LG - VX-8300 Cell Phone Review

I had an LG VX4500 and I LOVED that phone!  So, when it came time to upgrade LG was the way to go - or so I thought.  First I looked at the Chocolate - the new version is GREAT, but it wasn't out yet - the old version not so much - too hard to navigate, and my niece had one and had problems with it.  So I looked at the others available.  I am a Verizon Wireless customer and the salesperson said the VX8300 was the way to go (more about the sales people later).  It looked a lot like the 4500 so I went for it.  I should mention that my 4500 fell down an elevator shat - 4 stories! - a few scratches and the battery didn't make it, but otherwise it was fine!  Better than a timex.  This is why I was sold on the LG - I have previiously had a Motorola (and tried the Silver), and a Panasonic, and neither were as cool, clean, and easy-to-use as my old LG.  I tried the 8300 in the store, and it seemed to be close to my old guy, so I bought it.  TOO BAD!  It is not nearly as easy to navigate as the 4500 - yes some features are easy as pie - but try to save a new ringtone from your sounds - where are they?!  Some things are buried so deep I can't find them again.  The sound is not clear and loud like my old one speaker phone - this has two stereo speakers and it's very tinny.  The old phone had a feature that if you wanted you just pushed the side button and the call went right to voice mail.  This phone, you either have to set it to not answer on open and then when it rings, open the phone and press Ignore, or you can press the side button to silence the ring.  The problem is that if you like to have your phone set to answer on open, you have to wait until the unwanted call forwards to voice mail before you can do anything.  I have also had big problems with the Bluetooth device, and I experienced a problem with NO Sounds whatsoever until I did a hard re-boot (others I know with this phone report the same).  Last but not least, the charger plugs directly into the phone and the connector is of the sort that can loosen after repeated use.

The thing about the Verizon salespeople?  They tend to push phones that are going to be obsoleted soon.  Now phones change at the drop of the hat, new ones come out everyday, but I DON'T want the phone that is being phased out - its hard to get accessories for and if I want to replace it due to loss or theft - I can't and then I have to buy all new stuff AGAIN!