Tired of shoddy phones

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I am a bit obsessed with mobile phones. In the last 6 years I have owned at least 7 different phone models. I am always completely in love with each new phone, but (you know how it goes) soon after getting a new phone, a better one comes out!

Back to my topic, due to my obsession, I tend to get the newest phone with all the "bells and whistles". One would think that getting the top-of-the-line phone would mean it would be quality. This has not been my experience. I said I have owned at least 7 different models. Of those 7 models, I have owned between 15 and 20 actual phones. I have to say, I am very good to my phones. I do not handle them roughly or expose them to the elements, and yet every single one has had to be replaced at least one time for technical failures. My current phone is the Blackberry Tour. I got the phone about 8 months ago and, as of 10 pm, have had to switch to a replacement. This is ridiculous! Anyone else with similar experiences or am I the only one with this luck?

(If you couldn't tell, I am currently very frustrated, having spent the last 2 hours setting up my replacement phone with all my old phone's settings...again )

Sadly, to get the latest products with all the "bells and whistles" out into the public's hands, they have to cheapen production.

I have an old Win98 laptop from Toshiba that's nearly bulletproof. It was made around 2000 and made in Canada.

I have a much newer Toshiba with XP that I got around 2006. It's not bad, but the finish is already marred from just handling. Made in China.

Cheaper production. Cheaper materials. It shows.

Since most people want the "latest and greatest" in technology, they don't expect you to keep a cell phone for more than 12 months, so why make them durable?

Stick with the cheapest cell phone you can buy. If they break, it won't be so expensive to replace. I wish I had that much money to throw away on those stupid Blackberry's and iPhone's!

I don't have that much money to throw around for new phones. I usually save up my birthday/Christmas money to get a new one. I have mobile insurance so I don't have to pay for all the replacements.

Mobile phones are my one extravagance. They are my obsession. They remind me of my appointments, they keep me from getting lost and they keep me entertained. Also, on rare occasions, I am forced to use them to talk to people! A more basic phone wouldn't fill this need for me.

**Update on the topic**I spent over three hours on the phone with tech support only to find out the problem wasn't with my phone, but with the upgraded software. The "upgrade" removed features that I used, so basically I am screwed and have to live without them.

Get a sonim XP3 Quest, I was getting through a phone every 6 months. either stupidly breaking it (sitting onit, putting it into the wash, dropping it etc.) or having it fail on its on accord. This phone under normal use is virtually unbreakable, and by normal use I have already dropped it off a roof, taken it for a swim, sat on it numerous times and demonstrated it to friends and clients by hurling it into the air and allowing it to land onto concrete. Its a bit bulky but who cares

It has GPS, AGPS, 2 megapixel camera, waterproof to over a metre. But the best bit it comes with a three year, no questions asked, you break it we replace it warranty. Take it back to the shop and they will replace it there and then.

http://www.sonimtech.com/features_xp3quest.php

Unfortunately, "just released" typically means "we haven't worked out all of the kinks and quality control issues". That's why I tend to wait until about a year after a product's released to actually get one. In the past 6 years I've only owned 3 total cell phones (each a different model), taking just mediocre care of them, and I didn't even really need to replace any of them (I still keep my first cell phone just in case the other two die and I need it).

It seems that they design them to break as they now seem so small and thin. I like the older phones better I have a Nokia 6015i from 2004 and I would not get another phone because it seem they are so small and fragile and the keys so small that it almost seems like you need chopsticks or long fingernails filed to a point to use the keys.

DNForrest just got a color cellphone!

Seriously, I have an "ancient" sony k310, it has much much better reception than "the latest and greatest". I also have an iPhone, of course it's great, and I use it to work. I always carry both


BTW I had an obsession with pens when I was a tween. Now, I carry a $30c Bic®

It all depends on your service provider. I have found that the phones I get with Tracfone, the prepaid guys, are very very durable. I have a Motorola V170 which has survived going through the washer twice. I am still impressed with that. Only the down arrow doesn't work anymore. The only reason I replaced it a year ago with a new one, a Motorola W376g for $29.95, is the new one gets double minutes for life. It also has a camera and email. Also I can text and guess what, talk on the phone! And it's cheap to operate, too.

Smart phones are nifty and cool, but not enough to get me to spend major bucks on them or commit myself to a long-term relationship with some huge corporation.

I just got a htc hero... an android phone. It's great.

My Nokia E71 has survived being dropped countless times, spending a night in a puddle, dropped some more. At this rate, it'll live long enough to be paid for.