'Rugged' phones?

On Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:41:10 +0100, Whiskers
<[email protected]> wrote:


>> A quick Google seems to suggest it's not that prevalent at the moment.
>> Is that right, is it out yet?
>
>I think it's been out for a year or so, but I can't say that I've seen one
>in the flesh.

Ah, ok.
>

>> The other thought would be a less 'rugged' / more traditional phone
>> that has a decent protective skin available for it?
>>

>Depends if she's willing to unpack the phone from its case to answer
>calls, but there are some very tough solid cases that would take a mobile
>phone and give it good protetion.

Good point and I think the answer is no.

> The leather or plastic cases I've used
>are more cosmetic than really protective -

I carry my 6310i on my hip in a Krusell horizontal case because 1) I'm
old and 2) had no street cred to start with and 3) would forget / lose
it if it wasn't on me all the time and 4) find it very useful to have
it there.

>although they might keep all
>the fragments in one place next time the handset falls out of a tree.

;-) [1] Thanks for paying attention but joking aside I don't think
it's that sort of thing that is the real risk at the moment, more like
it getting a whack or wet in her pocket or dropped in the mud, pond or
on the pavement. Hopefully she wouldn't be using it up a tree
(although it might be a good way to get signal <g>) as she would
probably already have her hands full (climbing gear and chainsaw).

And I don't think much would survive if dropped in the chipper (she is
already frustrated by all her rakes being used to help stuff through
the chipper so now have handles only 2' long). :-(

Cheers, T i m

[1] I have seen several phones exploded on the concourse at Liverpool
Street Station and the panic as folk try to recover a myriad of
components from between the feet of the rush hour commuter. :-(

---

› See More: 'Rugged' phones?

On Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:03:04 +0100, Whiskers
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On 2008-10-17, T i m <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:06:58 GMT, "Steve Dulieu"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>[...]
>
>> Maybe we should start again and just look for a 'business phone' (to
>> get strong usability features like BT, good keypad, battery life,
>> reliability etc) and find a protective skin for it (or have it on a
>> bit of string round her neck). ;-(
>
>[...]
>
>If she's climbing trees and using power tools, I don't think any sort of
>lanyard is a good idea - could be quite dangerous.

That was just tongue in cheek (as you could probably imagine the look
we would get if we suggested such) but valid point and thanks anyway.
;-)
>
>The Samsung seems to be tougher than the JCB, and does have a camera (only
>VGA, but with flash) and BlueTooth.

Yep, it seems the best option so far (ignoring the Nokia 'sports'
models for now). The only objection she has come up with at first
glance is the rubber keys (oh, and their 'green' ) ;-)

> This is the maker's own site
><http://uk.samsungmobile.com/mobile/SGH-M110> and this is a good review
>from The Register (which is what first made me think I'd like one of them)
><http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/23/review_samsung_m110_solid/>.

Thanks for those.

I'm slightly confused though. I popped into our local T-Mob shop this
arvo and they had a black Samsung <someletter>110 'rugged' phone in
there (no mention of 'Solid' on the sales ticket)on PAYG for £29 +10
credit? Although from memory it looked the same as the Solid I guess
this *isn't* the same model as the 'M110 Solid' is it? The demo one
had a hard plastic top but that may have been because it was just a
model?

Cheers, T i m

On Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:27:01 +0100, T i m wrote:

> Maybe we should start again and just look for a 'business phone'
....
> and find a protective skin for it

I've had Krusell cases for my 6310i and E61 and they seem to work OK. The
smaller the buttons, the worse they are behind the clear plastic,
however. The clip on the back makes it easier to wedge your phone between
your shoulder and your face and have a hands-free conversation.

--
<http://ale.cx/> (AIM:troffasky) ([email protected])
18:43:32 up 1 day, 22:34, 1 user, load average: 0.06, 0.07, 0.08
They call me titless because I have no tits

On Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:51:08 UTC, alexd <[email protected]> wrote:

> I've had Krusell cases for my 6310i and E61 and they seem to work OK. The
> smaller the buttons, the worse they are behind the clear plastic,
> however. The clip on the back makes it easier to wedge your phone between
> your shoulder and your face and have a hands-free conversation.

Yup, I use a vertical Krusell case and it works well, complete with belt
clip.

--
Bob Eager
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org

"T i m" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> I believe the Nokia 5140i is (was?) a good all-rounder?

You'd believe right.


--
J B

On 2008-10-17, T i m <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:03:04 +0100, Whiskers
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>On 2008-10-17, T i m <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> On Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:06:58 GMT, "Steve Dulieu"
>>> <[email protected]> wrote:

[...]

