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stars
"A thoughtful review from an actual owner" on by markerveli
Pros: display, quality, construction,nokia website support
Cons: no expandable memory, bottom row of keys tough to use
Summary: I would like to set the record straight about this one. I have read all of these negative opinions about the phone, and I have figured out a few things. First, it seems that everyone complains about the price - good, don't buy one. No one asked you to or forced you to. The fit and finish of the phone is impeccable - even the keypad has a reassuring feel when using it. This phone is like a good watch ( TAG, Rolex, etc. ) Sure, a timex tells time but not with the same class as a Rolex. If the complainers want an mp3 player, than go buy one. This is a PHONE people, and a very good one at that. Even setting up the internet and MMS is a breeze. I called the special Nokia customer service number provided with the phone ( the number is only for 8801 owners ) and they informed me all I had to do was go to nokia.com/phonesettings and follow the instructions and they sent a couple of text messages that had all of the correct settings in them. Anyone who has ever purchased an unlocked phone and had to call their service provider and step-by-step enter the settings knows how difficult that can be. The phone has 25 groups of callers that can be assigned ( each with a unique picture and/or ringer ) so the phone is very useful for business applications. The built in FM radio works great. The phone can even brosdcast mp3's to a bluetooth headset ( remember their is only about 50K of usable space, so only good for a few songs. Still handy while waiting in line, etc. ) The phone can even be taught to switch profiles when connected to a charger (ex. when you plug it in at night, the phone can automatically switch to a "silent" profile, so you are not distubed ). There are many little things to appreciate about the phone, which only an OWNER would know. It seems too many people read the specs and write a review without ever trying the product. That is not how a review is supposed to work. Irregardless, to help those considering purchasing this I will let you know the negatives. The keypad is small, the bottom row of buttons is close to the housing so typing them takes some getting used to. The battery life is about 2.5 to 3 hours of talk time ( just like a CDMA phone from Verizon or Sprint ) but they do include 2 in the package. If you use the included charging base, it glows blue underneath which some might find disturbing while trying to go to bed. Finally, no expandable memory is kind of shocking, but when using phones with expanded memory the phones start bogging down which this does not. All of the menus move as fast as you can navigate them. All in all, if you plan to use this as a PHONE, it's reception and sound quality is fantastic and is truly a joy to use.
- 12 replies to this review
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I just sold my 8801 on ebay after about 3 months with it. It was an awesome "just a phone" and a "whatever" everything else. Putting info on it was a chore, uploading pictures, mp3's etc. with Nokia collector was barely worth it. What pushed me over the edge into selling it was the battery life. I don't use my phone that much during the day (maybe 15-20 short calls) and the battery would not last me one day. It gets you chicks, and you can call them, but don't talk too long.
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I recently bought the phone for my daughter. Since she’s “my girl,” money is no object -- any divorced dad can vouch. Anyway…<br><br>I like the fact that the phone is well crafted. It seems tough. It feels droppable. <br><br>Features-smeathers aside, she’s going to ring, text, and snap in rugged style.<br><br>To me, it is a great phone for a spoiled teenaged girl!<br><br>We’ll see… I’ll keep you posted.
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Yeah, I tire of people who just judge phones by features- finally an opinion about the PHONE.
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Addicted to changing cellphones
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As an owner of this incredibly beautiful phone for the last five months, I can tell you that I feel like I'm carrying around a piece of world class art. <br>I don't need to add to your review except to say that the light show that the recharging base puts on can be turned off. Just press and hold the small button on the back of the charger for a couple of seconds and that will do the trick. If you unplug it, then plug it in again, you will have to turn it off again.
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The hysterical part is, everyone who owns this phone knows that it is ONLY a show off phone. the last person to comment even agreed with another user saying there are phones with much better options! Listen this phone is a REGULAR phone! Its has VERY VERY few options that a regular phone wouldn't. ohhhhh yeah and this one is 550 bucks more innnnteresting. If you are a shallow person and need a silver metal case.....this phone is for you! Otherwise save your money, literally ANY phone is better than this one. Don't believe me? I'm going to give you a quote from another electronic site (CNET is still the best though :o) <br><br>-Luxury without the perks. Save your money and buy a lower-level Nokia unless you are very desperate for glamour.<br><br>Thats the bottom line. Your choice, save hundreds of dollars AND get a phone that can do TONS more.....or a silver case. Tough one.
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As everyone else has mentioned, there are other phones with many more functions and a whole lot cheaper. <br><br>Plain and simple, I have had this phone for a week, which is not much by any standard, but much more than someone who has a friend who has one and gets to play with it for a little while at a time. <br><br>I love this phone knowing I could have gotten more features out of other phones. The treo is simply too big and I don't need all those fancy things. I wanted a great phone and that is what I got. Not a semi replacement to my laptop, pda, mp3, and whatever else is out there. <br><br>If you want to get the most bang for your buck type thing, follow danwelch99's advice. If you are happy with a bic pen, a casio watch, and a home entertainment system from radio shack or walmart, good for you, danwelch could use the company. But if you like a Mont Blanc, a Tag or Breitling watch, and a Bang & Olufsen stereo, this is your phone.
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I have used the phone quite a bit, a good friend has one. If you are using this as a PHONE as you are saying....why not get a Razor or a billion other types of cheap PHONES and save yourself about 700 bucks? If you are looking for something with applications on the other hand, the smart phones (treos/blackberries, etc). They have MUCH bigger screens, a keyboard for faster typing and are EVDO enabled. Did I mention you'll still save between 300-500 with a smart phone that DOES MORE?!So.....basically you're paying the extra money for um a silver surround case? Sorry but anyone who bought this phone made a very very poor choice. Oh and Irregardless is not a word lol.
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Read your opinion. Have yet to purchase although you did make me feel a whole lot better about my thoughts of buying 8801. Are you still happy with the 8801? Any reception problems with stainless steel case? Are the size (small) of the keys of any concern? Price is not the issue as long as you get what you pay for. Just looking for a great PHONE not mpe, radio, etc... Look forward to your reply. Thanks
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This is an excellent review from a REAL USER like me. Comparing this phone to a Rolex is spot on. There are much cheaper phones out there and perhaps ones that have better features and such, but they are not nearly as much of a conversation piece as this one.
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Thanks for that review, as I said in my subject; Best User Review I ever read. I do, however; have a few inquiries that I would love if you address for me:<br><br>-I have been using a Nokia 6682, which is a plain looking candy bar phone and yet has many helpful features such as an office doc reader, a PDF reader, phone to printer capability via bluetooth...does the 8801 have any of these features?<br><br>-I had read that a VERY prominent Japanese composer wrote the musical pieces for the phones ringer, etc...are these just out of this world cool or just so-so?<br><br>-Does the stainless body scratch? Show fingerprints?<br><br>-Is the weight any problem? For example, I keep my 'other' (Razr) phone in a suit's breast pocket, light and thin so I don't notice; I put my Nokia 6682 in there and it feels like a brick.<br><br>-Do you get a LOT of comments? I bought the Razr the very day it came out and for 3 months everyone that saw it had to ask about it. (Kind of like my Panerai watch and Range Rover)<br><br>Thanks for any answers you can provide...doesn't really matter though because after I typed the last question I went out and ordered one! I'll be listing my review SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Looking for a good phone to replace a lousy phone which came with my BMW. Question, which carrier are you with and was it hard for the carrier to accept the unlocked phone?
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