Samsung :) (Smiley) T359
Average Ratings
Smiley: Not What It's Cracked Up To Be...
First, I want to say that I posted a review on Samsung's site and they removed it because I told the truth. If you look on their site, you won't see too many negative reviews, at all. But now I will share with you, my true thoughts and experiences with this phone, here. Samsung also has very poor customer service (located in India).
I should also add that I am using this phone on WalMart's Family Mobile as it has proven to have better reception than T-Mo. Now, I am not giving Family Mobile big stars either, as their customer service leaves a bit to be desired.
Pros:
1. This phone has pretty good reception in my area. Phx, AZ.
2. I like the form factor (kind of like the BB Torch).
3. Battery lasts all day with regular use. If you don't play games or use it much, you can get a day and a half out of it.
Cons:
1. I can't believe manufacturers, like Samsung are STILL installing worthless 1.3mp cameras. Plus, the camera is hidden behind the slide. Cannot close slide when using.
2. Even though this phone allows you to browse the web, don't think you will be able to view much. This phone will often prompt you: Website Too Large to display!
3. One of the highlights of this phone is being a music player... Samsung did NOT include a 3.5mm jack. Nope! It's shared micro USB connector for charging/headset... you have to purchase thru Samsung's website!
4. The screen is clear, but only for one reason; everything has a black background with low-quality graphics and is NOT customizable.
5. When using email, most emails will take you to the web in order to display. I had it set in prefs to display in normal view, but it rarely does.
6. Vibration is barely felt. Ringer not very loud. When in noisy areas, I could not hear or feel the phone, unless I put it in a top shirt pocket, close to the body.
From what I have read on this phone, it was designed for the younger generation. But they included Exchange Corporate email... crazy!
Etc.
Low quality hardware
We've gone through two of these phones in a year and a half. The first one had audio problems where you couldn't hear the call which they replaced under warranty. It shows signal, but "No Service". The answers.us.samsung.com site has two answers related to the problem. I called Samsung, but they won't stand behind this phone. The warranty per T-mobile is only from the purchase date of the original phone.
The T-mobile guy told my wife when we bought it that the phone had problems, but my daughter wanted it anyway. Now she's hopefully learned something. She's now using my wife's old blackberry that's about 5 years old. Works fine.
A great messaging phone
Ihis phone is a very nice messaging phone with up to date features.
Pros:
-Vertical Slide Up qwerty keyboard
-Nice bumpy keys
-Nice large screen
-Nice Design
Cons:
-Bulky
-Camera Pictures turn out blurry
-Not a touch screen :(
Decent Phone so far
I've had this phone (tmobile version) for a few weeks. Was looking for a basic free/cheap phone in a hurry 12/04/10. This one looked the best at the time (compared to the other similar cost phones).
PROS:
*Qwerty keyboard, easy to use and understand.
*Above average battery life.
*Nice big screen, custom fonts and colors.
*Keeps recent recipients list in the 'create txt msg' area which saves a bit of time.
*Keeps call history of all calls from a specific caller instead of just the latest call they made overwriting everytime.
CONS:
*Kind of difficult to rest phone without hands on shoulder/neck. (accidentally hung up a few times now)
*Keys are quite small, but just need to build muscle memory/finger dexterity I guess. Same size as blackberries.
*Unable to email to the phone like a text message, which means I can't send my own custom ringtones which I have done with every other model of phone I have had before. (however, other phones can still send mp3s etc).
*Can't change menu buttons or softkeys, always hitting web/email/etc. buttons on accident.
*Poor Menu designs can be somewhat difficult to navigate at times.
*Can't find or doesn't have Glossary (for all the little icons that appear at the top of the main screen).
*Doesn't show actual txt sent/received time. On my old phone if I sent a txt to someone who had their phone off it would say sent at X but not actually go through until they turned their phone on which would append a confirmation time of Y. This could be a Tmobile network thing though, I dunno.
PS- I am overly critical of phones because I have worked in the cell industry for years. There really has never been a phone that I liked 100%, so don't take this review the wrong way. It's a pretty good phone.
good phone
the samsung smiley is a good phone easy to use. great texting phone. I originally had the nokia nurion just wasnt so crazy about it was very sensitive buttons, and u had to go threw tons files just to get something u need, also the phone was freezing non stop. I reccomend the :) if ur not looking for those kind of problems only bad thing about the :)the picture camera isn't the best in my opinion.
