SCP-5150: practicality v. happiness
Written: Apr 05 '02 (Updated Apr 06 '02)
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Pros: sharp display, crisp sounds, lots of features (photo caller ID!)
Cons: sloppy HCI, doesn't take full advantage of capabilities, below average reception
The Bottom Line: This phone is well suited for people that habitually buy impractical things because they feel like it.
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| moondog's Full Review: Sanyo SCP-5000 |
After 4+ years of being ignored by Sprint, I received 2 free phones in the mail last week, a Samsung A400 (based on the 8500) and a Sanyo 5150. I decided to activate the 5150 because it was so much cooler than the A400, even though I had a hunch that the A400 would work better. I still have the same hunch, but I'm happy with my new phone anyway because what it lacks in practicality, it makes up for in razzle-dazzle.
BASIC PHONE ROLE
I'm sorry to report that the 5150 is a cellar dweller in this important category. Without question, it is the worst phone I've ever had with respect to:
-making and receiving calls from my apartment (this is ironic because the reason Sprint set me up with the free phones was to solve this problem); incidentally, my Samsung 8500 was the best performer in this regard.
-calls getting through to me (as opposed to my voicemail) when I have service. I've already missed several calls when four signal bars were showing.
-timely notification of new voicemail.
-ease of accessing phone book. The phone book is a pain to get to and numbers tend to disappear when you're copying them down unless you click another button. I suppose this problem is really just a manifestation of a larger issue; this phone is not very user friendly.
-visibility of screen. The LCD is very difficult to read when the backlight is off. Additionally, the miniature display (on the front of the phone) only lights up when someone calls or you open the phone, which means it's difficult to check your signal strength or the time in poor light without opening the phone.
I noticed others have complained about the battery life of this phone, but this hasn't really been a factor for me. Perhaps, I've just trained myself to keep my calls as brief as possible though.
GADGETRY
I'm still learning how to use all of the 5150's advanced features so I can't comment in great detail on this topic, but I can offer a few observations:
-I'll never take full advantage of features such as messaging because Sprint charges hefty usage fees for them.
-the 5150 definitely isn't a PDA, which is a shame because I think it has almost enough raw muscle to fill this role.
-T9 character entry is nice, but entering email/web addresses is tedious.
-the wireless web is still a waste of time, even with a fancy screen.
AESTHETICS
You don't need me to tell you that the 5150 looks, sounds, and feels good. That's the main reason people buy it.
CONCLUSION
The Sanyo 5150 falls short of even the most primitive cell phones in terms of basic functionality and the features it has that other phones don't really aren't very useful, but....
.....it still makes me smile.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
moondog
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Location: mountain view, ca
Reviews written: 13
Trusted by: 3 members
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