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Eat my words

5 replies · 3,557 views · Started 20 September 2006

rb14 20 Sep 2006, 17:42

I don't know where to start really, but probably with an apology to hardeggerj.

I've persevered for a week and here is my list so far:

  • It crashes too frequently.
  • There is no indication that the phone is actually on. This is MAD. And I mean, REALLY mad. A flashing light is hardly rocket science.
  • The battery life is dreadful. Worse, if I'm in a call, I get like two polite beeps, a couple of minutes apart and then the phone just dies. I have just switched off the 3g network option, selecting only GSM instead. I expect this will help matters.
  • The predictive text is driving me up the wall. Presumably, I just need to get to know it better, but finishing my emails with a kiss "x" and finding I've sent the word xray, is really annoying.
  • I had expected to find - but have not yet found - the phone's features to be very intuitive after all.
  • I'm still waiting for SE UK to list the P990 properly within its support pages.
  • Having updated my phone (it said no update was needed) with the SEUS, I am now unable to sync with my pc. I resorted to loading the sync (PC Suite) software onto my laptop. It worked the first time, but has flatly refused to since.
  • How difficult would it have been to include the clock screensaver?.
  • Why on earth does the alarm not work with the phone off? Yes, I know it works when it's in flight mode, but if Nokia can make their phones wake up from power-off state, why can't SE?
  • It takes three light years to boot. Sorry, make that four light years.
  • Sometimes the auto-lock works, sometimes it doesn't.
  • In Flip-Open (FO), it is tricky to navigate some menus without using the stylus.
  • The headphones are too quiet - even with the volume turned right up.
  • The MP3 ringtone I have used for all my previous SE phones (P800, P900 and P910i) sounds terrible on full volume, echo-y and distorted. I have to use the ring volume at less than full and then can't hear it from across the room.

There is lots more.

I'm kind of hoping that my phone is just a bad one. However, judging by this and other forums, it appears these faults might be only too common. I am returning the phone to Vodafone. So far I've elected to try another P990. It appears they are out of stock (fancy that) right now, so I have a little time to consider alternatives. Any suggestions?

May I humbly repeat, my eternal apologies hardeggerj.

timsalmon 20 Sep 2006, 18:32

I'd like to add an annoyance to your list - you can't use the device at all (except for emergency calls) without a SIM card in. Nokia have realised how crap a deal that is and provided a good offline option and their E series devices can function fully (apart from the obvious) without a SIM card.

Tim

rb14 22 Sep 2006, 10:40

OK so Vodafone have collected my P990 and replaced it with....
.... yes, you guessed it, a P990. I HAD considered a few alternatives, prime mover being the TyTn, but with their hardware problems and lack of a Radio, I'm trying a different P990 in the (probably vain) hope that it will work better. Most of all I can't be without synchronisation which failed after doing a firmware upgrade.

One thing: TO IMPROVE BATTERY LIFE, TURN OFF 3G. Having done this, battery life is straight up to an acceptable level.

I'll keep you posted.

kingrob 23 Sep 2006, 10:30

I just want Wi-fi & and a 2MP camera for my P910, then I'll keep it for another two years.

The TyTn is a great device, had a look at it - and I want one!!

kingrob 23 Sep 2006, 20:51

Get yourself the HP iPAQ 6915 Mobile Messenger - the E61 doesn't even come close.

I've played with the 6915 and it is a powerhouse - the phone part is an added bonus. If I had the money now, I would've got myself one yesterday. My P910 will have to do till I get paid again.