It's that time again...

[paradoxrealm]

When I look to the more technological;y minded of you for guidance in choosing new mobile phones.

Am thinking something in an andoid based device smartphone thing, but am not fixed on that.
So tell me what you have and why I should or should not decide to have the same myself.

According to the list I am allowed any of the following at varying prices from Free to £210...

Blackberry Curve 8520
Blackberry Curve 8900
HTC Touch 2
LG Intouch Max
Nokia 5800 Chrome (with or without Music)
Nokia 6303
Nokia 6600 I slide
Nokia 6700
Nokia E71
Nokia N79 White
Samsung Galaxy Portal (i5700)
Samsung Tocco Lite
Sony Ericcson C902
T-mobile Pulse
Nokia N86
Nokia X6
Samsung Jet
T-Mobile G2 Touch
Sony Ericsson W995
T-mobile Compact 5
Sony Ericsson Satio
HTC HD2

Comments

[rssefuirosu.livejournal.com]

Hullo, I probably can help as I now work in a phone shop!

Androids are bloody awesome, I swear by my HTC tattoo. If you're going for Android, and you want it to be truly magnificent piece of kit and constantly up to date, get one of the HTC devices (the Hero is good for memory, the Desire for camera I believe) as they will acquire the OS updates as soon as they are released for the model.

If you want it to have a slightly slicker interface and aren't bothered about the updates, go for either the Sony Ericsson X10 when it comes out or the Samsung Galaxy 2, both of which are out very soon, have the 1.6 build as their base and ought to be very stable. I know the SE has a lot of extra bits built in. Because of the overlayed user-interface the Android version cannot be updated. It is expected that the phone makers will provide the support one would expect from Google/HTC in these matters.

I honestly can't fault the Android OS, I love it to bits (although if you're used to three days without charging a nokia or SE you'll be in for a shock, battery life is max 24 hours with auto-sync turned off) and wouldn't part with it now. If you want a list of recommended apps or settings tips, give me a shout.

All the best mate
-Sef
LVX


ETA: Now you've posted up the list, here's some do/don'ts.

From the list you have there, I mentioned the Galaxy Portal as an Android-Samsung hybrid and the HTC G2/HD2/Touch 2 are the same OS of Android proper. Check their specs from the HTC website and see which you would prefer. I went with the Tattoo because I was losing hardly any internal memory from my other choice (the G2) and the Tattoo is black :p

Good touch-phones on that list are the Nokia X6 and 5800 Chrome (although the X6 has a lot more memory and a bigger processor, and should come with free SatNav, the 5800 has the better screen and speakers for playing movies), and the Samsung Jet (very nice app selection from Samsung but not as good as Android if I'm being honest).

If you need keys then the Nokia 6700 for a cameraphone, or the E71 - I would get this over a Blackberry purely for reasons of support and user-friendly interface. Blackberries are best used by people who either enjoy the gimmick of owning the brand or corporate users who will use them for networking via the Blackberry PIN messaging system. If you're wanting it for media, but can't abide touchscreens, get the W995 as it's a solid build UI and the walkman software is great, but possibly bettered by the X6 or 5800.

Phones to avoid:
Nokia's 6600 slide is awful, has terrible signal issues (due to being a slide phone and metal) and tends to break.
LG in general.
Samsung Tocco Lite as it's only a 2G phone and has crap specs.
SE C902 as it's been superceded and, unless you need a cybershot for hardcore photography, the W995 is better.
SE Satio as it's just absolutely pants in every way apart from the camera, as the UI is a Nokia Symbian interface glued onto a SE phone and it's been plagued with software issues.


Please note, these are all my opinions and don't represent anyone or any company :p

[redhillian.livejournal.com]

HTC/Android: Awesome.

Other/Android: Also good.

Blackberry: a bit so-so

Anything powered by Windows: FAIL

Palm: even worse.

That is all.

[ephrael.livejournal.com]

I'm really enjoying my HTC Tattoo, but if you have grown-up size hands (unlike me) you might want to go for something with a larger screen.

I was put off going for another Sony Ericsson by how much my last one crashed.

[rssefuirosu.livejournal.com]

Which SE?

I find the trick with my big fingers on my Tattoo is to use the compact qwerty.

[ephrael.livejournal.com]

W910.
I really liked the OS, had another SE Walkman beforehand. But it got too annoying.
I asked in phone shops were they still buggy as hell or had they improved, and I got some ums and aahs, and some 'not really's.
None of the SE users I know got another one after the performance they had. A non-LJ friend was similarly annoyed with his second cyber shot, after being happy with his first.

[rssefuirosu.livejournal.com]

I still ♥ my C702, because it was made for someone like meeeeee XD

[freddiefraggles.livejournal.com]

I has T-mobile Pulse! Is good! Is has beeeeg screeeeen! Is mostly intuitive to use! Is not has fantastic camera, but I can has good DSLR so not problem for me! Can has upload pictures to internets instantaneousurly!

In Soviet Russia, phone choose you!

[ephrael.livejournal.com]

Freddie is rather enthused about her phone.

[redhillian.livejournal.com]

Calm down, and step away from the gummi bears.

[freddiefraggles.livejournal.com]

[sarahlascelles.livejournal.com]

I have a nokia 6600i and its ok. Only ok. Battery life isn't brilliant, and reception is temperamental.