Wonderphone
Written: Dec 07 '01
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Durability: |
 |
|
| Clarity: |
 |
|
| Portability: |
|
|
|
Pros: Features galore yet easy to use. The antenna doesn't stick out.
Cons: Not any really. The software has a couple of minor bugs, and it's expensive.
The Bottom Line: If you're not sure what you want, you won't be disappointed with this phone. I'd buy it again.
|
|
|
| sourcitrus's Full Review: Kyocera QCP 3035 Cell Phone |
I generally despise cellular phones, but I finally broke down and went shopping for one. First I made a list of features I MUST have, features I WANT, and a list of the opposite - things I DON'T WANT, and WON'T have. The list I came up with went like this:
Gotta have: Vibrate, Speakerphone
Want: Large display, Uplink port
Don't want: Large phone, Games
Won't have: Antenna that sticks out
I swear that people must not buy phones without antennas that stick out 'cause it seems like there are only two phones that don't have one: The 3035 and that Nokia "Zippo-Phone" which really doesn't have any sort of external antenna. Why have a useless bump sticking up? Maybe it's just a pet peeve of mine, but I hate the external antenna, and although the 3035 has one, it retracts completely into the phone. Whether retracted or extended, the reception is the same.
The antenna thing was actually my biggest concern because otherwise, most phone are created fairly equal. There are a dozen other phone that meet the rest of my requirements. I wanted the uplink port so I could hook it up to my PC, and a large display so I don't have to fumble through a lousy menu system (the phone has an excellent menu). I wanted it just small enough to fit in my pocket (it's actually a lot smaller than it looks in the pictures,) and I couldn't care less how many stupid games and other features it comes with. (It does come with a game and a few stupid features, but fortunately they're well hidden.)
The part you've been waiting for, my gripes:
The software has a few bugs. Nothing major, but you oughtta know about them. The "vibrate, then ring" feature only rings once so if you don't feel it vibrate, you only get one ring to answer it. The only ring sound that isn't unpleasant to listen to is too quiet, so you have to choose an annoying ring and set the ring volume a little lower. Occasionally the phone completely looses service (very rare) and requires a reboot (power off, power on) to regain service. Minor bugs - no phone is perfect. Somebody griped in one of these reviews that the keypad doesn't auto-lock. Mine does and works great. Request that you get your phone with the latest software loaded. If you drop the phone, the battery will pop off - otherwise it stays attached just fine.
Like all speakerphones, it needs work, but it's pretty good. When talking and driving (I admit it) I just tuck the phone in the collar of my shirt or under the sunvisor in my car.
Battery life is great; Several days in digital service areas and 24 hours in analog areas. I've got no idea how long it lasts when talking. I rarely talk for more than two minutes. I spend most my time in analog areas so I usually get about one day from the battery. If I spend twenty minutes talking in analog, the battery is usually flat by midnight. In digital mode, I suspect it'd last much longer.
The phone lists for a lot of money (~$200), but if you sign a contract, you can get a deal. The salesmen are like used car dealers, but if you get a good one, they'll find a discount somewhere. The salesman thought I was crazy springing $200 for my first phone, so he checked to see what he could do and was just as impressed as I was when he found he could sell it to me for $70. Spend your time shopping! It pays off.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 70.00
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
sourcitrus
|
|
Reviews written: 7
Trusted by: 0 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.