Pros: It is cool, speakerphone, options, size, bluetooth, sound
Cons: Camera, takes getting used to, mediocre battery
The bottom line: One of the best out there, but still can be improved.
I have been through a number of cell phones over the past few years and have almost always tried different brands. The best I have experienced was the LG shell phone that so many people liked. But to give you an idea of how little the brand means to me, I have no idea which model it was. That will change if I need to replace the RAZR V3. This is an unforgettable phone for the simple reason that is so different.

When I was looking for a replacement the first thing I noticed was the shape of the Razr. You want thin? You think thin is cool? I agree and this is the thinnest phone you will find anywhere. The phone measure just L 3.75 x W 2.2 x D 0.5. Now this is good and bad. On the good side is that it is so thin you hardly notice it in your breast/jacket pocket. On the bad side, you can easily forget that it is not in your pocket and you also will need a little adjustment period- it just does not feel right in your hands. Alas, I am a big fan of the size and hope that more and more devices are headed to similar dimensions. At any rate, the size is just the first thing that strikes you when it comes to the Razr V3.

THE SPECIFICS:

* Size L 3.75 x W 2.2 x D 0.5
* Weight 3 oz
* Metal anodized aluminum casing
* Speaker Phone
* Digital camera
* MPEG4 video playback capabilities
* Bluetooth enabled
* 200+ minutes of talk time
* 180 hours of standby time
* 250 entry SIM card phone book
* Calendar, alarm clock, calculator

WHAT I LIKE:

1. I mentioned the size already, but it deserves mentioning again. I just cannot get over the thin design and the cool look that the V3 has. You will find that people stop and look at you like they did eight or nine years ago when you showed up with a PDA. A very cool phone that is actually a conversation piece.

2. A speaker phone that actually works well. Yes, you can hear the sound at the other end of the phone without wondering what was just said and without hearing the vibrations and static that often accompany speaker phones. I use mine all the time for conference calls and I am very pleased with the quality of the sound. The other end can hear me just as well and that is every bit as important when considering using a speaker.

3. The phone book function is wonderful. You can store up to 250 names on the SIM card. Yet Phone Plus gives you the ability to store 1000 names. I will get there eventually and if you are involved in business and have a lot of contacts, this is a great feature.

4. The ease of use. The phone makes sense as a phone. The functions are easy to use and figure out and they are well laid out. Everything is where you would expect it to be. In addition, the users guide is easy to follow and easy to decipher.

5. The ringer produces a loud tone. I know this is silly as all phones should be capable of making sure you hear them ring, but I have had trouble with previous phones that do not ring very loudly. This one provides plenty of volume. You also have the ability to program a number of different ring tones so that you are not constantly reaching for your phone when it turns out someone else's phone is ringing.

6. The screen savers. I have never been much of fan of the options, but that has changed. You can download numerous preset options from the internet or you can download photos that you have taken. It seems to me that everyone has a picture of their wife, kids, or dog. So, I gave in and posted a picture of Pedro (Our Schnauzer) in my wife's arms.

7. The Bluetooth technology works like a dream. I do a ton of driving and talking with my job and I need something that allows me to be hands free and that is also reliable. I cannot have a dropped call or bad reception while driving and talking to a client. The V3 provides very good reception and is very reliable. I have yet to have a problem with it and that is more than I can say for previous phones that I have tried with Bluetooth.

8. Oh yeah, the sound is very good. Yes, I have yet to run into static or anything of the like with the V3. Now this is often attributable to the carrier, but it also can be a positive or negative because of the actual phone. The V3 has been very good in some difficult areas- middle of nowhere to the canyons of a big city.

9. The V3 offers a plethora of accessories. There are multiple chargers, cases, covers, and holsters. You have the ability to carry a backup battery for times when you cannot charge the battery. In addition, you have a number of different data downloads that provide you with the Bluetooth capabilities, internet access, and other options.

10. The V3 is a solidly built phone. No, I am not saying you can drop it everyday and it will be fine, but I am saying that it can withstand some abuse. You can tell by holding it that the phone will not be in for body work in the next few years unless you get really rough with it.


WHAT I DO NOT LIKE:

1. It takes some getting used to. As I mentioned, the thinness of the phone is a chore when it comes to getting accustomed to. You will get it, but initially it just does not seem to fit well in your hand. Think of going from a regular land line to a cell phone and how different it feels and you will know what I mean. You will quickly figure it out, but...

2. I am surprised that the V3 does not have better talk times. Actually, I am not so surprised. The cell phone industry needs to address this. Actually, the country needs to address different ways to provide more juice for a number of different products- cars, phones, laptops, etc. I am sure we will sometime take the next step and have a phone that can provide twice the amount of talk time. Until then, this will have to do.

3. The V3 lacks WiFi capabilities. You may consider this to be a negative, but I do not use it too much. I have my work PDA which provides capability and does not cost me anything. However, I would expect that a phone that costs this much would have it.

4. The built in camera is pretty much a low budget deal. Now I am probably not the best one to discuss the camera as I use it next to never, but when I do use it, I expect something decent. The V3 is not much better than decent, if that. The resolution is not very good and the zoom feature is not much better. Again, one day we will have a phone that really and truly can replace a camera, but it will not be with the V3. I would not recommend taking this as you camera if you are looking for a great photo from a vacation or special event.


THE BOTTOM LINE:

A wonderful phone that has a few flaws. That being said, I think that it is worthy of all the positive press that it has received over the past month or so. There are few products that I list almost 10 positives for and even fewer that I list just four negatives for. The V3 is one of the few electronics products that have been produced in the past eight or so years that you can take to a bar and have heads turn wondering what that "thing" in your hands is. That in and of itself is what makes this phone. Those who purchase it and will be happy with it will like being the trend-setters. Of course, it also has features that a lot of other people will like- business people, teens, and those looking for a solid phone. All in all, a very good phone.