Here's a shock: CB is a function over form guy, not easily distracted by shiny objects.
So when I searched for a "new" cell phone a few months ago I did yeoman research, and listed exactly what I *needed* in a phone and set a budget at under $200 for a new unlocked GSM 3G phone that operated on the Orange 3G frequencies. I even considered some nice Chinese high-end "clones".
I came across the Motorola Defy+ that fit all my criteria. What sold me were the nice screen resolution, the reviews of excellent cell reception & volume (let's face it: it's a "cell phone" before a "smart phone.")...and the claim it was water and dust -resistant, and was fairly shockproof.
Two weeks ago while on tour we were riding toward Nagua from La Entrada along that long, windy stretch right along the ocean, speed around 55-60mph. I felt something hit my right thigh and caught out of the corner of my eye the phone that fell out of my tank bag. I tried trapping it with my leg and boot, to no avail. It was just gone, falling off the bike at speed.
I stopped 100+ yards down the road and circled around slowly, searching, just knowing that it was gone, no way to find it, and IF I found it it's be smashed to bits, shattering itself as it bounced and careened down the road...or into the bushes. Seriously-survive a 3.5' fall at highway speed? NO WAY! I was about to give up.
So imagine my shock when there it was, on the grass on the side of the road, Gorilla Glass side up. I got off, picked it up, hit the "on" button and it came to life, swiped it...and it was ALIVE!
Here is a pic. The only damage are some minor scratches on three corners, and a tiny scratch below the app button at the edge of the screen, about 1/4" long. Pic is 35% larger than the phone.
Skittering across the highway at 55mph, and alive, well, looks good and functions perfectly. One tough phone. Or one lucky fall...
Not the shiniest of objects, but I can definitely recommend a Defy+ if you need a seriously solid, tough phone.
So when I searched for a "new" cell phone a few months ago I did yeoman research, and listed exactly what I *needed* in a phone and set a budget at under $200 for a new unlocked GSM 3G phone that operated on the Orange 3G frequencies. I even considered some nice Chinese high-end "clones".
I came across the Motorola Defy+ that fit all my criteria. What sold me were the nice screen resolution, the reviews of excellent cell reception & volume (let's face it: it's a "cell phone" before a "smart phone.")...and the claim it was water and dust -resistant, and was fairly shockproof.
Two weeks ago while on tour we were riding toward Nagua from La Entrada along that long, windy stretch right along the ocean, speed around 55-60mph. I felt something hit my right thigh and caught out of the corner of my eye the phone that fell out of my tank bag. I tried trapping it with my leg and boot, to no avail. It was just gone, falling off the bike at speed.
I stopped 100+ yards down the road and circled around slowly, searching, just knowing that it was gone, no way to find it, and IF I found it it's be smashed to bits, shattering itself as it bounced and careened down the road...or into the bushes. Seriously-survive a 3.5' fall at highway speed? NO WAY! I was about to give up.
So imagine my shock when there it was, on the grass on the side of the road, Gorilla Glass side up. I got off, picked it up, hit the "on" button and it came to life, swiped it...and it was ALIVE!
Here is a pic. The only damage are some minor scratches on three corners, and a tiny scratch below the app button at the edge of the screen, about 1/4" long. Pic is 35% larger than the phone.
Skittering across the highway at 55mph, and alive, well, looks good and functions perfectly. One tough phone. Or one lucky fall...
Not the shiniest of objects, but I can definitely recommend a Defy+ if you need a seriously solid, tough phone.