So my trusty old cell phone is on it’s last legs. I am probably going to replace it this holiday weekend. Anybody have any suggestions? The summer job teenager clerks just don’t seem to understand that I am going to be using this phone in a harsh environment like a job site. I am not interested in camera phones, music players, etc. I just want a simple phone that isn’t going to break the first time I put it in the tool pouch. What does everybody else have that has taken a beating? The phone store has Nokia, Motorola, Samsung and LG brands.
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Replies
all those brands have good ones and bad ones.i'd go with the nicest phone i can get for free if your signing up a new contract,otherwise the cheapie one.then when it breaks you can buy another one on ebay for 20.00 and go on.
they make some to military standards,very nice and durable,but run in the 300. range so they should be good.
i have had motorola razor and i can't remember the nokia model,but they both have been good phones. seems like motorola has less turkeys than the others. larry
if a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?
I use the razr, was talking to the tech at my carrier service dept and he said it was probably best for reception and durability.
It's funny you say that- I was working with a guy at a new site last week and he had a new razr. Same cell phone service provider, (we bought our phones from the same store) and mine had full service, his had none.
I wish it was the good old days when my sisiter was the only person I knew who worked in worse conditions than I did. I simply called her and asked what phone she had and bought that. Eight years and she never steered me wrong. Maybe I'll go find a commercial fisherman and see what he (or she) has clipped to the belt.
There are different versions of the Razr. Has you friend updated his roaming list? *228 for U.S.Cellular, not sure for other carriers. There may be a tower you are getting that his does not recognize.
I have a Motorola Verizon. Its about 2 years old but the things is built like a tank (with the exception of the battery). Actually i'm about ready myself cause this thing has gone through 4 batteries last year and it still wont hold a charge.
So I guess in conclusion, if you're looking for a tough as nails phone that wont hold a charge, go with the motorola (dont know the model) Verizon.
My absolute favorite is the service warranty. I tell them that I beat the snot out of my phone, they reply "you need a warranty contract". I brought one back once tht was a little scratched, they said "its been abused, we wont honor the agreement".
I told you I was gonna beat it up...
Edited 6/30/2008 9:16 am ET by MSA1
we love our Motorola Razors
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No prob. here with the Razr V3m. Love it.
I have a Motorola V365:
http://www.motorola.com/consumer/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=069265847be0f010VgnVCM1000008206b00aRCRD&show=productHome
Around here they call it a "contractor's phone" or "farmer's phone". It's supposed to be all but indestructible.
I've had mine over a year, and have had no problems. It regularly gets dropped and banged into things out at the farm. The outside screen has a couple of scratches in it. But given what it's been through that's no big deal.
I know others with the same phone, and no one has told me anything bad about it. So I don't think you could go wrong with it.
I have an old Nokia - it's been dropped countless times and spends a lot of time sliding around in my van whacking into things. I believe I've also hurled it a few times and it bounces well. So far, it's been like a tank.
I'll be looking myself soon. A friend always has a Motorola, and she says they're the best, but I'm still leaning toward the Nok.
Anyone reading this who can give me a suggestion on a phone for my hearing-impaired husband??
"Anyone reading this who can give me a suggestion on a phone for my hearing-impaired husband??"
It seems odd to me that phone manufacturers haven't tapped the "old folks" market better.
Dad can't hear his phone ring, and can't seem to tell when it's vibrating.
Mom can hear her phone, but can't read anything on the screen or read the characters on the buttons.
The buttons are too small for both of their fingers to feel and press accurately.
That means that they both generally leave their cell phones turned off and laying on the counter in the kitchen. So the phones don't do them (or their kids) any good.
I wonder why that is ? Why haven't the manufacturers tapped this market?
The less hair I have, the more head I get
I have a motorola i580, military spec drop proof, water proof, dust proof. I have dropped it, sweated on it, had it on my waist right where the exhaust port is on my circ saw. No problems at all. It is expensive, but i know it will work whenever I need it. Unfortunatly, up here (Ontario) is only available through Tellus.
stemreno
take a look at the Jitterbug:
http://www.jitterbug.com/Phones.aspx
There are others, but I can't remember their names. The Jitterbug is pretty heavily advertised.
