Not quite an iphone (LG KC910i Renoir with Contract)

Member Name: powerball

Product:	LG KC910i Renoir with Contract
Date:	10/09/09 (34 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Smart, large screen, good fun, excellent camera

Disadvantages: No proper e mail, few apps available

I have owned this phone now for 6 months on an 18 month contract with 3.
The phone undoubtedly looks good, with a large touch screen and just 3 buttons at the bottom of the phone. I have bought a silicone cover for my phone to protect it from the odd drop. With this, it does look a little chunky.
As a basic phone, sound quality is good. Texting is very easy, either with predictive text as on conventional mobile, or with a touchscreen QWERTY keyboard, which is a little fiddly, although the phone does come with a rather smart, retractible stylus.
Contacts roll in a similar, satisfying way to the iphone. However, a point to note is that the "call" button is to the right of each contact, so if you do not remove your finger quickly enough, you end up making a call. Bearing in mind that the majority of users are right handed and will scroll with their right thumb, perhaps LG should have put this call button on the other side. I have accidentally called several people!
The 8 megapixel camera, as you would expect, is excellent and with plenty of nifty tricks. A little fiddly, but the lens cover is a good extra little feature.
Sound quality is pretty good from the MP3 player, with Dolby.
Syncing with PC is OK, although having previously owned Nokia phones. LG have a fair bit to learn here in order to make things simpler.
I have found the browser on the phone to be rather disappointing. I have satisfactorarily downloaded a version of Opera, and this now works well, but I am unable to download the most recent version.
I can access my e mail through G mail on the phone - I would far prefer it if the phone actually was able to pick up the e mail and alert me, as on a Blackberry and iphone. Also, sending short e mails is OK, but this phone struggles with any long messages or attachments.
Google maps work pretty well on the whole and the GPS is a welcome feature.
As for Apps - unfortunately there a very, very few available.
All in all this is a good little phone for the price and I do not regret buying it. I desperately wanted an i phone but couldn't justify the price. I still desperately want an iphone and perhaps at the end of this contract I will have to try and find the extra money to buy one.

Summary: This has is limitations but is pretty much value for money