I am fairly new to the mobile community. Personal needs and perhaps, the lack of basic social etiquette amongst many users could been the contributing reasons for my late entry!
I was looking for an easy-to-use basic handset. Budget was not really a limiting factor. The choice was not a very difficult one to make. I bought the Nokia 1100 some six months ago and I have not had any kind of serious problems with it.
In terms of technical aspect, there is simply nothing that I can possibly add to what has already been said about this unit by other reviewers.
These are credit points I can think of with this inexpensive device:
-lightweight, compact and ’nice-to-hold’ ergonomic body design.
-ease of navigation (naturally, a little bit of getting-used-to is needed).
-keypad has a very positive ’click’, unlike many other ’soft-touch’ designs (SMS is a real breeze).
-clear reception, even in congested and noisy locations (like concrete buildings).
-the LED flashlight is a real boon (power-cuts, finding things like keys in the dark).
-battery life (re-charge once in three to four days, in my case).
-clear and easy to read display.
-at its price, this is a real value-for-money (I paid Rs. 3100/- for it).
On the negative side, these are what I can think of:
-a bit plasticky and the fit-and-finish is a bit on the downside when compared to more expensive models.
-the ribbed sides don’t really offer the kind of grip that the manufacturer claims.
-the AC mains charger unit get a bit hot while recharging (I have written to Nokia about this a few months ago and there has been no response).
-I’ve heard reports that changing the ’first-fit’ SIM card to another provider could drive the networking up the wall. I have no experience with this, simply because I have not had a reason to change my original SIM card.
If you are looking for something that meets the current social status levels, please look elsewhere. On the other hand, if you are looking for a no-nonsense handset that is primarily going to be used as a ’phone’, the Nokia 1100 (or its sibling - 1108) is is probably the best value purchase. The SMS and the LED flashlight are added bonus.