> I'm slightly confused though. I popped into our local T-Mob shop this
> arvo and they had a black Samsung <someletter>110 'rugged' phone in
> there (no mention of 'Solid' on the sales ticket)on PAYG for £29 +10
> credit? Although from memory it looked the same as the Solid I guess
> this *isn't* the same model as the 'M110 Solid' is it? The demo one
> had a hard plastic top but that may have been because it was just a
> model?
>
> Cheers, T i m

That package price may be in line with the 'SIM-Free' price of around £80
that seems to be what the 'Solid' goes for. One of the respondents to the
review in The Register says he found it for £30 in a PAYG package. If the
model designation is SGH-M110 then I'd expect it to be the same thing as
appears on the Samsung website. I don't know of any similar-looking
Samsung model with a similar model number (but telcos do odd things to the
branding of their packaged handsets). The thick 'frame' and relatively
small screen (compared with most current models) are fairly distinctive -
and it's the only one I've seen with an olive green colour option. It's a
little thicker than most current 'candy-bar' handsets, and not as sleek
and glossy. (But my Nokia 6300 isn't as sleek and glossy as it was a year
ago - and that was just one drop from waist height).

--
-- ^^^^^^^^^^
-- Whiskers
-- ~~~~~~~~~~

On Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:40:36 +0100, Iain <[email protected]>
wrote:


>How about a Samsung SGH-M110 ? I bought one from Tesco at a very cheap
>price and it seems fine. There are some issues with the user interface
>(specifically unlocking the keypad you have to pause after pressing a
>"wrong" key. But it is cheap, tough and seems to do all you ask for -
>except video recording. And it has good battery life and BlueTooth.
>
Yeah, that model seems to keep popping up Iain but I'm still slightly
confused.

You see it advertised on the likes of Amazon for £83 .. [1]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Handy-Samsun.../dp/B000XVAFK6

... and yet my local T-Mob shop has a 'Samsung M110' on PAYG for £29
(+10 topup)? So is this just a special deal T-Mob are doing (our
daughter has a pay monthly contract on T-Mob and I assume we can just
put her SIM in any new T-Mob (or any unlocked) phone), or is it not
the same phone? I mentioned the word 'Solid' when referring to the
phone and the guy in the shop responded positively (even though there
was no mention on the card). At that price it might be worth a go in
any case?

Even on eBay they are going for ~£65?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/eBayISAPI.dll?...m=180298416359

What have I missed please?

Cheers, T i m

[1] Not exactly glowing reviews? :-(

On Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:17:38 +0100, "J B" <[email protected]> wrote:

>"T i m" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>
>> I believe the Nokia 5140i is (was?) a good all-rounder?
>
>You'd believe right.

;-)

*Except* for a modern(ish) phone it's a shame it doesn't come with
blue tooth? ;-(

What about these 'sports phones' then please, like the Nokia 5500?

Cheers, T i m

T i m wrote:

> What have I missed please?

Nothing that I can see. I reckon it is the same phone. Think I paid £29
for it.

> [1] Not exactly glowing reviews? :-(

Stupid reviewers. Yes, you can switch off the beeps. No, some of the
buttons are not the same as on other phones. why should they be? You get
the hang of them soon enough.As ever, the ringtunes are iffy, the
ringtones are terrible.

The display is small, but the battery life is great. The camera is not
good, but it is not bad.

No idea whether it can receive business cards. I've been using mobiles
for twenty years and have never had a business card sent to one.

The only thing realy wrong with it is switching off the keylock. You
have to press the correct buttons in the right order (as with any phone)
but if you press a wrong button, you then have to wait for the "you
pressed the wrong button" alert to time out before you can try again.
That is irritating, but if you are careful, it's OK.

And at the t-mobile price, it's not a big deal if you end up keeping it
as a spare. That's what I bought mine for, but my teenage son has taken
it over and seems to really like it.

It's a phone, not a PDA, camera or multimedia player. And it is tough,
waterproof and cheap.

Iain

On Fri, 17 Oct 2008 23:47:57 +0100, Whiskers
<[email protected]> wrote:


>> I'm slightly confused though. I popped into our local T-Mob shop this
>> arvo and they had a black Samsung <someletter>110 'rugged' phone in
>> there (no mention of 'Solid' on the sales ticket)on PAYG for £29 +10
>> credit? Although from memory it looked the same as the Solid I guess
>> this *isn't* the same model as the 'M110 Solid' is it? The demo one
>> had a hard plastic top but that may have been because it was just a
>> model?
>>
>> Cheers, T i m
>
>That package price may be in line with the 'SIM-Free' price of around £80
>that seems to be what the 'Solid' goes for. One of the respondents to the
>review in The Register says he found it for £30 in a PAYG package. If the
>model designation is SGH-M110 then I'd expect it to be the same thing as
>appears on the Samsung website.

