Gizmodo
Yetro is something so unfashionable it has yet to be retro—and probably will never be. Example: my RAZR. I've had it for almost three years now. I hate it. Actually, hate is too strong a word. I pity it. My mobile phone with its nauseous blue-painted interface, its ability to change its ring tone to the Motorola theme whenever it feels like it, and its battery, which now gives me about five minutes' talk time before it bleeps like a demented synthetic chicken. In the video above, Jesus and I "reenact" a more joyful time, its original unboxing three long years ago. Today, I'm thinking I should bite the bullet and retire the old boiler. Is the utter demise of the RAZR finally nigh at hand? Not for Gizmodo readers who obviously have moved on long ago, but for trailing edge late adopters too?
Yetro is something so unfashionable it has yet to be retro—and probably will never be. Example: my RAZR. I've had it for almost three years now. I hate it. Actually, hate is too strong a word. I pity it. My mobile phone with its nauseous blue-painted interface, its ability to change its ring tone to the Motorola theme whenever it feels like it, and its battery, which now gives me about five minutes' talk time before it bleeps like a demented synthetic chicken. In the video above, Jesus and I "reenact" a more joyful time, its original unboxing three long years ago. Today, I'm thinking I should bite the bullet and retire the old boiler. Is the utter demise of the RAZR finally nigh at hand? Not for Gizmodo readers who obviously have moved on long ago, but for trailing edge late adopters too?In nine years, I've gone through five mobiles. A Nokia brick my dad gave me (left in the back of a taxi), an Ericsson flip T28 (the flip eventually flopped), an Ericsson T68 (honestly, the best phone ever, lasted three years), a cheapo, tiny Panasonic I picked up at Dubai airport for 50 bucks, and the RAZR.
Perhaps its because, as phones have become more sophisticated, they have become more fallible. The RAZR promised so much—and I'm not talking about bumping into Beckham at the supermarket checkout here—and failed to deliver.
As my first cameraphone, it made pictures that looked like something I drew on Etch-a-Sketch a couple of decades ago, but I can live with that. What I can't live with is the sluggy interface. Or the buttons that don't work, with their eerie backlight that just shows up all the hideous detritus that my phone has picked up from being chucked into the black hole-esque dustbin that is my bag. Or the seemingly random volume control. I can't see a thing on the screen when the sun is shining. And I have room for just 13 incoming SMS messages at any one time before I have to start deleting them.
So, let's talk about the good times with my RAZR. *tumbleweed blows across the page* I was pissed off the day I bought it because the shop didn't even have the black one I wanted. I'd liked the look of that when it came out, but by the time my Panasonic gave up the ghost, all that was available was silver. Why did I go through with it? It was small enough to fit into my pockets without making me look like a ladyboy, and I'd heard good things about Motorola from other friends. They're not my friends any more.
I asked myself what I liked about it, and there was one thing: the wallpaper is a picture of Jesus taken the day after he asked me to marry him, and I'll be sad to see that go. But the quality is so shite—honestly, I'd have got better results from a pinhole camera—I know that it won't travel. Plus, for some reason, I can't send photos via SMS.
I can't even lose it, like older more beloved phones. I left the RAZR in a club a couple of months ago, and I'd made it halfway down the block when some guy came running up behind me. "You left this on the bar," he wheezed. (Everyone in Spain smokes, and I'm a fast walker.) As he palmed the RAZR back into my hand, I could swear there was a look of pity on his face.
In truth, this isn't about the RAZR, but what comes after. I bleeding know it's time for a new phone, but which? No prizes for guessing which one Jesus wants me to get. But even when the 3G model of the iPhone eventually deigns to park its arse at an Apple Store near me, I am still digging my heels in over certain issues—internal memory too small, eminently crackable screen for my klutziness, a rather larger size than a closed RAZR, etc etc. I also know that the largest-capacity 3G iPhone would be molto 'spensivo, and I don't know whether I really want to spunk that much on a phone. Pathetic, isn't it?
So here I am, willing but unable to put the RAZR out of its misery. Until it breathes its last, when the ringtone that sounds like J-Lo bellydancing sputters to a halt, as the little screen with the M logo fades to gray, when the buttons lie dull and unresponsive beneath my desperate fingers, that will be the time to replace it. Got any recommendations?
