Samsung Rugby a837 Phone

Great hardware, software need improvement
I am a gorilla with cell phones and must admit that this phone is exceptionally sturdy. I carry it in my pocket, and, unlike other phones, no dust/lint gets into the display. I have used it outside in the rain/dust while coaching soccer with no problems. The keyboard is sturdy. The phone feels like one could use it for a wheel chock. My daughter refers to it as "the tank". I have dropped it onto a hardwood floor a number of times, and, while it did not leave a smoldering crater in the floor like I sort of expected, it also continued to function without issue. The speaker and microphone are excellent, and I use it in speakerphone mode frequently without compromise. The camera is, well, a cell phone camera, and probably not the tool with which to take wedding pictures. I generally go five days on a battery charge.

My complaints about the phone are with the software, in particular, the T9 implementation. It does not seem to adapt well, i.e., it always types 'an' and I always have to correct it to 'am'. When I add two spaces after a question mark, it enters a question mark followed by a period followed by a space (i.e., Are you annoyed?. ). I'm not sure what form of English uses that. Sometimes, the T9 suggests gobs of letters/numbers that aren't even a word, but I can hit the + key to get it to suggest real words. It usually gets it right.

This phone replaced a Nokia 6085, which had excellent software, so this phone felt like a step down in capability. However, I like this phone because it feels like it will last forever. A firmware update could make it perfect.

kinda rugged... phone is not tough thou
My company just bought 6 of these to replace our existing ones. So far we have replaced all of them at least once, mine in particular 3 times. Keeps saying emergency phone calls only (constantly) and i have to keep restarting the phone to make or receive calls. My current one doesn't charge properly it wont take a full charge unless you leave it plugged in for two days (i am not kidding) then it will stay charged for about 3 (days), then repeat. needless to say i don't use it much and have instead stuck to using my personal cellphone.
It is water resistant, i use it in the rain constantly without problems. But if dropped in a puddle for more than a few seconds the phone is pretty much done for. If you drop it from any high height it will probably survive the fall externally, but internally, it never does. so like i said kinda rugged in that it can take rain, but definitely not abuse of any sort. i find palm centros to be much more abuse-able then this phone. i would not buy again or recomend it to anyone. it's junk.

Reliable, durable phone
I've been looking to replace my old phone for several months now and have been looking at a variety of phones. I had the following things I was looking for.

1. I wanted to stick with a flip phone, as I carry it in my pocket and didn't want to have to worry about accidentally making calls or having a touch screen to scratch up
2. I wanted a phone that was going to be good as a phone first and foremost. I don't do a lot of texting so I didn't need a full keyboard
3. I did want the phone to have a decent camera as I do like to take pictures of things that pop up when I'm out and about.
4. I wanted something that I wouldn't be ultra-paranoid about breaking if it was accidentally dropped, got water splashed on it, etc...
5. Good battery life. I wanted something with a long standby time.
6. Even though it was a flip phone, I still wanted a decent color screen on it.

After looking at multiple phones, I kept coming back to the Rugby. It met all of my qualifications. I was a little concerned about the size for my pocket, but have found myself liking it for its size. It's much easier to hold between shoulder and ear if I have my hands full and just feels much more solid that a lot of the other "fancier" phones.

Some have complained about being unable to see the front screen without opening the phone. There are settings to adjust the time before it shuts off and if the phone is closed, all you have to do is hold down the volume button for a second to have it turn on. You don't have to open the phone. The outside screen is nice with full color, and if it was on all the time I'm sure would be a major battery hog.

If you're a major texter or want a phone with every possible feature there is, this probably isn't the phone for you. If however you're looking for a nice reliable cell phone, who's primary purpose will be to be a phone, then the Rugby may be the one.

Screens are not shatter proof!
I bought the Rugby for my nineteen year old son for Christmas. Five days later he was hunting in a tree stand and the rugby slipped from his pocket as he bent to pull the gun sling up to the stand. It hit the rocks about twenty feet below. The outside screen was shattered and when he opened the phone, the inside screen was ruined as well. We called Samsung immediately and were told that the screen is not covered under the warranty. This phone does not stand up to what it is promoted as. I am so tired of paying for sub standard cell phones.

Cannot recommend but. . .
Like everything about this phone except:

1) I cannot hear the thing very well. Inside/Outside; makes no difference. I have to stop what I am doing, stick a finger in one ear and hold the phone tightly to the other ear just to hear. And the external speaker has poor sound quality at maximum volume. Voices are garbled.

2)The Rugby's reception is poor compared to the Motorola and Nokia phones I have owned in the past. Dropped calls, loss of service; we all know what I am talking about.

I like the phone because it is large, the buttons push one at a time easily and the display is very good once you delete the wallpaper.

I cannot recommend this phone. To be fair, my hearing ain't the best and I live in a condo where no matter which cell phone service provider you use, you get lousy reception. Except at our common mail box. I've met some very nice folks at our mail boxes. Probably would not have met them otherwise. Guess it ain't that bad after all.