10 Reasons Why You Should Not Buy the Samsung SPH-A900
A latter and supposedly better version of the Motorola Razr, the A900 has left this user a little less than satisfied with this cell phone. The A900, which is available through Sprint PCS, is defined as “sleek and sophisticated.” While its broadband-like internet surfing speed and the fact that it is Bluetooth-enabled are some of its few good qualities, the A900 turns out to be a disappointment for multimedia enthusiasts.
Expensive. The A900 is not only a phone but it is also contains a MP3 player and 1.3 megapixel camera/camcorder. It is convenient for being an all-in-one component, but for a phone that cannot make it to its warranty expiration date, it is too expensive. The suggested retail price is $349.99. There are plenty of other phones on the market that possess the same features for a fraction of the cost. For example, the Samsung MMA920, which is also provided by Sprint PCS carries the same features and costs $50 less. The newest addition to the Verizon product line, the LG Chocolate phone keeps $150 more in my pocket. For the price a consumer would pay for the A900, he/she could purchase each product separately and of better quality. Poor sound quality. With the law passing in many states now that in order to hold a conversation on your wireless device, you must use a headset or at least have a phone with speakerphone capabilities. Don’t count on the A900. The owner will hear more static than what the other person is saying. Fortunately, a headset will work, especially one that is constructed for Bluetooth wireless technology.
Keypads will stop working. Very annoying especially when you have several important calls to make and you can only dial three out of seven numbers.
Bad reception. I am still debating whether or not it is because of its internal antenna because there are several products with this same feature and works just as well as one with an external antenna. If your phone has all its bars meaning you have the strongest reception possible, why are my calls dropping?
Extra cost for multimedia services. As mentioned earlier, this phone works on the Sprint PCS network. For a basic internet package, there is an additional $15 charge each month. Sending pictures and/or video clips through the phone will cost a little more. To send unlimited picture and video mail, it will cost $20 a month. The ultimate pack which will include internet usage, picture and video mail and Sprint TV (various channels available that can be viewed on the phone) is a whopping $25 a month! I forgot to mention that to download any ringtones or screensavers, it is about two dollars a pop. Games and television channels are provided through subscriptions that range in costs from $4 to $10. Someone would have to literally be on his/her phone 24/7 to make it even worth it. Might as well hand over your wallet over because there will be nothing left anyway.
Upside down pictures and video clips. Imagine seeing your toddler stand up on his own for the first time and you have to catch it in motion. And then you remember that your A900 has a 1.3 megapixel camera and camcorder. As you set your phone/camera to capture this once in a lifetime opportunity, you notice that when you look at your viewfinder the image is upside down. While you are trying to figure out what happened, your toddler has sat back down on the floor to continue playing with his toys. Bummer.
Short battery life. The more features on a phone (i.e. camera, internet, MP3), the more battery life it uses. With all the battery power it takes to make these features work, the three hours of talk time that it promises is easily shortened and causes a midday phone charging.
Delayed reactions while scrolling the menu screen. Searching for a contact or an appointment in my calendar has never been so hard as it has been with the A900. I felt like I hit the down arrow about a dozen times before it would move down one menu item. Very time-consuming.
Will lock/freeze. If experiencing delayed reactions was not bad enough, how about the whole phone just freezing in mid-task. The quick solution that worked about nine times out of ten was to remove the battery and snap it back in but after about once or twice a week, it gets a little bothersome.
Awkward charge port location. At this point, I might be getting picky but the port is on the side and not beneath the phone. Whenever I need to charge the phone but still want to answer calls, it was inconvenient to have the charger appear to be coming out of my temple.
I must admit I was surprised at Samsung who leads other manufacturers in electronics, especially cellular phones, that one of their first multimedia phones would have some many glitches and just downright problems and issues as they have had with the A900. With Samsung now producing more multimedia phones of better quality, I now realize that even enormous corporations even have bad offsprings.
