Anyone else picked up a cheap LG Optimus 7Q from the warehouse?

Forums › Legacy mobile platforms (Windows Mobile, Palm OS, Web OS, Symbian, Meego, Blackberry) › Anyone else picked up a cheap LG Optimus 7Q from the warehouse?

compost

295 posts

Ultimate Geek

#106317 21-Jul-2012 22:09

I picked one up for $149.50 and suggested it to a friend but it was sold out. Then it was back again a few days later then sold out again! It feels like grabaseat - is the warehouse doing grabaphone?!

My impressions so far, never having used a windows phone before:

- Metro looks superb. To me the difference between it and iPhone/Android is as great as the difference between architecture before and after WWII. Fretwork and stained glass didn't last in new construction except for nostalgic reasons - and I wonder if we really think cutesy 3d icons will too? Sure, there are some very nice looking apps for both iPhone and Android - but isn't it jarring when you have to go back to the OS?

- Surprised to find that Flash and Silverlight(!) don't run on it. I was hoping I could watch quickflix or tv catchups

- There's no file browser! I guess there will be an Astro equivalent somewhere in the marketplace. But I suppose I won't have to spend too much time weeding files with 15GB of storage

- Loving the slide out keyboard - though a few apps don't spin round for it

- I'm not too upset about being end-versioned - in fact that's probably what made this phone so affordable. Actually quite excited about getting 7.8 in future

- I can't find tethering, I assume it's my ignorance as others seem to have figured it out

- Pay for Angry Birds?? Cmon, don't treat me like a fanboi!

- The Zune software is less than special. I thought I was going to be escaping Samsung Kies-like crap with this phone...

Any tips for a likely cohort of WP7 n00bs wanting to find out how to get the best out of their new toys?

A time-poor geek is hardly a geek at all

insane

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#659768 22-Jul-2012 01:19

I was given an LG Optimus Black by my employee and while it has some good individual features, overall it's possibly the worse phone I've had. Unreliable and unpredictable battery life makes this phone almost not fit for purpose. Can only imagine all other LG phones are the same.

compost

295 posts

Ultimate Geek

#659781 22-Jul-2012 08:38

insane: I was given an LG Optimus Black by my employee and while it has some good individual features, overall it's possibly the worse phone I've had. Unreliable and unpredictable battery life makes this phone almost not fit for purpose. Can only imagine all other LG phones are the same.

I think you're talking about a droid there. Also nearly every manufacturer sullies their brand by making crap models to chase cost sensitive buyers. Samsung are supposed to be taking the top end android battle to apple but I have experienced first hand the suckiness of one of their entry level models

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freitasm

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#659783 22-Jul-2012 09:01

compost: - There's no file browser! I guess there will be an Astro equivalent somewhere in the marketplace. But I suppose I won't have to spend too much time weeding files with 15GB of storage

There's no access to the file system for users.

compost: - Loving the slide out keyboard - though a few apps don't spin round for it

I used to like keyboards because of my email usage. But with Windows Phone on screen keyboard you actually write faster and with less errors than other OS options. Don't get a keyboard next time.

compost: - I'm not too upset about being end-versioned - in fact that's probably what made this phone so affordable. Actually quite excited about getting 7.8 in future

- I can't find tethering, I assume it's my ignorance as others seem to have figured it out

It depends on the OS version and OEM. I have it on my HTC Trophy for months, nothing on Nokia Lumia yet, but coming with a firmware update.

compost: - The Zune software is less than special. I thought I was going to be escaping Samsung Kies-like crap with this phone...

It's actually a good media manager - don't use it other way.

compost: Any tips for a likely cohort of WP7 n00bs wanting to find out how to get the best out of their new toys?

Maximise battery time by unchecking things like "Find my phone" (unless you really want to use it), "Notify me when new WiFi networks are available", "Notify me when new updates are found", "Use my mobile data connection to check for update".

nzapster

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Geek

#660698 23-Jul-2012 23:53

I didn't see this, I'm now seriously tempted. For $150 how can you really go wrong?

compost

295 posts

Ultimate Geek

#661249 24-Jul-2012 20:13

nzapster: I didn't see this, I'm now seriously tempted. For $150 how can you really go wrong?

That was how I looked at it.

I would have been happy with a slow CPU and bugger all ram and storage for this price, and instead it's 1Ghz, 16GB and has a decent screen - pretty good for 18 month old technology. For the price I can hardly get upset about the generic LG styling or the extra weight and bulk of the slide out keyboard.

I had a quick look online and it appears it's gone once and for all now. Hope you got there in time.

