AT&T's Samsung SGH-A877 Impression
After a half year of using the phone, I can say I've learned a lot about the capabilities and shortcomings of the SGH-A877. Also known as the
Impression. The software engine and display look almost identical to the Samsung Eternity (SGH-A867), the main difference being the lack of AMOLED screen and physical keyboard. I was about to get the Eternity but the slide out keyboard and the fact that it was one of the
first cell phones with the AMOLED technologies sold me. Only 14 other models have AMOLED displays, the iPhone not being one of them. The extra $50 was worth it.
The GPS works, but use it in case you don't have a stand-alone GPS. I would recommend downloading the free Google Maps as opposed to AT&T's Navigator. When I get lost and I don't have my Garmin, the built-in GPS capability can be a life saver. It has for me.
The external speakers (the regular speaker, and rear speaker) have decent volume. Sometimes I use it when I take a shower and I HAVE to listen to
that new song. One of my favorite features is how well the Bluetooth works with my car stereo. I have the
Sony MEX-BT2600
synced to my Impression with Bluetooth and I can use the Impression to control the music from my phone. Very neat.
I have to praise the option to use the virtual keyboard or sliding the QWERTY keyboard out to type. A big factor when I bought the phone. The choice of keyboards are awesome but the physical keyboard is annoying when typing text messages. There is a slight lag which is also accompanied by occasional double-key strokes, and sometimes skipping of the letter entirely. I hear the speed could be improved by turning the typing sound off, but I shouldn't have to. It works fine when typing in the internet browser and other applications, so why only during text messages? It is something I've learned to live with.
The lack of customization frustrates me most. When I buy something, I want to make it mine. For two reasons. First I want to simply customize it for my own viewing pleasure. Show off my personal photos of friends or family, my dream car, my favorite sports team, etc. Secondly, I want to know it is my phone and make it known to others. How many times have we visited friends homes when someone asks, who's phone is this? Oh... it's David's. He wants that Lexus LF-A that is pictured on his phone!
Customers assume every phone has the ability to change the wallpaper. Heck... even my old flip phones had this ability when cameraphones first came out! Advancements with technology... hello! You can't use one of your MP3s as a ringtone unless you use applications to slice it up because there is a limit on file size (WTF?!). The widget side menu lacks customization as well.
Sometimes I have to reset my phone from time to time in order to send text messages. That is annoying because when sending messages, it may be time sensitive. Rebooting it and waiting for the text messaging service to be fully loaded can take up to 5 minutes. Seriously annoying. Good thing it only happens 1-2 times per month.
The "No event" box. The engineers screwed up big time here. Sometimes there is a dark gray box with the "!" mark on the sidebar tool list which serves no purpose or function. It just sits there like "dead weight" with the other icons. The engineers didn't know how to make it disappear before releasing the phone.
When browsing the internet, my phone resets. My old Blackjack I did this too. Why Samsung?? Why?
Most of these things could be fixed with proper support from Samsung. I'm not so optimistic, but I hope Samsung gets their act together and puts out a firmware addressing these issues. I know there are unconventional ways to do this, but we take the risk of screwing up our phones. Every phone has its problems, which is why I give this phone average marks. It has lots of features, just doesn't do any one thing really well besides look pretty.
Bottom line: Lots of potential, but falters (somewhat) with execution. My reviews are always very critical. That is what consumers want to hear before they buy something. Recommended to light users who text and use the internet occasionally.
Pros:
- AMOLED screen
- Keyboard choices
- Bluetooth
- GPS
Cons:
- Slide-out keyboard when texting
- Lack of 3rd party support
- Software Bugs (well known) Samsung has yet to fix
Other Features & Tools:
- Calendar
- Record Audio
- Alarms
- Tasks
- Calculator
- Converter (Currency, Length, Weight, Volume, Area, Temp)
- Timer
- Stopwatch
, but I hate the Monopoly board game. If you want to play a game of Monopoly
, set aside 4-24 hours and get ready to battle into the night!
. Basically you have cards with multiple letters on them, and you spell out four letter words to change the words. Think "LUCK" then change one letter to make "LOCK" ... put another card down with the letter "O" on top of the "C" to make "LOOK" ... and so forth. This is a Speed type card game where you have to get rid of your cards as fast as you can, hence the name SLAM. 
. I was skeptical at first but this is an awesome game. FUN FUN FUN!!!!
? Monopoly Nintendo
? Make Your Own Opoly Game
? LOL. Well Monopoly Deal 
. Awesome game, not my ideal way to bring on the new decade. I want to some day go to New York for the ball drop, something I want to do before I die, or go back to the motherland in Seoul Korea and bring on the new year. Heck... I'll settle for a house party with friends.
