Motorola Makes them Durable
Kevin Martin | Staff Writer

It wasn't too long ago that I was busy extolling the virtues of the Motorola 3000 series StarTac cellular telephones. Avid Whim tech fans will recall that the particular phone I reviewed at that time had over 12,000 actual use minutes, and had been left turned on almost 24/7 for the entire 14 months of it's life. One reader asked "exactly how often did you turn the phone off?" Well, there were 3 infrequent events that would cause me to turn the phone off. Those were the few occasions I entered a hospital to visit patients, the infrequent air flight, and the occasions that would bring me to a public performance, or inside a place of worship. I would estimate the phone experienced a total of a week turned off. That phone has now exceeded 13,500 use minutes, and has only had 2 minor repairs. The first repair was a crack caused by abuse (laying on the open phone), and the second was once again, abuse (broken antennae thanks to a seatbelt). I would like to point out the phone was useable even with those flaws, and was in-fact used for several weeks before my local US Cellular office kindly replaced the antennae for me. So where is the phone now? As with most of my aging toys, it's been taken off hard torture, and given to my dad to use. He's never been happier with a cellular phone.

So what is the Uber-geek using nowadays for staying in touch? After much painful deliberation between the Motorola 60c, and the TimePort 270c, the all mighty US Dollar made a decision for me.

The phones are nearly identical in features. Both phones include 400 speed-dial slots, vibra-call so your whole class doesn't know someone wants you, voice activated dialing (beam me up Scotty!), 2-way SMS messaging, mini-web browsers, full time signal and battery indicator and more. More you ask? Yes! These phones, with optional cables, can be used as modems for your laptop, and have an optional tuner that will receive and play FM radio and record up to 2 minutes of voice-memo's. They have 175+hours of standby time per battery charge (over 24 hrs of talk time), and even a date book for the times when your planner or palm pilot is just one toy too many. Both phones come with belt clips, charge cables, owners manuals, slip cases, and in many cases, additional toys depending on your cellular company.

Durable? Both phones are Motorola, and in pre-sale testing took extensive drops, and slams. In real-world use the only significant complaint I have is my 270c's metallic painted face-plate has taken some nicks from drops in gravel. Though Motorola won't support this assertion, the 270c will continue to work flawlessly once dried out from being dropped in a puddle.

The differences? Well, aside from around $100 in price with a contract, the 60c is a clam-shell style flip phone, and the 270c is a one piece handset much like a Nokia 5100 or 918 series phone, though much sleeker. In addition, the 270c sports a nifty, flawless integrated speaker-phone feature. This makes keeping both hands on the wheel (or keyboard) easy while talking to your favorite friend.

These phones retail for over $300 each (with a contract at most cellular stores), so committing to one of them is not for the faint of heart, or light of purse. But should you want a feature laden, high quality phone that will withstand the rigors of college life, you now have 2 more choices from Motorola that will meet the challenge.

Kevin Martin is the sometimes techno-toy guru at Whim. Donations of neat and nifty electronic gizmo's are welcome!!!! ;)