I need a new cell phone = frustration! I hate cell phones!
Re: I need a new cell phone = frustration! I hate cell phones!
I hate all this newfangled phone technology too.
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Browser Games ... Free PC Games ... Mixtapes ... Doujin Games ... SotC Poetry
Re: I need a new cell phone = frustration! I hate cell phones!
J T wrote:I hate all this newfangled phone technology too.
Look at that mother fucking antenna! Nice.
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Hobie-wan
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Re: I need a new cell phone = frustration! I hate cell phones!
J T wrote:I hate all this newfangled phone technology too.
You kids get the hell off my lawn!
I've never met a pun I didn't like. - Stark
My trade, sale and services - Rough want list - Shipping weight reference chart - AC Power Adapter reference list
My trade, sale and services - Rough want list - Shipping weight reference chart - AC Power Adapter reference list
Re: I need a new cell phone = frustration! I hate cell phones!
LOL
So I bought a Kyocera Loft (looks like a Blackberry) off eBay, new for $60 shipped (sells for $70 before tax and shipping retail). My estimated delivery date is the 19th or the 20th. I'll keep my current phone and number from T-Mobile for now, and when the Loft comes in the mail I'll activate it with a new number from Virgin Mobile.
I figure I'll try it out for the one month, at the end of which I'll make one of three decisions. One, the service is horrible. In this case I'll cancel the subscription and sell the phone at a loss. Two, I'm not sure yet. I'll pay $25 for a second month. Three, the service is great and I wanna keep it. I'll either keep my new number or port my T-Mobile number over to a new Virgin Mobile account and cancel my first VM account. If I like VM, I'll probably buy a better phone. I can either keep the Loft as a spare, sell it, or give it to a family member (after recommending the VM service).
So I figure the worst case scenario is I'm out the money I paid for the Loft (or whatever money I lose after selling it). If it turns out to be a bust, I wont consider the $25 I spent for a month of service a loss. So I'm looking at this as a low risk plan. Cross your fingers for me!
So I bought a Kyocera Loft (looks like a Blackberry) off eBay, new for $60 shipped (sells for $70 before tax and shipping retail). My estimated delivery date is the 19th or the 20th. I'll keep my current phone and number from T-Mobile for now, and when the Loft comes in the mail I'll activate it with a new number from Virgin Mobile.
I figure I'll try it out for the one month, at the end of which I'll make one of three decisions. One, the service is horrible. In this case I'll cancel the subscription and sell the phone at a loss. Two, I'm not sure yet. I'll pay $25 for a second month. Three, the service is great and I wanna keep it. I'll either keep my new number or port my T-Mobile number over to a new Virgin Mobile account and cancel my first VM account. If I like VM, I'll probably buy a better phone. I can either keep the Loft as a spare, sell it, or give it to a family member (after recommending the VM service).
So I figure the worst case scenario is I'm out the money I paid for the Loft (or whatever money I lose after selling it). If it turns out to be a bust, I wont consider the $25 I spent for a month of service a loss. So I'm looking at this as a low risk plan. Cross your fingers for me!
Re: I need a new cell phone = frustration! I hate cell phones!
The Loft came in the mail today, and I activated it Virgin Mobile. I've only had it on for about 6 hours now, so it's way too early to tell how the service is. I've been getting roughly the same service at my house, maybe a little better. I cannot yet send and receive text messages, apparently that can take 1-3 days to start working. Oddly enough, I can text my friend who just set up a Virgin Mobile account, so I've been texting with her. Seems to be going OK so far.
The Loft sucks though, it's such a cheap phone. The keyboard is hard to use, and the phone's software is very limited. I'm just not at all pleased with it after having used the Treo and Blackberry for the past few years. The worst thing about the phone, in my opinion, is the fact that they programmed a few numbers into my phone book that I can NOT delete. 411, my voicemail, whatever. But they have 911 in my phone book. WTF? Lol. I definitely don't like the fact that it's there. What if I accidentally dial it? Whatever. I only plan on having this phone for a month.
But, I'm not testing the phone, just the service. I also realize that the service will vary from phone to phone. But funny enough, after telling my friend about Virgin Mobile, she went out and got the Intercept (the phone I plan to get if I decide to stick with Virgin Mobile). So I can get a preview of that phone as well lol.
I'm gonna take the Loft and my T-Mobile phone with me to work tomorrow and see how the Loft's service is there, comparing it to my T-Mobile phone.
