It's My Call: The Nokia 918
Written: May 26 '02 (Updated May 26 '02)
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Pros: Phone is light (about seven ounces), and easy to use; not too compact
Cons: Clarity of calls not always very good; antenna doesn't alleviate static
The Bottom Line: For the casual cell phone user, the Nokia 918 is a good buy.
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| Carrathon's Full Review: Nokia 918 Cell Phone |
Let me start this review with a disclaimer: I don't like cell phones. Those ubiquitous, noisy, irritating devices represent to me the downside of technology. But I have a cell phone -the Nokia 918- one that is perfectly-suited for the casual user like myself. The phone is six inches long, and weighs about seven ounces. Other brands, particularly newer ones, are so small that while you're talking on them, you have to keep sliding the phone up to your ear to listen, and then back down to your mouth to talk! Not so with the Nokia 918.
The Nokia 918 comes with a nickel metal hydride (BMT-1L) or a nickel cadmium (BKL-2S) battery, which slides easily on and off the back of the unit. Mine has the former. The owner's manual states that you can have between an hour and 90 minutes of talking time before the battery needs to be recharged. If you use your cell phone a lot when you're on the road -which you shouldn't- you can recharge it using a Rapid Cigarette Lighter Charger(LCH-6). About once a week, I take mine into the house and charge it overnight with the Standard Travel Charger (ACH-8U). Both charging cords are accessories, and available at additional cost. Although I generally leave my Nokia 918 in the car, this is not recommended, as extreme temperatures can adversely affect battery life and overall performance.
The manufacturers recommend actually letting the battery life run out periodically, then recharging it. This is accomplished by simply turning on the power and letting the phone sit.
Features
The Nokia 918 stores up to 40 numbers in memory, and one additional number in a buffer zone called the "notepad." Any information stored in the notepad is lost when the power is turned off, however.
By pressing the MENU key and the up or down arrow key, you can easily scroll through your list of stored names and numbers. One time-saving feature allows you to search by name, by pressing MENU, scrolling down to the FIND NAME option, and keying in the appropriate letters. Numbers can also be changed or erased as the need arises.
Complex keying operations can be reduced to one or two buttons. For example, you could store the automated toll-free number for your bank account, and enter the information so that it not only automatically dials the number, but selects the option you want. So you can find out what your balance is, what the last five checks were, or what the amount of your last deposit was, with the push of one or two buttons.
If you make a lot of calls during the course of the day, Call Register can display the last ten numbers. You can also check the amount of time spent on each call, which can be useful for tracking business expenses.
The volume is adjustable by pressing the up or down arrow key, but this only works during a call.
If you like a little variety, there are five different ringing sounds from which to choose. When the ringing is muted, the lights flash and the phone beeps once to announce an incoming call. Still better to turn the power off when you're in a movie theater.
The Nokia 918 allows you to restrict calls so that only certain numbers are accepted. With this setting, however, new acquaintances whose numbers are not programmed into the phone would not be able to reach you.
Subscriber-only features
If you don't want an answering machine, the Nokia 918 supports voicemail. This convenient feature gives privacy and security to your personal messages. To access voicemail, just dial your mailbox number and listen to your messages. You can also store your mailbox number in memory.
Call waiting is also supported by the Nokia 918. If you're on the phone and suddenly realize that you have to call someone else, but you don't want to disconnect, you key the number while the first person is still on the line, and press SEND. This puts your caller on hold. I find the use of call waiting to be rude, but that's just a personal issue.
The Nokia 918 also allows you to choose from two different numbers, again, only if you subscribe to this service from your cellular provider.
Security Features
You can program your Nokia 918 so that a four-digit PIN (Personal Identification Number) must be entered prior to making calls. This may be inconvenient for people who make a lot of calls or who are accustomed to speed dialing. The keyguard feature is designed to prevent the accidental calling of numbers while the phone is in transit,or stuffed in a pocket or purse. I simply turn my phone off when I'm not using it. While keyguard is active, incoming calls can only be answered by pressing SEND.
The lock code is a four-digit number that must be entered to change the phone settings (i.e. ringing sound, keypad tones, lights). But if you forget your lock code, you can't change the settings, either!
While basically a good unit, the Nokia 918 has some drawbacks. The clarity of calls is not always very good, especially in confined areas. The three-inch extendable antenna doesn't seem to do anything to alleviate the static. The Nokia 918 is relatively simple, and probably not sophisticated enough for technophiles. The Nokia 918 meets all my needs, though. I've had mine for five years, and will probably have it for at least another five.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $30 (?)
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Epinions.com ID:
Carrathon
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Member: Allan Heller
Location: Hatboro, PA
Reviews written: 217
Trusted by: 36 members
About Me:
I am a free lance writer and author of three books.
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