But the problem is it's not always appropriate to have voice prompts turned on, and navigating the menu system without the voice prompts is hugely awkward. Those graphical icons really don't cut it.
Maddeningly, you need to input code numbers from the manual to adjust certain settings, such as changing the language or setting a voicemail number, like when using a cheap universal remote control. For instance, to turn off keypad tones you have to press star three times, then 251, another star and then the action key. Got that? Good, you'll have to remember it, or carry the manual around with you.
The other problem is that the letters, although easy to read, are so large that long text messages or contact names don't fit on it without scrolling. It's like trying to read a text message on a calculator.
Conclusion
Albert Einstein once said, "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." While the Motofone should be one of the simplest ever phones to use, it's actually about as user-friendly as a Rubik's cube. It will definitely take some getting used to, especially if you've owned any other mobile phone before.
We really wanted to like this phone -- the battery life is incredible -- but after using it for over two weeks, we couldn't stand it any longer. One of the most annoying features is the inability to read text messages in one go and having to scroll through them bit by bit. If you're a heavy texter, avoid this phone at all costs.
That said, if you only care about making calls and you have all the numbers you need stored on your SIM card, then the Motofone's fantastic battery life might make it worth a purchase. Just don't plan on texting any time soon. Or adding any new contacts. Or changing any of the settings if you lose the manual. Or...
Edited by Jason Jenkins
Additional editing by Nick Hide
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BlurXC 25 March 2008
Good: Simple, light, thin, cheap, tough, loud, clear, looks good
Bad: Almost too simple, and nonstandard
Comment: Most reviews of this phone are 99% positive or negative. Why? This phone was made for developing countries, and they say they did on-site research to create the user interface. They may have well set out to make features many people will hate in developed countries. Many people, but not all.
This phone is light, thin, loud, with great reception and massive battery life. What's not too like? Well, if you text, you'll hate it, and if you want bluetooth, a camera, or multimedia, you can forget it.
It seems to please people who want huge text on a simple display, and a minimal (if nonstandard) menu system. Lots of young people note it would be great for older people.
E-ink is a brilliant new tech trick, but if you like to see more than 6 text characters at a time, you'll have to scroll sideways, and the text characters come in a random mix of upper and lower case (MoM, CALL doUG), perhaps because they're made of line segments, as on a calculator.
The menu system is minimal. Settings most people don't change are actually concealed in numeric codes. Hands free sets seem non-existent. Many people hate the interface, but some really like it. May depend on how much you hate your present phone.
Read all the reviews you can, don't spend more than you have to, and consider this a luddite project. If you can buy it with a free trial period, so much the better.
I happen to like mine, but YMMV.
Fidrus 2 January 2008
Good: Battery life, slim elegant design, good sound
Bad: Absolutely awful menuing and messaging
Comment: I have never really liked Motorola's menuing system - compared to other phones, they have always struck me as being non-intuitive. But the menuing on this phone is just awful. Even the simplest taks require the manual to be consulted. And the phone keeps asking for codes to do everything. The display is OK for numbers, but awful for letters - it reminds me of the way people used to key in numbers such as 32135, turn the calculator upside down, and reid the word "seize".
The characters are also way too big for the screen, so that only a few letetrs fit on at the time. This leads to constant irritation, especially if you want to send or read a text message. Even long numbers are problematical!
Overall, a good product spoilt by a bad display and bad menuing. This could have been so much better ... how could Motorola have let this product out onto the market in this condition? Didn't they let a few people try it out first?
Dave Smith 29 July 2007
Good: Fantastic daylight screen..
Bad: Clumsy menu
Comment: Paid £9 for it at Asda !!
Looks good, thin, great screen. Brilliant in sunshine. Intuitive menu?? It isn't unless you are blessed with psychic reasoning. What a shame...
Huge text, perhaps TOO big... makes reading text messages a bit clumsy, as the text letters are often different sizes in the same word, lIKe tHiS, pOor and SoMETi Mes split words. Hard to read. I wonder why they did this, but a bit too big for texting.
Loudspeaker. Long long battery life. Good looking, but disappointing menu, really disappointing!
Visual design 90%
Menu 30%
Text Readability: Sometimes good sometimes poor. Pity... Visually, it looks like it would have been a really good cheap basic phone.
Still... Ok for £9 but not worth a lot more.
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