Nokia wins again (Nokia 8310)

Member Name: misspiggie

Product:	Nokia 8310
Date:	04/01/04 (117 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: can handle falls and has a radio!

Disadvantages: ringtones!

** I wrote this review on another site before joing dooyoo.co.uk, but considering my recent review of the Samsung V200, I thought it was worthwhile adding it to dooyoo considering I mention the Nokia 8310 so much in my Samsuing V200 review!! Enjoy!**

Since I joined the mobile revolution, I've always had a Nokia phone, and despite my dislike of following the crowd, my first was the 5146, a phone that nearly everyone has owned at one time or another.

Great phone. Had a good couple of years together - through the highs and lows before I traded it in for a smaller and lighter model - the 3310. I resisted for ages to upgrade my phone - I wanted a smaller phone that I could put in clothes pockets without it looking like I had a growth and pulling my clothes out of shape.

Why not a 8210?
Everyone has it and apart from being a lot smaller than the 3310 - there wasn't a great deal new in the features.

I have a little know medical condition sometimes called 'the dropsies' which means that my phones have had several knocks and scratches. By the end, my 3310 used to fling its covers into very hard to reach places because a fall too many broke one of its hooks, but it always came back to me!!

The 8210, to me, just looked too flimsy. A friend dropped theirs during the first week and had to have it replaced - mine would have been replaced on the first day!! The 8310 seems and looks, sleeker though much sturdier - has the cover of a 3310.

Features
I couldn't tell you what it weighs, but it's light! doesn't mind a few drops - yet, and also has interchangeable covers, if you like that sort of thing.

The radio was the big draw for me - as I spend a lot of time taking photos in the middle of nowhere, I like to get lost in the moment, and listen to some choons, while finding something to photograph. You can tune up to 20 radio stations - very useful if you travel the country a lot and know

what radio stations to listen to.

The stations are easy to program either manually or automatically. You also get a pair of headphone to use when listening to the radio.

The battery is a power horse - can listen to the radio for around 8 hours roughly and still be able to make several long phone calls - been there and done it several times.

I like a diary/calendar that is always on me - I tend to have a diary which has important stuff in it and then forget to look at it, so having it on my phone and the ability for alarm reminders is a God send.

I LOVE the Text function - you can store - who knows how many text messages on this thing - and you can also archive them and create your own folders!!! But remember, as with any device you store things on, the more text messages in the inbox, the more time it may take to open. But it's a small price to pay to keep all those cool text messages - a 9 text limit was such a bind - who goes, who stays?! ;0)

Nokia has a habit of moving things around when they bring out a new phone, and this is no exception. On the 3310, the alarm clock is set under the Clock menu, now you have to set it under the Settings Menu, but that's just small potatoes as there are more functions, so its one less menu to go through.

The Profiles are more or less the same except for one great addition - the ability to set an expiry time. You select the profile you want and you can then set a time for the profile to go off and revert back to your previous profile. Very useful if you don't turn your phone off at night an tend to forget to turn the ringer back on in the morning.

The Voice recorder is great - only used a few times - but has been a life saver, especially when someone is giving you a number and you don't have the ability to write it down.

I have so far only used the infrared to play snake and send a business card, but need to find someone worth connecting
to i
n such a way!

The Ringtones do let it down a bit. It seems a step backwards, that you don't have the ability to compose or download new ringtones - and the ones of the phone sometimes be too quiet even on the highest setting. It is, however, possible to be download/recieve ringtones.

On the whole a great phone. With reagrds to cost - it is expensive if you are buying just the handset - around £200. If, like me you are on a contract, and upgrade, for T Mobile is on £20. A big difference!!

Like with all phones, its best to take out in insurance to protect not only from theft, but also from accidental damage - ie dropping! There is, also a limited warranty of 12 month. During which Nokia will replace a defective product.

Summary: