Need Cell Phone Suggestions

[Iplayfarmer]

My cell phone died a while back, and the old one I'm using as a replacement is also on it's last legs. I need a new cell phone, and I'm hoping for some suggestions from the forum. I figure this is the group to poll because my cell phone needs are very much connected to my tractor activities.

I need a good strong phone with a few features. Sturdy is more important to me than fancy. It seems the more bells and whistles a phone has, the more stuff there is to break and go wrong with it.

The features I want include blue tooth, simple text and e-mail capabilities, and a good camera (for taking pictures to post on TBN, of course). I'd like something with a loud ring tone, good reception, and a long battery life. I don't want a large or bulky phone. I'm on the AT&T network.

I've looked at the motorola Tundra. I like the specs and features, but the reviews are mixed. I don't care for the PTT feature; but the phone seems like a good balance between rugged, compact, and useful. Does anyone out there have a Tundra that would chime in with real-world experience?

What other good options are out there?

 

[firedog]

Samsung Rugby.
Its rugged, bluetooth capable, email & decent camera. It has the PTT capability but I don't use it.
It is holding up well and I'm pretty darn rough on it.

 

[handyman603]

Greetings,Handyman603 here, Brand new memba taday!
I've had really good luck buying cell phones on Ebay,
with just the right features I wanted, for cheap monies.

 

[milkman]

Funny you bring this up, I'm due for an upgrade next month. I'm using a Blackberry Pearl 8110, had it for two years and I like reception, battery life and camera is OK. The only problem has been the trackball, have to clean it about once a month. I'm looking at the BB Bold 9700 as it has the trackball replaced with a trackpad which is said to work better. Good luck in your search, there's lots of choices. My wife and my son both have Samsung phones and hate them. Oh yeah, we're all on AT&T and plan to stay with them.

 

[hr3]

I'v been useing the Casio G'zOne for the last month and it's pritty good...Waterproof,, tough ,, loud,, simple,,:thumbsup: Reception is so so,, but I think that is mostly do to our carrier,,verison..

 

[George2615]

Since you're on AT&T you can check their website for phones. If you're not logged in you can do so for free and the site will offer you special phone deals either for free or at reduced prices just for renewing or upgrading your contract. They list all the phone features including battery talk time. The wife and I each have a Motorola Razer phone which has worked well since we got got them but they don't sell those anymore. When they die I'll have to pick from something else. I use mine less than 60 min. a month. Wife runs about 800 - 1000 min. a month for her business. I don't do any texting if fact I have all texting blocked from my plan. I figure my phone is to talk on and if I want to text I use my computer. My phone needs are simple and only require a decent battery talk time and basic camera, anything more is gravy.

I also have a G'zOne cell supplied by my work but that's through Verizon. Its a very rugged phone with push to talk, camera, and other features.

 

[Pops15]

Since you're on AT&T you can check their website for phones. If you're not logged in you can do so for free and the site will offer you special phone deals either for free or at reduced prices just for renewing or upgrading your contract. They list all the phone features including battery talk time. The wife and I each have a Motorola Razer phone which has worked well since we got got them but they don't sell those anymore. When they die I'll have to pick from something else. I use mine less than 60 min. a month. Wife runs about 800 - 1000 min. a month for her business. I don't do any texting if fact I have all texting blocked from my plan. I figure my phone is to talk on and if I want to text I use my computer. My phone needs are simple and only require a decent battery talk time and basic camera, anything more is gravy.

I also have a G'zOne cell supplied by my work but that's through Verizon. Its a very rugged phone with push to talk, camera, and other features.

Sounds like me. My phone died so I went to the verizon store. A kid working there asked what features I was looking for in a cell phone. I told him "I want to be able to make calls and I want to be able to receive calls, and I don't want any exterior buttons on my phone". The kid looked at me for several seconds then said we don't have anything like that. I left and went to best buy. Told the guy working there what I wanted and he said oh, you want a construction grade phone. He told me I'd have to switch to cingular to be able to have such a simple phone.

 

[RoyJackson]

Blackberry Bold with an Otterbox cover. AT&T sells Bolds. These are more business oriented then the teenybopper specials.
The camera is decent, but nothing to write home about.
Other features, like a clock with alarms and a really nice calendar (for setting appointments and reminders) are definitely assets.
The Otterbox, which you'll have to buy separately, is the equivalent to a suit of armor (Kevlar body armor might be a better comparison).
The e-mail works nice too. I use it quite a bit when I'm on the road. You can also access the internet, if necessary. You'll need a data plan for that though.
If you do go for a Blackberry, do a search for a free app called Quickpull. It does the equivalent of pulling the battery for rebooting the phone...works quite well. I do this once a week as preventative maintenance.
Battery life is good...but that always depends on how you use it. I keep my phone on a cradle charger and keep a car charger cable in both our vehicles.
Best phone I've ever had (the Motorola Razr had a better camera though).