Ok, I'll have a closer look today and see if there is any model number
shown as well. Maybe I'll even get him to get a new one out and see
what it says on the packaging and at that price may go for one anyway?
I have a spare non-expiring VM PAYG SIM (so the phone shouldn't need
unlocking from T-Mob for it to work eh?) so if it doesn't suit
daughter it could become my spare / motorcycling phone.

> I don't know of any similar-looking
>Samsung model with a similar model number (but telcos do odd things to the
>branding of their packaged handsets). The thick 'frame' and relatively
>small screen (compared with most current models) are fairly distinctive -
>and it's the only one I've seen with an olive green colour option.

Agreed. The one they had was all black and as I said may have just
been a dummy / model and the end caps felt more like (were) hard
plastic than the expected rubber? One drop on the end and it too would
be a phone kit.

> It's a
>little thicker than most current 'candy-bar' handsets, and not as sleek
>and glossy.

Indeed. I like that mention of when you pull it out your pocket it's
covered in lint! Might be a good way of de-linting your pockets! ;-)

> (But my Nokia 6300 isn't as sleek and glossy as it was a year
>ago - and that was just one drop from waist height).

Oh. My 6310i hit the ground blast week, probably for the first time in
a long time and popped the case open a bit. I can't see any obvious
damage. Never a good thing though.

Cheers, T i m

On Sat, 18 Oct 2008 02:14:46 +0100, Iain <[email protected]>
wrote:

>T i m wrote:
>
>> What have I missed please?
>
>Nothing that I can see. I reckon it is the same phone. Think I paid £29
>for it.

Well, that's quite good then if it's the case (and I'm not suggesting
it's not etc).
>
>> [1] Not exactly glowing reviews? :-(
>
>Stupid reviewers. Yes, you can switch off the beeps.

Daughter can't seem to turn off the 'text sent' jingle and I agree
with her it's neither quiet nor good. I was interested to know if it
was a 'Samsung thing' Iain?

>No, some of the
>buttons are not the same as on other phones. why should they be? You get
>the hang of them soon enough.

Agreed (and I would have ignored such things in any case) and
potentially not even an issue for daughter as her current phone is a
Samsung.

>As ever, the ringtunes are iffy, the
>ringtones are terrible.

;-) The monophonic ring tone on my 6310i is the most penetrating one I
could find and it sounds like some sort of fire alarm! I sill don't
hear it sometimes ... :-(
>
>The display is small, but the battery life is great. The camera is not
>good, but it is not bad.

Ok, and all potentially 'expected' observations for a phone of this
type / price no?
>
>No idea whether it can receive business cards. I've been using mobiles
>for twenty years and have never had a business card sent to one.

I think I've had a couple sent to me (and over a similar time period)
.... seem 'ok' ...
>
>The only thing realy wrong with it is switching off the keylock. You
>have to press the correct buttons in the right order (as with any phone)
>but if you press a wrong button, you then have to wait for the "you
>pressed the wrong button" alert to time out before you can try again.
>That is irritating, but if you are careful, it's OK.

Ok, and thanks for the heads up.
>
>And at the t-mobile price, it's not a big deal if you end up keeping it
>as a spare.

No, and that was a background thought I had after reading Whiskers
reply up there ^^ somewhere. Handy as a motorcycling / emergency /
spare phone if daughter doesn't get on with it or until we happen upon
something 'better'?

> That's what I bought mine for, but my teenage son has taken
>it over and seems to really like it.

Good. Daughter isn't particularly fussed about 'style' as long as it
works, does all the 'expected things (and that list seems fairly
constant) and is reliable.
>
>It's a phone, not a PDA, camera or multimedia player.

Yup.

> And it is tough,
>waterproof and cheap.

Sweet, sold! ;-)

All the best and thanks for the feedback ... T i m

p.s. Can you remember (or can you ask son) if there is a text sent
jingle and if you can turn it off please, without turning off more
needed indicators (like text received).

On 2008-10-17, T i m <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:40:36 +0100, Iain <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>
>>How about a Samsung SGH-M110 ? I bought one from Tesco at a very cheap
>>price and it seems fine. There are some issues with the user interface
>>(specifically unlocking the keypad you have to pause after pressing a
>>"wrong" key. But it is cheap, tough and seems to do all you ask for -
>>except video recording. And it has good battery life and BlueTooth.
>>
> Yeah, that model seems to keep popping up Iain but I'm still slightly
> confused.
>
> You see it advertised on the likes of Amazon for £83 .. [1]
>
> http://www.amazon.co.uk/Handy-Samsun.../dp/B000XVAFK6
>
> .. and yet my local T-Mob shop has a 'Samsung M110' on PAYG for £29
> (+10 topup)? So is this just a special deal T-Mob are doing (our
> daughter has a pay monthly contract on T-Mob and I assume we can just
> put her SIM in any new T-Mob (or any unlocked) phone), or is it not
> the same phone? I mentioned the word 'Solid' when referring to the
> phone and the guy in the shop responded positively (even though there
> was no mention on the card). At that price it might be worth a go in
> any case?

