While trying to decide what to do with my poor crushed iPhone, I bought a brand new Motorola F3 off of eBay for a whole $29 (unlocked, with no contract and no strings attached).  I’d been looking at these with avid curiosity since they came out in 2006 and, after finding a place on eBay called Monster Cellular, I plunked down my PayPal and within two days was holding one in my hand.

It took my AT&T SIM and logged right into the network.  I was making phone calls within a minute.

This little phone is as Zen as you can get.  Running a tiny Linux kernel and using e-ink for display, I’ve had it over four days now and it’s still running on the initial charge.  The reception is excellent.  The sound quality isn’t the best, but it’s definitely good enough, especially considering the cost.  It features a phone book and and an alarm, and while it will do text messaging I wouldn’t recommend it because of the display.  This is a phone and nothing but a phone.

Like I said, it’s very Zen.

And the cost — at least from Monster Cellular — it included a house and a car charger, as well as a little belt clip carrying case.

You can bet, however, I will not be using the belt clip carrying case.  I’ve had some extremely bad luck with those.

My conclusion: this Zen little phone is hereby officially proclaimed groovy.