Cell phone upgrade...

[driftingeric2k4]

So...My carrier (VZW) just called me and told me my 2 year contract is up and whether I wanted to re-up or not. I am going to stick with VZW because they are waaaaaay better than Cingular up here in the boonies. I get a 100 dollar credit toward a phone upgrade and I have no idea what to get.

Currently I have a LG VX6000 which I got new two years ago. Very basic functionality - back then cam phones were relatively new and this one has a 1.3mp cam but not much else. I want to definitely get a new one cus this poor thing is beat and the camera no longer works.

I need my phone to be small and carry it in my pocket. I also have learned that I MUST HAVE speakerphone for when I am on the road on business and have to do conference calls (try holding a tiny phone up to your ear for two hours - not fun). The only real options I see are the Motorola Razr (free, but I think it would break easily) a Samsung SCH-a930 (also free) or a Samsung SCH-a950. The main difference I see between the 930 and 950 is the 950 has camcorder capability where the 930 has a camera flash. I think I would like the camcorder cabaility, even if it is only for a minute or whatever to capture impromptu stuff. The rub is that the 950 will cost me 50 bucks out of pocket where the 930 wont. I have little experience with Samsung phones, I know that this LG that I have took a licking and keeps on ticking, with the exception of the camera function.

Anyone have either of these phones and can weigh in to justify my spending the extra coin? Also, the 950 is an ugly shade of red where the 930 is a more subtle black, but I bet I could get a different case for it or just paint it or something...

Edit: 930:
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=planFirst&action=viewPhoneDetail&selectedPhoneId=2343
950:
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=planFirst&action=viewPhoneDetail&selectedPhoneId=2204

[Broken5hift]

id get the 930. i love samsung phones, i had motorola all my life and they SUCK. sony erriccson is good too but im really digging my samsung slider from cingular.

if your not gonna use the camcorder why pay extra for it? the flash would probably come in more handy anyways

[Kerplunk105]

The links didn't work for me?

I don't have either phone. However, my brother has a Razr and he loves it. It does seem to...delicate for most people though.

From experience, the free phones they give you aren't usually the best. I personally would spend the extra $50 to get a much better phone:) The 950 also has more talk time, (5 extra minutes), as well as weighing more...

But for the extra $50 how often are you really going to use the camcorder feature? (I see that as the only real difference)

[driftingeric2k4]

The links didn't work for me?

I don't have either phone. However, my brother has a Razr and he loves it. It does seem to...delicate for most people though.

From experience, the free phones they give you aren't usually the best. I personally would spend the extra $50 to get a much better phone:) The 950 also has more talk time, (5 extra minutes), as well as weighing more...

But for the extra $50 how often are you really going to use the camcorder feature? (I see that as the only real difference)

Yeah that is my dilemma. Like if I am out rolling the Stang I take my digicam with me and that makes good recordings. I really don't know if I'd use the phone camcorder that often. It would have been nice to have at Warped this last weekend but how often does that happen... I dunno. I'll probably go with the 930. It's nicer looking and I can remember plenty of times when I thought "Dammit I wish I had a flash on this!".

Actually, now that I think of it - anytime I am goofing around with my car drifting or whatever it is at night. Camcorder function wouldnt do me much good in that event now would it?

What about the memory - I have a ton of secure digital cards lying around but this looks like some sort of memory format I have never seen...Anyone know how pricey it is to buy it?

[olsookie]

the razr sucks! don't get it, you'll be heavily disappointed.

[Kerplunk105]

Yeah, you need a flash for sure when taking pics-most times even if not at night. (if your indoors)

The memory cards are pretty much like the normal non-phone ones. Any where from $22.99 for 256MB to $44.99 for a 512mb. Sandisk makes them...I am pretty sure its just a flash memory card.

[Scapegoat]

SD cards on Amazon, the mini's, are around $30 for the 1gb disk.

[SexyDSM95]

Best site ever to compare the phones you are looking into:
http://www.phonescoop.com/

$35 for a 2-gig! on eBay they are like $60 at best! I have the 512 mini-sd and have a couple MP3's with tons of pictures/video. Have not run out of memory yet.

[driftingeric2k4]

Ah cool. Thanks all, appreciate the info. I am a newb when it comes to cell phones. Truth be told I hate them. My company wants to set me up with a blackberry. Foooock no lol. that's a bigger ball and chain then my girlfriend (ba-dum ching :roll: )

[james_ls]

The new Motorola Q kicks ass...has everything you'll ever need and more.

Also my favorite "non-business" phone from Verizon has to be the LG - V. (The one that folds laterally to expose the wide screen and speakers)

[StealthTC]

Get the Vx8300 and be done with it, youll be more than happy.

[S4toSTI]

Agreeed 8300 or the 9800...

[StealthTC]

Dont do Samsung if you like the MP3 option what they dont tell it is it is only MOD (Music on Demand) Capable, while the LG's you can turn MP3 settings on in the Service Prog menus and upload your own MP3's so you dont have to pay for all the VCast BS.

[S4toSTI]

You could always go with chocolate.

[Scapegoat]

that chocolate looks awesome.

[S4toSTI]

Yeah i gotta play with one in a store but it surely has the right features and looks cool.

[StealthTC]

Chocolate is weak....If you look at it funny the buttons start pressing, they incorporate IPOD touch on a phone.....if you dont care about ne thing else and just wanna sick phone SAMSUNG A990 3.2MG CAM, GO BIG OR GO HOME:)

[SpiLLLLLLLLL]

i used the chocolate at a verizon store the other day. its very awkward to use because the "buttons" on the outside arent buttons at all, you just touch the markings and it works, very weird. also it looks like it has a click wheel from the ipod, but you have to keep tapping it to scroll. also the buttons after you slide it open on the inside are real buttons, so its a big time clash of buttons there. killer.

[driftingeric2k4]

The chocolate caught my eye but I dont want to spring for it. My current phone has this annoying feature with an external button that if you push it and hold it for three seconds it puts you in manner mode.

I hadnt seen that 8300, passed right over it. Since it is an LG, does it have that same "manners" button? I cant tell you how many calls I have missed when the phone is in my pocket and that button gets pushed against my keys or leg. Annoying as all hell - and a total deal breaker if the 8300 has the same thing.

Edit: Just noticed it has both camcorder AND flash. AND microSD. Please tell me it doesnt have that annoying manners button....