Expert: DebiN - 2/6/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello,
I currently have my first cell phone, an LG VX3200 phone and the battery is getting weak. To just replace the battery will cost about $40. I just use the phone for emergencies, long distance and convenience. I've never texted and don't plan to. I have prepaid service with Verizon and I pay .25 for each connection and .10 per minute. I pay $15/month with automatic debit from my credit card and the minutes roll over.

I'm thinking about buying another phone but I'm not very familiar with all of the different phones and features.

I'd like a flip phone, with a camera so I can download to my computer and send to people. I'm not interested in sending pics to another phone. Also I'm 56 years old and my vision is fading, so I'd like one with larger numbers on the keypad. The LG that I currently have has a good speakerphone and I'd like another phone with this feature.

I'm hoping I can find a good phone for less than $50.

Thanks for any help or suggestions you can provide.

John,
Shenandoah County, Virginia

ANSWER: The LG Accolade would be your best bet. It's a flip and is $39.99 on line for prepaid. It's got a 1.3 mp camera, bluetooth, speakerphone, and VZ Navigator. It's going to be similar to what you have. There really aren't too many phone with large keypads. The Motorola Razr has the biggest keys, but those aren't made anymore and there's really nothing like that anymore. There's touch screens that might be a little easier, but if you want keys, I think that the LG Accolodate is your best bet for prepaid with Verizon and yes, I would buy a new phone and not replace the battery. It's not worth replacing the battery on an inexpensive phone. Hope this helps.

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QUESTION: I've checked the reviews on the Accolade 5600 and read where the camera button is very sensitive and takes pics by itself with no way to disable it and also the pics can't be transferred to a computer. You can only text them to another phone.

I'm looking at the Samsung Gusto at Family Dollar for $15. The reviews aren't great on this one either. It will be a few months before the battery will die on my current LG, so I have some time to shop around.

Answer
You can transfer pictures from any phone to your computer if you get the USB cable and software to load on your computer. You also can't text message a picture, you can send a picture via MMS and you can send MMS to an email address which can be your home email address and then keep them on your computer. That would likely solve that problem. The issue is about prepaid. You are limited on your choices of phones with prepaid and are going to run into the same issue no matter what if you have to stick with prepaid. I wouldn't buy a phone at Family Dollar and would go to Verizon for the phone directly and I think I would worry about the phone taking pictures on it's own. Put it in a case and you don't have to worry about it or make sure you have a keypad lock. It won't take pictures on it's own that way. Plus, you don't want to disable the camera because then you couldn't take pictures at all. If you are going to stick with Verizon and prepaid, go with the Accolade, otherwise shop for another carrier and whatever prepaid phones they have available. Hope that helps.