Thursday
Feb032005
Verizon Wireless & LG VX6100
Thursday, February 3, 2005 at 04:17PM
My son is now 10 years old, with all the attitude to go with it. I swear it seems the older he gets, the more uncool, or obsolete, I become. In his eyes, anyway.
But--I actually impressed him the other day, which is a rare and wonderful event. I've got a new gadget and he thinks it's COOL. That alone is well worth the price of a new cellphone (after rebate!).
It was time, anyway. I've had horrible cellular reception for the last two years. My phone was literally falling apart: I had to put the battery back on, and hold it in place to make a call. And I accidentally left the charger in my hotel room on my glamorous trip to New York last week. My contract with T Mobile was up. It was time to take my cellphone number(s) (and my family plan with dear, old Grammy) and move on.
I'm not the gadget type. That would be my husband, and now my older son. I just want something easy-to-use, and I want it to work. That seems like such a simple request, but you know as well as I do: It's never that easy with anything that has batteries or a cord...
Long story short, and without sounding like a commercial, I am really excited about my new cellular service (Verizon) and flip-phone (LG VX6100 Camera Phone). It's almost like cooking over a campfire for two years--and then being put in front of a brand-new, gas Viking Range, with all the fancy stuff, all the bells and whistles you don't even know how to operate (and probably never will). But BAM!, it's nice to move up!
I have heard great things about Verizon Wireless, and now I can tell you: It's all true! The sales guy was showing me the February 2005 issue of Consumer Reports with comparisons and information, and Verizon was rated #1 consistently throughout the various categories. All I know is that I've got little bars and can actually maintain a cellphone conversation throughout my neighborhood, up my driveway, and--gasp!--inside my house! That was never possible before--I always, always got cut off with the little 'you're screwed!' tone, anywhere in Buckhead, which is a very urban environment--no reason at all not to have good cellular reception. So I'm happy with the service.
And my 10-year-old is impressed with the phones--we got two (one basic flip-phone model FREE with the Family Plan, for Grammy). I like the flip-phone, because it's easy to use and the number keys are protected. As Grammy says, "It can't be making phone calls all by itself in my purse!" (which is what her old non-flip-phone did all the time, apparently).
I paid a little more for a camera-phone, not for the camera so much as the little info screen on the outside with time, date, caller id, and other news and info. I also like the speakerphone feature, so I can be hands free in the car without those awful little ear buds in my ear. I don't even know what-all else it does, but apparently there is a voice command feature, which my son turned on, so now instead of a ringtone announcing calls, my cellphone yells at me from the depths of my bag:
(woman's voice): "CALL FROM..."
(man's voice): "RUSS CELL..."
(woman's voice): "CALL FROM..."
(man's voice): "RUSS CELL..." (or the phone # if no name is programmed)
(anyone hearing this): "What the heck was that?!"
I normally would not, and might never again, review an electronics product on Rebel Reviews, but I was so happy to have a recommendation from a friend about her cellular service (Thanks, Laura!), I wanted to pass the info along to other cellphone-challenged Rebels--
But--I actually impressed him the other day, which is a rare and wonderful event. I've got a new gadget and he thinks it's COOL. That alone is well worth the price of a new cellphone (after rebate!).
It was time, anyway. I've had horrible cellular reception for the last two years. My phone was literally falling apart: I had to put the battery back on, and hold it in place to make a call. And I accidentally left the charger in my hotel room on my glamorous trip to New York last week. My contract with T Mobile was up. It was time to take my cellphone number(s) (and my family plan with dear, old Grammy) and move on.
I'm not the gadget type. That would be my husband, and now my older son. I just want something easy-to-use, and I want it to work. That seems like such a simple request, but you know as well as I do: It's never that easy with anything that has batteries or a cord...
Long story short, and without sounding like a commercial, I am really excited about my new cellular service (Verizon) and flip-phone (LG VX6100 Camera Phone). It's almost like cooking over a campfire for two years--and then being put in front of a brand-new, gas Viking Range, with all the fancy stuff, all the bells and whistles you don't even know how to operate (and probably never will). But BAM!, it's nice to move up!
I have heard great things about Verizon Wireless, and now I can tell you: It's all true! The sales guy was showing me the February 2005 issue of Consumer Reports with comparisons and information, and Verizon was rated #1 consistently throughout the various categories. All I know is that I've got little bars and can actually maintain a cellphone conversation throughout my neighborhood, up my driveway, and--gasp!--inside my house! That was never possible before--I always, always got cut off with the little 'you're screwed!' tone, anywhere in Buckhead, which is a very urban environment--no reason at all not to have good cellular reception. So I'm happy with the service.
And my 10-year-old is impressed with the phones--we got two (one basic flip-phone model FREE with the Family Plan, for Grammy). I like the flip-phone, because it's easy to use and the number keys are protected. As Grammy says, "It can't be making phone calls all by itself in my purse!" (which is what her old non-flip-phone did all the time, apparently).
I paid a little more for a camera-phone, not for the camera so much as the little info screen on the outside with time, date, caller id, and other news and info. I also like the speakerphone feature, so I can be hands free in the car without those awful little ear buds in my ear. I don't even know what-all else it does, but apparently there is a voice command feature, which my son turned on, so now instead of a ringtone announcing calls, my cellphone yells at me from the depths of my bag:
(woman's voice): "CALL FROM..."
(man's voice): "RUSS CELL..."
(woman's voice): "CALL FROM..."
(man's voice): "RUSS CELL..." (or the phone # if no name is programmed)
(anyone hearing this): "What the heck was that?!"
I normally would not, and might never again, review an electronics product on Rebel Reviews, but I was so happy to have a recommendation from a friend about her cellular service (Thanks, Laura!), I wanted to pass the info along to other cellphone-challenged Rebels--