About to buy a VM droid phone, and need a little help.

redchigh · Mar 25, 2012

I've tried to compare all the virgin mobile phones, but I keep getting quite lost. I know they all have pros and cons, so I'll list what I absolutely need, what I want, and maybe someone can throw in their 2 cents.

Needs-
1.Under $100 (I know it's tough, but Ebay or used isn't a problem for me.)
2. Decent web browsing (mostly for forums, gmail, and facebook.)
3. Droid capable (TextMaker Viewer 2010 and Blowtorch will probably be downloaded immediately)
4. Typing/Txting is important, so decent keyboard is a must, but touchscreen keyboard is ok.

Wants-
Decent camera for stills, or movies
touchscreen

This is my first foray into droid 'smartphones', so I know I won't find high-end for my price. Just something to fit my needs that looks kinda cool.

I've been considering the following-
Samsung intercept
Optimus V
LG Rumor Touch (if I can find a good deal)

Is one of those a better option, or is there another that has eluded me thus far?

nyislanders · Mar 25, 2012

The Optimus V is a good choice, and so is the Optimus Slider. Virgin Mobile also just came out with the Venture, another android phone that has a physical keyboard for $99. That's another phone to look into. The Intercept is crap though. I haven't heard one good thing about it. It's painfully slow most of the time. You mentioned the Rumor Touch. That's actually not an Android phone, so if you want a smartphone, stay away from the Rumor Touch. But yea, the Optimus V and the Venture are 2 phones to definitely look into for what you want.

agentc13 · Mar 25, 2012

For what you want, I would recommend the LG Optimus V.

redchigh · Mar 25, 2012

Well whichever one I pick will pretty much be acting as a laptop replacement... (I just don't need it to do much- I will be staring at it for hours on hours a day most likely.)

I found that venture has
QWERTY physical keyboard, 2.8" display, 240x320 pixels of resolution

Optimus-
320X480 pixels, 3.2 inch diagonal display

I'm just not sure what it means... How big of a difference is the clarity? Bigger screen with lower resolution.. does it cancel out?

shiv81 · Mar 25, 2012

Whatever you do, do not buy the intercept no matter how low the price is. It is not worth it at all. Just like the posts above say, the Optimus V is your best bet. If you can spend $200, the HTC One V is rumored to come out soon as well.

craZDude · Mar 25, 2012

The LG rumor touch isn't an Android phone, so don't bother with that one. It sounds like the Optimus Slider would be a good choice for you if you can find it in your price range, it's essentially a slightly faster Optimus V with a physical keyboard. The Optimus V actually has a higher resolution than the
Venture, at 320x480 (same as the Optimus Slider, if I'm not mistaken). The higher the resolution the clearer the screen, things will look less pixelated. With the Optimus V, since the screen is 3.2 inches, remember that the keyboard will have to fit on that, so if keyboard is a high priority, the Optimus Slider may just be a better choice.

As for the HTC One V, that is a nice phone that may come out in the next few months (an actual release date may be known on the 5th of April, but even that's a maybe). It is looking to be a very nice phone that will cost $200 new, but will be able to do more than the Optimus V. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask!

motoracer1486 · Mar 27, 2012

Optimus Slider definitely. Much better than the Optimus V.

AmishFury · Mar 27, 2012

Optimus V is right at $100 every day at walmart... target has had it on sale a few times for $80 and one time they had it for $70

no physical keyboard but i've never once thought "man i wish i had a slide out"

camera is not that great but far from the worst camera... some examples
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o149/SgtPnkks/IMG_20110514_184117.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o149/SgtPnkks/IMG_20110829_210501.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o149/SgtPnkks/awesome-car.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26921956/CameraZOOM-20120228095536826.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26921956/IMG_20111009_161839.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26921956/IMG_20110911_133520.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26921956/CameraZOOM-20120215140711915.jpg

video quality of the camera is kinda "meh"... 640x480 and a tad blurry at that... (search "optimus v video test" on youtube... you'll find a few examples)

redchigh · Mar 28, 2012

I see them on Ebay regularly- in box, new for $50-$70. Any reason I shouldn't buy it on Ebay? I've seen the slider for $70 too once..

marc12868 · Mar 28, 2012

redchigh said:
I see them on Ebay regularly- in box, new for $50-$70. Any reason I shouldn't buy it on Ebay? I've seen the slider for $70 too once..

Well you have a chance of getting a non working one, but as long as you read the description and make sure that the buyer has good feedback you should be good. I have bought a few things from ebay and haven't been ripped off so just pay attention to the description and such. Also if it says bad esn steer clear, since that means it has cleary had it's esn reported as being stolen (since you can't lapse in payments on prepaid that's all that it could be).

redchigh · Mar 28, 2012

seems like there's definately quite a few OpV's on Ebay too that are dirt cheap..
LG Optimus V - Black Virgin Mobile Smartphone 836182002705 | eBay

Shadow300 · Apr 3, 2012

shiv81 said:
Whatever you do, do not buy the intercept no matter how low the price is. It is not worth it at all. Just like the posts above say, the Optimus V is your best bet. If you can spend $200, the HTC One V is rumored to come out soon as well.

I turned my intercept into a super android, with the help of rooting and several system modifying apps. Takes a lot of work, but in the end it was worth it. Wouln't recommend it to a novice

fmalcolmr · Apr 5, 2012

Like others have said, for $100 or under the Optimus V is the phone to own. It performed well for me when I had it. Owned for about 7 months, it wasn't perfect by any means... but kept me connected and performed well.

ohyeahyeah · Apr 13, 2012

Shadow300 said:
I turned my intercept into a super android, with the help of rooting and several system modifying apps. Takes a lot of work, but in the end it was worth it. Wouln't recommend it to a novice

I have Intercept too, I know it's a slow phone.. If u patience and understand how it works, just don't use too many apps that running in the background. also try not to have too many app icons on your screen. it runs fine to me.. slide out keyboard kinda nice too have it, but if without it I use virtual keyboard eitherway.. well, the next phone Im getting might be HTC Wildfire S, or whichever inexpensive Android.. saving money is my gold.

andid · Apr 13, 2012

ive had all of those phones....and went back to the optimus v , its an amazing phone looks good and theres a ton of cute cases for it on ebay dirt cheap, also the web works great,id recommend downloading opera mini...everyone is right about the intercept, its horrible!

keisukehonda · Apr 13, 2012

If you do end up with a Samsung Intercept, the key is to HAVE AS FEW APPS AS POSSIBLE. Also, before using the web browser, YouTube app, etc, make sure to open your task manager and close all the apps. Finally, every so often, clear cache for every single app (I recommend an app called history eraser to do this). The Intercept is usable at least if you follow all these steps.

Petrah · Apr 14, 2012

redchigh said:
I see them on Ebay regularly- in box, new for $50-$70. Any reason I shouldn't buy it on Ebay? I've seen the slider for $70 too once..

If you purchase from another seller other than an official (BestBuy, RadioShack etc.) one, make certain the phone has never been activated under someone else's name. The warranty only covers the original owner of the phone, so if something happens with the phone a few months after you get it then you're stuck with it. Certainly not worth it IMHO.

marc12868 · Apr 14, 2012

NoNameFace said:
If you purchase from another seller other than an official (BestBuy, RadioShack etc.) one, make certain the phone has never been activated under someone else's name. The warranty only covers the original owner of the phone, so if something happens with the phone a few months after you get it then you're stuck with it. Certainly not worth it IMHO.

Wrong. The warranty is still there even if there has been a previous owner. It doesn't matter.

ohyeahyeah · Apr 14, 2012

keisukehonda said:
If you do end up with a Samsung Intercept, the key is to HAVE AS FEW APPS AS POSSIBLE. Also, before using the web browser, YouTube app, etc, make sure to open your task manager and close all the apps. Finally, every so often, clear cache for every single app (I recommend an app called history eraser to do this). The Intercept is usable at least if you follow all these steps.

well, anyway. at VM website they don't carry Intercept anymore, only at Amazon. Intercept is out just so you know.

McNerdius · Apr 14, 2012

redchigh said:
This is my first foray into droid 'smartphones'

Shadow300 said:
I turned my intercept into a super android, with the help of rooting and several system modifying apps. Takes a lot of work, but in the end it was worth it. Wouln't recommend it to a novice

i don't get why such posts get made. that is all.

About to buy a VM droid phone, and need a little help.

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