New cell phone, LG Chocolate

[Jayems]

Hey folks,

I just got a new phone, the LG Chocolate. I had a few questions..



First, is it normal for the screen to stay lit (but not backlit.. so its still illuminated, but not as bright as if you were dialing, or looking at the menu) when charging? Its like an unwanted nightlight in my room.. and I have to leave it on because I use it as my alarm clock.

The GPS thing, I don't really want it, but was trying to see what it was, but I can never seem to get it to work? Is there a trick, or do you have to subscribe to something?

What is Spark anyway.. and "Spark Sampler"

Plus, if anyone knows some neat functions that you like, please let me know

Cheers,

James.

[Flames09]

I'm not trying to make you feel bad about your purchase but my BELL advisor and judging by friends and family that bought the Razr/Chocolate phones say they suck and don't last long. My advice to you don't even drop it off a couch onto carpet. My sisters has been in repair 3 times in the past 6 months, and they've replaced it once.

[Juventus3]

All new phones suck and are of terrible quality. All of them.

Nothing is more frustrating than electronics companies building products with a lifespan shorter than that of the contract.

To prove a point I broke a samsung flip phone in the store while 'testing' it after the salesperson told me it was the strongest built phone they had. All i did was twist it with a little force and the screen popped out.

Anyways enough rambling...

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by Jayems

First, is it normal for the screen to stay lit (but not backlit.. so its still illuminated, but not as bright as if you were dialing, or looking at the menu) when charging? Its like an unwanted nightlight in my room.. and I have to leave it on because I use it as my alarm clock.

Yes it is. Flip it over, you'll still hear it.

The GPS thing, I don't really want it, but was trying to see what it was, but I can never seem to get it to work? Is there a trick, or do you have to subscribe to something?

You have to subscribe... and really, do you want to track yourself?

What is Spark anyway.. and "Spark Sampler"

Spark is data... Spark Sampler is the ability to use your data on a pay-per-use basis. Things like text messaging, wireless web, that sort of thing.

Plus, if anyone knows some neat functions that you like, please let me know

I don't know about neat functions unfortunately. I've never played with the phone to any great extent, I couldn't handle it. It irritated me too much so I put it away to never play with again.

[Fuzzy McGillicuddy]

Originally Posted by Flames09

... judging by friends and family that bought the Razr/Chocolate phones say they suck and don't last long.

I've had a razr for 2 years. I've dropped the thing a dozen times on concrete (good ones too, where the battery cover and battery both come flying off). Phone still works. I've never had a bad experience with Motorola.

Yes some cell phones are less sturdy, but look at the size of them. They are not made with battle armor any more.

[Table 5]

I have the clam-shell version of the LG Chocolate

So far it's been a great little cellphone ( I prefer the clamshell over the slider, since its a little more practical in functional terms). One thing I like about LG's is that the navigation interface is quite a bit more intuitive than any Motorola I've tried.

Personally I would never buy a Razr. Ive known way to many people who have had issues with that phone, it's just extremely problem prone.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

I have had the Chocolate for the last 5 months now and I love it. Very practical, I don't need a damn computer for a cell phone, so the size of this one fits me perfectly. I love the look, I love the design, and to answer your questions, just read Firefly's text. Evrything written there is accurate. The charging light will stay on all night, but yeah, just flip it over, the speaker is on the back of the phone anyways, so you will hear it when you alarm goes off, that shouldn't be an issue. You will get used to the touch pad, it took me a little time, but I love it. The only issue I have is with the touch pad and how it doesn't take much for the screen to get greasy with fingerprints and what not. Not a huge deal, but I do notice it.

[ken0042]

Telus had a free trial of the GPS when I first got my phone. It's really more of a "Where are my employees/kids" instead of a normal GPS that we are familliar with.

[Jayems]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Telus had a free trial of the GPS when I first got my phone. It's really more of a "Where are my employees/kids" instead of a normal GPS that we are familliar with.

Yeah, the guy who sold it pulled the "Hey, you can track your girlfriend anytime you want, see where she is.."

I told him that was just creepy.

[Jayems]

By the way: Anyone thinking of getting this phone ---- DON'T. (well... IMO )

Easily the worst phone i've ever owned... hands down. The "heat sensitive" buttons NEVER work, you can't dial numbers without hitting 24235132412 just trying to get a freakin 2 in there.

Taking this back tomorrow and seeing what I can get done. Have the warranty, so they can fix it, but I really don't want them to give it back...

[Sainters7]

I had the Telus version of your phone(that pic looks like the Fido or Rogers version of the Chocolate). Loved the look of it, but the thing was a piece of crap, I struggled with it constantly. Eventually the touch screen went crazy on me. It would keep freezing to the point where Id have to pull out the battery and put it back in, like restarting a computer almost. On top of that, my phone would sometimes actually re-call the last person I had called that night, if I was charging it. One time it called my dad at 1:30am, I have no idea why.

