Samsung F490

Bought the Samsung F490 instead of an iPhone in a moment of weakness. Touch screen seems sluggish and frustrating to me. I think texting is a disaster. It seems you have to unlock the keys to hang up! Mine doesn't render html properly so most emails are unreadable. I think the camera is disappointing. Fail.

I really do not like this Samsung F490 phone. I was told by Vodafone it was the best they had back in May last year, but I wish i hadn't taken their advice. I find the touch screen is ridiculous, too sensitive and you end up pressing buttons that you didn't intend to. It is a pinickity hassle to answer and hang up. The camera is rubbish and everything blurs on it. Worst of all though, the predictive text is mindnumbingly hideous. If you enter a new name in your phone book or a one off word in a text, that will forever be what that combination of keys spells out - the only good point of this phone is it's such a darn hassle and annoyance to use sober that there is no way I would even attempt to send any drunk texts.

Its very stylish and a great phone to show off to your mates. If you want a phone that you can have fun with, and show off I suggest you buy this. However if you use your mobile for most of the day making a lot of calls and your likely to drop it. I suggest not to. Therefore I do not recommend Samsung F490.

I've had my F490 for almost 4 months now and it has succeeded in driving me to the brink of insanity. In fact I have finally had to face the terrible truth about my Samsung's inadequacies and have just ordered an Eriksson C902 so that I can have a ceremonial 'stamping on the Samsung' event sometime next week.

Like a heavenly Siren sitting on a rock in the water luring sailors to their deaths the F490 is a beautiful looking piece of equipment, has some excellent accessories including fast and easy internet access and an excellent MP3 player... however instead of buying an 'excellent phone with accessories' you end up with 'excellent accessories with a truly rubbish phone'. THE PHONE IS AWFUL. There are way too many options to select just to answer the thing. The same goes for hanging up, too. It really takes quite some getting used to. On the numerous occasions when a friend or family member tried to answer the phone for me NOT ONE OF THEM could work out how to answer it. It is a nightmare.

My best advice is DO NOT BUY THIS PHONE. If you are looking for a phone with a touch sensitive screen then opt for one that slides open to answer and doesn't immediately lock all your screen options the moment you answer (so maddening when you are negotiating automated answer phone systems "press 1 for blah, press 2 for blah-blah".

I've invited all friends & family, who happily have somehow managed to maintain their sanity after trying to use my F490, to come to my ceremonial Samsung bash. Everyone will get time alone with it to 'do their worst'. Sadly I don't have any pigs to feed it to . Open to suggestions.

Jules

I've had this phone since April and I was immediately attracted to it just by looking at the photo. It's a very modern, stylish phone and the touch screen works well, especially with the vibration feedback. However, it can be awkward to answer/hang up a call but it's nothing worth crying over. The text keyboard worked well originally but recently I've accidentally pressed unwanted buttons, but I think this is more down to me being overly confident and going too fast.

The camera quality during the day is good, but in dark places even with the flash can be quite poor. The biggest flaw with this whole phone is that it takes a few seconds to take a photo, so forget those spur of the moment snaps. This is something I have found on other samsung phones, and if it weren't for this I would give it a perfect score.

I was initially hesitant when going for the Samsung F490 due to the "touch only" compatibility of the handset, however, it works well and the touch screen is sensitive whilst not responding to bups and knocks from waylaid fingers **** stars

The Samsung F490 is fantastic, have not tried an I Phone but it has to be good to beat this. I read plenty of reviews regarding this phone on a number of review sites, these seemed to differ from one extreme to the other. I have to say I absolutely love this phone, moving from a Samsung D840 to this. Before Samsung's I was a Nokia fan until my Nokia N73 really started to play up. Nokia do have an easier operating system to them, but as with all things new they take time to get used to. This F490 is the easiest phone ever to operate. No wonder the user manual is one of the thinnest I have encountered with any new phone. The vibrating base tells you that the phone has recognised you have touched it, the phone prompts you to activate the keypad when answering and finishing a call. You really do have to be a total half whit to not operate this phone.

I have read reviews that state the Samsung F490 is a phone for the younger generation quite simply because of its high tech functionality. Well, I am aged 40 and I disagree. On the whole, I am impressed. I was toying with the idea of getting an iPhone but was put off because of it not having MMS and not being available with vodafone.

I moved from a K800i and almost went for the 850i, instead used the contract renewal to try this phone. I like it lots esp the vibrating response when you tap the screen so you know your command is acknowledged.

Answering and hanging up a call is a nuisance - I understand why it is the way it is, but still fiddly.

Overall still pleased with it, like it alot but I've been with Sony Ericsson for about 5 years and miss some of their functions esp contact ID photos being displayed for texts as well as calls, whereas the samsung is only for calls - and quite small picture.

Still a good phone to take on, had no real problem or gripe other than the above, and also its as responsive with your finger as it is with the styllus pen.

The Samsung F490 has got good things on it of use takes a litle use to get things right but i have had phone for four days and i can say get it its smart and glad i got it i was going to get u900 Samsung but its only an up date on u600