 1 & get all the smart phone features for $9.99 a month... the rep told me about that trick, so I guess there was nothing wrong with it.)
11 My Circle Numbers(I MUST have this because my family lives out of state and I do not have a land line. I talk to them way more than I should lol)
And I only pay $104.94 every single month. That is a AWESOME price for all of that.
Verizon makes you have at least a 1400 min plan to get any family & friends numbers... I use over 5000 mins a month talking to my family and only about 200-300 SHARRED anytime mins. They are insane! I am not going to have 1400 anytime mins and only use 200-300 of them just to have my family and friends. Before I'll do that I'll suck it up and go to boost unlimited lol.

[aplawing]

Update! I activated my new phone online and it AUTOMATICALLY changed my data package to their 25MB.. bummer. I was hoping to keep my unlimited data! Anyway, the browser SUCKS so far. I have not figured out much else about the phone. I will do a full review after I test out all the features.

-APL

[HelplessSEAL]

My free trial of CityID has expired =(, I thought it was a standard feature of the choco touch and was a pretty damn cool thing to have, albeit not useful at all. Oh well, $1.99 a month isn't worth having the feature that isn't actually practical.

[ohnvk]

my review:

i've had my lg chocolate touch (vx8575) for 2 months.

i think it's cool.

is has built-in 8GB for music--that's cool.

i found that you CANNOT use that 8gb for txt or pics or anything else. If you run out of the relatively small amt of non-music mem in the phone, then you have to buy another card. I have a 2GB in there.

I asked the guy at the costco kiosk (they had refunds for activation): how much mem does the phone come with? 8Gb, he said. 8GB! i thot to myself, that's more than i'd ever need. Did he tell me you could not use any of that memory for picts or txt or notes? no, he did not.

FM works great for me.

music player works great.

the touch pad--i cannot type more than a couple words without hitting the wrong letter. One mistake that's especially troubling is hitting CLR instead of 'm'.

I used my son's keypad which is physical and qwerty, and i typed a whole sentence without a single mistake.

[HelplessSEAL]

8gb? Your Costco kiosk friend must be misinformed or telling you a white lie so that you would buy this phone...

The chocolate touch comes with 1gb only for internal storage.

It's true that you only get about 50mb of space for texts though, I found out that I ran out of space for storing texts recently...not cool

[Zappy]

Is the calendar usable for keep track of daily appointments?