In recent weeks, I have been incredibly annoyed by the wafer-thin source of fail that is my personal cell phone–the Motorola RAZR2. Here are some of the various reasons why I have come to label this phone as FAIL.
- The protection for the power outlet on the phone is a small rubber gasket with a aluminum cover attached to it. The cover allowed for the gasket to be closed and maintain the lines of the phone. About 6 months ago, I lost the small aluminum cover. This was inevitable, as the cover appeared to be attached to the gasket with some sort of adhesive. It made very little sense to attach a piece to the phone that is opened and closed so often with glue, and it was even worse when I lost the cover unexpectedly.
- While I cannot determine for sure if the battery is dead or if the phone refuses to charge the battery. In the last 8 weeks, I have had periods where the phone could be plugged in all day yet not recharge. There has been no specific method I have employed to correct this behavior, but it comes and goes. For the last couple of days, though, it appears to have gone for good. I am going to replace the battery to see if that is the source of the problem.
In any event, I thought that this RAZR would be an improvement over the shortcomings of the first-generation RAZR. Heck, through the years, I have stuck with Motorola phones given their resiliency and long-life. Let’s look at my personal cell phone history through the years:
Motorola used to have a reputation for good phones. My E815 still works quite well, considering it is 3 years old. Even then, it still holds a charge pretty well. The RAZR2, however, is just such a letdown. Apparently, the decline in quality of Motorola phones seems to eerily coincide with the performance of their mobile phone unit.
Barring my battery purchase, I am quite close to considering getting a new phone to replace this POS.
with an iPhone?
I share your historical liking for Motorola phones. It pained me to get a new one after my StarTAC, now I’ve got a V325. Rinky-dink compared to the Razr and Krazr that were out at the time, but it works well for what it needs to do and the price wasn’t inflated.
@Paul: I considered it for 3 seconds, then common sense prevailed. That, and I have no desire to be on AT&T’s inferior network.
@Alex: The StarTAC could be thrown through a wall, dribbled like a basketball, and it would still just work. The worst thing that would happen would be the need to replace the antenna. I think that’s why the current crop of Motos just suck more. Compared to the StarTAC, they just don’t have the resiliency.
AT&T is a deal breaker for me too.
My wife has a Motorola L7 SLVR and has been happy with it. (although I found the antenna to be a little lacking in places)
Your problem in finding a new good phone is being on Verizon’s closed network limits your choices to what they approve.
The Verizon network is certainly a trade-off–a sacrifice for its near-ubiquitous coverage. Admittedly, it is hard to find a place where I do not have coverage.
Looks like the problem is definitely the battery, though, after popping in and chatting with a technician. Now, I just need to get a new battery.
JJT: Seriously, check Amazon. I found OEM — read: Motorola w/ genuine hologram — batteries for $10-12 back in June and couldn’t have been more pleased.
@Alex: Funny you mentioned that, as I was all about Amazon the other day. I am most definitely buying some schwag from teh Internets Superstore.
Um… please see me before you buy a battery, although I suggest a full replacement. MOT just isn’t what it used to be. If you only knew all of the goods I know.