Handy Handset (Motorola M3788)

Member Name: eelam_garek

Product:	Motorola M3788
Date:	21/04/01 (203 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good menu system. Nice size. Cheap to buy. First time users will love it.

Disadvantages: Ring tones aren't that good. Can't download logos/ringtones. Simple for experienced users.

Well, I never normally buy Motorola products, but I have to say that this one came out on top. Since I had never owned a mobile phone before I was reluctant to buy just any mobile that I came across. I was looking to get a nice simple phone that wasn’t too complicated but not too primitive either. I bought a variation to the phone that you see in the picture. Mine had a flap covering the numbers, a protective flap if you like.

It was my first phone and I would suggest to anyone buying this handset if they are first time users. It has a handy arrangement of options for a first time user to get stuck into.
The menu of the phone contains 6 options. These can vary depending on which pay package you opt for. They are arranged like this:

Phone Book – This is where you put all of your phone numbers that you want to store.

Call Related Features – you can view the battery meter and alter call barring etc.

Messages – This menu takes you to your text messages, you can compose these here.

Phone Setup – You can change pin numbers, ringer volume, ring tone etc.

Network Selection – You can view available networks, find new networks etc.

Call Meters – You can set an in call displays, and view timers here.

The options above are what are contained in the phone’s menu system. You can enter each of the 6 options, and be taken to a sub – section where there are further options. The menu is very well setup and a user is guided through it well.

The phone book, as mentioned above is where a user can store all of the names and numbers of the people that he or she would like to keep for future phone calls. It acts just like a normal written phone book. You can access the names and numbers at any time. You just access the relevant menu. The SIM card can hold up to 99 names and numbers, and the handset itself can hold a further 99 names and
numbers. That’s a total of 198 names and numbers. That’s a lot of free space, handy for those with a lot of friends. The names and numbers are given a separate location in the memory. Each location is a 3-digit number. You can either arrange the names and numbers by location numbers or by alphabetical order. Most users will choose the latter.

The menu that a lot of people will be interested in, is the text message menu. Well, it’s very good for first time text users. There aren’t that many characters available to write your message but it’s enough to say what you need to say. You can send messages to numbers directly from your phone book or input a number manually. You have a useful arrangement of full stops and question marks and all of the other little side grammar interests, located in the number 1 on the key pad. Just press the number one while in text message mode and you can cycle through full stops and commas and the like. These are quite important; otherwise your text might not make any sense!

The phone setup menu allows a user to really personalize their phone. There are limits to what you can actually do but you can change various things. For example, the phone allows you to encrypt it, so that only you can turn it on. This requires you to have a pin number that only you know. It is preset to a very easy number like 1234, but you can change it to whatever 4-digit number you like. You can also change the ringer tone, chose from the 11 that the phone has to offer. The ringer volume and the earpiece volume can also be changed to suit you. You can also view the battery meter, in case you need to know how charged the battery is. There is much more that this menu allows you to alter, these are just a selection of what can be altered.

The handset itself is very good for first time users. It’s not too big, but it isn’t too small either. It is a nice gray black colour (again
this can vary). The antenna is a nice size and doesn’t get in the way. If it breaks, it screws out easily and can be replaced. It is nice and curvy so that it can fit into pockets or bags easily. It’s quite sturdy aswell, so if you drop it, it won’t break.

My overall opinion about the Motorola M3788 is that it’s a good handset for first time mobile phone users. It’s got a nice simple, well-guided menu system that will introduce first time users well. However, if you are not a first time mobile owner, then I wouldn’t recommend this handset. I would recommend a Nokia for you. I myself now own a Nokia 3310, but the Motorola M3788 was my first phone, and it was a good introduction. So first time buyers, yes, buy it, you’ll like this handset, but experienced mobile owners are better off going for a Nokia of some kind.

Check out my Nokia 3310 review if you’re thinking of getting a Nokia, it’s worth a look.

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