The Big Friendly Giant provides all you really need (Motorola C975)

Member Name: ruoyi

Product:	Motorola C975
Date:	14/08/05 (665 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Extremely good value, simple but useful features, user friendly

Disadvantages: Size and weight, fiddly joystick, low battery capabilities

I've had this phone for several months, and chose it solely based on the price. It's the cheapest of all the 3G phones that the 3 network has to offer, and is surprisingly quite a decent, if a little unsightly, gadget.

First impressions: it's not a jaw-dropper, it's a door stopper. There's no way you can be discreet with one of these. Its actual dimensions (114 x 53.2 x 24.2 mm) are noticeable, and having once owned a microscopic Nokia 8310, I found this a little difficult to get used to. However, you can't expect it to be decent AND small at this price, so you get on with life. On the other hand, a large phone means a large keypad and easy texting (see later). The screen’s clear and colourful and, needless to say, large. The unchangeable fascia is a cool silver. All the classic features such as alarm clock and calendar are here plus the browser service that 3 offers, but no games, radio, stop-clock, etc.

The shortcomings of the Motorola c975:

1. A little slow to warm up when you switch it on: takes a good 2-3 minutes before it responds to any button-pushes. I personally never switch off my phone unless I'm on a flight, so it's not really a problem.

2. The battery doesn't keep its charge very well. If you make a 30 minute chat every day (something you're likely to do if you're on a 3 tariff) you'll have to charge it every day, although it lasts for two days on standby. A far cry from my Nokia which held a full charge for a good 4 days. Another little niggle is the unclear low-battery warning involving a light green bar fading into a paler green bar that apparently you’re meant to be able to gauge yourself. It’s only when the battery’s pretty critical that the green finally changes into a noticeable yellow which rapidly changes to a flashing red. RIP.

3. The worst thing: the Motorola c975 has a tendency to freeze, and unfortunately, there isn’t a Ctrl+Alt+Delete solution, resulting in scrabbling around to remove the battery and even then, the screen refuses to die. It’s frozen about 3 times in the 6 months that I’ve owned it. A nuisance, but hey, the phone was cheap.

Looking on the bright side, the c975 has very clear sound quality, an excellent speaker phone option so there’s no need to even buy a hands-free (although don’t quote me on this if you’re using it in a car). The reception’s fantastic: all 5 bars in the same place where the competitor LG 8120 on the same network has none. If you’re just buying this to use as, well, a phone, then these are all the qualities you’re looking for.

The text message options took a little getting used to. As primitive as this phone seems, there is a predictive text option, that for some reason switches between English and French when you’re not looking. If you’re switching from a Nokia or an LG then the buttons are completely different and it can be very frustrating at first to get used to the fiddly joystick, the only way to flit between the words in predictive text. The great (and worst) thing about Motorola’s version of the T10 dictionary is that it completes the word for you according to what you used last. This can be a time-saver if you’re used to tying the same things, but also means you have to look at the screen when typing a message as the sequence of possible words is different every time. In short, the texting takes getting used to, and once that’s sorted, it’s a doddle. Messages are automatically deleted when the battery is removed.

Memory is quite small for the Motorola c975, but this applies mainly to text messages, storing around 50 before it starts complaining. Messages sent are also automatically stored in the Outbox. I haven’t yet had any memory shortages for photos and I have a significant number of them. Its address book is also of a decent size, although has the problem common to all Motorolas in that only one number may be stored per contact. Not a disaster, but another niggle.

As a camera phone, the Motorola c975’s average. The large screen makes for good picture viewing. There are two viewfinders, one on each side of the camera, between which you can switch. The flash is decent, the quality average. Comes with all the basic setting adjustments: exposure, shutter speed, shutter sound (a funky “boiiinnnggg!” is possible). Video filming for about 15 minutes in total is possible, and the quality’s better than you’d imagine. Unfortunately, the Motorola c975 came with very limited accessories: a charger, a manual and one of those useless holders. No hands-free, no USB cables, which means you can’t upload your pictures onto the computer. On the same note, mp3 tracks can’t be uploaded from the computer, they have to be downloaded straight from 3. The tracks it comes with are quite cringe-worthy, and there are only 1 or 2 I would dare to have as a ring tone, though admittedly, the one I do have at the moment is growing on me.

I got this phone on 3’s 600 talk and text (500 anyone, anytime minutes + 100 texts) for £4.99 a month on a 12 month contract, a typical offer from companies like Dial-a-phone. Buying the phone directly will cost you in the region of £50-60. If you’re considering a fantastic tariff and are simply deciding between the phones on offer (they’re all eye-sores, to be completely honest), I’d strongly recommend getting the Motorola c975 if you’re on a tight budget. It’s simple and straightforward, has all the absolute necessities without the flash features that you pay for for a lifetime and only use a few times, and is great as a communicating device, which, you have to admit, is basically what the mobile phone’s designed for.

Would I buy this again? If I had to pay for it, yes. If my parents could be persuaded, then no. You get what you pay for, a little bit more in this case, but there are prettier phones on the market.

Summary: Good solid phone, but has a few technical creases you'd expect Motorola to iron out

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