On the plus side, it was very durable. Hell I mustve dropped that thing 100 times, and on St. Patty's Day it spent 10 minutes floating in a small pool of beer that was spilled on the table(and I know what youre all thinking, "Idiot, your phone went all screwy because you beat the crap out of it". But I had experienced these probs since I first got it, they just got worse as it progressed). And it would still work fine, aside from the problems I mentioned.

I went to go exchange it for a new one, but when I went to Telus, the guy behind the counter suggested I go with something else, as apparently they had experienced people returning the Chocolate back at an alarming rate. So I went with the KRZR, and so far its a great phone. As cool looking as it is, I still say my Chocolate looked cooler(and was smaller, a definite plus). But at least Im not having the probs I did with my Chocolate.

Not to slag on your phone, I loved the look of it and the touch screen, and stayed loyal to it for four months before I finally had to give up. Just wanted to let you know what I went through. Hopefully it works out for you better than mine did, I loved that phone at first.

[Ford Prefect]

FWIW ... we've had a razr, a krazr and a Roger's LG Chocolate in the house. The razr has been great, and so has the krazr ... the Chocolate was the worst piece of electronic junk I've ever had experience with. I'm not sure if the problems we had with it were unique to the Rogers version, but there were some many problems I don't even want to start getting into it. Suffice to say that within 30 days it was getting seriously messed up and by the end of 60 days it was non-functional. It's the reason we know have the krazr ... Rogers was having so much trouble with their Chocolates they couldn't even get replacement units out of Singapore ... this all occurred last spring.

[Jiggy_12]

Ive had this phone for about 3 months with no problems as of yet. Works great, actually.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

FWIW ... we've had a razr, a krazr and a Roger's LG Chocolate in the house. The razr has been great, and so has the krazr ... the Chocolate was the worst piece of electronic junk I've ever had experience with. I'm not sure if the problems we had with it were unique to the Rogers version, but there were some many problems I don't even want to start getting into it. Suffice to say that within 30 days it was getting seriously messed up and by the end of 60 days it was non-functional. It's the reason we know have the krazr ... Rogers was having so much trouble with their Chocolates they couldn't even get replacement units out of Singapore ... this all occurred last spring.

Doubt it. As I mentioned above, my Telus version was the same. And also as I mentioned above, the Telus guy behind the counter told me people were returning them like crazy. Probably just due to it being the first version of the phone. Im interested to see what they do with it in a year or two when they work all the bugs out.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Doubt it. As I mentioned above, my Telus version was the same. And also as I mentioned above, the Telus guy behind the counter told me people were returning them like crazy. Probably just due to it being the first version of the phone. Im interested to see what they do with it in a year or two when they work all the bugs out.

For sure ... there's no denying the Chocolate's cool factor. They have a lot of bugs to work out though ... not sure if they can do it.

[metallicat]

My Razr has been extremely durable. Granted I bought a hard plastic case for it, but I've dropped in many, many times and she still works like brand new. The Chocolate on the other hand, is one craptacular phone that I wouldn't be caught dead using again.

[Jayems]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

I struggled with it constantly. Eventually the touch screen went crazy on me. It would keep freezing to the point where Id have to pull out the battery and put it back in, like restarting a computer almost.

Agh! Tell me about it. You try and move left in the menus, and the thing just gets stuck and starts going left at 100mph, and you can't stop it! That, or you're setting up the alarm clock (which is poorly designed and awkward to use) and you get all the way to finally entering ALL the information you need, and one button won't work and you have to reset it, and do it all over again.

On top of that, my phone would sometimes actually re-call the last person I had called that night, if I was charging it. One time it called my dad at 1:30am, I have no idea why.

haha, I've woken up many times to my sister's boyfriend saying "Hello? HELLO?" becuase he is the first name in my contact list and he gets auto dialed every now and again. Usually it happens when I turn the phone on, and can stop it before its too late, but some times its just random.

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[Ford Prefect]

Among the many FUBAR traits I experienced with the Chocolate, probably the weirdest was that the text message letters were kind of smeared. They looked like they'd been written with sand and the sand was being blown away in the wind. Very strange looking.

[kermitology]

That use of GPS is bizarre.

I'd embedd a receiver in the phone, and that shouldn't be a subscriber service. GPS is supposed to be free to access.

[guzzy]

I hate to say it but that is the worst phone ever made. Mine has been in for service twice now. Every time I send it in they erase all my pics and contacts. Telus should let everyone exchange these pieces of crap. They should feel bad for selling garbage. Not that I would expect anything better from Telus. It takes a crap company to sell crap and be proud of it. I am so glad for Shaw home phone.