I don't know if 5 people or 50 people bought one, but thought I would contribute my experiences so far with updates in case it helps.

No updates at all were coming through, so I tried the force update trick which worked a treat. This took me to 7.10.7440.16.

The following day the rest of the updates came through in a 90 minute torrent - first 7.10.8107.79, then 7.10.8112.7 ("LG Update for Windows Phone"), then 7.10.8773.98.

I believe the LG update was the one that enabled internet sharing, but Zune didn't let up so I didn't have the chance to check.

Clearance sales like this are usually seen as a sign of business failure, but I actually see the silver lining. If a plane is diving, is it crashing to disaster or picking up speed to rise again? Market share is critical to smartphones because they are so dependent on having an active developer community, and anything that grows the share is good for the product - as long as the vendor is willing to wear the financial hit. And if you look at Xbox you know MS can take a hit :)

A time-poor geek is hardly a geek at all

nzapster

22 posts

Geek

#661257 24-Jul-2012 20:17

compost:
nzapster: I didn't see this, I'm now seriously tempted. For $150 how can you really go wrong?

That was how I looked at it.

I would have been happy with a slow CPU and bugger all ram and storage for this price, and instead it's 1Ghz, 16GB and has a decent screen - pretty good for 18 month old technology. For the price I can hardly get upset about the generic LG styling or the extra weight and bulk of the slide out keyboard.

I had a quick look online and it appears it's gone once and for all now. Hope you got there in time.

I don't know if 5 people or 50 people bought one, but thought I would contribute my experiences so far with updates in case it helps.

No updates at all were coming through, so I tried the force update trick which worked a treat. This took me to 7.10.7440.16.

The following day the rest of the updates came through in a 90 minute torrent - first 7.10.8107.79, then 7.10.8112.7 ("LG Update for Windows Phone"), then 7.10.8773.98.

I believe the LG update was the one that enabled internet sharing, but Zune didn't let up so I didn't have the chance to check.

Clearance sales like this are usually seen as a sign of business failure, but I actually see the silver lining. If a plane is diving, is it crashing to disaster or picking up speed to rise again? Market share is critical to smartphones because they are so dependent on having an active developer community, and anything that grows the share is good for the product - as long as the vendor is willing to wear the financial hit. And if you look at Xbox you know MS can take a hit :)

I came home today to purchase it, (I didn't have time when I posted) and they had just sold out :/

Ah well, hope you enjoy yours anyway.

freitasm

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#661258 24-Jul-2012 20:18

compost: The following day the rest of the updates came through in a 90 minute torrent - first 7.10.8107.79, then 7.10.8112.7 ("LG Update for Windows Phone"), then 7.10.8773.98.

I believe the LG update was the one that enabled internet sharing, but Zune didn't let up so I didn't have the chance to check.

I have an LG here, currently on 7.10.8107.79 and it has Internet Sharing.

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freitasm

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#661295 24-Jul-2012 20:39

Just plugged the LG to my laptop and was offered the updates, without doing anything.

This is a first, all other updates here (on my Nokia Lumia, wife's HTC Trophy and even on this LG previously) were always "forced".

wasabi2k

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#661491 25-Jul-2012 09:33

ordered one online - so here's hoping.

They are marked as Telecom XT models - some research seems to have them as quad band so in theory it will work on Voda - but even if it doesn't I'll be happy with wifi and 2g for the wife!

That will make it a total Windows Phone household for me - wife, stepson and me.

oxnsox

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#661512 25-Jul-2012 10:14

wasabi2k: ordered one online - so here's hoping.

They are marked as Telecom XT models - some research seems to have them as quad band so in theory it will work on Voda - but even if it doesn't I'll be happy with wifi and 2g for the wife!

That will make it a total Windows Phone household for me - wife, stepson and me.

They are quad band GSM not quad band WCDMA, which is what you would need for Telecom AND Voda/2Deg.

wasabi2k

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#661738 25-Jul-2012 13:30

bugger - ah well - trademe ho!

Kyanar

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#661931 25-Jul-2012 18:14

They will still work on 2G for Vodafone/2degrees. And since Vodafone uses 2100MHz for 3G in main centres, you'll get 3G in main cities as well. Apparently you should also get 3G on 2degrees in main centres as well as they also use 2100MHz.

wasabi2k

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#662599 26-Jul-2012 19:50

point is a bit moot now :(

Hi Jeff,On 24/07/12 you placed an order with www.thewarehouse.co.nz (order number: xxxxxxxx). Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, we were unable to fulfil your order and have therefore refunded the cost of the product(s).

Your refund will be processed to your credit card or bank account today. It may take a few days to appear in your account depending on your bank.