Comments
I likes the Pearl. Yum.
I just bought a new battery. Works swell. The ringtone switching thing... that one I never had happen. lol
If you want small and nice UI, I'd recommend something from SonyEricsson but not with UIQ in it.
Ahhh, talking trash on Motorola... sponsored by Nokia.
I never liked those things.
Get a Sony Ericsson. Seriosly.
Helio ocean. Seriously
Seriously*
damn missing Edit button!
Anyways, if you really like something thin and functional, you should consider the Sony Ericsson W890. If not, just get some other Sony Ericsson. XD
N95 8GB....theres no other
get any Nokia or Sony Ericsson (or iPhone 3G as well) just don't get Craptorola or bimbo phones from Samsung and LG
Really liked the HTC touch till i dropped it under a race car this weekend...a minute of silance please
I'm still using my RAZR V3 (not a V3i, or any of the later versions, just a plain ordinary V3). It still looks great, and I've not experienced any bugs, except for the crap battery life.
I'm waiting on the Sony XPERIA to replace it. Hopefully I'll be in a decent job by then!
You got a lemon. My RAZR can hold 30 messages before showing up full.
Ummm... I don't see the point of this post? Obviously you're going to have issues with a phone that is 4+ years old. And you can do your own damn research when looking for a new phone. Wow.
Why is this a post on Gizmodo again? Geez guys.
I agree, the Sony-Ericsson phones are pretty top-notch. I had a W600 for about two years before I got my iPhone, and now my sister-in-law uses it... still working perfectly like the day I bought it.
So, I would say (assuming you don't get an iPhone) you definitely want to go with a SE. I would... and I'm important. And things.
@Silent_Shark:
Sony Ericsson - not Sony. The two are not the same companies. Back some 5 years ago Sony - unable to make a dent in the mobile phone market share of the Nordic giants Nokia and Ericsson - started a joint venture with Ericsson. The new company was jointly owned by Sony and Ericsson and was thus called Sony Ericsson. However Sony Ericsson is neither Sony nor Ericsson - it's a separate company.
At least you got the Moto interface. Horrible as it is, it's better than the Verizon UI that's on my RAZR.
Addy, you're my hero.
My KRAZR Red switches from vibrate to some fake reggae tune at the highest volume possible completely of its own volition, and at the most inopportune moments. But at least I'm saving Africa and feeding Bono's ego.
@Kim98: I'm aware of that :p . Just saving time I guess. You could also say I left the 'X1' off too...
@Silent_Shark:
Well considering that Ericsson was the original phone making company & expert - not Sony - perhaps you want to call them just "Ericsson" then at least? :) By the way, the common abbreviation is S-E.
I liked the post. It's like re-enacting a birthday, sad, silly, and ... no dad don't beat me. - But I digress -
I am one who thinks we should all hold onto technology until we have a good reason to replace it. I tend to use tech until it's in the grave.
When I hear about somebody living with a phone for 4 years, it makes me happy. This is a great post for Earth Day.
I have had the same phone for 2 years. Its been fine for me, except the dust behind the screen problem. But now since my contracts almost up I'm gonna get a HTC TyTN II.
Oh, that ringtone switching nightmare. I HATE that. Everytime you plug it in, if you get a call in while it's charging, consider the tone switched. Sometimes it switches back as you unplug it, other times not. And it's annoying squared because a) I hate having to switch it back and b) I hate (and hate is too mild a word) the Moto ringtone.
I too have to replace my Motorola after closer to several (4? 5?) years. I understand your unwillingness to jump even though you would like to blast the thing to smithereens.
all of your problems OP, seem to be limitations set by YOUR CARRIER on YOUR DEVICE...stop bashing Motorola, its not their fault you won't buy an unlocked phone which was the way the device was meant to be used...lets all blame the manfacutring company for what the carrier does to the UI...fail, epicly....
Get a Sony Ericsson.