The Loft sucks though, it's such a cheap phone. The keyboard is hard to use, and the phone's software is very limited. I'm just not at all pleased with it after having used the Treo and Blackberry for the past few years. The worst thing about the phone, in my opinion, is the fact that they programmed a few numbers into my phone book that I can NOT delete. 411, my voicemail, whatever. But they have 911 in my phone book. WTF? Lol. I definitely don't like the fact that it's there. What if I accidentally dial it? Whatever. I only plan on having this phone for a month.
But, I'm not testing the phone, just the service. I also realize that the service will vary from phone to phone. But funny enough, after telling my friend about Virgin Mobile, she went out and got the Intercept (the phone I plan to get if I decide to stick with Virgin Mobile). So I can get a preview of that phone as well lol.
I'm gonna take the Loft and my T-Mobile phone with me to work tomorrow and see how the Loft's service is there, comparing it to my T-Mobile phone.
Re: I need a new cell phone = frustration! I hate cell phones!
So I realized the other week, the problems I was having with the Blackberry could all be blamed on the battery (don't know why I didn't figure that in the first place). I realized that the battery I bought was a cheap $5 knock off that was made to look identical to an OEM BB battery. So I went on eBay to find a REAL Blackberry battery, and got one for about $10 shipped. Came in the mail the other day, stuck it in the phone and charged it up, and it's been working great! I'm so happy to get this phone back!
So I decided to stick with T-Mobile for now, being that I got the BB back for $10, I wont have to spend money on a new phone. I've already canceled my Virgin Mobile account, and I got the Loft up on eBay. Hopefully some one will buy it, get some of the money back I spent on it.
So I decided to stick with T-Mobile for now, being that I got the BB back for $10, I wont have to spend money on a new phone. I've already canceled my Virgin Mobile account, and I got the Loft up on eBay. Hopefully some one will buy it, get some of the money back I spent on it.
Re: I need a new cell phone = frustration! I hate cell phone
So for those that have read this thread, I ended up getting a new battery for my Blackberry and it's been working great since then. I can't believe that was back in February of 2011!
Here's some stock pics of my phone btw:
More recently, the phone has been having other problems. The most annoying is the trackball. I guess this is why Blackberry did away with the trackballs, they can get clogged up with pocket lint and whatnot. It's really annoying when you're at work and you check the time or a text message but then you can't scroll to lock the phone. That's how you pocket call/text people. So annoying. I've taken the trackball out so many times to clean it, I can't even remember how many times. I've been having to clean it more and more frequently. It got to the point where it's just worn out. So even if I clean all the pocket link off the rollers, it still doesn't work very well.
My other major problem is the keyboard. Years of pocket wear has worn the keyboard pretty good. Half the keys are unreadable. I've still been able to use it tho. The letters are standard keyboard layout, so I know where all the letters are. I'll stumble sometimes to find letters on the bottom row tho. I guess after years of using it, I could just remember what most of the keys are without having to look. Alt keys like exclamation and question marks I can find automatically, but some others I'd have to use trial and error to find.
So I've been dealing with these two problems for a while now. If you've read this thread, you know how frustrating it is for me to get a new phone. Things have not changed. I've kept an eye out. I see Virgin Mobile now has a nice selection of phones, and I always have them in the back of my head as a backup solution. Things have not changed with T-Mobile. I've considered paying a little over $100 to get an "upgrade" Blackberry from them, but then having to pay for a data plan. I'd be nice to have a phone with a camera, I have to admit.
But after considering everything, I've decided to keep my old Blackberry a while longer. And here's why: REPLACEMENT PARTS!!! I never thought to check. A week or two ago, I decided to look up parts for my phone. It turns out, I can get almost every part brand new. Some are Chinese clone parts, some are genuine Blackberry parts. And everything, it seems like. LCD screen, screen lens, USB port, etc, etc. But most importantly, trackballs and keyboards!!!!
So, I ordered a new keyboard and trackball for my phone along with some of the special screwdrivers I needed to open the phone. The keyboard was about $5 shipped from a seller on Amazon. The seller claimed it was genuine Blackberry parts, so I decided to go with them. After getting it in the mail, it definitely doesn't seem like a cheap Chinese knockoff. The trackball was about $3 shipped from eBay. It's probably a Chinese knockoff trackball, but I figured for the price they cost, if it was garbage I'd just try another seller. The screwdrivers were about $3 shipped from eBay as well. I only needed one size for my phone, but I figured I'd order a set of three different sizes since they were so cheap. So for about $10, I've breathed new life into this phone and I'll be able to use it for a while longer now.
It was pretty funny. It never fails to amaze me how hair finds its way into everything. I knew when I opened the phone I would find lots of pocket lint clumped up. I was surprised by all the hair tho LOL. So it was a good opportunity to clean all the gunk out of my phone.
