Samsung SCH-A950
SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON 950 & 8100...
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Close, but not. Talk time is listed at 3:27 compared to 3:70 hours. I get maybe TWO days w/8100 and actually talk no more than an hour. Battery sucks on 8100 and this has less talk time. But big mistake with 8100. Is sucks. Still occasional volume problems and BT is absolutely horrible since update. Scala 500 won't stay connected and Moto 850 sounds bad on other end. (both just replaced). Either this or the 970. Can't deal with the BS any more. 🙄
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Just got back from spending lunch hour checking out the new Samsung SCH-A950. I currently own the LG VX-8100, and have been through 3 of them due to the volume fluctuation “bug”, so I’ve been chomping at the bit for a replacement. As far as a side by side comparison, I will give you my impressions based on my experience with the VX-8100, and my limited time spent with the A950.
Exterior Screen Quality: The VX-8100 wins in this department hands down. It’s honestly not even close. The 950’s exterior screen doesn’t seem to have the same resolution as the VX-8100, therefore, the pictures on the front of the phone don’t appear anywhere as crisp. They are however a step up from what you’d see on the outer screen of a Motorola E815, but ...
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Exterior Screen Quality: The VX-8100 wins in this department hands down. It’s honestly not even close. The 950’s exterior screen doesn’t seem to have the same resolution as the VX-8100, therefore, the pictures on the front of the phone don’t appear anywhere as crisp. They are however a step up from what you’d see on the outer screen of a Motorola E815, but ...
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Wow thanks for that info - it's very helpful indeed as I was quite uncertain myself! The things you mentioned can defintiely be *deal breakers*. What's a girl to do?
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I couldn't agree with you more! I'm honestly not sure what I'm going to do, as I really like the whole package of my VX-8100, but the volume fluctuation just totally kills it. If the Samsung had the same killer aesthetics and feature set, then there would be no question, but given what I've seen, I'm not entirely sure. If it does allow for external text message viewing, then I think I'll probably switch, whereas if it does'nt then I'll just wait until the next VX-8100 software upgrade.
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They're not talking about getting out of their contract, just switching phones. You can get a different phone at any time if your willing to pay full retail, or if you've had numerous problems with a particular phone, you may be able to get them to exchange for a different model and pay the difference, depending on your sales person.
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So, the outer screen was bad? That's not a good thing!! That was one of the things I was looking for (a good external screen)!!
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It's not that it's bad, but it's in no way as "crisp" as the VX-8100. It seems to be a lower resolution. Think of it as a step below the VX-8100, and a step above the Motorola E815. Once you have an opportunity to see them side by side, I think you'll see what I mean.
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Yeah, I think the Motorola screen is well, not so great!! This was one of the features I liked so much about the 8100 and I don't know if I'm willing to switch since a "fix" for the volume problem is not certain. It may happen and then I'd be REALLY mad I got the Samsung. Then, if it doesn't happen, I'd kick myself for NOT getting the Samsung!
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its a close call for me too. but here is why i would stick with the 8100:
1) you can set contact id picture with the full 1280x960 resolution on the 8100.
2) the mp3 buttons on the outside glow for the 8100 and i think at night that is a very useful feature.
3) I like customizing my phone, and for me a high resolution outer screen is preferred.
4) LG uses a mini sd card, and i think that the mini sd works faster and better than the micro sd and is easier to find and cheaper to buy.
5) after my flash upgrade i experience the volume bug problem at a minimal amount, but still would wait for the next upgrade.
6) Getting your text and pictures on the outside display. If 950 has that then that would be great.
Features that i think will...
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1) you can set contact id picture with the full 1280x960 resolution on the 8100.
2) the mp3 buttons on the outside glow for the 8100 and i think at night that is a very useful feature.
3) I like customizing my phone, and for me a high resolution outer screen is preferred.
4) LG uses a mini sd card, and i think that the mini sd works faster and better than the micro sd and is easier to find and cheaper to buy.
5) after my flash upgrade i experience the volume bug problem at a minimal amount, but still would wait for the next upgrade.
6) Getting your text and pictures on the outside display. If 950 has that then that would be great.
Features that i think will...
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You know what? I agree! I talked to a technician at the store and he told me he has the phone and had volume *issues* and he said he then turned the Auto Volume ON and set it at Medium and then adjusted from there if he needed to (b/t Medium, High, etc). I'm going to try that.