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I'm not a big fan of the blackberry style smartphones. I still have a Palm that I use for data and computing. The thing I like about the Palm is that I can be working on the Palm while talking on the phone. I can't tell you how often I'm writing down numbers or notes on my Palm or pulling information from files to share while talking on my cell phone. The other thing I like about the palm is that I leave it in the house when I morph from office sitter to tractor nut/pretend farmer.

I actually have a blackberry style phone sitting in my drawer by my bed. It was clunky as a phone, aps were hard to get for it, and I couldn't edit excel files and return them as attachments via e-mail.

I know that the Palm is quickly going the way of the 8-track, but I think I'll go through at least one more phone before the Palm is 100% obsolete. For now I'll settle for a phone that will handle text based e-mails and tether to my palm or laptop for the other functions.

 

[JB4310]

If you want a rugged phone, look for one that meets mil specs.
I have the Casio G-zone, supposed to be waterproof, shockproof etc. it's also push to talk, got a flashlight and a compass. Most rugged phones will be PTT, geared to construction work.

See if your carrier has any mil spec phones.

Soon there will be no simple phones, not much of a selection now. It will all be smart data devices.

JB.

 

[kennyd]

Since you are already with AT&T, why not consider the iPhone?

 

[SpringHollow]

Cracks me up, the new definition of a simple phone - texting, camera, etc

Ken

 

[3BPercherons]

Since you are already with AT&T, why not consider the iPhone?

I have an iPhone, but I rarely if ever carry it while working around the property or in the shop due to the risk of damage/loss. I have a separate 'disposable' pay-per-use phone that I carry in its place.

It works for me, but YMMV.

 

[charlz]

I went with a mil-spec or 'hardened' phone this time, the Samsung a657. I needed something that would hold up better to crawling around in the dirt, getting dropped in the ditch etc etc. No camera but it does have an LED flashlight that I use more than I thought I would. Has excellent battery life unless you use the flashlight.

The downside is there is no 'clip' type holster for it, I have to use one of those semi-generic slip-in holsters. While I get them cheap online they have a weak spot which is where the belt clip attaches. I tear them at regular intervals.

I looked at the Rugby and I think the Tundra which are also hardened phones. Both were quite a bit larger than a 'regular' flip phone. Not something I would be comfortable slipping into the pocket of my pants or shorts if needed.

AT&T might still have it if you call, I don't believe it is listed on their website anymore.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I can get a few Mil. spec phones. I think my options direct from the carrier are the Tundra, the Rugby, and the Samsung A657. I elimintated the Samsung from the options because it doesn't have a camera.

On paper the tundra looks better than the rugby. The camera is 2.0 mp vs. 1.3, The internal memory is 100 MB vs. 20 MB, and the tundra supports a few more data and messaging features. My hang up is that reviews are very mixed about the tundra, especially the camera. What I wonder is if a poor 2.0mp camera is better than a good 1.3 mp camera.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Since you are already with AT&T, why not consider the iPhone?

#1) Too clunky for my uses. See above where I explain how much I love my Palm.
#2) I hope to find something more durable.

 

[JB4310]

I can get a few Mil. spec phones. I think my options direct from the carrier are the Tundra, the Rugby, and the Samsung A657. I elimintated the Samsung from the options because it doesn't have a camera.

On paper the tundra looks better than the rugby. The camera is 2.0 mp vs. 1.3, The internal memory is 100 MB vs. 20 MB, and the tundra supports a few more data and messaging features. My hang up is that reviews are very mixed about the tundra, especially the camera. What I wonder is if a poor 2.0mp camera is better than a good 1.3 mp camera.

I would say for sure a bad reviewed 2 MP camera is better than any 1.3 MP cam. there's a big difference at those levels of resolution.

Reviews on new techno stuff especially if done by the general public are almost always negative, those are the only ones who take the time to write a review. Before I bought my Casio mil spec phone I read the reviews and it sounded so bad I almost didn't get it.

JB.

 

[Abe460]

If you want a rugged phone, look for one that meets mil specs.

I wish mil-spec still meant what it used to. My wife had some phone with cingular that was mil-spec and this thing was as durable as one of those rubber bricks you place in a paddock.

The most durable phone I've ever had was the second or third generation motorola razor. I dropped it from two stories on cement and the outside screen shattered. It worked for well over a year after and was only retired due to battery life.

My wife has the blackberry bold and I have the HTC Kaiser/tilt. We both like them, but I'd have to give the blackberry a better review.

I just wish I could find something like the razor again, but with all the bells and whistles of an Iphone...really find a touch screen to be a nuisance.


Just my:2cents:

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Milkman, I got a good laugh from the signature.

I get a new phone about every 10 yrs, so probably can't help too much, but my next one will have data, like an Iphone.

If anyone needs a bag phone, I have a good one.

 

[milkman]

I don't have a bag phone anymore, but I got one built into the car console that can't be used anymore. Some on another site don't like my signature, I think they don't pay attention to what it says I think Rush has fried their brain.