Wow, copy Apple much?

Physical Features: My first impression of the device is, it’s hefty. The Samsung Rogue is a tall, thick phone of substantial weight. The camera lens, flash and mirror protrude slightly from the back meaning every time I set it down, the weight of the phone rests on the camera lens. The plastic outer shell has a cool-looking carbon fiber aesthetic.

The Rogue slides open to reveal a full qwerty keyboard that I found much easier to use than a touchscreen-only keypad but not quite as easy as a cramped Blackberry keypad which I attribute to the depth, texture and spacing of the keys. A deciding factor in choosing the Samsung Rogue is the accommodating combination of touchscreen interface and physical keypad. This phone is very easy to navigate! Many operations can be completed with the phone closed via the touchscreen. The control is reminiscent of an iPhone/iPod touch interface in many ways. (Like rolling wheels for choosing dates…)

Around the outside of the Rogue is a Charging port, Memory Card Slot, Camera Button, Volume rocker, full-sized Headphone Jack, an On/Off/Lock button and a multi-function rocker. Below the screen are the send and power keys flanking a centered “home” button.

Samsung Rogue side view

Turning on the phone, the touchscreen has an iPhone-like strip of primary functions on the bottom with ‘Dialer’, ‘Contacts’, ‘Message’ and ‘Menu’ buttons. There is a tab on the left side when clicked opens a widget dock, not at all unlike a hidden OS X dock. The widgets are easily rearranged to ones liking. Clicking a widget opens that widget’s functions or options on the main screen. With this Verizon version of the phone, there are several pre-installed apps for things like Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo Messenger, YouTube, etc… Some apps remain open while using other phone operations and can be dragged back to the widget dock to close.

The speakerphone isn’t too loud. Video and music play at an acceptable volume but the sound is not sufficient for speakerphone calls in a moving car.

I find that everything is easy understand and navigate for someone new to the phone. Again, the combination of physical and touchscreen interface is a real pleasure. Comparing the physical keypad and touchscreen functionality to the singularly important trackball on a Blackberry, I’ll choose the Samsung Rogue’s combo any day. IMO, where the Blackberry has a steep learning curve the Samsung has none.

Limited to Verizon Applications this phone isn’t an iPhone but it sure does resemble the ease of use and intuitive control. The keyboard better be worth it’s weight because the weight is significant. I’m worried about scratching the camera lens and I wonder how long before the slider feels sloppy; mine is tight but the demo at the Verizon store was a lot looser.

Samsung Rogue Bottom

Leaving out functionality of the apps, reception, overall speed, speed of web access and use of the phone I just wanted to impart some of my initial thoughts about the Samsung Rogue’s appearance and operations. The question that remains for me to learn is will this phone’s added functions (keypad, internet access, larger screen, accelerometer, etc..) be worth it’s weight? It is the heaviest phone I have ever carried.

• Will I still feel a need to bring an iPod to work? (yes)
• How long will the battery last if I plug this phone into an AUX port on a boombox?

Though my calling, texting and online usage are on the low-end, my monthly cost for unlimited use is $60 less than my iPhone plan. Over a one year contract with Verizon, I am saving in excess of $700. (Initial costs, including a new microSD, card are equal. My monthly cost savings are due in part to Verizon’s IN-calling)

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more iphone hell,

One of the limitations for me are my Verizon IN-calling friends and family.
When I switched to Cingular for the Razor, I never had a minute to roll-over because my friends were on VZW.

In order to get a safe, but still less than I use now, plan of 900 min. with ATT it will cost me just over $30 more ea. month.

Yeah, because I can stick with my 450 min plus in-calling of over 600 additional. adding the blackberry service for $29.99.

With the iphone I’m going to have to pay $105 plus 12% plus other small fees for a whopping $120/mo.

An upside is, when you’re paying $120/mo the ETF of $175 is easy to swallow, so really there is no minimum contract period.

Ok, so I made the decision to stick with VZW and I go to crackberry.com and I see the #1 application is called iBerry which….. turns your fucking blackberry into an iPhone skin/function (makes the Storm look like an iPhone) Reading down the list, like the 5th most popular one is an application that adds a “slider” to the screen so it looks like an ipod when it’s off.

How is that supposed to help? The Bberry I’m looking at is missing Wi-Fi…. but is always online with the blackberry service. Tim says you need Wi-Fi to DL/UL at internet speeds not phone data speeds.

I’m still pissed about the whole adventure. I want a data phone, but hate the crippling VZW does, yet distrust AT&T even more. What to do….

_kim

I’ve come to one of those biggest purchase decisions of my next two years kind-of-thing; I need a new phone.

My computing history: Apple User since 1985. Typing to you on my blackbook and occasionally update from my 16GB iPod Touch. Don’t go near Winblows, even though I have XP pro on this Macbook for the occasional missing wares (like iphonebrowser, ironically)

My cell phone history: Verizon customer for over a decade with only a 1-year drop when the Razor came out. I switched to Cingular for the GSM only version of the V3 Razor. More irony,  on a trip outside of the country (where they have GSM), instead of turning on international calling Cingular turned off my account altogether. Not only could I not use the phone for a month but since it was off, there were no voicemails when I returned home. I have always used a phone, not a smartphone. I have never paid for a data plan in addition to text messages.

Right now, I am still using the LG VX-8700 which is as fashionably good looking as the day I bought it, years ago.

I have looked at lots of phones. Don’t care to look at any phones, just want a new one because it’s time. This LG is getting old.

I’m a carpenter, not an office guy. My phone has been through piles of sawdust, light rain and been dropped on stone more times than countable. It’s a kick-ass telephone. Go LG. I love their products.

I would love to use an Android device but I am not trailblazing, I need a phone to make calls with all day long. I found straighttalk.com offering the ideal plan for $30/mo but I’d have to go back six years to a Razor (1 of their 3 phones). Still StraightTalk as I read, uses the Verizon CDMA Network – so try and beat that plan.. plus there are no F-ing monthly fees when you buy a prepaid card for $30 plus state tax. (Just visit Montana and buy 12) That’s TWO years for $750.

24 months Regular Phone with Texting and Fees:
StraightTalk – $768 [$30 + tax]
My Verizon plan – $1320 [$40 + $10 + tax]

24 months Data Phone with Texting and Fees:
Tour Price –  $2160 [$40 + $10 + $30]
iPhone – $2760 [$60 + $15 + $30]

It is possible to get the iPhone for only $5 more per month than the same plan on Verizon, but I switched back to Verizon because so many friends and family were IN-calling.

Should I, Stick with Verizon and get great coverage everywhere! or Move to Cingular, up my plan to more minutes to cover my IN-calling bonus?

I am a Mac User. I have few problems with my Apple products. It comes down to AT&T which I don’t have a drop of faith in their coverage and disagree with paying more for the same.

I’m interested in the Blackberry Tour or the iPhone. I’ve ruled out most of the other options like; Pre, G1, Nokia 71 and other touchscreen phones.

I like the physical keyboard. I like Verizon Network and the pricing is less per month for me due to IN-calling.

I filled out the form on Apple.com but haven’t clicked commit yet! what to do… what to do. I’ll update this soon.

_kim