mdaniel

I'm thinking of getting a Startac with a handsfree earbud. Where you you put your phone so its easy to get at and doesn't fly around the cabin? I don't want to drill any holes if possible. My Nokia 6190 fits nicely between in the space just to the left of the shifter but I'm not sure if the StarTac will fit there.

kensteele

StarTAC goes on your belt when you are in the car.

mdaniel

So you do you dial? I want a phone with voice dialing. Not simply retrieving a number from speed dial, but the ability to dial any number I read off.

acura_service

don't waste your time on a startac, get a timeport mercedes now use only timeports (had startac's) - they are much better and fully digital

kensteele

On Sprint PCS, you can get Voice Command which works with any SPCS phone including the Motorolas. Voice-dialing, dials any number in your online phonebook, dials numbers by digits.

The Mercedes Timeport phone will not work in an Acura. You can only get a Mercedes Timeport from Mercedes when you buy a Mercedes. Outside of the Mercedes, the phone is identical to the regular Motorola Timeport, which for Sprint PCS is the P8767 (colour display) or P8167. Basically a Timeport is a silver StarTAC.

All are fully digital, whatever that means.

volsfan0911

Skip the StarTac. Had mine for almost 2 years. Have a intermittant glitch on the battery due to the ribbon cable or something ("invalid main battery" error message sometimes along with no battery gauge). Also hate the ergonomics now after extended use. Next phone will be a candy-bar style unit and absolutely have a speakerphone ( the Sanyo that Sprint PCS has being a good example). Some of the newer models coming out in Japan and Europe are amazing! Can't wait

acura_service

no, alot of startacs are analog, and true the mb timeport has a different software version to work with the car - a regular timeport in a 2001 benz will cause a hell of a battery drain, i just changed a customers startac under warranty and his service refused to activate it due to being analog, (until of course he talked to his boss, and his boss and so on) then they activated it, at&t sent out letters to most of my mb customers saying there phones (up to 2000) will be turned off due to analog /part analog digital) - only the new 2001 mb/timeports are full digital (and are the same as off the shelf timeport except for the software version)

kensteele

This was a known bug that was fixed by Motorola. It didn't affect the phone (still worked) but yes it was kinda annoying. Also if you use an aftermarket (non-Motorola) battery, you might get this.

Speaking of cool phones, I just introduced the Sanyo 6000 late last week for Sprint PCS. I've had this phone for about 3 months and it is easily the coolest phone in America today. http://www.sanyousa.com/consumer_ele.../scp-6000.html

Fabvsix

I got the Kyocera Smartphone ! Check it out before you buy ! Palm pilot/Digital Cell/complete Internet access/Voiceactivated and MORE !

volsfan0911

Almost bought one but am waiting for the CLIE N600 to come out in August. Would rather have the 64 bit color screen (AWESOME judging by the N710C) and Palm OS4 right now than the integrated wireless. StarTac isn't that big and I'm hoping the Palm machines for OS5 will bring everything together in one package better. Gonna be cool in the next couple of years to see how the PDA/smartphone concept works out.

volsfan0911

OEM battery - apparently, I just got a buggy model!

I had seen a writeup of the 6000 previously (CNET?) but thanks for the link! Looks fuggin' awesome - me want .

[ 07-13-2001: Message edited by: volsfan0911 ]

prikid

Just got myself V series phone 8160.
All I can say... wish I had stayed with Nokia

prikid

btw, the v-phone is very cool, and has a lot of nice features, but I'll prefer Nokia to any other phone

kensteele

On the right network, the V-phone can be a killer phone. V8162 was my favourite for a long time (about a year).

kensteele

I am a separate device kinda person myself (PCS phone + iPaq) but the Samsung I300 is rather awesome.

mdaniel

I'm asking about the Motorolas because I might switch to Verizon (CDMA800) and I've heard that Nokia hasn't quite figured out CDMA. So that leave me looking for a good CDMA phone. Ken, I know you're a Sprint guy, but since the tech. is pretty much the same, who do you think the leader is in CDMA handsets? Since I'll use it for business, my priorities are holding onto a signal and maintaining decent voice quality. I also need something fairly small with decent battery life. Others were talking about the StarTacs vs. Timeports. From what I can tell, they're almost identical except for the color of the phone and display. Is there anything else about the Timeport that would justify the extra $100? That's the ST7868 vs. P8767.

volsfan0911

Ken - damn you - I hadn't seen that yet! Well, since I'm on Verizon right now, guess I know where my refund check is going! *drool* hope the display is as good as the CLIE's.

Since I'm in hospital-land, all my apps are Palm. Besides, ActionNames is the BEST PIM I've ever used and I've got all the hacks & software I use daily downloaded now and running smoothly. Damnit - now I'm going to be anxiously waiting this release!

[ 07-14-2001: Message edited by: volsfan0911 ]