Samsung Rogue

While I would love to switch over to AT % T to use the iPhone, I am unfortunately still broke and on my parent's contract on Verizon. Because of this, last year I chose a new phone for my eighteenth birthday - a Samsung Rogue.

While newer versions have been released since I purchased the phone (just my luck - this always happens to me), it really seems to me like the old version is much the same. This cell phone is based solely upon touch-screen technology and thankfully is very durable. If you are one of those types that loves technology but uh, tends to break things easily, this bulky phone just might be for you.

Then again, it probably won't fit well in your pocket and seriously, it's not that great of a phone.

Clarity of other line: horrific. At some point it gets tiring to constantly blame the other person for having a crappy phone and you will wind up saying, "just call me on my house phone."

Texting: excellent. Messages send back and forth in a flash. but... how do you cancel a text? For a year I've just hit every key and have gotten lucky only once or twice.

Camera: Lukewarm. It takes decent photos, but there is often a blur or glare and even when your arm is perfectly still, there is a good chance your picture will appear warped.

Clarity of your own voice: Good. While this depends on the other person's phone, the Rogue is great at picking up sound.

Touch-screen technology: annoying. see below.

Malfunctions: Too frequently. When you receive a text while deleting texts (even if you're just on a screen with the option to do so), the phone will go blank and not turn back on. In order to fix this texting crisis, you must remove the battery and turn your phone back on, waiting for the three hour logo screen to pass. Note: you're probably never going to fit the cover back on correctly.

Secondly, often times it sends texts out to people you clearly did not want it to. Sure, this means you can't trash-talk people (a phone encouraging moral values... huh), but it gets pretty embarrassing when your girlie insights to your best friend are sent out to your powder-keg ex-boyfriend.

Additionally, after just one year my touch-screen has begun to fail. So far holding down certain options or positions on the screen and/or dragging icons seems to fix the issue, but overall, I'd say do your research and find a better phone.