Venture Skin Deep Into the WoW LG 5350 (Sprint PCS LG5350 phone)
Written: Mar 18 '03
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Pros: small and light weight, battery life. great ringers. External Caller ID/ time display.
Cons: appears fragile (toy like) and incomplete. poor data interaction.
The Bottom Line: Though is does exhibit some flaws, it customizability gives it an edge over most phone until something better arrives.
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| nwo's Full Review: LG LX5350 |
For once sales people now have something to talk about, the new LG phone; but for this one moment just allow me to express my own finding. It’s a great phone but you have to read between the lines. One can not
eat a cake and have it.
Intro
LG is finally recognized with the production of LG 5350. Considering the fact the new phones pop up every other day. Looking for a phone to replace my Time Port Motorola, I came across the LG. I was looking for something simple phone with the most features. I was also curious about the vision stuff too. I was surprise to find out that LG was the one of choice. I did not need a camera phone because I felt that it complicates things such are the battery life, the bulk and price, so I picket this. Beside I have a digital camera of my own. Anyways this phone screams out "Hello world" as it enters the map of cellular business. It’s "affordable" and fast becoming "popular". As we all look to see what it has on board. I do not think anyone anticipated it to get this popular or attention. It’s an attractive phone. I wondered how is sneaked into the shelf of Sprint PCS. It will become a first phone for many. Teenagers will love this. It’s affordable. The phone shows LGs potential in the mobile world.
Prior to this day, I had under estimated the LGs. because seemed too simple and the appearance of a toy. When I saw the 5350 reverse was the case, it seemed high tech and futuristic. It has almost everything voice memo, voice dial/tag, scroll keys, lots of ring tones, photo caller ID, voice/midi rings and four alarms (including a count down alarm).
Before I knew to all boiled down to this catch all phone. I was a wow experience and wasted no time taking it home. It was charged up when I got it so I wasted no time putting it to use. I could only make out going calls until service kicked in after the first few hours.
Price wise and cost
After all I had a Time Port Motorola (Startek). I purchased the LG 5350 for $50 because I let them have my old phone. Sprint issued me a credit of $150 and that’s how I was able to meet the price of $199.99. I know they also have rebates but it is not offered to existing customers only new customers, at least they did not let me have it for free but I still came out ahead anyways. So expect to pick one for about $50 - $150 price rage; If you are not lucky you might get it for the sticker price, which is current $199.99. I have had it for about four weeks now.
Plans
Starts as low as $35 a month for 300 minutes to $100 for 2000 mins.
Web plans (vision) start at $45
Questions.
Aside with all those numbers and sporty names (3G, vision, and PCS) lest take a close look at the phone. Though it has been around for a while my review is running late; Sorry about that. I am not new to the cell business. I know my products and take (things) how they affect me personal. So lets strip all the sporty names and what we have is the product itself. The strength of a phone lies in its basic function. Aside with the Vision, 3Gs, best phone and what have you. Is it worth your money? Nothings is free, nothing is cheap? Is it a PDA? Why are other phones of its kind more expressive? Is there a catch I wondered? To get or not to get it is the question. Would it live up to expectations; find out as I explain next. I often put up my new ones against the older phones and what help me to move on or drop it. Frankly speaking it started to shake my faith by the second day.
I will try to answer some of the question not necessary in the order of the questions are presented. I’ll put up against the best simple basic phone I can find and see if it hold up. The decision will be yours to make. I anticipate leaving you on the fence, as we venture skin deep into the phone. With the entire overhead buzz, it is not a Personal Digital Assistant; It’s more of a phone (than a PDA )with some organizer function. Nice Calendar Schedule. I suggest assign this to the left arrow key.
History Lesson.
Well LG finally says Hello to world as they move up their way from toy to phone. It was a wow experience. I was looking for an affordable feel good phone when I came across the 5350 LG phone. First impression was not bad at all. May be because there is not a camera on board; did not need one really. LG entered at the low end of the market. If one could not afford any phone then you got an LG. They last a while before the hinge snaps. But this one was rather different. I wanted to go with either most expensive one or the simplest ones and again this LG phone fell in that category. It was great looking and affordable. I was surprise to find out that it was an LG phone. No one knew that the phone would be the center of attention. It’s entry price remained constant, not bad at all. Okay enough with history.
Terms Explained
3G stands for third generation services, suppose to handle larger and faster data on the network.
VISION is simply a sporty name for enhanced wireless web. Tends to be over exaggerated at times.
Signal
Overall signal is okay. Not as strong as my x Motorola.
