Instinct VS Centro VS Rumor

[bourwa]

Here's the deal. My rebate's ready in July so it's time to crunch. I've been waiting for the Instinct to come out so I could read up on it a little, but I'm still having a hard time deciding.

Here's what I want to do with my phone:
1. Change the ringers. No I don't wanna HAVE TO download. I've been stuck forever know without vision and haven't been able to change my ringers. Now I MAY be getting vision soon depending on which phone I get, but I don't want to HAVE TO rely on downloading for my ringers. I know about the Rumor's video ringer trick, but I like having people's pictures pop up when they call too.

2. Text. A lot. Rumor's keyboard looks the best, but I really don't like the ringer situation. Then I have to wonder: Is it easier to have super tiny keys (Centro) or virtual keys (Instint)

3. Listen to music. Obviously that requires an mp3 player on the phone, but more so I'm looking for speaker quality and volume too. I don't expect to be using my phone as a boombox, but I want to be able to hear it if I take a couple steps away.

4. Dropping it. It happens. I'm sorry. I remember when the first ReadyLink phones came out I dropped that guy after a few months and it was never quite the same after that.


So how do the three phones stack up? I know I'm probably not going to end up with a 100% Perfect For Me phone, but I'm trying to outweigh pro's and con's. Thanks guys!

[sugarnova]

I can only chime in on the texting portion, because I've used virtual keyboards and both the Centro and Rumor's keyboards. I have found the Centro to be the easiest, fastest, and most accurate that I've used. I also highly prefer the option of typing one OR two-handed, depending on the situation, and the Centro is the only one that gives me that. Keep in mind, though, that if you have big hands, it could be difficult to adjust to the small keyboard.

[BHare]

Texting: LG Rumor
Texting + Internet: Centro

I am have no idea what you are referring to with the whole ringer issue. You want to get a ringer but don't want to download one? You can use a MicroSD or USB cable.

Have not used the instinct yet.

[bourwa]

Texting: LG Rumor
Texting + Internet: Centro

I am have no idea what you are referring to with the whole ringer issue. You want to get a ringer but don't want to download one? You can use a MicroSD or USB cable.

Have not used the instinct yet.

I was referring to the fact that on my current phone the only way to get your own ringers on it is thought the vision uploader, even though it takes MicroSD AND has a USB cable. I made the mistake of assuming when I bought it that one of those two options would let me put my ringers on without having to A)Buy Vision B) Pay per kb for the download when usin vision uploader.

I would like a phone where I actually can add my own ringers with a cable and/or microSD.

[ghettocowboy248]

id go with the instinct or centro(id take the instinct myself). a friend hase the rumor and hates it. instinct you have to add web anyway but having a nice phone like that or the centro its kinda dumb to not have web with it to begin with

[mrdavis55]

Centro... you wont be sorry... Instinct is a MM phone with a touchscreen... Centro is TOTALLY different....

[bourwa]

Seems like Centro keeps coming up on top. I guess I'll go with that one. So how easy is it to put ringers on it directly w/o the vision uploader? Does does anyone else with man-hands have a really big problem with tiny keys?

[mrdavis55]

Ringers=easy... There are LOTS of 3rd party programs you can use...

welcome to the fam...

treocentral.com

[Bumble]

Seems like Centro keeps coming up on top. I guess I'll go with that one. So how easy is it to put ringers on it directly w/o the vision uploader? Does does anyone else with man-hands have a really big problem with tiny keys?

Ringtones are real easy, use minitones or music tones. Both with take mp3s saved on your memory card and allow you to trim and convert them to ringtones for free.

Also, I have decent size hands and have absolutely no issues with the keys.

[MizzSprintPCS]

Get the Centro.....:headbang2

[weibergj]

go with the centro. i got the instinct for a few days and went back to my centro. instinct is a feature phone. the haptics are great(lil vibrations every time you touch the screen) and gps is cool. but you can do SO much more with the centro. make your own ringtones, browse the web(instincts specs says its rev. a but its doesnt seem like it and the interface is just combersome), edit or create Office docs etc, listen to music(comes with ptunes deluxe, a good app), and have access to thousands of 3rd party apps. the palm os is pretty dated and ugly but it gets the job done. or you could wait a few more weeks and get the new treo 800w with windows mobile 6.1, wifi, gps, all first for palm. hope this helped.

[Zach Begler]

get the centro ...i have it now and i love it... it has a touch screen also so if i want to do something fast instead of just clicking up or down i can just touch it and im there already..the battery isnt the greatest but it will last you all day... my friend has the instinct and he got rid of it after a week or 2 because you cant really do to much on it besides a few things on the main screen... with the centro you can download pretty much anything and do it haha... but hope this helps... if any one can find a better phone that sprint offers please let me know im looking for something else...i had the mogul and got rid of it for the centro and cant find a phone that works as good or has the same options... thanks

[grrmisfit]

centro is a nice phone i had one. only problem i ever had is accidently hanging up. i highly recommend getting a bluetooth for this if you have any size cheeks lol. other then that solid phone but ive heard rumors that all PDA/Smartphones require data plans now. I could be wrong.. i had no data plan with my centro and all was good. my wife has the rumor texting is a tad faster but the centros convo style texting OWNS all

[Bumble]

centro is a nice phone i had one. only problem i ever had is accidently hanging up. i highly recommend getting a bluetooth for this if you have any size cheeks lol. other then that solid phone but ive heard rumors that all PDA/Smartphones require data plans now. I could be wrong.. i had no data plan with my centro and all was good. my wife has the rumor texting is a tad faster but the centros convo style texting OWNS all

You can disable the touch screen while on a call in preferences -> keyguard. All PDAs since activated 6/15 require a data plan, but it can just be any data package added to an old plan, unless you want one of the new plans, then it has to have the data built into the plan.