The jitterbug looks like a good phone in theory. But you can't buy one of those and use it on an existing plan - You have to get service through them. So as far as I'm concerned, that means they're not an option.My question was - Why can't you walk into an AT&T store and get a phone that resembles the jitterbug? With such a large population of seniors, it seems like there would be a strong market for them.
Bumpersticker: If you must burn our flag, please wrap yourself in it first
go to a verizon store, they had something simular!
My mother has a Jitterbug - it has 3 speed dial buttons, and it works. HOWEVER, the charger pin is one of those LITTLE BITTY pins (rather than the wider ones on most phones) that an old person finds just about impossible to insert in the phone. Who designed this thing? Great dialing features but terrible recharger?
i'm with you on this.i have a camera,i have casstte player[whats mp3] so i don't need a radio,if i want to write someone a letter i've got a pen.
what i want is a frggin phone that does nothing but call people,with a big keypad just like my keyboard, and when i have it turned up i want it to make all the dogs howl in the hood.[actually my razor is pretty loud]
oh ,and i don't need some pretty pink or manly blue,black is fine larryif a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?
Speaking of an industry overlooking a potential market....I even called Nokia awhile back to see if they could recommend a phone that would be better for my husband. The rep acted like it was the first time she'd ever thought about that.
Seems to be that people my age (57) and older will be the first generation of retirees who use cell phones as much or more than land lines. You'd think someone would catch on to that.
I can have a phone with any number of useless (to me) features in any color or print or size, but I can't find one that my husband can use easily.
I'm going to try the Jitterbug for his phone. You can get a 30-day trial; that should be enough time to see if he finds it any better. Looks like it has bigger numbers, and I'm hoping the placement of the earpiece makes it better for him. Have you tried that?
Dan
My moterola razr has been like a tank for me, except it can't swim at all!
My wife thought that she could give it swimming lessons in the washing machine and when it came out it had those stars in it's eyes indicating it was ready for a new hunting ground..
Going on two years old now since I got it's replacement.
What I found isn't so much the phone, rather the provider!
Now with Vorizon because Nextel couldn't reach diddly out of most metro areas.. ATT has been troublesome but getting better.
Still a lot of areas the vorizon won't reach either..
Got a gzone about a month ago, and been very happy with it. The battery life is excellant, good audio, the problem is software to connect it to my computer so far is non-existant. But I did get a data cable, so maybe theres hope. The phone is very tough and water resistant. One their web sit they list the Mil. specs the phone meets.
Brian
Motorola V365 here. As Ron said it is durable. though do not run it through the washing machine. waiting until August 1 to be able to replace my my clean paper weight.
What carrier are you using?
I also recommend the Casio Gzone from Verizon wireless. It's the most rugged phone I've ever had. Stands up very well on the job. Sawdust doesn't bother it, and a little water won't hurt it either. It also withstands being dropped very well.
I have the Motorola i530 on Nextel. It's Mil-Spec 810-F, and I haven't been able to break it in two or three years. It was only $30, the cheapest they had when I got it. I figured I'd either break or lose it long before now, but it's still working fine.
The other important thing is coverage. You need a service provider that has good signal strength where you'll need it. At the old house, my Nextel got better signal than my wife's Verizon. But at the new place, it's reversed. Nextel is extremely strong here in the office, and at most vendors' places where I'm likely to need it.
Talk to some friends who have various cell companies, see which ones have good strength where you'll need it.
-- J.S.
Dan
I have and like a Samsung something or other. It has a lot of junk that I don't want, but it has a display screen with numbers 3/8" of an inch high, and bright enough to see outdoors.
It also came with a USB wire, which was a $35 extra on my previous phone. This means I can enter and change data in the phone memory using my computer keyboard. A good thing.
And a warranty (extra cost) proof against everything except full immersion in water (wink, wink).
