This is my mobile phone.
Or rather, this WAS my mobile phone.
The whole weekend long, the screen on this phone was playing hide and seek with me. At certain times, the internal screen would flicker, or it would just go blank to what is commonly referred to as “The White Screen of Death”. I would cajole it a bit, with promises of sweet nothings and it would come back to life, allowing me to send or read my text messages. The next time I open up the clamshell, BAM! Again we see the disastrous white screen.
As the weekend wore on, the white screen on the internal screen would come on more and more frequently. The external screen remained normal. Until Sunday afternoon when out of the blue, the external screen turned into a monochrome screen. Very odd.
By Sunday evening, the phone was as good as dead. The white screen on the internal screen was permanent and the external screen remained monochome. No amount of rebooting would jar the phone to life. Not much use to me, as I could not make phone calls or text messages - I could receive calls and text messages but it was hardly any use as I could not read anything!
This is not the first time it’s happened. The same problem occurred towards the end of last year just before the warranty period ended i.e. about 10 months into the warranty and 10 months from the date of purchase. When I checked with Sony Ericcson’s service centre I was told it was a “connection problem” and could be fixed for RM100. I did not have to pay then as it was under warranty. Now, approximately 6 months down the road, same problem again.
It made me think. If the phone failed 10 months after purchase and failed again 6 months after changing the part, what guarantee is there that it will not fail again in 6 months time if I decide to spend RM100 on repair costs?
So I had to resort to resurrecting my old faithful. This is a T68i Sony Ericsson phone. It is about 5 years old and going strong - relatively, except for a sticky keypad.
This has been used for a spare phone throughout my other phone’s hospital stays last year (there were many) and even for bro when his phone died.
This was my first Sony Ericsson phone and what made me decide to continue with SE as I liked the interface.
Well, after the latest debacle, I’m afraid its no more Sony Ericsson for me!
Someone told me this connection problem is common in clamshell/flip phones. But I’ve known people who’ve owned such phones for years without problems cropping up. In fact, my bro used to own a Samsung clamshell that only started having this “connection problem” that caused blank internal screens, after about 4 years of use. By contrast, my Sony Ericsson Z520i is only about 1 year 4 months old. Ridiculous? Yes.
I did a bit of research online and found that this white screen phenomenon seems quite common among Sony Ericsson phones. Even their candybar models are not immune. Mobile phones aren’t cheap. I’d hardly call them disposable after paying hundreds or even over RM1,000 for a phone. So, it looks like Sony Ericsson is now totally off my list of phones to look at, no matter how attractive or cheap they may be!
So, I’m in the market for a new phone. Possibly one of those slider types (Samsung does some cute ones) or candy-bar types. No more flip phones for a while. And, I’m on a tight budget, so only phones in the hundreds category may apply. I’m even ok with an older model so long as it doesn’t crash on me in a year!
Any recs?
Some other Related posts:
- To all the phones I’ve loved before
- What phone? What phone?
- Review of the Samsung SGH-D900i mobile phone
- Where’s the CSI team when you need them?
- New Samsung SGH-E830 mobile phone
14 comments ↓
Dump Sony Ericsson, they always suck. Take a look at the Nokia 6300.
Gallivanter - Owhhhh…my SE is just two days old.
Paris - I hope my K800i won’t give me problems but my son’s K750 does keep switching off even after repair (he dropped it while on bike ride, duh).
I still use a Nokia 3315
Forgot how many years liao. LOL!
I think I’m Nokia’s biggest advocate..
have you looked at the new N series? My previous phones (all Nokia) have served me well…the 3210, 6610, 6111 and now the 6131…all still working fine… 
I’ve got my eye on the N77…haha…
The LG Chocolate’s less than 1k now. If not for the bloody expensive Nokia N80 I bought just ONE month before the Chocolate came out, the beautiful touch-screen would have been mine. Swweeeett :p
Sorry to hear abt your SE blues, but I’m not such a big handphone geek, so I can’t really recommend anything…
I used to have a SE something, then gave it away, when I bought the Motorola L6 last summer, which is still going strong *touchwood*, but I am holding out for the iPhone this autumn… which should be a monster!!!
No wonder you stopped replying my SMSes! LOL have no idea… I’m clueless about phones. I like my Nokia 6230, it does the job:
1. send and receive SMS
2. make and receive phone call
3. calculate my purchases before I walk up to counter and pay
4. work as an alarm clock
5. work as a calendar/organiser
6. sometimes function as torch
And the phone was FREE. Lagi syiok. Hehe.
I’ve always been a fan of Nokia, and for the past 3 phones I’ve had, I’ve kept to that brand. tried tinkering around my friends’ SEs, but just totally disliked the menus! not even getting to the tech problems (then again, all phones have problems)…
Gallivanter: Thanks I’m starting to feel that way about Sony Ericssons even if I like their interface. But that Nokia is a tad over my present budget
Lillian: I hope your K800i won’t give problems too. I read some problems about the camera cover coming off or something. Sigh SE…. SE…
Pablo: hehe… those are actually the hardiest phones around. But I’m one of those peole who like canggih looking phones la…
Beetrice: I started out with Nokia. Had the 3210 and 8210 which were top of the range in those days and they were great phones. I moved to SE coz I was given the T68 and since then I haven’t been near a Nokia.
Tine: I read bad reviews on the chocolate and the Samsung E900 that emulates it. Apparently the touch screen drives people nuts lol… But i took a look at the E900 - so cute and dinky!!!
LB: You *would* get an iPhone eh? hehe…
Cheesey: Yalor… half the time I was yelling at the phone to just SHOW ME MY MESSAGES! heh… Actually at this point in time I’d happily take any free phone! But since I’m paying for my own phones then might as well get something funky
I use my phones just as you use yours. Saves on buying an extra alarm clock! lol…
May: I actually like SE’s interface, but after 2 phones and that infamous SE lag time, I’m out of there. I would like to get into Nokia, but the designs don’t wow me and neither do their prices. I’ll keep looking though
LB - I’m using the Motorola L6 too! Downgrading from a 3G Nokia phone which died on me, it took some getting used to but I find the features not that bad la. But iPhone is something altogether! *watches out for LB’s iPhone*
SAMSUNG!!!! Nice, flat, powerful, SAMSUNG!!!!!
D900… keeps surprising me. Only had it for about a month but one of the happiest purchases I’ve made.
Despite not being an SE Walkman phone, the sound on this baby is even better than some SE’s I’ve heard! Makes waking up to it a pleasure every morning.
Ugh, I am anti-Sony Ericsson too! I got one of the second batches (can’t remember model #) because Nokia & Motorola designs were screwy then but boy, do I dislike the keypad (stiff), predictive text feature (weird) and dictionary (what dictionary???). I’m thinking of going for a clam shell one or good old Nokia/Motorola again. Let us know of what you get ok!
[...] I talked about my stupid phone dying on me? Remember I twittered about falling in love with a new Samsung even though I’m a [...]
[...] BUT I think there was a ghost in the machine or I was jinxed or something but this phone gave me nothing but problems. The plastic screen protector kept falling out despite many repairs and twice the screen went blank for no reason. I was told it was a connection problem which was “common in this phone” and that bugged me. It was a great phone but the hardware was crap and so, just slightly over one year, it committed suicide. [...]