[debbierp]

I've been debating on the same thing...but is it true that you are not able to get the gps with the centro? and you need to change to the expensive plan with the instinct?

[MNguyen82]

I've been debating on the same thing...but is it true that you are not able to get the gps with the centro? and you need to change to the expensive plan with the instinct?

Nope, there is no GPS on the Centro. As for the Instinct, I've heard you would have to get one of the Simply Everything plan if you were to get one.

[ajadoniz]

My sister has the Rumor. she's... i forgot her age, but she's a teenie bopper (they love texting) and she loves it. best phone she's ever had, she says.

my other sister just got the instinct. she's a teenager. she was a little overwhelmed with all the bells and whistles and touchiness of the phone, but it looks like she got the hang of texting and tells me she loves the UI.

my other sister has the centro, but she doesn't do much with it. is it because its too complicated for her to really take up? or is it because her lifestyle doesn't fit with the phone? i couldn't get an answer as she threw me out of her room (must be that time of the month).

[SethsMommy]

How funny is it that each of your sisters have the phones listed?

I too was debating getting either a centro or an instict. My lifestyle makes the live search on the instict too good to pass up. I am a 411 addict.

I love the schedualing on the centro though. My husband is a truck driver, so I am basically a 'single mom'. I shouldn't say that, his family is always 110% there for me. But the schedualing could be kind of cool.

The centro and instict are both pretty easy to text with. Like everything practice makes perfect. Aslo, I thought my friend brought the gps up on her centro today, but its possible it was just google maps now that I think about it.

Another plus for the centro is that its the palm os, which has been around FOREVER and is obviously stable. The Instict has only been out for what, like three weeks maybe? There could be software issues like with the first batch of rumors.

All in all, I think I am still getting the instict. I can't explain it. I just am.

[Bumble]

How funny is it that each of your sisters have the phones listed?

I too was debating getting either a centro or an instict. My lifestyle makes the live search on the instict too good to pass up. I am a 411 addict.

I love the schedualing on the centro though. My husband is a truck driver, so I am basically a 'single mom'. I shouldn't say that, his family is always 110% there for me. But the schedualing could be kind of cool.

The centro and instict are both pretty easy to text with. Like everything practice makes perfect. Aslo, I thought my friend brought the gps up on her centro today, but its possible it was just google maps now that I think about it.

Another plus for the centro is that its the palm os, which has been around FOREVER and is obviously stable. The Instict has only been out for what, like three weeks maybe? There could be software issues like with the first batch of rumors.

All in all, I think I am still getting the instict. I can't explain it. I just am.

Not to make your decision harder, there is a great directory assist program for Palm called tryda.

[sugarnova]

Not to make your decision harder, there is a great directory assist program for Palm called tryda.

Hellz yeah! I couldn't imagine my life without this app. I use it at LEAST 3x a week!

[t32motley]

Get a BLackberry curve -not Palm -not LG- Not samsung

[Cheeko318]

How funny is it that each of your sisters have the phones listed?

I too was debating getting either a centro or an instict. My lifestyle makes the live search on the instict too good to pass up. I am a 411 addict.

I love the schedualing on the centro though. My husband is a truck driver, so I am basically a 'single mom'. I shouldn't say that, his family is always 110% there for me. But the schedualing could be kind of cool.

The centro and instict are both pretty easy to text with. Like everything practice makes perfect. Aslo, I thought my friend brought the gps up on her centro today, but its possible it was just google maps now that I think about it.

Another plus for the centro is that its the palm os, which has been around FOREVER and is obviously stable. The Instict has only been out for what, like three weeks maybe? There could be software issues like with the first batch of rumors.

All in all, I think I am still getting the instict. I can't explain it. I just am.

I had the instinct for a week and wasnt too impressed with it tbh. It is a nice phone but it wasnt worth the added monthly price. I got the treo on SERO plan so $30 for pretty much everything is so much nicer then the novelty of the touchscreen.. Like other posters said there is a program for the 411 and there is even a way to get gps with the centro from what I have been reading and dont have to pay extra monthly. My mom and sister both have centros now and like theirs. I like the bigger keyboard on my phone and extra battery life but I am waiting for the new plans/limitations for the new treo to come out before I am decisive on keeping it. Tbh from my experience I feel the centro is a nicer phone then the instinct and I have yet to see any added stuff on the centro. The decission is yours and I would look at the 3rd party apps maybe before making a final one tbh Instinct gps didnt work as well as I hoped and tv/radio was choppy so in essence all I was paying for was the novelty of it being touch. The curve also someone mentioned which I have yet to rly play with tbh I enjoy the treo software much more then the blackberry even though I have heard so so so many good things about the curve. Mom had the pearl for a little bit and I wasnt a fan I guess it isnt for everyone.