I was thinking that these two phones would be basically identical. I don't like the fact of the whole screen resolution, picture size limit thing...
I was thinking that these two phones would be basically identical. I don't like the fact of the whole screen resolution, picture size limit thing...
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I disagree. I will admit that the color on the 950 isn't as vibrant as the 8100, but I don't think at all that the clarity is any better on the 8100. It's almost as if the 950 is a "matte" version. I don't really know how to explain what matte looks like, but if you know anything about photography, you know what I'm talking about. I think the LCD on the 950 really shines over the 8100 when you use it to take a picture with the phone closed. Just one man's thoughts.
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You mentioned that the speakerphone was far better on the 950 - but you didn't mention the earpiece volume or clarity - is that pretty good too? Did you get a chance to phone someone and, if so, did the other person indicate the clarity of your voice?
Thanks
Thanks
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Played with it for 1 hour in Circuit tonight..
The phone is freaking nice.. Once activated and we can test the reception, that will be the real test.
The outer displayis fine and very clear. The inner is awesome. The features are rich and it looks like it has everything we need plus great voice quality, i bet from Samsung.
This could be the phone of the year!
The phone is freaking nice.. Once activated and we can test the reception, that will be the real test.
The outer displayis fine and very clear. The inner is awesome. The features are rich and it looks like it has everything we need plus great voice quality, i bet from Samsung.
This could be the phone of the year!
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Any of you had experience with the 890? I would like to know the differences between the two since the 890 was formerly VZW's high end Samsung.
Aside from the MicroSD, bluetooth, and mp3 capability I'd like to know how it shapes up.
Aside from the MicroSD, bluetooth, and mp3 capability I'd like to know how it shapes up.
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I'm torn between the 8100 and the a950 but to me the MP3 player is a really nice plus after a good working phone. However, the 8100 can take a miniSD card with a 1gig capacity and the a950 takes a microSD/Transflash card with a 256meg max. Sandisk promises a 512 and 1gig card down the road but when? The 1gig miniSD is available now and a 2gig will probably be available before a larger microSD/Transflash. Not too concerned about the camera but the known problem with the fluctuating volume is troublesome on the 8100. The big plus for the a950 is that the MP3 controls are more iPod like than even the Motorola Rokr. Hope the a950 doesn't have as many bugs as the 8100.
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Actually Best Buy has the 512Mb microSD (formerly transflash) for around $65. I bought one for my Moto v710
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rotoplewker said:
Actually Best Buy has the 512Mb microSD (formerly transflash) for around $65. I bought one for my Moto v710
Thanks for the info, 512 is better than 256.
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I didn't actually talk to another live person. The phone wasn't activated, so the number I called would get me to the following announcement: "You are being routed to Verizon Wireless Roam Plus...Please Stand by". I did this repeatedly on both the earpiece and the speakerphone. In both instances, the sound quality was great.
I also did the same thing with an unactivated LG VX-8100. The 8100 did fine the first call, but on the second call, the "volume bug" reared it's ugly head, and the announcement dropped down to an almost inaudible level. I checked the software version, and it was loaded with V04, so it's the newest rev. Therin lies the problem with the 8100: it's a super cool phone, but for basic telephone use, it's completely ...
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I also did the same thing with an unactivated LG VX-8100. The 8100 did fine the first call, but on the second call, the "volume bug" reared it's ugly head, and the announcement dropped down to an almost inaudible level. I checked the software version, and it was loaded with V04, so it's the newest rev. Therin lies the problem with the 8100: it's a super cool phone, but for basic telephone use, it's completely ...
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You sir are a genius. I would like to thank you for this great explanation and comparison of these two phones, this is probably the most unbiased, evenly critiqued comparison that i have seen on this site, i thank you for this great piece of work. 🙂
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I received my phone today activated it. And NO, you CANNOT read your text messages on the front. There is a also a slight delay when taking picture. I still need to learn how to set up the phone so I haven't really played with it.
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Can you make the external screen wallpaper a picture that you took with the phone? I have the 890 and you cannot do that with it.
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I know this sounds like a weird question, but I am trying to choose b/w the 950 and the 8100, and I was wondering if anyone knew if either phone displayed the time while you're on a call...not the time as in how long the call is, but the actual time like on a watch? Thnx.
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8100 doesnt...but I just go to the world clock while in a call. Works for me.
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