Hi,
I'm just now considering upgrading from a dumbphone to a smartphone...and am considering the Sansung Fascinate. (I'm on Verizon network via PagePlus.)
I do a lot of local bike commuting (to work or for pleasure), and long-distance bike touring. What attracts me to the Fascinate is its long battery life (essential for biking as I'll have no car charger with me!); its very small size (I have tiny hands, and also, pocket space in my vest etc. is small); and its relatively low cost for a great phone.
Now here are my concerns:
1. How is the Fascinate's RECEPTION in remote areas? I am concerned about this, and am considering a Droid x2 (even though it's huge and pricier) b/c it is rated to get better reception.
2. GPS: I'm told I can get gps to work with Google Maps on the Fascinate, but that the Fascinate isn't very good at this? (Non-accurate location; takes 2 min. to get a fix.) What does it mean that the Fascinate's GPS is "unassisted" (as opposed to the droid x2 or incredible which have assisted GPS). I recall reading somewhere that I can get a GPS "software fix" for the Fascinate but how well does it work in the end? Can I get turn-by-turn directions by voice? Does the GPS seem to use a massive amount of juice?
3. DURABILITY: This phone will be outdoors a lot. I have good bags to waterproof my phones, but they can get a little banged around. Which phone would you rather drop 4 feet: The Fascinate, the Droid x2 or the Incredible? (Anyone done any stress-test comparisons?)
3. I want to easily sync my phone with my email/contacts/calendar which are all on Outlook. I'm reading that this is easy on the Droid x2 and Incredible, but there are mixed reviews about how easy this is to accomplish on the Fascinate. Your experience? I don't mind having to do a bit of configuring to get what I want; but want to avoid ongoing "bugginess." I have my work email on Outlook (obscure server) and my personal email on Hotmail, and would like to somehow receive them both, separately, on the Fascinate.
4. Speaking of "buggy": I am reading that the Froyo 2.2 update that happened this past summer caused a ton of problems for some Fascinate phones? True? I admit I'm not clear about what this update was for, or whether the bugs in the update ever got resolved.
The "buggy" issues are especially a concern because I'd be buying a used or refurbished phone, and am on the PagePlus network so I can't just call up customer service like on Verizon and demand a phone replacement. I need the first phone I buy to work.
If you are wondering why I am initially leaning towards the Fascinate over the Droid x2 or Incredible: The Droid x2 is huge (again, I have tiny hands) and about twice as expensive. The Incredible has outrageously short battery life (and the extended battery just makes it as big & heavy as the Droid x2!), plus reception in remote areas rumored no better than the Fascinate. However, each of these phones does have certain advantages over the Fascinate, even for bike touring, so I'm keeping an open mind.
Thanks!
Lisa T.
I'm just now considering upgrading from a dumbphone to a smartphone...and am considering the Sansung Fascinate. (I'm on Verizon network via PagePlus.)
I do a lot of local bike commuting (to work or for pleasure), and long-distance bike touring. What attracts me to the Fascinate is its long battery life (essential for biking as I'll have no car charger with me!); its very small size (I have tiny hands, and also, pocket space in my vest etc. is small); and its relatively low cost for a great phone.
Now here are my concerns:
1. How is the Fascinate's RECEPTION in remote areas? I am concerned about this, and am considering a Droid x2 (even though it's huge and pricier) b/c it is rated to get better reception.
2. GPS: I'm told I can get gps to work with Google Maps on the Fascinate, but that the Fascinate isn't very good at this? (Non-accurate location; takes 2 min. to get a fix.) What does it mean that the Fascinate's GPS is "unassisted" (as opposed to the droid x2 or incredible which have assisted GPS). I recall reading somewhere that I can get a GPS "software fix" for the Fascinate but how well does it work in the end? Can I get turn-by-turn directions by voice? Does the GPS seem to use a massive amount of juice?
3. DURABILITY: This phone will be outdoors a lot. I have good bags to waterproof my phones, but they can get a little banged around. Which phone would you rather drop 4 feet: The Fascinate, the Droid x2 or the Incredible? (Anyone done any stress-test comparisons?)
3. I want to easily sync my phone with my email/contacts/calendar which are all on Outlook. I'm reading that this is easy on the Droid x2 and Incredible, but there are mixed reviews about how easy this is to accomplish on the Fascinate. Your experience? I don't mind having to do a bit of configuring to get what I want; but want to avoid ongoing "bugginess." I have my work email on Outlook (obscure server) and my personal email on Hotmail, and would like to somehow receive them both, separately, on the Fascinate.
4. Speaking of "buggy": I am reading that the Froyo 2.2 update that happened this past summer caused a ton of problems for some Fascinate phones? True? I admit I'm not clear about what this update was for, or whether the bugs in the update ever got resolved.
The "buggy" issues are especially a concern because I'd be buying a used or refurbished phone, and am on the PagePlus network so I can't just call up customer service like on Verizon and demand a phone replacement. I need the first phone I buy to work.
If you are wondering why I am initially leaning towards the Fascinate over the Droid x2 or Incredible: The Droid x2 is huge (again, I have tiny hands) and about twice as expensive. The Incredible has outrageously short battery life (and the extended battery just makes it as big & heavy as the Droid x2!), plus reception in remote areas rumored no better than the Fascinate. However, each of these phones does have certain advantages over the Fascinate, even for bike touring, so I'm keeping an open mind.
Thanks!
Lisa T.