[ssAtramS]

The Centro is a very good phone, however, be prepared for a shock if you think you can go for days without charging. I had a hard enough time making it through a workday.

[cliffr39]

I can get about 2 full days with my Centro - but I don't use it for a phone, only for the data features. I have a separate phone for making/receiving calls. So, it all depends on how heavy you use it and what features you use (I have the screen brightness turned all the way down to one from the left)

[abarrera]

I've used all 3 and I say...go with the Curve...I know you didn't list it but it's a great phone.

[Landocommando12]

I would say go for the Curve. I had it on T Mobile and it's a great device. Only reason I have the Instinct is because I wanted the SE Plan so I switched to Sprint, but the Blackberrys on Sprint have MMS disabled and that was unacceptable to me.

For texting and being able to add ringers directly from SD card or computer, and good speaker/ music player... you definitely want the curve.

[WLABARTH]

Nope, there is no GPS on the Centro. As for the Instinct, I've heard you would have to get one of the Simply Everything plan if you were to get one.
its not that there is no GPS, but out of the box it won't. you have to by a separate GPS reciever and connect via BT.

If you want everything in 1 package, Blackberry is the way to go. I carry the pearl but the curve is good as well though hard to find (atleast in my market).

[debbierp]

So now Im confused, should i go with the excitement of the instinct but bad plan, or the rumor, or maybe a blackberry or something else.??
I text a lot and defintly need GPS, a good camera would be nice but not essential....

[dayvedayve]

Here is my chime in.

1st - Rumor

bought my wife one. She was looking for a qwerty keyboard for texting. Didn't care for the Rumor. The slide out keyboard was too easily opened. It kept making her mad everytime she grabed the phone to answer the keyboard would slide out. Yes has a good basic MP3 player. Dont know if it had GPS or not.

2nd - Centro (in pink)
replaced the Rumor within the 30 days with this little job. She is happy with it. Her little fingers can handle the small keys. I didnt care for them I have way bigger hands. Yes on the MP3 player and can even assign MP3's on her card as ringers with a 3rd party application. No GPS out of the box. This is a PDA phone so you can do more with it. Maybe not what you would use it for so if you never needed a PDA then you probably not use this phone to its full potential.

3rd Curve

Played with it in store. Didnt get into it very much because I couldn't get past the rollerball. Didn't care for it. Once again this is a PDA (same comment as the centro)

4. The Instinct

I love this phone and I am usually not to into phones other than making calls. Touchscreen interface with very large screen. Turn by turn GPS is awesome. Music and video player is about the same as others. Texting is very fast with the virtual keyboard in landscape mode or you can even use the stylus with handwritting recognition software. (buggy however) The internet still needs work but updates have been thrown around since day one. Live search is great. Just push the button and say whay you are looking for. Get a list with phone number and address, show on map and even get the directions to it from where you are. Instinct is also the first sprint phone with the visual voicemail feature. Touch the voicemail screen and listen to your voicemails without having to call your number and only listen to the ones that you want and in the order that you want. The only downside is the plan requirements for the Instinct. Only 3 everything plans with unlimited data or 2 share plans with unlimited data are allowed right now. Employee plans can but have to add extra $10 and SERO plans have a rumor that they can be used but at a higher price. All in all

Do you need / want a PDA

Then Centro or Curve

Great phone with some really cool features

Instinct

[nlynd1978]

Do not get the rumor. They are buggy and break easy. Im on my third one, the last two burned out, and one broke. The techs told me the other day when i was getting a replacement phone its a crap shoot with it like the old 870s from moto with the bad boards.

The centro is nice but from the sounds of it, needs to many accessories or options to work. Plus it is very small, the idea of the phone from my perspective was a smaller more female oriented pda phone since i noticed mostly its girls with them or that like them. Course im a guy and i got huge hands.

Played with a curve in the store. Liked it but didnt like the keys or the roller ball. Everything you do is thru the roller ball it seemed and if the ball broke your phone wont work till its fixed.

Personally i would get the instinct, yeah its a lot of bells and whistles but unless your a very busy business oriented person there is no need for a pda or blackberry phone. As for the plan they have cheaper versions of the s.e.p. that don't include unlimited minutes. What i can tell you is that the instinct does require a s.e.p. and the phone was designed with that plan in mind.

All in all its which phone best suites you. I would look at what you do in an average day, which phone has the best features to support that, then look at the extras. Don't buy the phone for its extras cause they may do you no good. especially if you don't want the expense from a higher priced plan. For me i use about 4-5k minutes a month, 1k+ texting, and 5k+ data on the unlimted plan, plus check emails, and gps. The rumor cant handle it hence why i have an instinct on the way.

Also the 99$ plan is not that bad I have two lines bot have the 99$ plan plus the 7 dollar insurance and the total bill is about 230-240 depending on 411 charges which with the instinct you wont have any more.