First Impressions
It appears small and stylish which is a plus. It also exhibits a hard to believe vibrant color screen. I had to take it home for that reason too. Phone is equipped with up to date advance functions, which include t9 entry, organizer functions, ringer and more. Phone seemed very promising.. Seems to have all one may need. Wow and disbelief at first. I did not notice this phone when did it come in. Built in global positioning and special number access.
Cool Features (plus)
Airplane mode lets tell the flight attendants that you phone is off while you browse through your contacts, calendar, alarms, photos and games.
Able to ring like a speakerphone as a result you can customize the rings to even voice rings. One you find the right volume you will be amazed at the clarity or the sound.
It has three clock modes, analog, digital and full modes.
The ability to assign a key (left arrow key) to any menu function.
Lacks (minus/dislikes)
Ability to move files around restricted to none.
Can not access the built in photo album without a camera.
Key bad light cuts off too quickly, leaving one in the dark.
Fairly new as such we can not jump to conclusions.
Exhibits come feature that can not be used yet. The Lock feature is vulnerable to erase.
Could use more memory for downloads since is has no expansion.
The interface kit which comes as a separate package lacks the ability sync others tuff like folders and rings. It just backs up the phonebook.
Can not browse phone features while in use.
I find it very limiting.
More Impressions
Looks simple enough for me. (Comment) I like complicated stuff but I do not mind simple things. Well it has great menu animations and that’s a seller too. I took it over the Sanyo and Samsung for that reason. Friendly and Impress I thought and best for it price also.
Discoveries
No camera available for it on the market yet. No big deal, I can always send to it right I though. I found that I had very little control over the data. I can not rename stuff on it or move things around. Cable does not allow for folder access, uploads or downloads. I see someone making money as a result. Could not access the photo album. Not the way I wanted to. It only meant that they where other ways to accomplish such tasks, so I did not panic.
Last Impression.
The phone has great features but at the same time it is unfinished.
The phone may be over priced at $199.99
The phone is becoming popular too fast as everyone discovers it, it goes to be a first phone for many.
In the end I classify this phone no more than a prototype. I think it’s the closed to phone that LG has made yet. It will be a while before one finds the flaws of the 5350.
Conclusion
Big N for No it did not meet up to my expectations. In my overall rating,. I give a rate of three from a scale of five. It did not live up to my expectations; but that’s me and I have my own reasons for that. Does not mean it can not meet yours. You decide! I am only at your service, I am not a sales person just a consumer. I welcome your comments and hope I have helped your decision. It has great feature and can only wait to see if it stays. I was grateful for it and like to see new companies come to live.
However, it’s a high maintenance phone and requires ones undivided attention and constant tweaking of the photo Ids, ring tones because they will not stay in place. I guess this could occupy ones free time and keep one from getting board. Policing a phone gets on my nerves if you ask me. Imagine getting a ring that is not the one you picked coupled with a different phone number. You can see how this can complicate stuff. What would you friend say if you called them by a different name? Well this is only a small fault could be fixed probably. I rather have a rest of mind. I expect more from the phone. I figured if one has to add extra features, they have to work or do not add it. I consider it a first phone (even though other have been made) as such it was built in a hurry. Most first time phone makers are guilty of this. Will see more complain as many become aware. Phone is generally unstable on the download managements; I think it’s over priced. I expect the basic functions and ease of use because you do not want anything to come between you and the moment of an important phone call. Long startup time is another negative.
Solutions
Are to go through your phone number entries every time you delete a ring or photo from the device. It appears it only remembers the location as such its unable to makeup for materials that are delete.
After you download stuff, delete it right away if you down want it. Do not pile up files.
Routinely check you phone if make any changes, especially deletions.
We have can only hope for LG Corporation to provide a patch or software update soon. Yes it can be ignored if you do not use the download features.
What I wish for
That LG will make and update for the software available soon, or give us to replace the phone entirely with a newer version. I see lots of complains if that does not happen soon. I wish that the phone came in other colors as well like in black color. I wish that it did not look fragile. I wish they consulted consumers before designing it : )
The voice button should act as an okay-key function when browsing functions
So long viewers, it’s me again at your service anytime, with breakthrough and thorough discoveries because I have followed most products through time.
Stevenson N.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 199.99
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Epinions.com ID:
nwo
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Member: stevenson nwokenkwo
Location: Houston,TX
Reviews written: 29
Trusted by: 2 members
About Me:
At A Glance I Am Here To Help You Make Better Decisions. Reliability and Accountability.
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