[nagdu] Samsung Haven & Gusto

Fri Sep 10 16:11:29 UTC 2010

Lisa,
    Thanks for the consumer review! I would really like to know more about 
the Gusto, especially if it has Blue Tooth capability.

Marion


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lisa Belville" <missktlab1217 at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, September 10, 2010 11:55 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Samsung Haven & Gusto


> Marion and all,
>
> I'm a proud owner of the Samsung Haven.
>
> I was able to activate and configure the phone completely independently, 
> something that I've never been able to do with the older LG phones.
>
> All of the menus and functions speak with this phone with the exception of 
> the stop watch and the My Verizon menu, but that may just be out of date 
> info as I haven't tried it yet.  This phone allows for reviewing of text 
> messages while sending and receiving.  It also allows you to edit 
> contacts, assign ring tones, etc., all with voice output.  You also have 
> access to all of the recent, missed, dialed and answered calls.
>
> All of the settings with the exception of the two mentioned above, are 
> 100% accessible with speech output.
>
> The price of the phone will depend on your contract with VZW.  I have been 
> eligible for an upgrade for two years, but was sticking with the LG phone 
> I had because i didn't want to pay hundreds of dollars for phones with 
> limited access that weren't all that stable.  I upgraded on line and paid 
> only $39.99 for the phone with IL state sales taxes tacked on.  This was 
> for a two year contract with the option to upgrade my phone after the two 
> years was up.  This phone does not require a data plan, but you do have 
> the option to purchase various text messaging plans, I chose the one with 
> 250 messages a month for $5.
>
> I ordered my phone on Sunday before Labor Day and it was here Wednesday 
> morning; VZW also gives free over night shipping with on line purchases. 
> <grin>
>
> I'm not sure what size of phone you're looking for.  I was using an LG 
> 8300, so I can compare the Haven to it.  Both are flip phones.  The Haven 
> is a bit taller than the 8300, but it's slightly thinner.  It also doesn't 
> have the stumpy antenna  on top.  There's a USB port and a headphone jack 
> on the side of the phone as well as a volume slider.
>
> The keys are slightly larger than the LG phone's, but they're not as 
> tactile, so the larger size helps some.  The soft keys and the other keys 
> used to navagate and make menu choices seem smaller to me than the 8300, 
> but there are marks on the up, down, left, and right arrow keys, so you 
> can use those to orientate yourself.
>
> There are a few valuable resources to help people decide what phone is for 
> them.
>
> The first is a list for blind users of Verizon Wireless phones.  The Haven 
> has been a hot topic lately.  They've discussed the Gusto, but we're 
> getting conflicting information because finding an informed Verizon sales 
> rep isn't always possible.  So far, I've heard that the Gusto has blue 
> tooth capability that the Haven does not, but other than that, I couldn't 
> say.
>
> You can subscribe by sending an Email to 
> blindusersVerizonPhones-subscribe at yahoogroups.com.
>
> There have been a few members who made an extensive podcast giving step by 
> step directions for activating and using the phone.  I don't have the link 
> handy, but you should be able to find it once you subscribe.  I'm not 
> being cagey, I'm just not comfortable passing out a link because I'm not 
> sure if it's been uploaded to another server.  There was such a demand for 
> it on the phone list that they had to move it from Dropbox to Sendspace.
>
> Sorry for the novel.  <grin>  I've only had this phone up and running for 
> about 3 hours but I'm already in love with it.  And to think sighted 
> people have had access to these features for years and years.  Now I see 
> what we've been missing.
>
> Lisa
>
>
> Come on, be honest... you don't really LOL when you text it now do you?
>
> Lisa Belville
> missktlab1217 at verizon.net
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
> To: <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>; "NAGDU List" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>; "FLAGDU List" 
> <FLAGDU at NFBNET.ORG>
> Cc: "Marion Gwizdala" <marion.gwizdala at verizon.net>
> Sent: Friday, September 10, 2010 10:02 AM
> Subject: [nagdu] Samsung Haven & Gusto
>
>
>> Dear All,
>>    I apologize in advance if this message is off-topic for a couple of 
>> the lists, but it is blindness-related, so it is of general interest to 
>> all on these lists. I read an article in the Matilda Ziegler Magazine 
>> about the Samsung Haven. According to the author, this phone, available 
>> through Verizon Wireless is completely accessible. I have contacted 
>> Verizon and was told that they have another Samsung  phone - the Gusto - 
>> that comes loaded off the shelf with Nuance speech. Does anyone know if 
>> this phone is as accessible as the Haven? Merry and I want to purchase 
>> one and would like to know if this is an option. Does the Nuance speech 
>> make it accessible or are does it depend upon the phone itself?
>>    Apparently, the only differences between the two phones is their size. 
>> the Haven is slightly larger and, as the result, has larger keys. I was 
>> told that the Gusto is about the size of the phone I am currently using. 
>> Furthermore, the Haven costs $40 and although the Gusto costs $50, it has 
>> a $50 mail-in rebate making it virtually free. any product review would 
>> be greatly appreciated!
>>
>> fraternally yours,
>> Marion
>>
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>
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