Style of substance (Samsung SGH-C100)

Member Name: grantvalentine

Product:	Samsung SGH-C100
Date:	19/02/04 (471 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good looks, Cheap, Alarm Configurations

Disadvantages: Unreliable and dysfunctional test messaging, Silly start-up jingle that cannt be disabled

I bought my C-100 shortly before Christmas 2004 after some pilfering bugger stole my previous phone. The C-100 appealed on price and looks. On those points it is an absolute winner. The screen is the best I have seen on a mobile and slim and sleek design is to die for. Aesthetically, therefore, the phone is great.

Where it is less great is functionality. From an early age I was reared on a diet of Nokias ? so I am accustomed to simple and intuitive functionality. This is not because I do not understand technology but because it is there to perform a function ? not annoy me with its peculiarities.

Take for example its text messaging functionalities. First, it is not possible to add words to its T9 dictionary. Second, when writing in lowercase it is not possible to access the comma symbol. Third, when replying to a text it does not ask you to confirm the recipient. Fourth, after being on for a few days I have to turn it off because it becomes unable to send text messages. Fifth, when the message goes over / under 1 (or any other number of) message(s) it displays a obtrusive and lengthy display telling me how many messages the message consists of. What happened to a small 1 (or whatever) in the corner? The one plus side of this is that because writing a text is such a tedious chore I no longer exceed my free monthly text allowance!

Another annoying set of features is the silly ?all singing ? all dancing? start-up and shut-down sequences. Granted, when on silent the phone will not play its shut-down jingle but come to turn it on again and it has forgotten this setting. I do not want my colleagues hearing some silly polyphonic ?tune? announcing I have turned my phone on.

The only functional feature that I like about his phone is its Alarm features: an alarm can bet set to only go off during the week (not at weekends).

Although this is not a bad phone ? it looks great, will do everything you want, and is cheap
? it does seem that this is style over substance. Samsung should have put greater emphasis on the operational nature of this phone.
If you want a phone to do what a phone should do then do not buy this phone. If you want a great looking phone that is cheap then this is the phone for you.

Summary: