Samsung Intrepid Review

After much deliberation, I finally decided to do a product review after having bought the actual product that I'm reviewing as it makes perfect sense to. To me, reviewing a product that I haven't actually tested out first-hand doesn't really amount to a hill of beans; so writing a review on a cell phone I now own is not only rational but effective towards an end. I'd like to start by saying that I absolute am satisfied with this phone and have only scratched the indelible surface of what it can actually do. After reading this review, I hope that you leave here with the same impression. Please enjoy.

Okay, so maybe I really have a poor and unfair comparison to make between my new Samsung Intrepid and my old, worthy-of-being-in-a-museum Nextel/Motorola i850 flip-phone. Gone are the days of "downloading" text messages from friends, co-workers, and family members. Imagine having to wait to send and receive text messages!

Released in October, 2009 the Samsung Intrepid is a viable alternative to the very popular Blackberry and Apple iPhone. Unlike the iPhone, it has a full QWERTY keyboard which keys light-up upon touch and unlike many Blackberrys, it has a touchscreen as well, so in essence, it's the best of both worlds in one package. In addition, it does not have the added expense of Blackberry add-ons in order for you to enjoy many of its free apps and features which will save you upwards of $70 a month (in addition to what you're already paying for service) if you're not already under certain Sprint data plans--an added luxury most of us would rather not have to spend. To me, going with an actual Blackberry phone is doubly expensive. You're basically paying for a brand name if anything else.

• Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional
  
• Full QWERTY Keyboard
• 2.5" Touchscreen
• Sprint TV
• NFL Live
• Wi-Fi Capable
• Sprint Worldwide Service Capable
  
• 3G Speeds Where Available
  
• GPS Navigation Capable
• Web-browsing Capable
  
• Music Capable
  
• Bluetooth
• Email Capable
• Tellme Application
• Voice-activated dialing
• Memory Card Slot

• Samsung Intrepid with Stylus
  
• Standard Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) Battery
• AC Phone Charger
• SIM Card (Installed)
• 3.5mm Stereo Headset and Microphone
• USB Sync Cable
• Get Started Guide
• Set Up Your Email Guide
• Features Guide
• Basics Guide
• Terms & Conditions of Services
• Wireless Recycling Envelope
  

At first glance, I really fell for this phone. I read a couple of reviews pertaining to its design and one of them went as far as calling it "uninspired." It certainly inspired me enough to buy it! I think that it looks better with a rubber case, especially in black as it helps to protect it from getting scratched up, dirty, or manhandled by greasy fingerprints. Here's my impression of my phone:

• Web Browsing and Resolution: Although its resolution is 320 x 240 its a lot clearer than that surprisingly. The phone gets real internet (like you get on your PC) and obviously, one of my favorite places to go is HubPages! You can easily zoom out and zoom in to better read the small text you'll find on certain sites. What I enjoy most is to be able to now read and comment on other people's hubs while on the run. The 2.5 inch touchscreen to me is large enough and is very responsive (should you have a problem finding your stylus by the way, it's store on the bottom right-hand corner when faced frontwards).
• Functions and Layout: I'll admit, I wish Samsung did a better job with the navigational tool and made it more like a control pad of a video game console--the Nintendo Wii pops into mind first. However, after some time, I did grow accustomed to using this. I especially like the chrome buttons and the one with the famous Windows icon is very helpful. Overall, Windows Mobile 6.1 is very easy to navigate from one function or app to another as the resolution is crisp and colorful.
• Camera and Video Camcorder: Although I don't use this much, I do like the availability of this feature as it's great to have when my really expensive digital camera is not at hand. 3.2 mega pixels isn't great, but it isn't bad either. I would've probably bought this phone without a camera. Overall, its camera is above average in comparison to other phones.
• Texting and Email: By far, this is one of my favorite features on this phone. I like how it makes distinctive chirps or sounds whenever I receive a new email or text from someone. Sending and receiving texts are now instantaneous and easy to read. To top it off, the phone actually remembers your writing and texting tendencies. As you write or are texting someone, it'll actually give you suggestions as to the word you might be typing. For instance, if you typed: TH, the Windows program will suggest to you the word THANK YOU to help you. You just click on the suggested word to apply!
• Battery: This is one of the most impressive features of all with this phone. I use my Intrepid pretty heavily during the course of the day and have yet to have the battery run out on me. Believe it or not, Samsung boasts that it's battery life on the Intrepid is 5.5 hours of talk time, but there were days when I got as far as 6 hours with one single charge! It certainly is a "juice sipper" rather than a "guzzler" of sorts.

Since November of 2005, I've been with Sprint (or what used to be Nextel). I realize that there are many of you that are on the other large networks like Verizon or AT&T and like them, but I really must insist on going with Sprint as their customer service representatives are very helpful and their calling plans are reasonable, notably their Now Network. When I lived out in New Paltz, New York, I sometimes had problems with my cell phone reception due to the lack of cell towers and interference caused by be practically surrounded by the Catskill Mountain range. However, when Sprint bought up Nextel, things got a heck of a lot better, as costs went down and the quality of service went up, so, consider them as a viable alternative to Verizon and AT&T. I'm glad that I stuck with them all these years.  You can visit Sprint.com by clicking here.

Tellme is a relatively new technology that was bought by Microsoft in 2007 to the tune of $800 million (Bill Gates sure saw something promising by doing so). So what is Tellme® you ask? In a nutshell, it's the fastest way to get information, make a phone call, or even send a text message! To me, it's like having a secretary follow me around to help me throughout my day and all's I need to do is hit two buttons and say my command. Here's some of things that Tellme® is able to do:

• Voice to text messaging
• Voice Activated Dialing
• Web Search
• Businesses
• Stocks
• Sports Scores
• Weather
• Movies
• Traffic
• GPS Enabled

Just say it and get it! That's exactly what Tellme® tells us.

For many of us NFL fans, we don't like to miss out on any of our favorite team's games. A handful of the NFL games played annually, such as the New York Giants at the Denver Broncos game on Thanksgiving will only air exclusively on the NFL Network. Luckily for me, I'm able to watch my favorite team--the New York Giants--via my cell phone-while on Sprint's Now Network for free! By the way, Sprint is the only network that is agreement with the NFL to do so (sorry Verizon and AT&T). I'm now able to watch a total of 8 Live NFL games through the course of the season, get live updates 24/7 through the NFL Network, and free audio for EVERY NFL game and much more...

I shouldn't have to get into too much of what Bluetooth® is, as I'm sure that you've witnessed hundreds of people walking around using these devices while seemingly to be talking to themselves and swore they were cuckoo-for-cocoa puffs. While at Wal-Mart, I heard one guy "talking" into his Bluetooth®: "Fine! You wanna divorce?! You GOT A DIVORCE!" I guess shopping at Wal-Mart does that to people.

For those of you that use or are familiar with a Windows OS, you'll feel right at home using Windows Mobile as it's based off of Windows CE. Here are some of the things Microsoft improved upon from their their previous Windows Mobile 6.1:

• A new Today screen highlights e-mail, SMS/MMS, missed calls, voice mail, Windows Live services, and even music and photos.
• Improved touch is fast, and gestures now work in most e-mail, contacts, and calendar.
• Handy new widgets display the latest stocks and weather.
• Improved Internet Explorer Mobile is now more touch-friendly with desktop-quality display.
• New services give you more of what you want on your phone. Browse and buy apps with Windows Marketplace for Mobile. Free Windows Live services deliver push e-mail for Windows Live Hotmail accounts. Microsoft My Phone offers protection by backing up and syncing phone information on the web.

So how much does a Samsung Intrepid cost? Well, retail it'll run you about $450 unlocked (meaning no contractual agreement required to operate) and a measly $150 after a $100 mail-in-rebate (which takes 4-6 weeks) with a new 2-Year Agreement with Sprint. To me of course, the price was a factor when purchasing my Samsung Intrepid.  I'm don't know of any other Smartphones you could by at such a low-cost, with so many extras, can you?

Given the chance, I'd buy the Samsung Intrepid smart phone all over again, mainly because of its price, functionality, battery life, and for its ease of use. Being a writer, I like to carry with me my work at all times (in case I bump into someone from Random House or Knopf) and with Windows Mobile 6.5 I can now carry ALL my written works with me to either write or edit! With its added extras and freebies under Sprint's Now Network I get to enjoy NFL Moblie Live, NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile, Tellme, YouTube, and so much more all for free. There's also pay on-demand Sprint TV which allows you to enjoy all your favorite shows that air on ABC and Disney and Mobile channels such as The Weather Channel and Sirius Music. I highly recommend anyone to get this phone. It's very practical for the $150 I paid and I'll go as far as saying it's an absolute bargain over an overpriced Blackberry or iPhone that does not have the adequate amount of cell towers for many rural areas in the United States they allegedly serve.

I hope you enjoyed this review! Thanks for reading me!