[...]

When you buy a package that includes a handset and a service contract or
PAYG arrangement, the telco subsidises the price of the handset - in the
expectation that they'll get their money back in line rental and call
charges, or 'top-ups'.

When you buy a SIM-free handset, there is no subsidy. That's why the same
handset can "cost" anything from nothing at all up to hundreds of pounds,
depending on which "deal" you go for.

Of course, it has occurred to some people that you can get the subsidy by
buying a PAYG package, then put in a cheap SIM from some other package,
and the telco has no way of getting the subsidy back from you (other than
charging all their customers more for everything to cover the 'wastage').
"Locking" the handset is an attempt to discourage that sort of thing, but
it's so cheap and easy to "unlock" the thing that it isn't much of a
deterrent.

--
-- ^^^^^^^^^^
-- Whiskers
-- ~~~~~~~~~~

On 2008-10-18, T i m <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Fri, 17 Oct 2008 23:47:57 +0100, Whiskers
> <[email protected]> wrote:

[...]

> Indeed. I like that mention of when you pull it out your pocket it's
> covered in lint! Might be a good way of de-linting your pockets! ;-)
>
>> (But my Nokia 6300 isn't as sleek and glossy as it was a year
>>ago - and that was just one drop from waist height).
>
> Oh. My 6310i hit the ground blast week, probably for the first time in
> a long time and popped the case open a bit. I can't see any obvious
> damage. Never a good thing though.
>
> Cheers, T i m

The Solid is a YouTube stunt phone!
<http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=EWQIKAslZkY>

--
-- ^^^^^^^^^^
-- Whiskers
-- ~~~~~~~~~~

On Sat, 18 Oct 2008 13:07:58 +0100, Whiskers
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On 2008-10-18, T i m <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On Fri, 17 Oct 2008 23:47:57 +0100, Whiskers
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>[...]
>
>> Indeed. I like that mention of when you pull it out your pocket it's
>> covered in lint! Might be a good way of de-linting your pockets! ;-)
>>
>>> (But my Nokia 6300 isn't as sleek and glossy as it was a year
>>>ago - and that was just one drop from waist height).
>>
>> Oh. My 6310i hit the ground blast week, probably for the first time in
>> a long time and popped the case open a bit. I can't see any obvious
>> damage. Never a good thing though.
>>
>> Cheers, T i m
>
>The Solid is a YouTube stunt phone!
><http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=EWQIKAslZkY>

;-)

Well, we have one now (and they didn't even make us buy the top-up)
but, after some brief use today I think she's gonna stick with her
SGH-U600, at least for the time being (till she goes to work next or
till the old one actually dies).

Why, because (apparently) the screen and keyboard are smaller and make
the general / typical day-to-day (non work) use more difficult. :-(

Time will tell though and as soon as the U600 starts playing up again
I'm sure she will be back to the M110 (or I'll have it) ;-)

Cheers .. T i m

On Sat, 18 Oct 2008 12:50:01 +0100, Whiskers
<[email protected]> wrote:

>> .. and yet my local T-Mob shop has a 'Samsung M110' on PAYG for £29
>> (+10 topup)? So is this just a special deal T-Mob are doing (our
>> daughter has a pay monthly contract on T-Mob and I assume we can just
>> put her SIM in any new T-Mob (or any unlocked) phone), or is it not
>> the same phone? I mentioned the word 'Solid' when referring to the
>> phone and the guy in the shop responded positively (even though there
>> was no mention on the card). At that price it might be worth a go in
>> any case?
>
>[...]
>
>When you buy a package that includes a handset and a service contract or
>PAYG arrangement, the telco subsidises the price of the handset - in the
>expectation that they'll get their money back in line rental and call
>charges, or 'top-ups'.

Ok ...
>
>When you buy a SIM-free handset, there is no subsidy. That's why the same
>handset can "cost" anything from nothing at all up to hundreds of pounds,
>depending on which "deal" you go for.

Understood ...
>
>Of course, it has occurred to some people that you can get the subsidy by
>buying a PAYG package, then put in a cheap SIM from some other package,
>and the telco has no way of getting the subsidy back from you (other than
>charging all their customers more for everything to cover the 'wastage').

Doh!

>"Locking" the handset is an attempt to discourage that sort of thing, but
>it's so cheap and easy to "unlock" the thing that it isn't much of a
>deterrent.

Well indeed and in this case not needed at all (already on T-Mob). I
guess I wasn't ready for the cost difference between PAYG and SIM
free, considering what you say above etc.

Cheers, T i m