LG VX8700 Review - Introduction / Design

Introduction

With its sleek, brushed metal body and 2.0-megapixel camera and camcorder, the VX8700 is LG's answer to Motorola's KRZR K1, where the focus is on sexy, minimalist design and sharp, printable quality photos.
Music and videos are still easily accessible once the clamshell phone is flipped open. Yet unlike the VX8600 where music controls can be accessed on the external face of the phone, here they have been moved inside.

The camera is the highlight of this phone, which also features a microSD external memory card slot, EV-DO high-speed broadband network and Bluetooth compatibility with up to 20 pairings. A high resolution, richly colored internal display showcases the photo and video quality of the camera and camcorder.

Design

The VX8700's silver metal is refined and professional, and the external display doubles as a mirror when the light is off. Its brushed metal disguises fingerprints more than some phones, although they do show up. Slim enough to pocket easily or slip into the smallest bag, it fortunately still has a solid feel, weighing in at just under four ounces; slightly heavier than the 3.26-ounce VX8600.

Both the external and internal displays are TFT or Thin Film Transistor LCD screens, meaning they produce sharper, more brilliant images. On the outside, the 65K-color display has 48 x 160 px. Date, time and battery life are shown on the external screen, while text in the display runs vertically up the center of the face; aligned on the left or right. Inside, a large 262K-color display has 240 x 320 px. The Flash menu interface will be familiar to Verizon Wireless customers, as it follows the simple format while adding animation.
Flipping the phone open reveals a flat, brushed metal keypad that continues the design of the exterior of the phone. The mirror-like surface of the interior display, when the backlight turns off, continues the theme of the external display. The keypad is strikingly similar to Motorola's early RAZR models.

The large size of the keys can be an attractive feature of the keypad or a problematic one, depending on whether users dial by touch without looking at the keys. The conventional push-button keypad is completely flat and allows for faster dialing because users' fingers can glide across it with ease.

The VX8700 features a one-touch speakerphone, and Verizon Wireless' Get It Now music and ringtones can be accessed with the arrow keys. Arrow keys can also be used to pull up VCAST video and personal photo and videos, and to access Mobile Web 2.0 and the calendar.

A one-touch button on the lower right side of the VX8700 is also a faster way to bring up the camera, camcorder and saved media. Volume controls can also be adjusted easily with the two small buttons on the top left side of the phone, and settings include vibrate and alarm only as well as different sound levels.

The small speaker is located at the top of the phone, yet the highest volume level on the VX8700 was not very loud. The handheld comes with 13 ringtones as well as vibrate and silent modes, and quick access to Verizon Wireless' Get it Now music and tones to customize the phone's ringtone.

Directly below the volume control is a one-touch button that activates the speaker-independent voice recognition feature, which enables users to send messages, make calls, look up and create new contacts and other functions.

Consumers will not find new or innovative key design on this phone, but the aesthetics are clean, functional and allows even a cell phone novice to easily find the phone's high-tech features.

A small charger and headset port is located on the lower left side, where it is neatly hidden by a thin and somewhat delicate cover. The VX8700's microSD external memory card slot is located inside the phone, behind the battery. Users will have to remove the back of the phone and battery to access the slot. The memory card is sold separately.

The LG VX8700 comes with a standard 800 mAh Li-Ion Battery, Black Pouch, AC Travel Charger, Headset Adapter, Quick Reference Guide and User Manual.

source:
http://www.mobiledia.com/reviews/lg/vx8700/page1.html