question about sidekicks for the hearing

AsianAlan · 09-13-2004, 11:02 PM

i was thinking about getting a sidekick since i do a lot of texting with my deaf friends.
I've heard that the voice reception on the sidekick isn't all that great.
I was also wondering if the hands free headset was need to access the phone features or if one could use the phone without the headset.

falconer07 · 09-13-2004, 11:33 PM

So you want to get a sidekick? That's great! I got a sidekick because of all my deaf friends urging me to buy one a little over a year ago and I definetly haven't regretted it.

But... You heard correctly. The voice reception really isn't that spiffy. Especially in a low signal area it can get downright impossible to understand what people are saying, especially if they talk quietly.

In regards to the headset, I discarded it after a few weeks. You don't need it to talk, you can simply listen out of one end and talk into another end of the sk. I also found that it easily gets jerked out of your ear, so as long as you don't mind holding up a bar of soap to your ear it functions fine.

Hope this answers your questions. I'm free to answer any more if you have any.

***VamPyroX*** · 09-14-2004, 08:07 AM

Actually, there's another device that could be better for a hearing person. It's the Nokia 3600. It's a cell phone that opens up to a keyboard with the screen in the middle. It's got email, internet, and regular cell phone calls. That might be better for you.

AsianAlan · 09-14-2004, 08:09 AM

i was thinking about the nokia as well, i'm still debating both of them.
I've gotten to play with the sk, but not the nokie yet...i just need to find the time to get to the store and play with the toys to figure out what i want.
texting on a t9 phone is starting to get a bit tedeous.

Dennis · 09-14-2004, 01:11 PM

Get a blackberry or Treo. I'm of the opinion that sidekicks aren't worth the trouble for hearing people -- unless you're texting an incredible amount and you're always getting great reception, stick to a blackberry or Treo. That way you'll get the pager and cell phone combo that you want.

09-13-2004, 11:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
AsianAlan Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 9	question about sidekicks for the hearing i was thinking about getting a sidekick since i do a lot of texting with my deaf friends. I've heard that the voice reception on the sidekick isn't all that great. I was also wondering if the hands free headset was need to access the phone features or if one could use the phone without the headset.

09-14-2004, 08:07 AM	#3 (permalink)
*VamPyroX* bloody phreak from hell Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Hell Posts: 26,578	Actually, there's another device that could be better for a hearing person. It's the Nokia 3600. It's a cell phone that opens up to a keyboard with the screen in the middle. It's got email, internet, and regular cell phone calls. That might be better for you. __________________ Check out my city... CLICK HERE! (If you already visited yesterday, visit again today!)

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09-13-2004, 11:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
falconer07 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 5	So you want to get a sidekick? That's great! I got a sidekick because of all my deaf friends urging me to buy one a little over a year ago and I definetly haven't regretted it. But... You heard correctly. The voice reception really isn't that spiffy. Especially in a low signal area it can get downright impossible to understand what people are saying, especially if they talk quietly. In regards to the headset, I discarded it after a few weeks. You don't need it to talk, you can simply listen out of one end and talk into another end of the sk. I also found that it easily gets jerked out of your ear, so as long as you don't mind holding up a bar of soap to your ear it functions fine. Hope this answers your questions. I'm free to answer any more if you have any.

09-14-2004, 08:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
AsianAlan Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 9	i was thinking about the nokia as well, i'm still debating both of them. I've gotten to play with the sk, but not the nokie yet...i just need to find the time to get to the store and play with the toys to figure out what i want. texting on a t9 phone is starting to get a bit tedeous.

09-14-2004, 01:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dennis \/ It's a computer patch. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Death Star HQ Posts: 1,741	Get a blackberry or Treo. I'm of the opinion that sidekicks aren't worth the trouble for hearing people -- unless you're texting an incredible amount and you're always getting great reception, stick to a blackberry or Treo. That way you'll get the pager and cell phone combo that you want.