At@t: The iPhone
Verizon: The LG Voyager
T-Mobile: The SideKick
Sprint: The HTC Touch/Samsung Instinct
Nokia: The Tube
Master Matoro
@nikeplr: Agreed, the Nokia N95 is my Jesus Phone.
Anything Sony Ericsson or HTC. I have over the past five years use only phones from those two companies. Sony Ericsson is great because they are incredibly innovative and great quality. HTC is just awesome. I currently use an AT&T Tilt (HTC Kaiser) and love it. Most HTC phones are on the bulky side, so if you want thin, then Sony Ericsson is the way to go.
My iPhone was expensive.
My iPhone was worth every single penny.
My iPhone is the best gadget I've ever owned.
So you can save a few bucks and play around with other devices you will learn to hate (as I've hated every other phone I've ever owned), or you can spend the extra money and fall in love on Day One.
It's up to you.
@LagunaSol: I hate to admit it, but you're right. I refuse to enjoy any other Apple products, but they really set out to make a good phone...And succeeded. And I love the Aqwoah summerboard theme. If you don't have it you should get it. Fun theme.
@LagunaSol: Until you need to edit documents on the fly and realize that you have no cut-and-paste functionality.
BB Curve - I'm lovin' it.
shut up
razr is just fine for me
@jackfrost132: scratch that, Nokia just dropped the N96 with 16GB of internal memory. [www.nseries.com]
I just ditched my RAZR for a moto Q9h. I like it a lot. its nice to finally get high speed internet on my computer and anywhere I go.
Love my Blackjack II. Slim, shiny, tumbleproof, GPS an' it's *cheap*
I'm sorry, but i should let you know that Sony Ericsson builds the worst kind of crap I have ever made a phone call on. I recently worked for AT&T and everyone who worked their hated them. Everyone who bought them hated them too. 9 out of 10 W580 where brought back and replaced in a month because those damn keys crack straight up the middle...and i recently went into my old store to say hey to my old banditos and i picked up a new Z750 and almost spewed chunks across the counter...then someone walked in with one...broken...wanting something...anything...other than that crap he was convinced to purchase....oh well...moto razr also sucks...agreed you should buy something new...I've had 7 phones in the last 3 years so I'm all about new...buy an iphone...and a case from the sounds of it....you [from my experience, won't regret it]
Funny post. Thanks.
Back in time, prior to me purchasing the phone before my current phone. I heard lots of good things about Sony-Ericson and I decided to see one in person before I ordered it online (Amazon). The buttons were freakin' tiny - granted, I have big fingers but I haven't had problems with any other cell phones made for people with smaller (normal) fingers. I passed on the SE and went with a Motorola SLVR. The Motorola user interface is so bad it must be a joke (I don't get the punchline, however).
After a few months, I ditched the Motorola for an iPhone and have been very, very happy with it. As for the cost (I originally thought buying a $500 was absolutely mad) I put things in perspective 1. Cellphone is the ONLY device that I carry with me everywhere (OK, almost everywhere) and use every day = my cell phone is important and worth spending $$ on 2. Look at cost per day - even a super expensive (over $500) cell phone works out to less than a dollar a day - why compromise over pocket change.
Good luck with your next phone, whatever it may be.
If you want a good, powerful and relatively cheap smartphone, get something like the AT&T tilt or if your on verizon the HTC Touch. (you can buy the HTC Touch unlocked for AT&T and T-mobile too.)
@doobiebros22:
Dude, I've always had Sony Ericssons and they're a real pleasure to use. Great design and features.
Also, very few of the good models actually get to the USA, let alone AT&T.
Europe ftw!
@OMG! Ponies!:
I'll gladly live without cut and paste (for now) and document editing (for now) for the vast superiority of the iPhone over Blackberry in almost every other regard.
Yep, Sony Ericsson is the one to go for. Great user interface, works great with my Mac (though had to buy a little online portal for it..) However, why not just bite the bullet and go for a 3G iPhone in a couple of months. Can't beat that!
Whatever you do, stay clear of Samsung - what a user nightmare! I remember when I had one that there was no way to put a texted number directly into your address book or to dial it. You had to find a piece of paper, write it down and then redial it -(now that's what I call advanced user interface thinking!!!)
