Samsung Instinct-M800 user review

Pros: The phone has many features which are eye catchers, but useful only when, rarely, there are no better alternatives. Navigation is the exception and is excellent. Nice selection of ringtones. Television is fine given current technology, but still not where is should be (it wouldn't be tolerated from a real television). Frequent automatic server backup of basic contact data. The phone has a "substantial" feel. Two batteries.

Cons: The phone is constantly updating something, which sounds good if you don't happen to need to, say, make a call when this happens. If one of the many features is being used and a phone call comes in, the phone, then, will completely lock up and the battery must be removed for the phone to again work properly (very frustrating, over and over). The display keyboard is difficult to use without tiny fingers or without a stylus...don't lose the ONE provided.

Summary: This phone is more gimmick than useful. Looks nicer than most and is poised against the Iphone and the Gphone; it pales except with the navigation feature which is very impressive. Email feature, too, is quite good, but the phone needs to be reset (remove battery; is this why we get two batteries?) occasionally when this feature, among others, stop updating. I think I can live with this phone, but I am not sure it would be my first choice now that I have used it for over 3 months. If I lost it, I would buy a different phone. I probably would not comfortably recommend this phone to a friend. For a two year contract I would tell the friend to either wait or keep looking at other phones.