Here's my old keyboard, out of the phone:
And here's the new keyboard and new trackball installed:
They feel AMAZING to the touch! I guess it was such a slow degrade that I didn't notice. But after feeling the click of the new keyboard and the scroll of the new trackball, I instantly remembered that's how the phone felt brand new. The new keyboard is so much easier to type on. And not because I can see what all the keys are, it feels so much better. And the trackball actually works, can't complain about that!
I have other minor problems with the phone, but they're mostly fixable. One is pretty annoying. I thought the USB (used for charging as well) port was getting worn out. I'd plug the charger in and have to make sure it was positioned so that the phone was actually charging. Some times I'd get up in the morning to find out the phone was charging over night. Pretty annoying. But I found out that the port is fine, it's just the cheap Chinese charger that's worn out. Easily fixable.
Another minor problem is that the screen lens has lots of pocket scratches. But honestly, I don't think I'm gonna bother replacing it. Replacement lens are available for just a few bucks, and as I found out it's fairly easy opening the phone. But it doesn't bother me much, I don't think I'm gonna even bother.
The only other real problem I have with the phone is that it doesn't have a camera. But, I can't "fix" that LOL.
I'm just glad I can keep using this phone for a while longer now. Also, the old keyboard is a good laugh, so I wanted to share LOL.
Here's some stock pics of my phone btw:
More recently, the phone has been having other problems. The most annoying is the trackball. I guess this is why Blackberry did away with the trackballs, they can get clogged up with pocket lint and whatnot. It's really annoying when you're at work and you check the time or a text message but then you can't scroll to lock the phone. That's how you pocket call/text people. So annoying. I've taken the trackball out so many times to clean it, I can't even remember how many times. I've been having to clean it more and more frequently. It got to the point where it's just worn out. So even if I clean all the pocket link off the rollers, it still doesn't work very well.
My other major problem is the keyboard. Years of pocket wear has worn the keyboard pretty good. Half the keys are unreadable. I've still been able to use it tho. The letters are standard keyboard layout, so I know where all the letters are. I'll stumble sometimes to find letters on the bottom row tho. I guess after years of using it, I could just remember what most of the keys are without having to look. Alt keys like exclamation and question marks I can find automatically, but some others I'd have to use trial and error to find.
So I've been dealing with these two problems for a while now. If you've read this thread, you know how frustrating it is for me to get a new phone. Things have not changed. I've kept an eye out. I see Virgin Mobile now has a nice selection of phones, and I always have them in the back of my head as a backup solution. Things have not changed with T-Mobile. I've considered paying a little over $100 to get an "upgrade" Blackberry from them, but then having to pay for a data plan. I'd be nice to have a phone with a camera, I have to admit.
But after considering everything, I've decided to keep my old Blackberry a while longer. And here's why: REPLACEMENT PARTS!!! I never thought to check. A week or two ago, I decided to look up parts for my phone. It turns out, I can get almost every part brand new. Some are Chinese clone parts, some are genuine Blackberry parts. And everything, it seems like. LCD screen, screen lens, USB port, etc, etc. But most importantly, trackballs and keyboards!!!!
So, I ordered a new keyboard and trackball for my phone along with some of the special screwdrivers I needed to open the phone. The keyboard was about $5 shipped from a seller on Amazon. The seller claimed it was genuine Blackberry parts, so I decided to go with them. After getting it in the mail, it definitely doesn't seem like a cheap Chinese knockoff. The trackball was about $3 shipped from eBay. It's probably a Chinese knockoff trackball, but I figured for the price they cost, if it was garbage I'd just try another seller. The screwdrivers were about $3 shipped from eBay as well. I only needed one size for my phone, but I figured I'd order a set of three different sizes since they were so cheap. So for about $10, I've breathed new life into this phone and I'll be able to use it for a while longer now.
It was pretty funny. It never fails to amaze me how hair finds its way into everything. I knew when I opened the phone I would find lots of pocket lint clumped up. I was surprised by all the hair tho LOL. So it was a good opportunity to clean all the gunk out of my phone.
Here's my old keyboard, out of the phone:
And here's the new keyboard and new trackball installed:
They feel AMAZING to the touch! I guess it was such a slow degrade that I didn't notice. But after feeling the click of the new keyboard and the scroll of the new trackball, I instantly remembered that's how the phone felt brand new. The new keyboard is so much easier to type on. And not because I can see what all the keys are, it feels so much better. And the trackball actually works, can't complain about that!
I have other minor problems with the phone, but they're mostly fixable. One is pretty annoying. I thought the USB (used for charging as well) port was getting worn out. I'd plug the charger in and have to make sure it was positioned so that the phone was actually charging. Some times I'd get up in the morning to find out the phone was charging over night. Pretty annoying. But I found out that the port is fine, it's just the cheap Chinese charger that's worn out. Easily fixable.
