SE Replaces my r520M with T68I, Thoughts/Comments

I am having one of those lucky days you can only hope for now and then. I
sent a r520M to SE to have them flash it up to R4A001. That whole
transaction has been a nitemare. But I guess someone decided to pay me back
as I received a call today from SE Repair Depot. (BTW, for you caller ID
afficianados, SE's service depot shows up as Caller Unkown, I ignored it
till I saw the caller was leaving a lengthy message) Basically I got call
from Jeff telling me that "We have issues with your r520M that is in for
service, could you please call me back".. Well the panic hit, I just knew it
was "We found a spec of pocket moisture in the phone and declaring
unrepairable under warranty due to water damage", or, " We have launched a
End Of Life period on the r520M and even with a receipt it is not a warranty
repair" LOL You know the deal.
Anyway, to shorten this up, they claim phone is not repairable and would I
be willing to accept a brand new T68i with battery and charger as a
replacemt. So I told him I would have to think about it and get back to him
in a few days. NOT!!!!! Got ya didnt I? So i casually yelled loud enough for
the neighborhood to hear to "SHIP IT DANO!". So my question is, what have I
got coming. Since its older, I won't have the opportunity of daily
discussion in thebforums pertaining to this phone, and Google just brings up
the standard reviews and Sales ads stating " this is the same phone God
uses". So whats the deal fellow T68i owners? I thank all inadvance for their
input.

Is the internal antenna the worse move they could have made?
Software, does it flow or running slow? Fortunately I am assurred to get
latest version of Firmware.
Screen good? Viewable in sunlight?
Battery life good? Average? Great? Sucks?
Bluetooth works ok?

If you have any input I am just curious. And B4 someone says what an A-Hole
take the phone and be grateful, I assure you I am both grateful and
appreciative. But I also just like to know what I am dealing with. I couldnt
be happier with my good fortune.

"And then I said; "If your shipping internationally, you gotta use FEDEX!"

---

› See More: SE Replaces my r520M with T68I, Thoughts/Comments

you got a suckier phone. you happy for that?

PDA Man wrote:
>> I am having one of those lucky days you can only hope for now and
>> then. I sent a r520M to SE to have them flash it up to R4A001. That
>> whole transaction has been a nitemare. But I guess someone decided
>> to pay me back as I received a call today from SE Repair Depot.
>> (BTW, for you caller ID afficianados, SE's service depot shows up as
>> Caller Unkown, I ignored it till I saw the caller was leaving a
>> lengthy message) Basically I got call from Jeff telling me that "We
>> have issues with your r520M that is in for service, could you please
>> call me back".. Well the panic hit, I just knew it was "We found a
>> spec of pocket moisture in the phone and declaring unrepairable
>> under warranty due to water damage", or, " We have launched a End Of
>> Life period on the r520M and even with a receipt it is not a
>> warranty repair" LOL You know the deal.
>> Anyway, to shorten this up, they claim phone is not repairable and
>> would I be willing to accept a brand new T68i with battery and
>> charger as a replacemt. So I told him I would have to think about it
>> and get back to him in a few days. NOT!!!!! Got ya didnt I? So i
>> casually yelled loud enough for the neighborhood to hear to "SHIP IT
>> DANO!". So my question is, what have I got coming. Since its older,
>> I won't have the opportunity of daily discussion in thebforums
>> pertaining to this phone, and Google just brings up the standard
>> reviews and Sales ads stating " this is the same phone God uses". So
>> whats the deal fellow T68i owners? I thank all inadvance for their
>> input.
>>
>> Is the internal antenna the worse move they could have made?
>> Software, does it flow or running slow? Fortunately I am assurred to
>> get latest version of Firmware.
>> Screen good? Viewable in sunlight?
>> Battery life good? Average? Great? Sucks?
>> Bluetooth works ok?
>>
>> If you have any input I am just curious. And B4 someone says what an
>> A-Hole take the phone and be grateful, I assure you I am both
>> grateful and appreciative. But I also just like to know what I am
>> dealing with. I couldnt be happier with my good fortune.
>>
>> "And then I said; "If your shipping internationally, you gotta use
>> FEDEX!"

"PDA Man" <[email protected]> writes:

> Is the internal antenna the worse move they could have made?

I had no complaints about reception, but some did gripe. I'm in the
metro DC area, in the USA.

> Software, does it flow or running slow? Fortunately I am assurred to get
> latest version of Firmware.

Menus were slow on mine, but I had fairly old firmware (firmware
upgrades for SE phones are kind of a nightmare in the USA). I just
learned to live with it.

> Screen good? Viewable in sunlight?

Decent screen, good outdoor visibility.

> Battery life good? Average? Great? Sucks?

Excellent battery life.

> Bluetooth works ok?

It's close to the reference phone for BT, everything I threw at it
worked flawlessly.

Nick

--
# sigmask || 0.2 || 20030107 || public domain || feed this to a python
print reduce(lambda x,y+chr(ord(y)-1),' Ojdl!Wbshjti!=obwAcboefstobudi/psh?')