@tehronin: Totally agree. I also had my RAZR for three years, it's the black one, I loved its sleek design... and now I hate it so much, I nicknamed it my "stupidphone".
I bought an unlocked Pearl on eBay, went through the pain of renegotiating my contract with my operator (Canadian operators' customer service blow big time, especially Rogers), and I'm very happy. Clever interface, small enough (a little larger than a closed RAZR, but really not that much), and useable software to keep track of my life. There's the problem of memory leaks to be aware of, but apart from that it is a really neat piece of hardware. And yex, I'm now contaminated by the CrackBerry addiction virus.
Motorola, we hire really expensive designers to make our phones, and use large groups of pigeons to write the software.
N95 for me. Better than anything else I've tried.
As for the RAZR, never liked it really.
I never liked my RAZR.
Battery life sucked, and Verizon nerfed the BT profiles.
I had it hacked to the nines when I gave it up for my LG VX8600.
The VX8600 did everything I had to hack my razr to do right out of the box.
Good riddance to bad rubbish.
"its ability to change ring tone to the Motorola theme whenever it feels like it"
Hahaha...
My death toll:
Factory Unlocked Treo 650: Battery life sucked, screen resolution good, hated using a stylus, crashed a lot, OS was more convoluted than needed, had a big fat ass.
Black Factory Unlocked RAZR: Yes, that German techno theme almost killed me from embarrassment too. It was OK for just doing calls and portability, but I got bored with it. Plus, the screen resolution sucked.
Factory unlocked Nokia N80: Absolutely the slowest, most retarded and overly complicated phone OS I've ever used. Just creating a screen saver was a laborious affair requiring external software for "skins" if you wanted it to look right. No OS updates unless your had a PC. Battery life sucked and it has a bigger, fatter ass than the Treo 650. Slider was coming open all the time.
After the death toll?
Apple iPhone: Love it. Want list*?
-3G
-GPS
-Copy & Paste
-More Apps
*coming soon...
I feel your pain, Addy. I have had similar experiences with cell phones (I just washed my little Samsung U520 in the washing machine on Tuesday, I really liked that phone). I totally agree with you that as pretty and cool as the iPhone is, it is far too expensive to risk breaking it (and I would break it). Anyway, good luck with the hunt and be sure to let us know what you picked.
@strider_mt2k: I just got that phone to replace the Samsung I washed (see above post). I really like it so far, but was afraid to say it, heh.
@HibikiRush: What's the point of this comment? This is a perfectly acceptable article: it's an essay written about one of the most significant consumer gadgets in recent years.
Excellent essay, by the way. I highly recommend the iPhone.
AT&T Tilt if you're going for a smartphone (I actually upgraded from a black razr [then a silver one once the black broke] this past week). It's a great, do-it-all WinMo smartphone.
Hahaha! Good to see all you Razr lemmings are finally waking up.
I'm a big fan of the HTC Smartphones (currently rockin' the Dash), however, I too had the Razr for far too long. Once I re-flashed the firmware and unlocked it, it worked MUCH better, and I got amazing battery life.
@NightBlade: Yo dude, there is no CDMA service in that part of the world.
I owned three RAZRs. It is one of the few products I've ever owned that got worse with each generation. I then burned through two blackberries and a windows mobile device. The second blackberry and the windows mobile device (which was so forgettable that I can't even remember the vendor) are the first two phones that I ever used that crashed at least once a week. I than moved to iPhone. Good phone design is incredibly unrated. I've gotten every penny back on that phone.
Downgrade to a StarTAC. I'm still using mine (bought in 2000). They don't make em' tough like that anymore (though I'm Sprint Curve bound).
Joining the crowd: Get a Sony Ericsson.
Based on your previous experiences Addy, you already liked the Ericsson phone.
I had tried a Motorola (way early versions), and then 2 Nokias.
It was a whole completely different experience when I finally got my SE W810i.
And I would still be with it if I didn't buy my new K850, which is also great!
I don't even need an MP3 player. And now, I also don't need a digicam (K850 cam is 5Mpx).
Also, if you want something really thin, SE has some cellphones that almost look like a credit card or