Another minor problem is that the screen lens has lots of pocket scratches. But honestly, I don't think I'm gonna bother replacing it. Replacement lens are available for just a few bucks, and as I found out it's fairly easy opening the phone. But it doesn't bother me much, I don't think I'm gonna even bother.
The only other real problem I have with the phone is that it doesn't have a camera. But, I can't "fix" that LOL.
I'm just glad I can keep using this phone for a while longer now. Also, the old keyboard is a good laugh, so I wanted to share LOL.
-
Hobie-wan
- Next-Gen
- Posts: 21705
- Joined: Sat Aug 15, 2009 8:28 pm
- Location: Under a pile of retro stuff in H-town
- Contact:
Re: I need a new cell phone = frustration! I hate cell phone
Ziggy: Destroyer of keyboards.
Hooray for a phone that is whole again.
Hooray for a phone that is whole again.
I've never met a pun I didn't like. - Stark
My trade, sale and services - Rough want list - Shipping weight reference chart - AC Power Adapter reference list
My trade, sale and services - Rough want list - Shipping weight reference chart - AC Power Adapter reference list
Re: I need a new cell phone = frustration! I hate cell phone
Haha this is awesome.
I miss my blackberry... kinda. Galaxy Nexus FTW
I miss my blackberry... kinda. Galaxy Nexus FTW
Re: I need a new cell phone = frustration! I hate cell phone
Decided to update my cell phone chronicles because I'm linking this thread in another post.
My last update was November of 2012. About a year after that, I bought a cheap Android from Wal Mart. Not an upgrade, so no contract. And since I bought it on my own and just switched the sim card, no data plan required. I just went into the options and turned off data so I'd never accidentally use it.
The only real reason why I decided to get a new phone was because I got sick of not having a camera. If you read any of this thread, you'd know that it isn't because I take selfies often. Since I got that phone, I constantly use the camera as a tool. I'll take pics of business cards, a schematic or something, a video game password on the TV screen, stuff like that.
Back before smart phones, back before any one had data plans, you use to be able to send pics in a text message just over the normal cell service. Well, this changed. Android phones need data to send pics. So, I wasn't able to send pics. Kinda shitty.
I hated the switch to the Android. I really missed the Blackberry. I HATE typing with the on screen keyboard. HATE IT! Typing on the Blackberry is bliss. But the BB didn't have a camera, so I stuck with the stupid Android.
During this time, I investigated my cell phone provider and found out that if I signed up for a new plan, with the same amount of lines, I could get unlimited everything PLUS data for LESS than what the current bill was. I guess they restructured their pricing, but left my plan in the old days.
Fast forward to this past December, T-Mobile actually offered to update us to the new plan, with the new pricing, which includes data. That being the case, I decided to upgrade my phone. My Android from Wal Mart was a total piece of shit. I went to Best Buy and got an LG for $150, and it runs amazing in comparison. So now I have a decent Android with a data plan.
I STILL miss my Blackberry. I really miss typing on that thing. I still hate typing on the on screen keyboard.
My last update was November of 2012. About a year after that, I bought a cheap Android from Wal Mart. Not an upgrade, so no contract. And since I bought it on my own and just switched the sim card, no data plan required. I just went into the options and turned off data so I'd never accidentally use it.
The only real reason why I decided to get a new phone was because I got sick of not having a camera. If you read any of this thread, you'd know that it isn't because I take selfies often. Since I got that phone, I constantly use the camera as a tool. I'll take pics of business cards, a schematic or something, a video game password on the TV screen, stuff like that.
Back before smart phones, back before any one had data plans, you use to be able to send pics in a text message just over the normal cell service. Well, this changed. Android phones need data to send pics. So, I wasn't able to send pics. Kinda shitty.
I hated the switch to the Android. I really missed the Blackberry. I HATE typing with the on screen keyboard. HATE IT! Typing on the Blackberry is bliss. But the BB didn't have a camera, so I stuck with the stupid Android.
During this time, I investigated my cell phone provider and found out that if I signed up for a new plan, with the same amount of lines, I could get unlimited everything PLUS data for LESS than what the current bill was. I guess they restructured their pricing, but left my plan in the old days.
Fast forward to this past December, T-Mobile actually offered to update us to the new plan, with the new pricing, which includes data. That being the case, I decided to upgrade my phone. My Android from Wal Mart was a total piece of shit. I went to Best Buy and got an LG for $150, and it runs amazing in comparison. So now I have a decent Android with a data plan.
I STILL miss my Blackberry. I really miss typing on that thing. I still hate typing on the on screen keyboard.