Thanks andy. Could ask for a better review being I live in bethesda
Maryland.
"Nick Vargish" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "PDA Man" <[email protected]> writes:
>
> > Is the internal antenna the worse move they could have made?
>
> I had no complaints about reception, but some did gripe. I'm in the
> metro DC area, in the USA.
>
> > Software, does it flow or running slow? Fortunately I am assurred to get
> > latest version of Firmware.
>
> Menus were slow on mine, but I had fairly old firmware (firmware
> upgrades for SE phones are kind of a nightmare in the USA). I just
> learned to live with it.
>
> > Screen good? Viewable in sunlight?
>
> Decent screen, good outdoor visibility.
>
> > Battery life good? Average? Great? Sucks?
>
> Excellent battery life.
>
> > Bluetooth works ok?
>
> It's close to the reference phone for BT, everything I threw at it
> worked flawlessly.
>
> Nick
>
> --
> # sigmask || 0.2 || 20030107 || public domain || feed this to a
python
> print reduce(lambda x,y+chr(ord(y)-1),'
Ojdl!Wbshjti!=obwAcboefstobudi/psh?')

"PDA Man" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Bluetooth works ok?

BT energy management works much better than on T39/R520. Setting
BT permanently to "ON" reduces standby time by 70 to 80 percent
with the former phones, while only by 15 to 20 percent with T68.
So voice dialling via BT headset isn't a problem anymore.

M.

Thanks Mike, good input appreciate it.
"Michael Pronay" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "PDA Man" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Bluetooth works ok?
>
> BT energy management works much better than on T39/R520. Setting
> BT permanently to "ON" reduces standby time by 70 to 80 percent
> with the former phones, while only by 15 to 20 percent with T68.
> So voice dialling via BT headset isn't a problem anymore.
>
> M.

All the extra features are great, wonderful, more than most people will ever
need. Good battery life even with BT on and nice looking/handling, compact
little phone with a colour screen.

But...and there's always a but...IMHO the RF performance is mediocre at best
and appalling at worst.

If you need a 'phone to make & receive calls get another R520M

I know people who have bought another R520M than rather than have a 'free'
T68i

However if you want a 'fashion accessory' you will soon have one of the best
there is...

Sorry to piss on your parade...mine was as much as a chocolate teapot.

I have just bought a Nokia 6310i to replace a T68i and T610 on Orange in the
UK.

No comparison when it comes to RF performance - shame as I have a couple of
hundred of pounds worth of genuine SE accessories that will be heading for
eBay soon...

Regards,
-=pp=-


"PDA Man" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am having one of those lucky days you can only hope for now and then. I
> sent a r520M to SE to have them flash it up to R4A001. That whole
> transaction has been a nitemare. But I guess someone decided to pay me
back
> as I received a call today from SE Repair Depot. (BTW, for you caller ID
> afficianados, SE's service depot shows up as Caller Unkown, I ignored it
> till I saw the caller was leaving a lengthy message) Basically I got call
> from Jeff telling me that "We have issues with your r520M that is in for
> service, could you please call me back".. Well the panic hit, I just knew
it
> was "We found a spec of pocket moisture in the phone and declaring
> unrepairable under warranty due to water damage", or, " We have launched a
> End Of Life period on the r520M and even with a receipt it is not a
warranty
> repair" LOL You know the deal.
> Anyway, to shorten this up, they claim phone is not repairable and would I
> be willing to accept a brand new T68i with battery and charger as a
> replacemt. So I told him I would have to think about it and get back to
him
> in a few days. NOT!!!!! Got ya didnt I? So i casually yelled loud enough
for
> the neighborhood to hear to "SHIP IT DANO!". So my question is, what have
I
> got coming. Since its older, I won't have the opportunity of daily
> discussion in thebforums pertaining to this phone, and Google just brings
up
> the standard reviews and Sales ads stating " this is the same phone God
> uses". So whats the deal fellow T68i owners? I thank all inadvance for
their
> input.
>
> Is the internal antenna the worse move they could have made?
> Software, does it flow or running slow? Fortunately I am assurred to get
> latest version of Firmware.
> Screen good? Viewable in sunlight?
> Battery life good? Average? Great? Sucks?
> Bluetooth works ok?
>
> If you have any input I am just curious. And B4 someone says what an
A-Hole
> take the phone and be grateful, I assure you I am both grateful and
> appreciative. But I also just like to know what I am dealing with. I
couldnt
> be happier with my good fortune.
>
> "And then I said; "If your shipping internationally, you gotta use FEDEX!"
>
>

The SE T68i is one of the coolest phones I've ever come across. It's got
great features (including Bluetooth), exceptional battery life, an alarm
function that even the dead couldn't sleep through, and a very nice small
size. BUT... if you've got a poor-quality service provider, it ain't a good
choice. Mine is AT&T, and the T68i is just barely adequate (San Francisco
peninsula). However, when I'm in France, it picks up a strong signal in the
remotest regions imaginable. Go figure!

