Is the LG Optimus Worth Buying?
Numerous cell phone manufacturers have decided that the Android operating system is the future. LG came to this conclusion relatively late in the game, but they have made their smartphone entry count with the LG GT540. For marketing purposes it has been dubbed the Optimus and picks up where the GW620 left off. Because LG already had a good product on its hands with the 620, development costs involved in the Optimus were kept low, making for an affordable smartphone for customers.
One convenient feature on the LG Optimus is the QWERTY keyboard. This seems to be the preferred method of typing these days instead of the T9 and words functions. Because of a larger keyboard, the handset is a little larger than comparable models, but it is by no means a behemoth. The body measures 109 x 54.5 x 12.7mm and will fit easily into pockets. It also doesnt feel as though you are carrying around luggage due to the Optimuss lightweight yet sturdy plastic construction. The shell is aesthetically pleasing because the development team carved smooth curves out of the shell.
A resistive touch screen presents the images on the Optimus. Some may be distressed to learn that the 5-inch screen is not capacitive, but the phone provides nothing to worry about. The screen is much more accurate than most resistive screens leading to very few mistakes. The display is TFT and carries HVGA resolution. This creates impressive imagery for a phone that enjoys a mid-range price. The resolution is 320 x 480 pixels and supports 256K colors.
The LG Optimus provides the user with two different types of home screens. One of these is the standard Android version and one is LG customized. The customized version allows for the creation of customized buttons that rest at the bottom of the screen and allow messaging capabilities from any point of phone navigation. These buttons offer easy access to any kind of folder, widget, or shortcut the user sets up. Also available are three to seven home screens, all of which can have their themes completely changed.
One drawback of previous LG smartphones has been meager battery life. LG has fixed this problem with the Optimus. The handset is equipped with a 1500mAh lithium-ion battery that provides 7 hours and 20 minutes of talk time and 500 hours of standby time. Most other smartphones can only dream of that level of performance.
Several nice enhancements await users of the LG Optimus. Some of these include an alarm clock as well as a world clock. For those who cant be bothered to bust out the pen and paper, a voice recorder and organizer are available. The Optimus also remembers entertainment hounds and includes a dedicated Youtube plug-in. A PDF viewer is found among tons of other applications.
Fairly new to the Android powered smartphone world, the LG Optimus is user-friendly, leading to a pleasant experience with a new model. Customers unfamiliar with the Android OS will not scream in frustration while veterans will be happy with the features offered.
