In the market for new phone... advice?

[Black Panther]

Lol I'm not at all up to date with mobile phone technology!

I had a Samsung Z100 (http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_z100-537.php) around 6 years ago. The local providers then were really crappy and I got sick of pumping in €25 every month to top up the credit otherwise they'd disconnect the line!

Luckily just recently they've removed the time window - meaning that if I put €25 credit in the phone I can use it in one month or in 5 years (lol) without the service being disconnected.

That's why I decided to get a phone again for myself rather than sharing one with him.

That... and having heard that phones now have wifi? :confused: Meaning I can connect and browse the net from any wifi hotspot or connect to my router for free? Using cellphone instead of laptop?:D
Or am I confusing things?

What I'm looking for is something which:

1) Preferably has touchscreen not buttons.
2) Has a large screen.
3) Preferably black, definitely no pink or other fancy colours.
4) With camera, at least 1.3 MP
5) With radio FM channels between 87 and 108.
6) With wifi and browser.

MP3 / MP4 are not important.
I definitely do not want to be charged by my mobile phone provider for using the net - that's why I want wifi.

Size and weight isn't important... I'm accustomed to carrying a 12lb laptop around so I wouldn't mind even if the phone weighs a pound by itself :D
Actually, I'd prefer it to be on the larger side for comfortable browsing and typing...

Throw your suggestions! :)

[T3hPwn3r3r]

Why would you want a touchscreen over buttons?

Besides novelty there's no real benefit of a touchscreen in comparison.

[Black Panther]

Why would you want a touchscreen over buttons?

Besides novelty there's no real benefit of a touchscreen in comparison.

Apart from a 'smoother' and more modern appearance, the main reason for my preference is that the less buttons there are the less crevices for dirt and grime to lodge in.

[T3hPwn3r3r]

And you also lack tactile response, reliability (touchscreens fail far more often and take the entire device down with it - leaving little opportunity to back up address books/files), and in general you end up with a device that does less.

Consider one with both! A Palm or Blackberry or sorts, HTC has some great phones as well.

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=iphone

Informative, unbiased, objective.

[T3hPwn3r3r]

Also - nobody really goes around (besides iPhone users) caring what phone you use. It's not like I see a Blackberry Curve or Samsung Instinct and think anything of it.

[Black Panther]

And you also lack tactile response, reliability (touchscreens fail far more often and take the entire device down with it - leaving little opportunity to back up address books/files), and in general you end up with a device that does less.

Consider one with both! A Palm or Blackberry or sorts, HTC has some great phones as well.

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=iphone

Informative, unbiased, objective.

HTC :confused:

Don't laugh, I told you I know zilch...

And all I know about Blackberry is that I have to pay per every minute I get online as if I'm making a phone call. At least that's the way it is here.

I'm thinking about purchasing an 8" netbook instead of my mobile, seriously. Perhaps even a Dell with an Atom 1.6GHz and a 4GB SSD.... I dunno. Specs still seem better than a mobile phone...

I can get one for less than €350 on ebay. A blackberry costs over €500 from a local shop here :/

[DIppyskoodlez]

What I'm looking for is something which:

1) Preferably has touchscreen not buttons.
2) Has a large screen.
3) Preferably black, definitely no pink or other fancy colours.
4) With camera, at least 1.3 MP
5) With radio FM channels between 87 and 108.
6) With wifi and browser.


iPhone 3g? $99 USD here, IDK about european providers/prices. They just dropped the price of it. It doesn't have radio, but has Wifi for network access and most plans in the US all have unlimited data via phone network anyways. Camera is decent, and its a large touchscreen ;)

And the newest firmware is gonna be AWESOME.

It's also an ipod and plays videos/Youtube.

[Wile E]

I have an iPhone, and love it. It meets all of your criteria, except FM radio, and the base model just became much cheaper.

Yeah, it has that fan-boy, arrogant stigma, but you know what, it really is a kick-ass phone at a great price.

[T3hPwn3r3r]

The only issues I have the the iPhone are the fans, the lack of buttons, and the durability (pales in comparison to other smartphones)

[LittleLizard]

www.phonearena.com
www.gsmarena.com

check in there, they tell about almost any mobile. Just look one that u like, then check if ur provider have it and u are done.

[DIppyskoodlez]

The only issues I have the the iPhone are the fans, the lack of buttons, and the durability (pales in comparison to other smartphones)

Durability depends on the user.

