Pretty, but not great for texting (Motorola MOTO U9)

Member Name: NotQuiteCockney

Product:	Motorola MOTO U9
Date:	13/11/08 (71 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Pretty, shiny

Disadvantages: Bad texting interface

This phone is very pretty. The colours, the 'hidden' screen on the outside, the rounded corners, all add up to make it a very attractive phone.

Unfortunately, the non-rubbery bits of the fascia get scratched up really easily.

I've discovered this is not a great phone for texting, for a few reasons.

1. The predictive text is strange. In some ways, it's great - you write the first few letters of a word, and it will guess the rest, based on words you use a lot. BUT - you can finish a word, and then add punctuation, and it will then *change* the word. And if you press up and down, it changes the punctuation you just added, not the original word! So, you enter 'night', it says 'night', then you add a full stop, and it changes the word to 'might'. This is *infuriating*. You have to type the word, then press 'space', then delete the space, and add the punctuation.

2. The button layout is irritating. 'Delete' is next to 'send'. Fairly often, I send people texts saying 'Don't forget about the gargleblag' - I was trying to delete 'gargleblag', but instead sent the text. Again, infuriating.

3. The buttons are rubbish. They click nicely, yes. But I've had the phone for under two months, and the 8 button is already acting up. It clicks, nicely, but doesn't register that I've pushed it. Again, infuriating.

4. When texts come in (or when there are missed calls), it displays an alert. Great. But which button you push to get it to display the text or missed call or whatever, changes, depending on ... well, I'm not sure what. Phases of the moon?

In some ways it's great for texting. You can read texts with the phone closed, which is a nice touch. It handles texting to multiple recipients very well.

I find it gets good reception, and sound quality is fine. I don't use its music capabilities much. And I find the memory is fine, but my demands in this area are low.

As a final blow - they expect you to buy the connectivity suite!

I'm sad to say, my next phone will be a Nokia. They know how to do user interfaces.

2-December-08

I've just worked out - if it starts going slow, if you can free up memory (e.g. delete all sent and received texts), it then starts to go faster again. Rubbish, but survivable.

Summary: Not the right phone if you text a lot.

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