Cell phone ordered
I recently mentioned my search for a new cell phone. The process took a lot longer than I expected. The problem turned out to be that the phone I want doesn’t exist yet, which makes buying it quite a challenge. I’ve heard a lot of great things about the Treo 600, but if I’m going to spend that much money on a phone, it needs to do absolutely everything I need. The Treo comes close, but I need Bluetooth. The way I use my computers, I just can’t have a cable sitting around to use for synchronization, and I’m not about to pay a few hundred dollars for something that I won’t sync.
The phone that I want, then, is the rumored Treo Ace (or 610, depending on the rumor), which allegedly is an all-around improved version of the 600 with Bluetooth added. It’s been rumored to ship imminently since early this year and hasn’t appeared yet, but late fall seems likely if PalmOne wants to have a hot product for the holiday season. Of course, even if it was announced tomorrow I’d still have to wait for AT&T to pick it up.
What to do, then? I could spend $150 and settle for a good phone that I don’t want, but that’s not very appealing. Instead, I decided to spend a very small amount of money for a phone that would at least be OK until the next Treo arrives. I figured I’d be getting a bare-bones phone until I realized the deal I could put together. I qualify through various nefarious means for a significant discount on AT&T Wireless phones, and the site through which I can purchase them also has additional deals if I buy online and sometimes extra deals just because they feel like it. I figured I could get the Samsung X426 for free, the LG G4015 for $40, or the Motorola T721 for $50.
Then I realized that I could use a just-because-they-felt-like-it deal for an extra $50 off. That made all of the above phones free (wow!) and made other phones affordable. I settled on the LG L1150 for $35. It normally sells for much more than that, so I’m happy. I don’t know much about the model because it’s only been available for a few weeks, but the early reviews are good and it sounds like it’ll avoid some of the significant flaws of the other three phones I mentioned above.
It’ll show up sometime next week. Hopefully I’ll like it; if not, I’m only out $35 and I’ll just have to root for the Treo coming out quickly. I suppose I should figure out what to do with my old phone. I wonder if anyone would want to buy a Samsung A500, and for how much.
Mike Said,
August 6, 2004 @ 8:52 pm
I like the looks of the Motorola Razr v3! It is expensive and won’t be out for a few months though.
http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/moto_2004_07/index.php?p=v3
Ron Guest Said,
August 7, 2004 @ 9:29 pm
Hey again Albert. Long time no see. Just FYI I sold a few decent mobile phones on eBay for decent prices (be sure to nuke all your data first).
If your phone isn’t worth much donate it and take a tax deduction. Most cell phone stores take them as donations and usually they’re given to battered women and the like for free 911 use.
Camilo Said,
August 9, 2004 @ 7:02 am
cell phones are already a commodity. Since any phone you get now is going to be obsolete in six months, why not take something that might last that much, or one that you can discount at $5 per week? That means $120. You can get a pretty good machine after rebates for that kind of money.
Anonymous Said,
August 9, 2004 @ 6:43 pm
Hey i want the LG L1150 for me if 35$ i will buy it or i can buy too the A-500 but no for more than a 100$
Eric Albert Said,
August 17, 2004 @ 12:18 am
Just testing comments here….
WHAT! Said,
August 18, 2004 @ 5:25 am
What, no bluetooth!
Matt Ackeret Said,
September 13, 2004 @ 5:51 pm
I’ve got a pay per minute cell phone. Essentially costs $6.66 (how evil) a month since you have to put $20 on it every three months even if you don’t use it all (but you don’t lose the previous amount you had on the phone). It’s VirginMobile service, a real cheapo Kyocera phone.
I know that even un-subscribed phones are required to be able to call 911, but this is still essentially an “emergency” phone (AAA, whatever).. I got it originally for a birthday present.
I realize my needs are apparently WAY less than you guys’.. But maybe someone who sees this will realize you can get a pay phone for WAY less (I mean service) than you see in the ads. I think I can even get a referral if someone reads this and ever decides to..