My iPhone survived a day at the range when it was pouring down pretty hardcore, in my upper ACU pocket and is still kickin.

lack of buttons.... is irrelevant. Its designed without buttons. :p If anything the lack of buttons is a big plus. People using different languages get easier accomodation, it is less moving parts to fail, and takes up less hardware space.

[Wile E]

Durability depends on the user.

My iPhone survived a day at the range when it was pouring down pretty hardcore, in my upper ACU pocket and is still kickin.

lack of buttons.... is irrelevant. Its designed without buttons. :p If anything the lack of buttons is a big plus. People using different languages get easier accomodation, it is less moving parts to fail, and takes up less hardware space.

Not to mention the OP doesn't want buttons.

And I agree on the durability. I'd like to see evidence that they are less durable than the average smart phone. Mine has taken a shitload of abuse. Far more than my mother's broken Blackberry. ;)

[RevengE]

Iphone 3g, I love mine. I play Wolfenstein 3d on it all the time.

[Triprift]

Maybe the LG Arena (http://au.lge.com/products/model/detail/mobilephone_touchphone__arena(km900).jhtml) might be what your looking for Panther.

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

Touchscreen is overrated, i have one and its annoying, no tactile response

[Black Panther]

The only issues I have the the iPhone are the fans

Which thermal paste do you suggest?
Also, what's a good temperature for an iphone (at idle and at load)?






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Lol sorry couldn't resist that! :D

Didn't know that iphone has its own clique of 'fans' though...

[Black Panther]

Maybe the LG Arena (http://au.lge.com/products/model/detail/mobilephone_touchphone__arena(km900).jhtml) might be what your looking for Panther.

Lol look what my first ebay search (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BNIB-LG-KM900-Arena-8-GB-Phone_W0QQitemZ190313493354QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_M obilePhones_MobilePhones?hash=item2c4f91736a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1690|240%3A13 18|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50) for LG Arena came up with! :eek:

http://img.techpowerup.org/090610/Untitled.jpg

http://img.techpowerup.org/090610/Untitlegd.jpg

[Triprift]

Over a grand what the hey.

[T3hPwn3r3r]

Not to mention the OP doesn't want buttons.

And I agree on the durability. I'd like to see evidence that they are less durable than the average smart phone. Mine has taken a shitload of abuse. Far more than my mother's broken Blackberry. ;)

I've seen more iPhones with cracked screens than I have problems in any other phones combined.

My family is in the phone sales business.

But why would you not want buttons? That's plain silly to say "TACTILE RESPONSE IS TOO GOOD FOR ME, I WOULD RATHER GUESS OR STARE AT MY SUNLIGHT WASHED OUT, SMUDGY SCREEN ALL DAY"

[DIppyskoodlez]

My family is in the phone sales business.


I ran Phone/IT support for a business with Engineers that had degrees. We had around 800 Phones. Does that mean everyone should be buying what I say too? :p

I actually have not yet personally seen a single cracked iPhone. I have an iPhone, ipod touch, friends with ipod touches and friends with iPhones.

"Tactile response" is the excuse I'd say 99% of people come up with to bash the iPhone because 1.) they have never used the iPhone actively and 2.) Because they compare the iphone touchscreen to other touch devices that use a HORRIBLE touch mechanism to actually detect touching.

The iPhones touch screen is NOT a pressure screen like most dumpster quality "smartphones" like blackberrys.

Its OS also provides a unique form of feedback when you press buttons. You're correct in that you don't actually press a button. But why hae a keyboard, when apple has created such an elegant solution to NOT having one?

It works just as well, if not BETTER than a normal keyboard. You don't spend hours looking for specific oddball keys to do things like :'_)*$^@)!^#%!# because they are just a single button "touch" away. The accuracy and responsiveness is UNPARALLELED by ANY DEVICE I have ever seen.

I would strongly suggest the OP actually *use* an iphone..... you might(probably will) fall in love! ;)\


But why would you not want buttons? That's plain silly to say "TACTILE RESPONSE IS TOO GOOD FOR ME, I WOULD RATHER GUESS OR STARE AT MY SUNLIGHT WASHED OUT, SMUDGY SCREEN ALL DAY"

Instead you insist "IM TOO GOOD FOR TOUCHSCREENS"?

