10 Reasons Why You Should Not Buy the Motorola Razr V3

I'm not ordinarily the type to rush out and purchase the newest and trendiest technology. Ordinarily, I wait. I hear what friends have to say. I let the longevity of a product serve as a testament to its functionality and durability. So even I was surprised when I up and decided to purchase Motorola's V3 Razr. I felt I had to make the purchase: The product looked so sleek and modern, and everyone in the commercials looked so happy with one. Let me tell you, it was a mistake. Here are 10 reasons why you should not buy the Motorola Razr V3

10. Screen Issues: Within the first week of purchase, my phone began collecting large amounts of white dust underneath the screen. When I took the phone to Cingular they informed me-for the first time-that I was not supposed to keep my phone in my pocket, but they would be happy to remove the dust for a fee of $25.

9. Overall Frailty: Within the first two weeks of owning the Razr V3, the cord that runs the length of the number-pad broke, rendering all buttons worthless. My phone was out of commission for four days and the repair-although covered by warranty-cost me $15.

8. Screen Issues, Again: Large amounts of oil and dirt build up on the screen. I'm not a particularly dirty guy, and there seems to be an oily discharge on screen at all times. It makes the screen difficult to see in sunlight.

7. Placement of Web browser Function: With Cingular charging me 20 cents every time I accidentally open the web browsing function (placement is directly above Send button), this poorly placed key has caused undue amounts of frustration.

6. Hot Commodity: A surprising amount of people I talked to had their Razr V3s stolen. Since the phone is expensive and considered desirable, some people go to devious lengths to get their hands on it. And, if I'm not allowed to keep it in my pocket, how tough is it to steal?

5. Frailty Issues, Again: Extreme cold (defined by Motorola as 30 degrees Fahrenheit) causes a similar problem to one I explained above-namely, that keys and buttons do not work. Much of the country inhabits terrains where 30 degrees Fahrenheit is a warm winter, not extreme conditions.

4. Reception: Reception can be incredible with the Razr. Or it can be awful. The variance of reception is something I didn't have to deal with in other phones. And while it's great to have a crystal clear signal, sometimes any connection will do-as long as it's stable.

3. Expense: The phone is expensive. Sure you can find deals for $75 or $100 with two-year contract, but that, for a cell phone in this day and age, is still expensive. Especially for one as fragile as the Razr V3. A two-year contract could mean you purchase 2 or 3 phones.

2. New Technology=Bugs: The V3 is still a new phone and many of the problems being bandied about in this article will be fixed by Motorola in the months and years to come. Why waste money on a product whose quality will increase dramatically and cost decrease? Answer: no reason, whatsoever.

1. Music Phones: The Motorola V3 Razr is missing one key ingredient to be the industry's top of the line phone: mp3 capabilities. With new phones incorporating state-of-the-art cellular technology and mp3 capacity, why settle for purchasing a phone that may be obsolete in the upcoming year? You don't want to end up being the only person on the morning train commute not listening to iTunes, do you?