And I'm listening to the phone's MP3 player right now - Billy Bragg - Saturday Boy. "The way she spoke, and laughed at my jokes, and the way she rubbed herself against the edge of my desk"
Edited 6/30/2008 8:02 pm by ronbudgell
I've always had nokias and have always had good luck with them. My latest doesn't have many options, but its been dropped out of the truck countless times and made it through the snowblower last winter. I couldn't believe it still worked after I put the pieces back together, just a little scratched up. Screen can be hard to see in the sun though. I cant think of the model #, I'll have to look it up.
I have had motorola and nokia phones and no "serious" problems about durability
BUT--- I just can't see the damn numbers outside that "Jitterbug" phone looks good to me i make like 4 calls a week----but always outside--- honestly?-- i use the cel phone as more of a "pocketwatch"-- i just want to be able to see the damnnumbers is it too much to ask for a phone that i can read the numbers on-AND occasionaly drop off a roof i couldn't possibly care less about taking pictures with it, texting or checking stock quotes--- just make my damn calls and tell me what time it is!!!!!!!!!!!
stephen
Edited 7/1/2008 3:03 pm ET by Hazlett
Mine also has to tell me the date. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
C'mon blue--- you have just introduced an un-reasonable level of complexity there, LOL
Stephen
After preview and enter I'll try again, since 10 minutes worth is zappo.
I got a new Motto z9 about 2 weeks ago after returning a samsung a737 ug bad sound and dropping calls.
The motto has big screen and text/number size,great call quality and great speaker phone to talk with it on the lap or on the desk.Also you can adjust the lighting intensity to be able to see it great outside in the sun.
No drops yet so don't know about that yet.
I have att and it was a freebie after 3years same account.
Has lots of extras but I'm just easing into them caus of my stupidity but it's got great working features.
Go to Cnet cell phone reviews. http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phones/
They have most phones reviewed and give it a # rating and also have a user review and rating #s which is nice to compare the 2 cause sometime the tech review puffs a phone.
If you get a xxxx ad page at open just 86 it then enter the phone and model#.
I heard those nextell walkie talkie phones are made for the harsh environment
I <3 Festool
I also have a Casio G'zOne through Verizon, and it is both good and very tough. Casio makes very rugged electronics items in general, so I was prepared to trust this phone when they were new on the U.S. market.
I paid $99 with a 2-year contract, and Verizon has the best coverage in my area. I suspect the phone will still be working when the contract is up.
I believe the second generation has bluetooth; mine doesn't. Starting today, you have to use hands-free if you talk while driving in California. Safer by far is to not talk on your phone while driving. I have a wired headset for times when it simply must be done.
Bill
> I have a wired headset for times when it simply must be done.
I do too -- just for answering calls on the road. I'd never try to dial while driving. I've got in the habit of making a call just before leaving to say where I'm coming from and about how long it'll take.
-- J.S.
Sanyo SCP-7050, the contractors phone. Good luck.
Handyman, painter, wood floor refinisher, property maintenance in Tulsa, OK
Another vote on the Verizon GZONE, have had mine for over a year now and
it takes a lot of abuse and still works fine.
Is the GZONE any where near the GSPOT?
It's a vibrating phone.
Figured something like that, more of an area weapon than point. (;-)
Just as tough to find!!
Blackberry.
I've has 2 so far. 8700 and now the Curve.
It'll do everything you don't want it to, but if you scratch it you can get new cases. There are accessories to make it water resistant, a nice handy case (again an accessory). It's been full of sawdust, drywall dust, rained on, snowed on, dropped and scratched, had the back flip off, and it still works.
My 8700 is going on 2 1/2 years and a great product.
My Curve has been beaten up since November, and it's a great phone.
If you have ever run a small business when you need to communicate rapidly with a client, the email service and keyboard is great.
I'm waiting for the new Bold to come out.
Quality repairs for your home.
AaronR Construction
Vancouver, Canada
I have a "gz-one" phone by casio, for verizon wireless.
Dust and shock resistant, and water resistant. Has been put thru the washer and discovered by dryer 2x and is ok.
Highly rec.