Sunlight washed out? I can see my iPhone better in the sun than any other single phone I have EVER seen.

and smudges? lol. Lemme take a picture.

http://img.techpowerup.org/090611/iphone.jpg

I got that near release time. Its a rev 1 phone. I have an iSkin privacy screen on it. The privacy screen is still exceptionally clean (Why don't they make screens out of this stuff? o_O) and my actual iPhone screen will look BRAND NEW, because it has never actually even been touched by a human post packaging.

So I'm curious, what smudges, and washed out screen are you talking about exactly? :)

Mine seems to be in pretty pristine condition for having survived AIT at Fort Gordon, and multiple trips to the range... and general day to day use..

Any phone will crack when you hit it with a car. The iPhone is obviously no exception. Just take care of your crap, and it stays good for a really long time. I heard a lot of people cry about Razr durability too, but mine is now a 3 year olds toy, and it actually still works. Motorola ftw. I know a lot of people that treat their phones like a pile of poo, and then a week or two later they're like "Oh, yeah my phone broke..". They're also people that go through the "duraphones" that are nothing but plastic and a poor LCD- because they don't handle things with any respect.

A phone dieing from basic wear and tear is poor design.
A phone dieing because you were using a chainsaw with the phone in your pocket you were holding the chainsaw against (lol experience) is user caused damage (And if you're expecting a phone to live through dumb things like this, a smartphone is NOT for you.)

[Black Panther]

Dippy, my dad's just bought a phone like that.

Hmmm, he bought it off some chinese vendor on ebay :eek: but oh well it was only around €40 in total.

I haven't checked if it's got wifi though. Basically wifi's the most important thing for me in the phone.
Being probably some chinese imitation stuff I doubt wifi..........

But what I wanted to say is that that phone looks great even in bright sun (and Malta's got bright sun in summer believe me). It never looked smudged... and well knowing my dad, if he doesn't break the screen I doubt anyone can ever break it... :D

[Black Panther]

Can someone please link me to online shops which ship to Europe?

The LG Arena (duh I fell in love with that phone!) is a good €100 more here than it is in other countries like the UK! :eek: money-suckers....

[DIppyskoodlez]

Dippy, my dad's just bought a phone like that.

Hmmm, he bought it off some chinese vendor on ebay :eek: but oh well it was only around €40 in total.

I haven't checked if it's got wifi though. Basically wifi's the most important thing for me in the phone.
Being probably some chinese imitation stuff I doubt wifi..........

But what I wanted to say is that that phone looks great even in bright sun (and Malta's got bright sun in summer believe me). It never looked smudged... and well knowing my dad, if he doesn't break the screen I doubt anyone can ever break it... :D


If it's a LEGIT iPhone it has wifi ;)

[T3hPwn3r3r]

If it's a LEGIT iPhone it has wifi ;)

It's probably a Sciphone, which for 100$ or so, is a much better value than the iPhone.

It can do all those things the iPhone can't - and doesn't steal your soul in the process!

Still needs a keyboard though.

It works just as well, if not BETTER than a normal keyboard. You don't spend hours looking for specific oddball keys to do things like :'_)*$^@)!^#%!# because they are just a single button "touch" away. The accuracy and responsiveness is UNPARALLELED by ANY DEVICE I have ever seen.

I don't do that on my Palm either, nor do I need to bring up an alternate keypad to reach those. My Palm has these things called shift and function keys like on a laptop. Either way, if you don't have stupidly skinny fingers of a 5 year old Asian child. In no way does it work better than a normal keyboard because you have to stare at the damn thing to even find the letters and type from this awkward over the top angle.

[WhiteLotus]

sorry just skimmed through - do you want contract phone or "pay as you"?

O2 do the iPhone in the UK - could be a place to start

[DIppyskoodlez]

It's probably a Sciphone, which for 100$ or so, is a much better value than the iPhone.

It can do all those things the iPhone can't - and doesn't steal your soul in the process!


The iPhone is $100. And what does it do that the iPhone doesn't, aside from being crafted from questionable parts, no company support, no application community, no hacking community, and no applecare? :confused:



Either way, if you don't have stupidly skinny fingers of a 5 year old Asian child. In no way does it work better than a normal keyboard because you have to stare at the damn thing to even find the letters and type from this awkward over the top angle.


I challenge you to a type off! :p I'll probably type much faster and much more accurately.

[T3hPwn3r3r]

You're on!

Also, it does all of the things that it took the iPhone years to do, as well as supports unlimited storage and every SIM-loaded network.

[DIppyskoodlez]

You're on!

Also, it does all of the things that it took the iPhone years to do, as well as supports unlimited storage and every SIM-loaded network.

