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- Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 412 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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13 out of 14 people found this review helpful
4.5 stars
"A Ringtone/Media lovers DREAM!"
Pros: usb cable interface, camera, texting, mp3 capabilities, phonebook, speakerphone
Cons: Some button placement, Only 6mb
Summary: I read all the reviews on this site for this phone. I saw the 6.7 rating and thought it was awfully low. Then I thought, well, most people if their phone works really well, take the time to write in and applaud their purchase. However, if your phone sucks, you're VERY likely to come online and complain. So, I bought the phone, and man am I glad I did. I LOVE this phone.
First, I will do a small capsule review of good vs bad and address the negative comments about this phone on this site. If you want to read below the small review, I will go into greater detail of how having a USB cable for this device makes it 100 times better.
Small review: Phone is great. The main problems addressed on this phone are the following:
Battery-Mine works fine. I used to have a nokia that could go about a week between charges and limited use. It was great, but I rarely let it go that long because I have to drive at some point every day, and I have to sleep at some point every night, so it's rare that I don't have access to a charger. I've only let this phone go uncharged for about 36 hours and it only took one bar from the battery in that time. Not to mention I was taking pictures, playing java games, and made three 45 minute calls.
Screen: I've heard that some units, the screen comes on and goes white, or doesn't come on at all, etc. So far, screen comes on every time, and works great.
Calls dropped: I had one call cut out on me o far, but I was driving at the time and literally passing the boarder of one city to the next, and I believe I can attribute the problem to that. Otherwise, I've made calls ranging from a couple of minutes, to a few that ran 45 minutes to an hour and 15 minutes and no problems.
Instructions/Ease of phone: Now, mind you, my first cell phone ever was in 2002. And my second in 2003, both nokias, both VERY basic. Not even able to make a ringtone apply to a specific person. BASIC. Took me maybe a couple of hours to figure out this phone. I am not THAT technically savvy, I just went through each menu, looked at the choices, and remembered most of them. i pressed the main menu key in the middle of the phone anytime I didn't see an option I thought should be somewhere, and I was able to fix it no prob. Manual? Sucks. But, it doesn't matter. I havn't had any need for it other than a couple of terms I dind't know, and I just serached till I found them.
That's about it for complaints. I STRONGLY suggest you get a usb cable, cheap or not, and find a handset manager program. Mine allowed me to do my phonebook on my computer in NO time. Not to mention, my phonebook is now backed up on my comp, so no need for sim storage. My two biggest complaints on this phone are as follows:
1. The smart button and volume rocker on the side of the phone. I don't like the placement of these buttons, cause I sometimes accidentally hit them when I'm talking on the phone, not to mention, if it's in my pocket, good chance they are going to get pressed. However, they have not been a HUGE problem so far. I can always go in the phone menu's to turn my ringer off if I can't make any sound while doing so.
2. I am big into customizing ringtones and assigning each person their own tone. I am able to do this and more with this phone. HOWEVER, if I assign a ringtone to a contact, that ringtone ALSO acts as their text message tone. So, if instead of getting a beep for my text message alert, I get their entire ringtone. Still workong on whether or not I can fix this, but so far no luck.
Now, I bought a USB cable and compatable handset manager program from a company online. Please understand that this cable and the accompanying software are GREATLY connected to my great review of this phone.
Ok, first things first: what I use my phone for. My phone is used to keep track of contacts via phone nmbers and e-mail. Second, to make calls during the day and night, and to be able to be reached, and to reach anyone at any time. My phone is never off. I will be honest and say I LOVE to customize my phone, mainly in regard to the phone book. I find great joy in attaching ringtones and picture not only to each of my contacts, but also to each of their respective numbers/e-mail addresses. This phone is a DREAM come true in that aspect. It plays fantastic mp3 ringtones/sound effects. And with my USB cable and some compression software, I just load the songs straight onto the phone, at exactly the size and length I want. I can use a song as a ringtone, or a sound effect, or even a favorite movie quote. It's fantastic. Pictures? No problem again. With the USB I dont' even have to waste medianet time loading music/pictures/etc onto the phone, I just upload them right from my laptop.
- 1 reply to this review
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What handset manager program did you buy? Do you have a Mac? And could you tell me how you customize mp3's to make ringtones? Niether Cingular nor Motorola could help me on this one.
Thanks.
Motorola V551 (AT&T):
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