I've just sent in my phone to be unlocked & have a firmware update; it's
possible that the update might help with reception (but the main reason for
sending it in was so that, after unlocking, I could buy inexpensive SIM
cards in France).

AT&T is upgrading their networks in my area and adding 800/850mhz, which the
T68i can't use, so they just sent me a brand new SE T226. Nowhere near the
features of the T68i, much worse battery life, but sends/receives (RF for
you cool guys) much better. However, besides losing bluetooth, it also
won't work in France, so it's going to be used for local stuff only. If the
T68i comes back better after the new firmware, I may have one of my kids use
the T226 and I'll go back to the T68i full time.

--Mike--
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com

I agree about the poor RF performance, but ONLY in the UK. The UK has just
about the poorest GSM service (all networks) in Europe. I have owned a T68i
for 2 years now and it has performed flawlessly. I have used it on all 3 of
the networks here in Estonia, on networks throughout Europe and Western
Russia and the only problems I have suffered have been in the UK. You
require a radio telescope to be assured of a usable signal from T-Mobile if
you stray off the beaten track in the Lake District and the Scottish
Highlands! I even found consistent blind spots in suburban North London on
T-Mobile and O2 can be a joke in some areas if you leave the motorway
network behind.

Still have the original battery and the phone is used heavily by my wife
now. It is never turned off and the battery is charged in an irregular
manner (sometimes 90% exhausted, sometimes only 10% exhausted). I bought the
T68i to replace an r520m which is still enduring heavy usage from my
father-in-law. The r520m was perhaps the definitive ''business phone'' of
its time. However I always found the keypad to be rather clunky and the
overall size did not lend itself to sticking it in your jeans pocket without
enduring self-induced castration when sitting on a bar stool!!!

There were 2 reasons for passing the T68i on to my wife in the end. One
emotional and one rational. Firstly there was my inexplicable but
short-lived love affair with the P800. Secondly my fingers are fairly beefy
and the little keys on the T68i are just a wee bit too small for me. I have
been in keypad nirvana for the past 3 months with my new Z600. Best phone
ever made!!!



--


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"Pheasant Plucker®" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> All the extra features are great, wonderful, more than most people will
ever
> need. Good battery life even with BT on and nice looking/handling, compact
> little phone with a colour screen.
>
> But...and there's always a but...IMHO the RF performance is mediocre at
best
> and appalling at worst.
>
> If you need a 'phone to make & receive calls get another R520M
>
> I know people who have bought another R520M than rather than have a 'free'
> T68i
>
> However if you want a 'fashion accessory' you will soon have one of the
best
> there is...
>
> Sorry to piss on your parade...mine was as much as a chocolate teapot.
>
> I have just bought a Nokia 6310i to replace a T68i and T610 on Orange in
the
> UK.
>
> No comparison when it comes to RF performance - shame as I have a couple
of
> hundred of pounds worth of genuine SE accessories that will be heading for
> eBay soon...
>
> Regards,
> -=pp=-
>
>
> "PDA Man" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I am having one of those lucky days you can only hope for now and then.
I
> > sent a r520M to SE to have them flash it up to R4A001. That whole
> > transaction has been a nitemare. But I guess someone decided to pay me
> back
> > as I received a call today from SE Repair Depot. (BTW, for you caller ID
> > afficianados, SE's service depot shows up as Caller Unkown, I ignored it
> > till I saw the caller was leaving a lengthy message) Basically I got
call
> > from Jeff telling me that "We have issues with your r520M that is in for
> > service, could you please call me back".. Well the panic hit, I just
knew
> it
> > was "We found a spec of pocket moisture in the phone and declaring
> > unrepairable under warranty due to water damage", or, " We have launched
a
> > End Of Life period on the r520M and even with a receipt it is not a
> warranty
> > repair" LOL You know the deal.
> > Anyway, to shorten this up, they claim phone is not repairable and would
I
> > be willing to accept a brand new T68i with battery and charger as a
> > replacemt. So I told him I would have to think about it and get back to
> him
> > in a few days. NOT!!!!! Got ya didnt I? So i casually yelled loud enough
> for
> > the neighborhood to hear to "SHIP IT DANO!". So my question is, what
have
> I
> > got coming. Since its older, I won't have the opportunity of daily
> > discussion in thebforums pertaining to this phone, and Google just
brings
> up
> > the standard reviews and Sales ads stating " this is the same phone God
> > uses". So whats the deal fellow T68i owners? I thank all inadvance for
> their
> > input.
> >
> > Is the internal antenna the worse move they could have made?
> > Software, does it flow or running slow? Fortunately I am assurred to get
> > latest version of Firmware.
> > Screen good? Viewable in sunlight?
> > Battery life good? Average? Great? Sucks?
> > Bluetooth works ok?
> >
> > If you have any input I am just curious. And B4 someone says what an
> A-Hole
> > take the phone and be grateful, I assure you I am both grateful and
> > appreciative. But I also just like to know what I am dealing with. I
> couldnt
> > be happier with my good fortune.
> >
> > "And then I said; "If your shipping internationally, you gotta use
FEDEX!"
> >
> >
>
>