Your phone can VNC into my virtual machine? :confused:

BLASPHEMY. I MUST HAVE THIS PHONE.

[Wile E]

I have to side with pwn3r on the keyboard issue. Having an actual keyboard is much better for typing. Try typing on our iphones without looking, for example. ;) Not to mention, the on screen keyboard takes up screen real estate. But that really is it's only real downside.

Other than that, he has the same attitude that 99.9% of all iPhone haters have. He hates, yet has no real experience with it. I hated it at first too, until I actually spent some time with it, and did some research on it. It has the best community support of ANY other phone, and researching apps for specific functions is a bajillion times easier than trying to find an app to do something on a Win Mobile phone.

I tossed up between this and the HTC Fuze. I bought the 16GB iPhone, and my dad bought the Fuze. Guess what, he hates his phone, and wishes he bought the iPhone.

[T3hPwn3r3r]

I have to side with pwn3r on the keyboard issue. Having an actual keyboard is much better for typing. Try typing on our iphones without looking, for example. ;) Not to mention, the on screen keyboard takes up screen real estate. But that really is it's only real downside.

Other than that, he has the same attitude that 99.9% of all iPhone haters have. He hates, yet has no real experience with it. I hated it at first too, until I actually spent some time with it, and did some research on it. It has the best community support of ANY other phone, and researching apps for specific functions is a bajillion times easier than trying to find an app to do something on a Win Mobile phone.

I tossed up between this and the HTC Fuze. I bought the 16GB iPhone, and my dad bought the Fuze. Guess what, he hates his phone, and wishes he bought the iPhone.
I've used an iPhone, and for a taller person with large fingers - it's a nightmare. The whole touchscreen thing just seems completely counter intuitive, and in the mean time, I like my Linux.

[El Fiendo]

Ok, I've seen this said alot but who actually texts without looking? Shit I dial and text while looking to make sure I don't eff up and I have proper grammar. It takes me a very short time to do this. Are there rampant hordes of people who text without looking?

[T3hPwn3r3r]

I usually don't stare at my phone when I text.

[El Fiendo]

How do you text? I mean you don't have to be drilling holes into it with your eyes, but from the way you guys make it sound you could basically hold it behind your back and go nuts on the keyboard. This might be the reason I've received 'Ghl have foy tej kombi rest' and others similar though. Every text I make gets typed whilst looking, proofread and sent.

[T3hPwn3r3r]

How do you text? I mean you don't have to be drilling holes into it with your eyes, but from the way you guys make it sound you could basically hold it behind your back and go nuts on the keyboard. This might be the reason I've received 'Ghl have foy tej kombi rest' and others similar though. Every text I make gets typed whilst looking, proofread and sent.

I have qwerty with tactile response, put my finger over the Q, and from there can text in perfect spelling and grammar with no looking from then on out.

[El Fiendo]

You text too much.

No laughing smiley? Bah. :)

[T3hPwn3r3r]

Nah. But I'm in college.

Ever sit through a 3 hour lecture?

Shit sucks, it's good to learn under-the-table texting, and for God mode, under-the-table pacman and tetris.

[DIppyskoodlez]

Nah. But I'm in college.

Ever sit through a 3 hour lecture?

Shit sucks, it's good to learn under-the-table texting, and for God mode, under-the-table pacman and tetris.

That is what laptops are for ;)

[T3hPwn3r3r]

I'm currently without one, getting a netbook though, but not everyone has a laptop with them, nor is it as transparent from afar than a cellphone. Profs can tell when you're staring at your screen constantly, and in small classes, take offense to not being paid attention to.

Either way, that's why having a netbook rules, because it will make things easier. 9.5 hr. battery life will be the saviour of me when i have 8 hours straight of classes on Mondays :P

[ManDown]

The G1 is a great phone. 3.2mp camera no zoom, Can either use the virtual keyboard or the slide out one, Trust me you'll love the real keyboard over the touch screen, Even my friend who has a iPhone likes it more, (but he still wouldn't trade it for a g1). Screen size is about the same as the iPhone, I think iphone is a tad wider. Has Browser and wifi. Enough apps for what you need, unless you want games, then your limited. Radio really comes down to apps, and most suck. I only know of 3 colors, Black, White, and a brownish color with silver keys.

I have to compare G1 to iPhone since my friends have one and they seem very the same, in terms of potential, G1 having more but taking forever to show.